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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 07-30 Brides and grooms think Bruentrup Farm is perfect place to say "I do" MAPLEWOOD REVIEWBrides and grooms think Bruentrup Farm is perfect place to say ,i dol It was a beautiful day when Arthur Graf and Kelly Lynn Michlitsch exchanged their wedding vows at Bruentrup Historic Farm in Maplewood. JUL 3 0 2014 I gill F-ar"Im Review staff Kelly Lynn Michlitsch and Arthur Graf wanted to make their wedding as perfect as perfect can get. There's a lot that goes into planning a wedding -- the dress, the theme colors, the dinner choices, the DJ/band dilemma, or if an open bar is a good idea. ' Still, the venue can be the ultimate make -or -break decision, and holds several sub -decisions of its own. A church wedding? A destination wedding? An indoor or outdoor location? What about the reception? Same site as the ceremony or a different one? Kelly Lynn and Arthur wanted to go somewhere they were familiar with, and somewhere they had a history with. Ultimately, they settled on a place near and dear to their -- or more specifically, Kelly Lynn's heart. It was the Bruentrup Heritage Farm. BrUe`ntrUP*** 3. 0 CMT*ued from page 1 JUL I Michlitsch said. "And the historical society mem- bers were there observing everything, and when it was all done, they decided that it had worked out for the best." In fact, they liked it so much that they hired Kelly Lynn to be the wed- ding coordinator shortly after her wedding. She stayed in the -position for one year and promoted the site as a rustic wed- ding venue in an urban location. Lisa Wagner then took over in Octo- ber of 2013, and has remained at the post ever since. Deep roots in Maplewood The Maplewood His- torical Society oversees the Bruentrup Historical Farm, which is located on County Road D easl of Maplewood Mall. The dairy farm began in 1891 on White Bear Aventic and the buildings wer moved to their curren location about 15 year ago. The buildings are al intact, but some modifica tions have been made t make them accessible t people with disabilities. Before anything els the', farm is a museum c how life was a centur ago, Michlitsch explaine It has a variety of exhil I= want. a wedding where - "We lived right by there growing up, and when we were dating, we would walk by there all the time," Kelly Lynn said. "So, we thought, 'Why not get mar- ried there?"' Although the engaged couple though the location was "perfect," it had never before been used as a wed- fng,�venue. J Xe3Jy,,,: Lynn's father, Mickey Michlitsch, is on the board of directors for the Maplewood Area Historical Society, ty, and his daughter presented him with the idea of having her wedding at the farm. he approached the historical, society .with the idea, the'resp6nse was more or less what he expected. 4W came over to the historical society) "members, and we told them my daughter wanted to get married here. And they looked at us like we were nuts!" This was back in 2008, and the historical society Courtesy of Kirstin Lukes. had never considered using the farmstead as a A d - ding venue. The barn had been refurbished with lower -key gatherings in mind: folk concerts, barn dances and Halloween activities for kids. After the initial surprise wore off, the members agreed to welcome Mickey's daughter to have the first- ever farm wedding at the site. And eventually they came to understand why it was such a desirable setting. About 400 guests watched the ceremony and then enjoyed a pig roast, games and barn dance. The historical society was impressed with the turn- out and how easily the historical farm accommodated everyone. They were equally im pressed with how the site created a visually beautiful backdrop for a wed- ding .t was just your typical, old-fashioned wedding," its on� Maplewood's his and the society holds Aloe �� its' allure as to events there such as ice cream socials, Victorian gnat ace,, orefop try teas and square dances, i reflecting the entertain- ferns �edx went of the day. th e o� Still, its.use as a wed - the s Wer ding site has become a big th, ar bars � �1, I ' ­` � v " , � `­` " b" '' " " part of Bruentrup's more h"A bar( e, C recent history. Even the farmhouse, P; otl "M which has period furni-scele txnas had C-Mis", tore, is used heavily, espe- 1 7777 cially when the wedding �0 tra party opts to have its ,�Munica reception on-site. For the ceremony itself, the farm,<and wise( peppl+� an outdoor gazebo was recently added to give the thin d e660, `4 rural setting even more Air 777 R visual appeal. �,starte f The Bruentrup house 61 '11% is used primarily for the bridal party. Brides do V�"'pend ,, b sa, le their final preparations story re "'K for walking down the grassy "aisle," between the city of Maplewood lines of outdoor chairs'. only allows the farm to There is a play area for hold six large events (over kids, and even a large sta- 104 0 people) per year. The tionary fire truck to keep historical society is work - them occupied. Tractor ing on acquiring a permit t and wagon -rides (run by to increase that amount. s Bill Bruentrup, son of the "it was a lovely place," farm's original owners) rs) 'Kelly Lynn said. "it kind I are also available for wed- of had a magic; we like - ding parties. " I I :,", the outdoors, and we • Weddings take place really wanted some place • between May and,Octo- I where we could have the ber, and it has be,com e ceremony and the recep- increasingly diffictilt, to ton in the same place. It f get onto the list without all worked out." y applying far ahead 'of', �1, it all worked out for 1. time. Kelly 'Lynn and Arthur. - That's mainly because And it worked out for the historical society, too. You can reach Tim Faklis at 651-7487814, at tfaklis,@Iillienews.com: or on Tuiitter @tfqklis, news. see Bruentrup on page 10 Courtesy of Kirstin Lukes, Newlyweds Arthur and Kelly Lynn Graff pose In front of the Bruentrup Historic Farm's,sign- 1rheir ceremony was the first In what has become a wedding staple In Maplewood.