Meet Mindy Bannan | Owner of The Bannan House Farm wedding venue

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mindy Bannan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mindy, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I hail from the Pacific Northwest, where I spent my childhood. While I didn’t have much growing up, I was blessed with an abundance of love, a strong work ethic, and a passion for beauty. At the age of ten, I designed a cedar-lined hope chest/bench for my birthday, which my dad lovingly built. This experience ignited my lifelong love for design, which I’ve since applied to various projects including spaces in the home, personal events, and even a boat house.

Despite having a demanding career in the legal field, I never let go of my passion for design. In 2014, I started dreaming of creating a wedding venue that would combine my love for design and love itself. I envisioned the perfect space and jotted down all my ideas, keeping an eye out for the ideal location. In 2019, I stumbled upon a rundown 100-year-old equestrian farm that wasn’t exactly what I had imagined, but I could see the beauty in its sprawling fields and barns. My husband was initially hesitant, but I was convinced it was the one. We sold everything we had and embarked on the biggest adventure of our lives, turning the farm into a dream wedding venue.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Starting a business is always a challenging endeavor, and my experience with The Bannan House Farm was no exception. When I purchased the farm in 2019, I knew it had a lot of potential, but it was in need of significant repair and restoration. We had to deal with hoarders and squatters, which took six months to legally resolve. Additionally, we had to spend many months cleaning up accumulated trash and debris from the property. Despite these challenges, I remained focused on my vision and kept moving forward.

As if these challenges weren’t enough, the pandemic hit in 2020, which made it even more difficult to start a new business. However, I refused to let the pandemic stand in my way. I took advantage of the downtime and used it to restore some of the buildings onsite and make progress on my business plan.

Of course, there were moments when I felt overwhelmed and questioned my decision to start this venture. However, my husband’s words of encouragement always kept me going. He reminded me that nothing good comes easy, and that was certainly true in my case.

When I set out to create The Bannan House Farm wedding venue, I knew I wanted to offer something truly special to our guests. Despite the challenges I faced during the restoration process, I was able to transform the property into a stunning 49-acre venue with breathtaking views of the Stillaguamish River, Mt. Pilchuck, and the surrounding countryside.

My goal was to create a warm and inviting atmosphere that would make every guest feel like they were part of my family. From the open-air pavilion surrounded by lush green fields, to the ceremony lawn facing the majestic mountain, every aspect of the venue has been carefully designed to provide an intimate and romantic setting for a quintessential PNW wedding.

At The Bannan House Farm, I am committed to providing a unique and unforgettable wedding experience for every couple. My hope is that every guest who visits The Bannan House Farm feels the love and warmth of our family and leaves with lasting memories.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If a best friend visited me from out of town, I would love to show them around the beautiful Pacific Northwest. During the wedding off-season, I have an Airbnb on the venue property which includes The Garden House suite. It’s a light and bright modern farmhouse suite that would make their stay enjoyable.

This area is known for great hiking spots, so I would take my friend on a hike up Mt. Pilchuck which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding area. I would then take them to my favorite local Thai restaurant, Eat Thai. It’s located in a charming old house in the downtown area and the flavors are simply amazing.

Another must-see attraction in the area is the falls and fish ladder which is only 1.4 miles away from the venue. And, to add a touch of adventure to our itinerary, we could take a relaxing tubing trip down the Stillaguamish river, ending at the venue on our sandy beach.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a shoutout to three important individuals/groups in my life who have supported me throughout my journey. Firstly, I’ve got to give all the glory to God who gave me all of these opportunities. Without him, none of this would have been possible.

Secondly, I want to acknowledge my incredible husband who runs the family restaurant and brewery and still finds the time to help me with all of my projects. He’s not only the muscle behind the operation, but he’s also my biggest supporter, my business partner, and my best friend. His unwavering support and encouragement has been invaluable to me.

Lastly, I need to give a big shoutout to my family and friends who have been there for me every step of the way. They have all played a significant role in helping me make my dream wedding venue a reality. Whether it’s building barn wood tables, helping with gardening, or simply offering words of encouragement, they have always been there for me. I’m grateful for their advice and the love they’ve shown me throughout this journey.

Website: thebannanhousefarm.com

Instagram: @thebannanhousefarm

Other: Pinterest @thebannanhousefarm TikTok @thebannanhousefarm

Image Credits
@jessamylennonphotography; @cityandsoul; @mood.bychantelle; @backcountryimagery; @alisonconklin; @pinkblossomevents; @fullnessofjoyfloral; @saltandcedar.co;