BARNESVILLE, Minn.-Ben Jacobson and his wife, Kaylee, were supposed to marry in her hometown of Minot, N.D., in 2012, but flooding threw a wrench in their plans. His mother, Ginny Jacobson, suggested they get married on their family's farm near Barnesville instead. She had been considering hosting weddings there for over a decade by then, so it seemed like this might be fate. Ben Jacobson jokes that theirs was the "trial wedding." The following year, they started doing business as The Vintage Garden. Ben manages the wedding venue with help from Ginny, Kaylee and other family members. "I thought my first year I'd have 10 weddings and we'd slowly work our way into it," Ben Jacobson said. "We had 44." The Vintage Garden has booked solid every season since. He has just four Saturdays left in 2016 and is already taking reservations for 2017. Options are limited for couples who want to get married outdoors here. Kristen Reinowski of Moorhead knew this and started looking for a venue before her husband, Paul, officially popped the question. She is thankful she did. They were married at The Vintage Garden last July, and she said their big day was better than she could have imagined.
"We just had a great time. The barn floor was hopping because we were dancing so much. It was just a fun-filled, joy-filled day. I'd love to relive it," she said. In a small way, she'll get the chance when she attends a wedding there in October. A friend of hers booked the venue after attending Reinowski's wedding. Catering manager Judith Perritt of the Minnesota State University Moorhead Catering Services provided by Sodexo is also a big fan of The Vintage Garden. "I'd live there if I could," she said. "It's just such a beautiful setting." She said the weddings they have catered at The Vintage Garden have all run smoothly and been a lot of fun. "I just love the relaxed atmosphere. They're there to have fun, and they do," she said. "They're also constantly thinking ahead to see what they can improve. They're looking out for us as well, asking, 'What do you think about adding this? Could you use this?' They're always aware of everyone's needs when you're working with them." Being a part of a couple's wedding day can be stressful for a worrier like Jacobson, but he said overall the venture has been a lot of fun. "We love weddings," he said. "My mom, she's a huge part of this, she still tears up at every wedding we have." Features: • A fully-restored barn built in the early 1900s. Dances are typically held in the loft. The lower level is home to a bar, restrooms and a kitchen prep area. • Receptions are held in a stable the family built nearby last summer. The structure can also be used for the wedding ceremony in case of inclement weather. • Bridal parties can get ready in the Jacobson home. • Tables, chairs and the PA system are provided. They also have a large inventory of decorations couples are free to use. Jacobson jokes his wife's brain "operates like Pinterest." BUSINESS PROFILE WHAT: The Vintage Garden WHERE: 13 miles east of Moorhead, near Barnesville CONTACT: (218) 329-8108 ONLINE: www.vintagegardenvenue.comBARNESVILLE, Minn.-Ben Jacobson and his wife, Kaylee, were supposed to marry in her hometown of Minot, N.D., in 2012, but flooding threw a wrench in their plans.His mother, Ginny Jacobson, suggested they get married on their family's farm near Barnesville instead. She had been considering hosting weddings there for over a decade by then, so it seemed like this might be fate.Ben Jacobson jokes that theirs was the "trial wedding."The following year, they started doing business as The Vintage Garden. Ben manages the wedding venue with help from Ginny, Kaylee and other family members."I thought my first year I'd have 10 weddings and we'd slowly work our way into it," Ben Jacobson said. "We had 44."The Vintage Garden has booked solid every season since. He has just four Saturdays left in 2016 and is already taking reservations for 2017.Options are limited for couples who want to get married outdoors here. Kristen Reinowski of Moorhead knew this and started looking for a venue before her husband, Paul, officially popped the question. She is thankful she did. They were married at The Vintage Garden last July, and she said their big day was better than she could have imagined.
"We just had a great time. The barn floor was hopping because we were dancing so much. It was just a fun-filled, joy-filled day. I'd love to relive it," she said.In a small way, she'll get the chance when she attends a wedding there in October. A friend of hers booked the venue after attending Reinowski's wedding.Catering manager Judith Perritt of the Minnesota State University Moorhead Catering Services provided by Sodexo is also a big fan of The Vintage Garden."I'd live there if I could," she said. "It's just such a beautiful setting."She said the weddings they have catered at The Vintage Garden have all run smoothly and been a lot of fun."I just love the relaxed atmosphere. They're there to have fun, and they do," she said. "They're also constantly thinking ahead to see what they can improve. They're looking out for us as well, asking, 'What do you think about adding this? Could you use this?' They're always aware of everyone's needs when you're working with them."Being a part of a couple's wedding day can be stressful for a worrier like Jacobson, but he said overall the venture has been a lot of fun."We love weddings," he said. "My mom, she's a huge part of this, she still tears up at every wedding we have."Features:• A fully-restored barn built in the early 1900s. Dances are typically held in the loft. The lower level is home to a bar, restrooms and a kitchen prep area.• Receptions are held in a stable the family built nearby last summer. The structure can also be used for the wedding ceremony in case of inclement weather.• Bridal parties can get ready in the Jacobson home.• Tables, chairs and the PA system are provided. They also have a large inventory of decorations couples are free to use. Jacobson jokes his wife's brain "operates like Pinterest."BUSINESS PROFILEWHAT: The Vintage GardenWHERE: 13 miles east of Moorhead, near BarnesvilleCONTACT: (218) 329-8108ONLINE: www.vintagegardenvenue.com
