GLOBE GAZETTE
SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 |
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Diamond Oak Events in Clear Lake is one of the first in the area to offer a country wedding venue. Owners Scott and Gwen Bultje said that in the past four years, the venue has staged about 160 weddings. GLOBE GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
Rich in
rustic venues North Iowa offers plethora of sites for memorable weddings
ELDA STONE
F
Farm Girl Wedding
Special to the Globe
or generations, North Iowa farm families have celebrated special events in grandpa’s spiffed-up barn, the largest indoor gathering place available. Today, several local venues offer rustic space for ceremonies and receptions in beautiful rural settings, even if you don’t own a farm. Ranging from rescued barns to new pavilions, the venues provide a blank canvas for weddings, from casual to elegant, with country views for miles. Diamond Oak Events near Clear Lake is one of the first in the area to offer a country wedding venue. “We were kind of at the forefront, in the right time and right place,” said Scott Bultje, who operates the business with his wife, Gwen. “We bought the property in 2005 and moved another barn onto it and converted it to our home. Then I was looking to make a career change, and my wife came up with this idea.” Native prairie and mature oak trees grace Diamond Oak’s 107 acres, which has staged about 160 weddings in the past four seasons – mid-May to mid-October. Church pews on the grass, a pergola, and a variety of chandeliers create mem-
GRACE ZAPLATYNSKY, THE SUMMIT-TRIBUNE
Mary Lovstad, owner of Farm Girl Weddings, leans against a bar in her barn where she hosts wedding receptions. She said recently that she designed her most popular package for couples who use the venue like a destination wedding. orable outdoor ceremonies. “We have an exceptional sound system for outdoor weddings,” Scott said. The 3,200 square-foot pavilion with modern amenities specifically for weddings was designed by Gwen. That includes everything for food and beverage service. Scott said they have their own trolley bus to shuttle guests and the wedding party from local hotels.
They’re surprised how far people are willing to travel to have events here. “We’ve had couples from Chicago, Minneapolis, even New York City,” Scott said. “Iowa has the second-highest average number of attendees at weddings – 204 people. But couples spend two and a half times as much on the coasts as Iowa weddings, so our cost per head here is more reasonable.”
Farm Girl Weddings, near Forest City, appeals to the bride and groom who want more help with planning and set-up. Owner Mary Levad Lovstad designed her most popular package for couples who use the venue like a destination wedding. “I had a bride who lives in Hawaii, but has family here. With this package, they can just show up and enjoy the weekend,” Levad Lovstad said. “It’s a different business model.” Mary and her staff do all the set-up, decorating, and clean-up; provide snacks for arriving guests; serve non-alcoholic beverages; and help find the caterer and other services. “I act like a wedding planner. I meet with the couple and ask a lot of questions to find out what they like and don’t like. I have a Pinterest site where we can share a board to get inspiration.” The farm has been in her family for 147 years. The barn has a rock floor and big doors that can be opened up for a country view and fresh air. It includes a catering room and a bar on wheels. Tents and canopies with lights extend the party outdoors. “Most people get married outPlease see VENUES, Page C2
The ‘perfect’ place for a bachelorette party Mason City pottery studio offers fun, creativity, memories ELDA STONE
Special to the Globe
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For your bachelorette party, come together with girlfriends over a glass of wine and a fun creative project at Turtle Creek Pottery. The pottery studio is open seven days a week at Market 124, located at 124 N. Delaware Ave. in Mason City. It welcomes individuals and groups to drop in or schedule a party for creating pottery, fused
glass, or paintings. Owner Katie Wold says bachelorette parties have been popular at the studio since it opened in 2012. “Sometimes, they all paint pieces for themselves, or sometimes the bride picks her colors and the guests paint items for her, and the bride then has dishware for herself,” Wold said. On the premises, Three on the Tree Coffee and Cafe offers handcrafted coffee and tea drinks, breakfast, and homemade baked goods. Specialty baked goods for parties can be pre-ordered. The market has an Iowa wine license, to sell by the bottle to customers over 21. Parties guests can pay for their
own refreshments and pottery or sometimes the hostess covers all costs, according to Wold. “We can fit easily up to 40 people in the pottery room, but usually have 15 to 20,” she says. “We’re open to both large and small groups.” The pottery studio was originally in the Market 124 building, but Wold recently bought the building to the west and knocked through a wall to connect them and add space. “We have a huge array of pottery,” she says, going on to list just some of the items available for
LISA GROUETTE, LISA.GROUETTE@GLOBEGAZETTE.COM
Turtle Creek Pottery & Glass, a paint-your-own pottery studio, is open Please see PARTY, Page C2 seven days a week inside Market 124 in Mason City.
