Meet Lindsey Rogowski of Parma, Michigan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey Rogowski.

Hi Lindsey, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Pat and I met in Clare, MI, in 2010. Our parents each owned bars in the area, and we both worked for them. After his shifts, Pat would stop by to see me, and not long after, we started dating. By 2014, we bought our first house together. At the same time, we took over his parents’ bar and started remodeling our house. Everything was going great.

In May of 2016, we took a two-week road trip. While in New Orleans, Pat proposed—secret photographer and all—but back home, there was a major fire at the bar. That event was a turning point. We realized we didn’t want to stay in the bar industry, so we decided to shift our focus.

We immediately began planning our wedding for June 2017, listed our house for sale, and set out to find the perfect place for a barn venue—a dream we’d always had. We looked at nearly 40 properties across Michigan, with a very specific checklist in mind. Then we found it: a barn in Parma. It was unique, full of history, and unlike most barns, it wasn’t in the middle of a cornfield. The property had been built by the founders of Parma and featured stunning gardens and trees over 150 years old. We were in love.

We made an offer, but it was rejected. We were crushed, but we didn’t give up. In the meantime, our house sold in May 2017. We had to wrap up wedding planning and move out just a week after the ceremony—talk about a whirlwind!

On June 3, 2017, we got married, then immediately started packing up our house. We moved into a tiny cabin that Pat’s parents owned, hoping for the best. Just a couple of months later, in August 2017, the previous owner of the barn had a change of heart and accepted our offer. By October, we moved from Clare to Parma, got new jobs, and began the massive task of remodeling the house and barns.

We worked full-time jobs during the day and tackled the renovations at night. For two years, we lived in a side room with a mattress on the floor, a TV on a stand, and walls that were still torn apart. The farmhouse and barn were gutted to their cores. But by October 2019, we were ready to host our first two weddings. Since then, we’ve only grown. Now, we host between 16 and 20 weddings each season, and it’s been an incredible journey!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No ! Family and friends doubting us, long days and zero sleep for 2 years. The stress of risking everything we had for something we were not even sure would work. It was not for the weak, but we would do it all over again. We have met so many wonderful people and have had the chance to help multiple other businesses open

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I would say we specialize in making one of the most important days of your life unforgettable. We are known for the one-of-a-kind barn venue and for being very passionate about providing a space people will talk about forever. I am most proud of the relationships we have built with our couples and other vendors who we work closely with. Also so proud of what we went through to get where we are now

What makes you happy?
Seeing the way people react to this place is one of my favorite things to witness. As well as when the previous owner comes to visit and cry’s- she is so happy with what her home has become! We like to think that the people who build this place may not have ever imagine this is what it would be used for, but that they wholeheartedly approve 🙂

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vintagegardenbarn.com
• Instagram: @vintagegardenbarn
• Facebook: TheVintageGardenBarn