Kewaunee becomes new wedding destination

Kewaunee is becoming a popular site for destination weddings, as many of the wedding venues in the area report increased bookings this summer and as far ahead as 2018.

"Ninety percent of our weddings are for couples who come from out of town," said Kris Kolinski, who bought the historic Barnsite Retreat and Events Center north of Kewaunee Harbor in 2012 with his wife, Gina Mancuso, and his brother and sister-in-law.  They opened it up for weddings in  in 2013 and said that the number of weddings hosted there has grown every year.  This year, he estimates that 20 weddings will be held at the site.

"Most of our couples are from Chicago, Milwaukee and Green Bay," he said.  "We also get a lot of couples from the Upper Peninsula because Kewaunee is a good meeting place for their friends and relatives who are coming from the Milwaukee or Chicago areas."

Kolinksi said that the Barnsite does no advertising – all of his wedding customers hear about his venue by word-of-mouth and his website.

The barn and its grounds provide a beautiful setting for a wedding and many couples chose to marry outside underneath a willow tree or in the old orchard, Kolinski said. There is a large open area in the barn for a reception and dinner is usually served downstairs in the art gallery, which has a caterers' prep area.

The center has a four-bedroom apartment, including bedrooms in two renovated silos, and sleeps ten comfortably, he said.  There is a private balcony overlooking the grounds as well as a large deck in the barn area for cocktails.

"It's a great layout for people who want a 'chill' wedding," he said.   "We encourage the families to book for a couple of days."

One  of Kewaunee's attractions for bridal couples is the Lake Michigan vistas and  Lakehaven Hall in downtown Kewaunee, which is adjacent to the lake, has become another popular wedding site.

The number of weddings at Lakehaven has increased from 10 in 2014 to 14 in 2016 to 18 booked for 2017, according to Paula Dowd, a Lakehaven board member. The hall is booked for 2017 and there are three weddings booked for 2018.

"About 80 to 90 percent are from out of town – Chicago, Madison, Milwaukee, Appleton, Green Bay and other locations," said Dowd.  "They love the charming little town of Kewaunee and the beautiful view of Lake Michigan."

Dowd said that Lakehaven does not advertise as a wedding venue, but rather a community center.

"With that being said, brides and grooms found out about us and they love the building as much as we do," said Dowd.

The nonprofit group Lakeshore Community Center has managed the building since July 2013.

"We carve out weekends for community events, so not every weekend is available for renting for a wedding," said Dowd.

At the Hollyhock House in Kewaunee's historic district, the gardens, restored Victorian house and refurbished out buildings are the attraction.

"We create a Downton Abbey feel," said Cathy Howlett-Despot, who along with her sister Karen Howlett bought the house in 2006.

About 95 percent of the brides and grooms are from out of the county, Karen said.

"We have couples from England, South Carolina, Alaska, Virginia, California and Uganda," Cathy said.

She said they bought the house as a retreat center for their family, but host 10 to 12 weddings a year.

"We limit the number of guests to a maximum of 200, and generally local people have larger weddings," said Karen explaining why they market the site as a destination wedding.

The two sisters are particularly proud of their "farm to table" menu, which includes local wines, cheeses, smoked fish and other Wisconsin favorites.  They provide a local vendor list to all the wedding parties and also recommend local hotels for guests.

"We are proud of it for Kewaunee and the idea that Kewaunee is a destination," said Cathy.   She said they can arrange several days of activities for wedding guests, including wine tours, river and lake tours, hiking and biking and shopping excursions.

The increased number of weddings means a boost for other businesses in the area, including local hotels and caterers.

Kristine Ruehl, owner of the Hotel Stebbins in Algoma, said three or four wedding parties have booked the entire hotel this summer and she often hosts rehearsal dinners.

North Water Bakery is already receiving calls for wedding cakes in 2017 and has to turn people away, said  Joann Schneider, the bakery's owner.

Schneider said it is hard to tell if there has been an increase in Kewaunee County weddings because she also works with many resorts and caterers in Door County.

But she says that both Lakehaven Hall and the Barnsite are "great locations for large weddings," and she has delivered cakes to both venues.

The Karsten Hotel has three wedding parties booked for one weekend this September, including one at the hotel, said Randy Oleinik, hotel manager.

"We used to have one wedding here a year ... but in the last year we have had three or four," said Oleinik.

The Agricultural Heritage Farm will host 10 weddings in its pavilion and historic buildings this year.

Sue Sevcik, board member, he said that unlike some of the other weddings venues, the Ag Heritage Farm is used primarily for weddings of local Kewaunee County residents.

"One advantage we offer, is that you get the key to the building for the week," she said.   "Most of the brides spend a whole week decorating."

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press Gazette: Kewaunee becomes new wedding destination