We both grew up in the beautiful bluff country of Southeast Minnesota, along the Mississippi River, where small towns, good neighbors, and a strong sense of community were simply part of everyday life. Those roots have stayed with us, and they're a big part of what we hope you'll experience here at The Gathering Barn.

Our backgrounds are a little different, but they've always had a common thread: bringing people together.

Rich has years of experience in hospitality, including managing bars and nightclubs, along with a long career in public service. Cari's background includes corporate leadership, training and development, event production, and creative design. Together, we've spent years working behind the scenes at weddings and celebrations through our DJ, sound, and lighting business, Midnight Rendezvous.

Along the way, we discovered something about ourselves. As much as we loved the music, the celebrations, and the excitement of an event, what we enjoyed most was taking care of people. Helping things run smoothly. Anticipating the little details. Making sure everyone felt comfortable, welcome, and free to enjoy themselves.

Eventually, we began imagining what it would be like to have a place of our own where we could bring all of that together.

That opportunity brought us to Northern Wisconsin and The Gathering Barn.

For us, owning a venue has never been just about providing a beautiful space. It's about being good hosts. We believe hospitality should feel genuine, thoughtful, and personal. The kind where you're greeted with a smile, someone remembers your name, and you know there's a real person looking out for you.

We take pride in the details, but we also believe celebrations should feel relaxed and natural. Whether we're helping a couple prepare for their wedding, welcoming family and friends for a special occasion, or hosting a community gathering, our goal is always the same: to make people feel at home and genuinely cared for.

We want you to feel like guests, not customers.

Outside of the barn, we're pretty simple people. We love live music, good food, traveling, gardening, biking, and spending time outdoors. We're parents to four grown children, grandparents to two, and devoted dog lovers. Our Newfoundlands, Zeus and Portia, have certainly become part of life around the property, too.

We love the character of old things, the beauty of the Northwoods, the familiarity of small towns, and the simple pleasure of gathering around a table with good people.

In many ways, The Gathering Barn is a reflection of those things.

We're a small, independently owned venue, and we're personally involved in the celebrations that happen here. You'll find us setting up chairs, tending to the grounds, helping vendors, welcoming guests, and doing whatever we can to make the day a little easier for the people who have entrusted us with it.

We know how much these occasions mean to the families celebrating them. And we don't take it lightly when someone chooses to share one of life's important moments with us.

We hope that when you visit The Gathering Barn, you'll find more than a beautiful place to celebrate. We hope you'll feel the warmth, care, and hospitality that we've worked so hard to make part of it.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Warmly,

Rich & Cari Klein
Owners & Hosts, The Gathering Barn