New wedding venue in Pierce County is taking reservations for events this summer
It all started in the fall of 2018.
Patty Rody was driving back and forth from her house to her husband’s business when she saw it: a piece of property available for sale on Canyon Road.
“It was like my head was on a string, I couldn’t help but look at it every week,” Rody said. “And one night I was praying … and I heard God’s voice in my heart say: ‘wedding venue.’”
Seven and a half years later, Joy and Glory Farm is here.
The property, located at 9904 Canyon Road E. in the Summit-Waller area, includes a spacious barn where “rustic charm meets modern timelessness,” according to the website. Rody and her husband, Gordon, also plan to offer marriage classes at the venue.
“We have a tag line we’re using: we don’t just care about your wedding, we care about your marriage,” Rody said.
Rody told The News Tribune that she and her husband, Gordon, also plan to use the space for events such as birthday parties, retirement parties, anniversaries, family reunions, baby showers, quinceañeras and more.
Joy and Glory Farm’s first wedding will be in late June, Rody said.
‘This is the right time for the right thing’
The couple have deep roots in the Summit-Waller area, with each of their families going back three generations. Gordon owns a chiropractor business, Rody Chiropractic Massage and Spa.
“We love this community, it’s a very well-loved community, the Summit area,” Rody said. “There’s a great need for it, the churches are very busy, our own church has things every day, so it’s hard to get events … this is the right time for the right thing.”
The couple’s daughter and son-in-law, Cheramie and Adam Henley, and their grandchildren will contribute to the business when it opens, Rody said, making it a “three-generation project.”
“We were telling them what we were going to do and she said: ‘Yeah, that’s my dream, Mom. I told my fifth grade Sunday school teacher that and no one else,’ and she told us she wanted to join us,” Rody said. “We all live in community here.”
Over the past seven and a half years, the couple have worked with the county on zoning and studies, and also toiled away at creating their dream wedding and event venue. There was already a barn on the property, but they decided to build a new one from scratch instead of remodeling.
“We found a builder first, Wren and Willow, and they encouraged us to look at kits, so we found this barn kit maker called DC Structures and it’s totally customizable,” Rody said. “It’s not like Tinker Toys put together. It’s beautiful, they use old-world methods.”
Rody described the building as “99.5% complete,” saying the couple still have to complete some last steps in landscaping, fencing and constructing a turn lane on Canyon Road.
What does the venue offer?
Weddings will take place in the ceremony hall, Rody said, which is about 7,000 square feet. The venue also contains a clergymen’s office, a bride’s room, a groom’s room and restrooms.
“We have a greenhouse, which is an adjacent building, which is considered, like, a small party space for 30 people and the events have access to that for an extra space for a cocktail party. Or, if you want to have a bridal shower, it’s a multi-use room,” Rody said. “Next to that is a work room for floral design, balloons, if a bride wants to do DIY.”
Rody also said they will offer marriage classes by a local couple, Everett and Kim Kvamme, who have “been working in the marriage field” for 20 or 30 years. She said more details about the classes will be posted on Joy and Glory Farm’s website as the venue gets its legs off the ground.
Joy and Glory Farm will also host community events, according to its website, and connect couples with marriage counseling and resources.
While the couple both identify as Christians, their website says the venue is open to anyone wanting to use it for their wedding or event.
“We respect your choices and are happy to provide our beautiful space for your special day, regardless of your background,” the website says. “Our marriage ministry resources are available to those who are interested, but they are entirely optional and never required.”
According to the website, this is how much a wedding or event will cost:
- Thursdays: $6,000 from April to October or $4,000 from November to March.
- Fridays: $8,000 from April to October or $6,000 from November to March.
- Saturdays and Sundays: $10,000 from April to October or $8,000 from November to March.
The venue is accepting wedding and event reservations starting June 28, Rody said.
“It’s not just for weddings, not just for profit, [it’s] to help our community and bring it together and we’ve had a ton of exciting response from our local neighbors,” Rody said. “We just love people, we’re open to all kinds of people, it’s a beautiful facility that we’re excited to share.”
To learn more, call 253-387-1877 or visit joyandgloryfarm.com.
