Today we’d like to introduce you to Al and Lyndsey Johnson.
Hi Al and Lyndsey, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Thanks so much! Well, we’re Al and Lyndsey Johnson, a husband/wife duo who have worked together since we first met. It all started 20+ years ago when we met in college, both studying art education. We’ll spare you the love story since this is about our work, but we both have always loved to create and be in environments that push us to think out of the box. After college, we took jobs at a summer camp that turned into full-time employment for 9 years. At camp, we learned we loved hosting and meeting people and preparing experiences for kids, families, and retreat groups of all types and sizes. We were given the space and opportunity to work hard and connect with people in meaningful ways.
Looking back we can see we thrived in a setting where we were able to prepare for groups and then be flexible once they arrived to make each gathering unique to the people involved. Who knew this would prove to be helpful as wedding hosts? While full-time at the camp our artist itch was growing so we began a side gig as wedding photographers. We resigned from the camp in 2008 and gave ourselves one year to dive full-time into photography. Throughout our marriage and work life, we’ve had a motto of “We can do anything for a year” which included living in a one-room cabin, a camper, a few different rentals, and even with parents! Whatever it takes to make the dream a reality. That being said, we said yes to every opportunity photography offered and after one year had more work than we knew what to do with!
As photographers, we started to focus mainly on weddings. After 10 years and 400+ weddings later we started to dream of owning our own venue. We had gotten to watch outdoor venues pop up all over the Midwest, we watched how they were managed and thought to ourselves… that could be fun, a combination of all our experiences. So, we started playing the “What IF” game with each other. As we talked and dreamed one thing was certain, IF we found a property that would work for weddings it would have to be unique. So we watched, toured properties, took business classes…took steps forward, and learned.
After two years of touring, making offers, being disappointed by things not working out, etc. we stumbled into an opportunity that felt right. Right here, in the small town of Solon Springs, where we lived and called home the beloved local Garden House was for sale. It would take a ton of work but we had the vision, time, and dream to give it our best shot. In April of 2018, we purchased the Garden House and by July we were way over our heads in projects. But, it was exciting and we still had a vision of what it could be.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh boy! No, it hasn’t been a smooth road but it’s been exciting and sometimes overwhelming. One of the biggest struggles was the 2020 wedding season.
We hosted our first wedding season in 2019 and had lots of learning moments. We were excited about a fully booked season for 2020 and then Covid happened. Our business survived because of the 10 years in the wedding industry we already had and the relationships we’d built along the way with other venue owners and vendors. Being able to network and get creative was crucial. We had many sleepless nights wondering if everything we had invested was going to disappear.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Today we are able to offer a wedding venue style that is extremely rare. Our goal is to embrace that outdoor garden feels we all seem to be drawn to.
We have indoor and outdoor options, a lot of space, and a ton of experience to offer. But probably the part we love best is that we get to be part of so many weddings. Sure we find joy in making the space, mowing the lawn, and making things grow, but it seems what feeds our hearts the most is actually helping make wedding dreams become a reality. We love the couples who feel a connection to this space and we love celebrating them on their wedding day!
What do you like and dislike about the city?
We love that our space has brought thousands of new visitors to Solon Springs every season since 2019. Many of them had never been to northern WI before and were blown away by the beauty that our small community offers.
We’ve had guests from all over the US and even 6 of the 7 continents have been represented. There is something very unique about being in the woods completely surrounded by nature and we are thrilled to offer that to couples.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://solonspringsatrium.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.atrium/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SolonSpringsAtrium
Image Credits
Wild Trails Studio and Kellie Rae – Rachel Elle Photography
