LA GRANDE — The White Barn Estate has earned the title of the best wedding venue in the region.

The venue — owned by Austin and Jina Bingaman — earned the award Tuesday, July 25, from Oregon Bride Magazine. The White Barn Estate received the distinction over Wallowa Lake Lodge.

The recognition came after a submission by a previous client, according to General Manager Kari Williams. The distinction came as a surprise, as the venue’s owners and staff didn’t initially realize it had been nominated.

“The gal said that it would have been submitted by either a vendor or a previous client of ours, which is really sweet,” Williams said. “We didn’t know that we were even considered for something like this.”

To Williams and the Bingamans, one of the most important aspects of their business, at 62788 Hunter Road, La Grande, is developing a positive relationship with the families that come to use the venue.

“It’s always relationship first. We are very focused on building that relationship first with them, whether they choose to have their wedding at the White Barn Estate or they choose to have it somewhere else,” Williams said. “Like we always say, we are still just as happy and excited for you because this is a really amazing and incredible time, and we want what’s best for you.”

At the estate, Williams said they are committed to ensuring customers have the best experience they can provide.

“I’m also an on-site day-of coordinator. So not only is it here to help with the venue, but also it’s that day of coordination where I’m immersed in their timeline and their day,” Williams. “So we start communicating at least a month in advance to build out their timeline. I’m always available.”

Williams and the Bingamans also seem to be passionate about offering events to the community, including a Mother’s Day dance. The original idea for the Mother’s Day dance was to be something like a daddy-daughter event, but it ended up being more than that.

“Initially I was thinking we could do a mother-son dance, but I have a lot of friends that have daughters and I wanted them to be included. So we turned it into the Mother’s Day dance,” Williams said. “We had a great time, a great turnout. It was the first time we had offered it and our tickets sold out very quickly. That’s something that we really want to do annually.”

Weddings and dances aren’t all they do at the estate. The White Barn Estate, which has been an events venue since 2017, also hosts seasonal marketplace events featuring local artisans and businesses. The next marketplace in the works is slated for Aug. 25-26.

Further, the White Barn is open to all types of events and will work with anyone interested to make something happen.

“We love weddings, families together and kids, and we stay very connected with those couples and those families,” Williams said. “They become part of the White Barn Estate family.”