I truly wish I had been able to see this venue in person before my son and future daughter-in-law put down a deposit for their February wedding. Unfortunately, I am not local, and by the time I visited, the decision had already been made.
From start to finish, the experience fell far short of expectations. The venue itself is in need of updates and a thorough deep cleaning. The carpets were dingy, cobwebs were visible in corners, the windows were extremely drafty (guests seated near them were uncomfortable), and overall, the space felt outdated and in need of maintenance.
One of the most concerning issues was the condition of the ceremony site. During our August visit to the site, we were assured by the wedding coordinator, that the outdoor area would be fully cleared of snow and ice. That did not happen. The exact spot where the ceremony took place and where guests were seated was still very icy (see photo), creating unsafe conditions. Watching my daughter-in-law carry my 14-month-old granddaughter across ice to reach her seat was stressful and completely avoidable. Clearing that area would not have required extensive effort. If a venue chooses to host outdoor winter weddings in Upstate New York, it should be fully prepared to maintain safe conditions and follow through on commitments.
The placement of ceremony chairs under the deck was another issue. Guests had to endure people walking above them and ice falling intermittently. The chairs were not supposed to be under the deck but failure to remove the ice resulted in yet another commitment by the wedding coordinator that was not met.
The rental properties affiliated with the venue were also disappointing -- dark, outdated, and priced significantly higher than comparable short-term rentals in the area. We ultimately rented a beautiful lakefront home through VRBO that comfortably accommodated 20 people and exceeded expectations.
The rehearsal experience was equally frustrating. After standing around for over 20 minutes waiting to begin, I approached the coordinator to ask what we were waiting for, as everyone had arrived. I was told she was "lining people up," though no visible progress had been made. Ultimately, I felt compelled to step in to keep things moving. The wedding procession timing was also off, which added unnecessary stress to what should have been a joyful moment. This was the result of the chairs not being in the place they were supposed to be (due to the ice not being removed).
Overall, the staff did not demonstrate the level of hospitality one expects for such an important life event, especially the wedding coordinator. The service felt disengaged rather than welcoming and attentive.
Finally, the food was mediocre--overly salty, vegetables undercooked, and several appetizers tasted like they endured some freezer burn. The rehearsal dinner catering we got from Market 32 way surpassed the wedding food from the Lodge and was a very small fraction of the cost.
A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime (very expensive) event, and expectations for safety, professionalism, cleanliness, and hospitality are not unreasonable. Unfortunately, this venue did not meet those standards. read more