About 46 years ago, Oak Hill became part of our family. It was purchased as a weekend home but quickly became much more as my parents poured their hearts and souls into restoring the barns and home to their original state. Along the way, they fell in love with collecting antiques.
For 23 years, my mother and late father, Sandy and Duane Wolfram, transformed the 19th century, crumbling farm into a gathering place for their family and friends that rivaled no other. Their eye for detail and love for the natural surroundings enabled them to retain the charm and grace of the estate.
In 1996 my father Duane passed away suddenly and his wish was to rest on the property which he adored. We were initially denied a permit to create a family cemetery on our farm but we worked diligently to overturn that decision. Soon after, a rumor spread in the community that what we needed to create our cemetery was to have a church on site. It wasn’t long before a knock came to the door. A member of a neighboring church, St. John’s, told us their country church needed a home. The congregation had built a new church and could no longer afford to keep up the old one. The suggestion was to “take the church and answer all our prayers”. Our dream was becoming a reality and the county ultimately issued us a permit for our family cemetery. We moved St. John’s church to Oak Hill and placed my father in his final resting ground. My husband Doug and I were the first to be married in the newly restored church and from there we’ve invited many to share in our joy and experience Oak Hill for themselves. The last 20 years of our lives have been touched by the many couples who have been captivated by the magic of Oak Hill. We invite you to do the same. –Becky Riedl
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Venue
Our packages include use of all the Oak Hill spaces…the Barn, Schoolhouse, Country Store, Chapel and (brand new!) Pavilion. We offer four main outdoor ceremony locations…The Arbor at Twin Oaks, The Barn Lawn, The Path of Pines and the Woodland Forest. Some couples choose their own favorite spot such as one of our majestic oaks, the dock at the pond, or a new location altogether. The restored barn features a Bridal Suite (two bedrooms and a bathroom) and Groom’s Quarters (kitchen, living room, bedroom/bathroom and private deck). We offer indoor restrooms and parking for 80-90 cars. Explore our 170 acre estate and meet Earl & JoJo, our resident miniature donkeys who roam the grounds freely.
Design Elements
Oak Hill has a wide variety of tables (60″ rounds, 8’x30″ banquet tables, serpentine tables, reclaimed wood harvest tables, high-top cocktail tables and more) for your use. For reception seating, you may choose fruitwood Chiavari chairs, white resin folding chairs or wooden benches (these options may also be used for outdoor ceremonies). Additionally, we offer a large collection of vintage decor items such as wagons, enamel topped tables, carriages, banners, wooden signs, chalkboards, ceremony décor, antique windows, wooden frames, suitcases and lanterns. Cocktail hour setup in your choice of location. Guests often enjoy our horse shoe pit and corn hole/Bean bag game. We use golf carts for guest transport around the venue and vendors have full access to our catering prep area and service building.
Services
Oak Hill offers wedding day coordination at no additional fee as well as complete setup and teardown of your decor. We work with you to design the perfect floor plan based on your guest count, dinner service and desired tables and chairs. Our staff will maintain the venue’s cleanliness, provide assistance to you and your guests as needed and monitor the timeline to ensure a successful event. Oak Hill provides licensed bartending services, ice and supplies (Oak Hill is a BYOB facility so you bring the beverages of your choice!).
Additional Options
Our stone fire pit is a huge hit among guests! Located just a few steps from the Pavilion, it is a perfect place to enjoy a cocktail, roast a s’more and socialize. Complete your day with use of our horse-drawn carriage and/or 1931 Model A convertible. Our rustic truck, various pieces of antique furniture, horses for photos, on-site officiant, and ceremony rehearsal are also available. Oak Hill can also coordinate your linen and china rental from outside vendors.
Oak Hill typically books out every year, if you have a date in mind, check our date availability here.
8044 gabel ln
apple river, il 61001
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakHillFarmGalena
Website: https://oakhillweddings.com/
Tel: 815-541-2348
