About Us

We started working on cleaning up the 1934 2-story dairy barn in November 2012. We started just by first cleaning out the barn. In the lower half of the original cow and horse barn area we tore out all the old walls and concrete and poured new concrete in January 12, 2013. In the summer of 2013 we tore down the milking parlor off the barn because it was not salvageable. We then added a new addition in the same spot in the spring of 2014 and that become the kitchen and our personal bar area. Now this area is used for the food line, gift table, etc. At that time we added 3 dormers in the upstairs hay loft and added new tin to the front of the barn and roof line. In 2014 we also added a concrete pad and 2 grain bins behind the barn and added a gravel parking lot on the north side of the barn for grain unloading and wedding parking. In the early stages of cleaning up the barn Adam Mollett and Heather Brown (we didn’t know them at the time) pulled into our driveway and had heard through the grapevine that we were fixing up an old barn (which we were originally just fixing up for a family party barn) and that is exactly what they were looking for, for their wedding venue. They asked if they could have their wedding here at the barn in June of 2014. We were a little shocked at this request and came to find out that barn weddings are very popular right now. We happily agreed to let them have their wedding here and that is kind of how it all started. They paid for their wedding by doing labor here before their wedding. We supplied the materials and Heather’s parents installed the upstairs banister and they helped out with a lot of cleaning.

Our first year (2014) we only had 3 weddings. In 2015, in the back free stall shed which is attached to the main barn we tore out pens prior to pouring new concrete and that opened up more room for a main reception area and dance floor. That year we had 13 weddings. In 2016 we had 20 weddings. We also were in the process of becoming zoned in 2015 through the county and they said we had to add ada restrooms that had to be completed by 2017 so in July of 2016 we began another addition to the east side of the free stall barn. We added restrooms, men and women’s dressing rooms, a bar area, and more reception area. In 2017 we removed the east wall of the free stall barn to open up the room to the new addition. In 2018, we added a 5 acre lake on the south side of the barn. In 2020, amidst the global shutdown due to Covid-19, we took the opportunity to enhance our facility. We upgraded our HVAC system and installed four spacious glass garage doors on the southern side of the barn, offering a picturesque view of the lake. Additionally, we adorned the reception area with an elegant white wood wall, complemented by multiple windows on the north side of the barn. To complete the transformation, we revamped the exterior of the barn with sleek new tin siding.

We are now a fully operating wedding venue and are known as Schwarz Barn. We still have a lot we want to do here including a new back patio area with a stone fireplace and pavilion, and much more. We continue to make updates and improvements to the barn and our property. We never could have imagined that we would be doing this but we feel very blessed to be able to and we are enjoying every minute through all the blood, sweat, and tears. We have had great feedback from everyone and wonderful support. We know that Jared’s grandparents Al and Frances Luitjohan are looking down on us and guiding us every step of the way. We are so very appreciative of each and ever one of our couples who have chosen Schwarz Barn as their venue and trusted us to host one of the most important days of their lives.

Before & After