Minnesota County Warns Brides, Grooms To Stay Away From This Wedding Venue

STEARNS COUNTY, MN — A Stearns County judge has found the owner of a rural wedding venue in civil contempt of court for repeatedly hosting paid events in defiance of a court order, rejecting his argument that the gatherings were private religious ceremonies rather than a business.

Stearns County officials issued a public advisory this week warning potential clients that the venue, known as "The Hay Shed" in St. Wendel Township north of St. Joseph, is not authorized to host events.

The property's owner, Aloysius William Studniski, got a permit to build what was approved as an agricultural storage structure, then began charging couples to hold weddings there. County officials say he ignored years of warnings and a formal violation order, telling investigators the rules didn't apply to him because he isn't a U.S. citizen and is tax-exempt.

The county attorney's office sued him last year. Studniski responded with a document claiming he wasn't disputing "the facts, jurisdiction, law or venue," then later tried to dismiss the case using paperwork seeking to disclaim his citizenship and legal personhood.

On Aug. 6, Judge Laura Moehrle rejected those arguments outright, granting the county summary judgment and ordering Studniski to stop operating the venue until he obtained the required permits or tore out the driveway and returned the land to farmland. The judge noted that so-called sovereign citizen legal theories have no validity in American courts.

Studniski kept hosting weddings anyway, authorities said.

At a contempt hearing, a sheriff's sergeant testified that a deputy counted up to 200 vehicles at the property one weekend, and that a guest at another event asked a deputy for directions to the wedding.

Studniski testified the gatherings were private, invitation-only ceremonies for "holy matrimony." The judge didn't buy it, finding that members of the public were booking the property for their own events rather than gathering as family or invited guests.

In a Sept. 15 order, the judge held Studniski in civil contempt and imposed a $5,000-per-event fine, staying as long as he brings the property into compliance or shuts it down as a venue by Oct. 6.

Miss that deadline and keep hosting events, and the fines kick in, climbing to $5,000 a week after that. The order also lets the Sheriff's Office enter the property, break up any events underway and post notices that it's closed. Studniski is due back in court October 16 to show he's complied.

Sheriff Steve Soyka and County Attorney Janelle Kendall said the advisory is meant to make sure potential clients know the venue isn't in compliance and that any booked events will be shut down.