A Dover-Foxcroft couple has transformed a farmhouse built in 1890 into a four-bedroom house with an attached barn for upscale weddings and other events.
On a Prayer Farm will bring a new event venue to Piscataquis County, where there are few options for weddings and other large gatherings, owner Jonathan Seavey said. The space will begin hosting events this summer at prices ranging from $7,500 to $12,500, depending on which portion of the property people wish to rent and the length of their stay.
Venues with lodging for wedding parties or family members have become more popular in recent years, noted Racheal Pasqual, who manages the property. For example, the convenience of having a rehearsal dinner and reception at the same venue appeals to people.
“I love the home because it’s not your traditional wedding venue,” she said, noting a sauna, yoga room and in-ground pool are some of its features. “It’s an absolute dream.”
The 3,900-square-foot house sleeps from 12 to 15 people, according to On a Prayer Farm’s website. The attached 2,100-square-foot barn, which is under renovation, will function as the venue for graduation parties, weddings and other gatherings.
It is awaiting approval from the Maine fire marshal’s office, which will also determine capacity, though the website says the space will seat 175 people.
Seavey bought the 15-acre property at 208 Vaughn Road in 2021. His wife’s aunt and uncle owned the property, known to some locals as the Smith farm, in the 1970s. That family added 1,800 square feet to the property in the mid-1980s, then sold it to another person in 2014.
The Seaveys invested about $500,000 in renovations and raised animals on the property, though they lived elsewhere in town. Eventually they put it up for sale, then changed their minds when Seavey’s mother-in-law needed to come live with them as she recovered from a medical event.
They moved into the house in July 2023. They will relocate to their second property on Sebec Lake from June through October, when they anticipate most weddings will take place.
Another reason to take the property off the market arose when Seavey’s daughter approached him about getting married there in August.
“That got our wheels spinning,” he said, noting it was his wife’s idea to further transform the property into a space that could host events.
Jonathan Seavey got approval to rezone the property so it could function as a venue and spent another six-figure sum on renovations, mainly in the barn, he said. He expects construction to wrap up this spring.
“You never stop trying to improve a house built in 1890,” he said. “We’re excited to provide this service to the community. When you look at the market here, a place like this is really needed.”
Although On a Prayer Farm has not booked any events yet, it has gotten inquiries from potential clients. One woman from California reached out because it’s more affordable to get married in Maine, Seavey said.
Seavey owns a consulting agency and also works as a realtor alongside Pasqual for the Bush Group at NextHome Experience in Bangor. Pasqual handles marketing and social media for the venue and will be there on the day of events to ensure they run smoothly, she said.
She heard from engaged couples at a Bangor wedding show last month that they are searching for a wedding venue that sets their day apart.
“They want something new and fresh, and this is both of those,” she said.