Menu
3 Fat Labs to unveil new wedding barn with Saturday open house
Saturday may be the grand opening event for the new at 3 Fat Labs Wedding and Event Barn, but the word is already out about the rustic venue west of Greencastle.
“My phone’s just ringing off the hook,” owner Tanya Mentgen told the Banner Graphic recently, adding that a pair of local school corporations had been trying to secure the same date for their 2019 prom.
Rather than nestling into the Madison Township woods, the new venue rises above many of the surrounding trees at 2009 S. CR 400 West (Saddle Club Road), Greencastle.
The public will get the chance to see what the buzz is all about with an open house from 5-11 p.m. Saturday. The event will include live music, local food available for purchase from Myers’ Market and a cash bar, all in a new facility overlooking 30 scenic acres.
The music will be provided by DJ Pick Nield until 8 p.m., followed by a live performance from Sojourn Rocs from Mattoon, Ill.
Even with a bed and breakfast that’s been in operation for since 2013, Mentgen tried for 2-1/2 years to get funding for the project, eventually obtaining a loan from Byline Bank in Indianapolis.
“They saw my vision and went ahead and loaned me the money,” Mentgen said.
Based on early returns, the 14,458-square-foot facility was a good investment.
The first wedding took place on April 15 and since then, the calls have come fast.
“When I built this, I thought, ‘Are people going to come out here?’” Mentgen said. “I have people coming from Kentucky. I have one bride from Colorado.”
One of these out-of-state brides reserved the venue sight-unseen, but later followed up with a wedding planner to really get her planning under way.
Aside from a main floor that can hold 236 and many more on the porch area, the venue offers a downstairs “man cave” area where the groom and his party can get ready, as well as a nearby cottage that serves a dual purpose.
Besides being a place where the bride and her party can get ready, the bridal cottage provides an on-site place for the couple to spend the first night of their honeymoon.
Mentgen also emphasized that the barn can be more than just a wedding venue. It can also be a spot for corporate or other large gatherings, such as the Putnam County Lincoln Day Dinner last month.
For more information on the venue, contact 3 Fat Labs at 653-0308.
3 Fat Labs can be reached from Greencastle by heading west on West Walnut Street and then turning south on County Road 400 West. Take the first lane to the right after crossing the railroad bridge.
Parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged.