Down on the farm
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Rolling countryside offers new beginnings at Robin Hill
Story by Kasey Rae
Family-run since 1955, Robin Hill Farm & Vineyards has spent generations opening its gates to new beginnings. Set in the rolling countryside of Brandywine the working farm and vineyard blends rustic enchantment with modern contemporary ease. The barn that once held animals and stacked hay now holds brides tossing bouquets from the hayloft, and guests dancing on concrete floors under warm chandelier light that spills across the wooden beams.
Long before weddings came to the property, the farm served many purposes. One of the farm’s many incarnations being a plant nursery. Many of the stunning trees flowering across Robin Hill once began as saplings grown by the family, which are also scattered throughout the state of Maryland like natural signatures of their legacy. Today, growth continues on the property, now in the form of grape vines and good times.
Eleven years ago, owner Susan White, along with her niece, Shelby, and nephew, Wade, decided to take on the challenge of growing wine. Susan expected it to be a romantic adventure. In the end, she was right. Romance bloomed right alongside the vines: both in her own marriage to now-business-partner Bob White and in the marriages of couples from all over the world who have chosen Robin Hill as their beginning.
“I call myself ‘Mama behind the scenes,’” Susan said with a smile. “I’m making sure everything is going well for their special day. I greet the couple when they arrive, when they move into the suites. I’m checking on them all day. I greet all the vendors. If they need anything, they can ask me. So at the end of the day, if the couple is happy, then Mama behind the scenes is happy.”
A week after planting their first vines, the family hosted the very first barn wedding. The barn was gently updated with string lights, a dazzling golden chandelier, a space heater, comfortable seating, and indoor restrooms, all without ever losing its rare countryside character. Soft, elegant lighting fills the space, and large windows let natural sunlight wash across the ceremony and reception area. The barn door opens to a roof-covered pavilion overlooking a rolling valley of tall trees, including a large walnut tree guarding a pristine pasture.
The pavilion bar is fully mobile, allowing couples and decorators to arrange the space however they like (photo booths remain a guest favorite). The bar typically features Robin Hill’s award-winning wines, grown just steps away in the vineyard.
Across the lawn, the bridal and groom suites offer private spaces to relax and prepare before the ceremony. Each suite includes mirrors, seating, refrigerators, personal touches and even its own outdoor pasture filled with friendly animals. Previous guests have said that the goats, ducks, horse and sheep are the perfect way to help ease any last-minute nerves.
Part of the venue’s charm is the fact that the wedding barn sits only a few feet from the homes of the family members who run the farm. That closeness occasionally leads to moments that become beloved stories.
“Twenty minutes before a ceremony, all of a sudden, there’s panic. The groom left his shirt at home!” Susan recalled. “I looked at him and said, ‘What size do you wear?’ I called my brothers, both of whom live here on the farm, and my brother Robert said, ‘I’ve got one!’ I ran over, grabbed it, came back, helped the groom button up, and he walked straight down the aisle.”
Her dedication doesn’t stop there. Susan is so dedicated to the easy flow of each wedding that she would give the shirt off her back, literally. She laughs as she recounts the day a groom’s shirt was ruined moments before the ceremony.
“When I work weddings, I wear a white long-sleeve shirt. He looked at me and started crying. So I took off my Robin Hill shirt, he took off his, and he went down the aisle in mine.”
The wedding barn is the heart of Robin Hill, the wine is the blood that flows through its veins and the land itself carries the strong pulse of its rich lore. Walking the grounds feels less like touring a venue and more like visiting a family farm full of stories, pets and memories. After each ceremony, Susan invites the newlyweds on a celebratory golf-cart ride, a tradition she loves, guiding them through vineyards, pastures and the winding paths that have shaped the character of the farm for decades.
Robin Hill’s Wedding packages include a 6-hour time allotment (set-up is allowed before the event starts), 43 tables of various sizes, 400 chairs, an outdoor ceremony area with an arch, a wooden bar, a golf cart escort, concrete floors, trash removal and two suites.
At Robin Hill Farm & Vineyards, the legacy of the land, the devotion of the family and the joy of new beginnings all intertwine, creating a countryside celebration space where every wedding feels like it’s part of a much bigger story.
For more information, visit www.robinhillfarmandvineyards.com
