Brides in Tuscarawas County have long had the unique opportunity to incorporate the area’s history into their big day. But word is getting out to the rest of the world! With multiple venues for both wedding ceremonies and receptions, the area is a dream destination for a memorable day. Every small town in Tuscarawas County has a big story…which opens up multiple wedding options. Historic sites are available for affordable rental fees. For a spring or summer wedding, the garden at Historic Zoar Village offers a beautiful setting amongst heirloom flowers with a backdrop of historic buildings including the original village greenhouse.
- The 1868 Zoar School House was built almost completely from materials found or created in the Village and is available for small receptions. Local caterers specialize in German-themed meals but offer a variety of menu choices. Schoenbrunn Village, Ohio’s first European settlement and located in New Philadelphia, is made up of cabins reconstructed on the original foundations. The centerpiece of the village is the beautifully rustic Schoenbrunn Church. With soft natural lighting and the smell of beeswax candles and a fireplace, the church is a wonderful location for an old-fashioned wedding. A similar rustic church opportunity is available in the Village of Gnadenhutten, formerly a Christian Indian settlement, with a small reconstructed church.
- The city of Dover is home to two gorgeous sites that are brides’ favorites. The Warther Museum is home to the beautiful carvings of Ernest ‘Mooney’ Warther whose Swiss heritage is celebrated with raised Swiss-style gardens, beautifully tended by Mooney’s grandchildren and great grandchildren in the same style that his wife, Frieda, lovingly began. An open-air gazebo set against a backdrop of the gardens as well as a restored telegraph office and a caboose is a prime spot for weddings. The museum also offers areas for rehearsal dinners and receptions inside the museum. Just minutes away is the J.E. Reeves Victorian Home, a beautifully preserved home complete with the original family furnishings. Weddings can be held on the grounds with the home as a backdrop or in the original carriage house. The carriage house is also available for small receptions or showers and brides can even choose to have vintage wedding dresses on display for the occasion.
- The Lighthouse Bistro, located on the shores of beautiful Atwood Lake, is a perfect location for small weddings or events and the Atwood Queen Pontoon boat tour of the lake is headquartered just next door. At the gateway to Amish Country, bridal parties will find The Toolshed at Breitenbach Vineyards to be a photographer’s dream for sunset weddings. Smaller weddings and events can also be hosted at the barn located next to Der Marketplatz also located on the Breitenbach property. For something a little different, weddings have been held in the gazebo at Tuscora Park, a community park with small amusement rides. The mini rollercoaster surrounds the gazebo and wedding photos look great staged on the antique 1928 Speilman Carrousel or the gondola-style Ferris wheel. Even The Schoenbrunn Amphitheater, home to Ohio’s first outdoor drama “Trumpet in the Land,” has hosted similar events.
- When it comes to receptions, options range from rustic barns to state-of-the-art theaters and a few surprises in between. The Performing Arts Center at Kent State University Tuscarawas Campus includes a theater as well as a lobby and balcony that can accommodate large wedding parties with elegant food service. In southern Tuscarawas County the Old Main Street Museum in Newcomerstown showcases a replicated downtown Newcomerstown circa 1908-1968 complete with a brick street where small weddings and events can be held and musical entertainment from gospel brunches to USO-style shows can add to a shower or rehearsal dinner. Tuscarawas County boasts several wedding barns including The Z Barn in the Valley (home to live peacocks) and Rivercrest Farm, passed down through generations and newly restored. Several other barn venues are also available in the area.
- When looking for the perfect gown for the wedding party, locally-made wines or beers, custom caterers or florists, look no further than local businesses. In downtown Dover, Lavender Bridal Salon can customize a shopping experience for brides, bridesmaids, moms and flower girls. In addition, Lavender also offers tuxedo services. There are several options for tuxedo wear in the area as well. Tuscarawas County is home to several very unique local wineries in addition to the aforementioned Breitenbach Vineyards; these include Swiss Heritage Winery located within an award-winning cheese house, School House Winery housed in a restored one-room school, Yellow Butterfly Winery located in a beautiful barn in the rural hills of southern Tuscarawas County, Baltic Mill Winery the area’s newest winery that calls a former grist mill home, Casella Winery another schoolhouse experience, and YOLO winery in downtown Dover home to a modern mingling atmosphere. Rounding out the list of wineries is Silver Moon Winery offering patrons the opportunity to design their own label and blend as well as bottling the finished product — perfect for wedding parties! Caterers ranging from Amish-style fare to locally-sourced meals created by professional chefs offer memorable dining options. Affordable lodging at multiple hotel properties and unique bed and breakfast stays round out a satisfying nuptial experience in beautiful Tuscarawas County.
- For more information or for help finding a venue or services, maps or lodging information for wedding guests, or other inquiries, visit our website at www.traveltusc.com or contact the Tourism Manager of the Tuscarawas County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-527-3387.
- Wedding Venues in Tuscarawas County
