Venue Spotlight: The Schoolhouse

This venue spotlight: the Schoolhouse is truly unique. Who wouldn’t want to get married in this historic building?

If you’ve lived in Erie for more than five minutes, you’ve driven past this beautiful building over the years and watched its identity transform over time. Maybe you were one of us who would drive past it and think about turning it into something — a dream business or a dream home. The current owners acted on that dream and purchased the building and the beautiful four acres on which it sits back in 2013.

The Schoolhouse was built in 1897 and was home to students from grades one through eight for over 50 years. Over the years after that, the Schoolhouse was the site of a number of businesses, including a flower shop and even a dog obedience school.

The building was put on the National Historic Registry in October of 2014, shortly after it was purchased by its current owners. Those owners put a lot of love into the Schoolhouse, bringing everything up to code without ruining its charm.

Facts about the Schoolhouse

The Schoolhouse is not just available for your wedding. You could have a bridal or couples shower there or even your engagement party or rehearsal dinner. (You could basically do it all there.) The owners are expert event planners and will work with you to make sure everything is perfect.

(Check out our fun ideas for bridal showers.)

And of course, the building itself is so beautiful, you barely have to think about decorating.

• The Schoolhouse can accommodate a wedding with anywhere from 20 to 120 guests.
• You have the entire property to yourself on your big day.
• The property includes the surrounding land, if you’re looking for a beautiful outdoor wedding. (Weather permitting, of course. Really… this is Erie, so always have a contingent plan.)
• And you also get the entire building to yourself which includes the large upstairs, where you can have just your reception or you can have an indoor ceremony.
• You also have access to the Tavern downstairs. A beautiful stone-walled, historic space with an outdoor area right out the back.

Your wedding at this venue spotlight: the Schoolhouse

Again, you can have an outdoor wedding at the Schoolhouse, and what better place than under a large, old, and rare Weeping Beech tree that creates a perfect backdrop? If the weather isn’t cooperating, the wedding can be set up inside in the equally unique school room. And the owners have kept this space looking just like the original school room… not taking away any of the old charm as they worked to make it perfect.

Your reception

You can keep everything in one place and go right from the wedding to cocktails in the downstairs tavern and outdoor space and then right to your reception in the school room. Though there is no onsite catering, the owners have a list of vendors that come with their full endorsement and you can check them out here.

Those vendors have worked with the Schoolhouse long enough to know just how to make your wedding perfect.

The following are included in the rental price for your reception:

• a large farm table for food buffet
• a cake table
• a beverage table
• gift benches
• teacher cabinet for decorating
• chalkboards for personalizing with photos or theme
• fresh cotton towels and candles in the restrooms
• access to Pandora stations
• and all tables and chairs on the tavern level

Testimonials

Gail was fabulous! She helped so much coordinating our big day and my husband and I couldn’t be happier. Everything was perfect! She had wonderful vendor recommendations for every thing we could possibly think of for the event. She was a great communicator, checking in and making sure it all went according to plan. (Robyn)

Gail and The Schoolhouse staff are absolutely fantastic. My husband and I fell in love with the venue during our first walk through, as we just knew it was the intimate, cool vibe we wanted for our wedding. Gail was incredibly helpful throughout the entire period of our wedding planning, and she was very responsive and always just a text or call away. The bartenders are also incredible. Our wedding day went off without a single hitch–and all of our guests had an excellent time. I highly recommend The Schoolhouse for weddings, events, and even just for drinks 🙂 Thank you so much, Gail! (Janae)

I cannot say enough positive things about Gail and her staff! I had my wedding reception here in April. From initial contact through the final payment, Gail was wonderful to work with. She made sure every detail was discussed, made suggestions for things I wouldn’t have even thought of, and ensured the reception flowed smoothly. Our bartender was wonderful and our signature drink was an absolute hit. Guests LOVED the charm of The Schoolhouse and Swan Tavern. I would have an event here again hands down! (BC)

We can’t thank Gail and her team enough for making our wedding day so special. Everything was so beautiful and the staff at the bar were amazing. The tavern and outdoor space is such a beautiful touch! Thank you all for helping making our special day so memorable. (Tyana)