The Northern Wisconsin Venue for Rustic Elegance
Deals
Custom discountPermanent
Off Peak Wedding for 100 or Fewer Guests
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Custom discountPermanent
Off Season Micro Weddings for 80 or less Guests.
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John McGraw
CEO
AWARD WINNER
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Chippewa Retreat Resort offers an unrivaled, lakefront, four-season wedding destination on Lake Manitowish in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin. Whether an intimate ceremony or a grand celebration, your guests will enjoy an all-inclusive experience with luxury accommodations and amenities. Our on-site wedding specialist provides the finest in service and event coordination. We have a wonderful network of Northern Wisconsin vendors ready to make your wedding weekend your dream come true. Our 2 ceremony lawns offer impeccable views of the lake or pines during our peak season while our White Oak Lodge holds the reception, or a combo of reception and ceremony during the off-peak months. Cocktails poolside are a wonderful way to take in the Northwoods atmosphere, or in our bar and lounge, complete with grand bar complimenting the Northwoods details of the interior space.
Contact us today or learn more on our website:
https://chippewaretreat.com
https://www.chippewaretreatmicroweddings.com
Amenities + details
Amenities
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Ballroom
Beach
Waterfront
Restaurant
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Planning
Food & Catering
Planning
Destination Wedding Planning
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
John McGraw
CEO
John McGraw – Owner & Wedding Coordinator, Chippewa Retreat Resort
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.014 reviews
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Chippewa Retreat Resort has garnered exceptional praise from various couples for hosting dream weddings. The venue's serene lakeside setting and rustic charm delighted guests, and the attentive staff, particularly John, was instrumental in ensuring a flawless experience. Reviewers appreciated the beautiful ceremony and reception sites, elegant north woods vibes, and the seamless coordination provided by John and his team. The venue's picturesque views, delicious food, and high-touch elegance received high accolades, making it a highly recommended choice for couples seeking a magical wedding experience.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
Olivia F
Highlighted review.
5.0
11/21/2025
Two words: simply fabulous! If you are considering CRR for your wedding, just say yes!
We had the absolute best experience hosting our wedding at Chippewa Retreat Resort. From st...
art to finish, John and his entire team went above and beyond to make our day everything we dreamed of and more. They were incredibly responsive throughout the entire planning process, always answering our questions quickly and handling every request with genuine kindness. It truly felt like they were just as invested in making our wedding perfect as we were.
One of the things we loved most was having access to the many beautiful areas throughout the property all weekend. Each spot offered something special—select condos for getting ready, lakefront lawn for the ceremony, poolside cocktail hour and indoor reception/dancing. Having those spaces available made the entire weekend feel so memorable and unique.
John’s team was also wonderfully accommodating with the setup and takedown for our reception. We were able to get in Thursday evening to start the set-up even though the wedding wasn’t until Saturday. Take down was not required until Sunday morning which allowed us to truly relax and enjoy the celebration without a single worry.
We are so grateful to Chippewa Retreat Resort, John, and the entire staff for their hard work, professionalism, and kindness. They made our wedding dreams come true, and we could not recommend this venue more highly. Cheers to all of the future CRR couples!
With thanks,
The Laubschers
Michelle J
5.0
12/20/2025
We had our wedding here on 10.7.2023 and it was a dream come true!! The day was absolutely perfect. John was the BEST. He is so friendly and loves what he does. His staff was very ...
friendly too. Overall I would recommend this place over and over again.
Response from Chippewa Retreat Resort on 12/20/2025
Thank you Michelle,
I loved working with you and look forward to your visit sometime in 2...
026. Be sure to text me when you are in town. Best,
Any questions?
Marylouise G
5.0
12/19/2025
My husband and I were married here in 2021 and while looking back at our photographs I thought I really must write a review!
John was an incredible partner as we navigated the un...
certainties of a late Covid wedding, planning from California, and accommodating lots of last minute changes to guest count due to family and friends coming from across the United States, Europe, the UK, and India!
Having grown up in the Northwoods and my husband being from India we wanted to make the wedding *weekend* a perfect introduction for all of our guests to the magnificence of the Northwoods and lake life. We were married in the local parish, took portraits in the woods and across the gorgeously landscaped grounds of the resort, boated to the cocktail hour at the pool with a live jazz trio, then moved into the reception at the White Oak Lodge stunningly decorated in a beautiful fall palette that also incorporated more colors and textures from South India.
We had a fun whiskey and cigar bar out on the patio, had the fire pit going all evening, served many an Old Fashioned by the awesome bar staff (shoutout to Mike!) and we finally closed out the evening surprising all of our guests with an incredible fireworks display on the lake! It was a quintessential Northwoods wedding to the grandest of scale. We couldn’t be more thrilled with the experience for ourselves and all of our guests. We look back on it so fondly.
Also so thankful for the incredible vendors we had helping us! Our photographer blogged about the weekend here: https://joshrexford.com/weddings/elegant-wisconsin-wedding/
Lori M
5.0
10/14/2025
Five stars is not enough!! CRR provided the best wedding experience ever. Our daughter was married there in September, planning started a year prior – any questions/concerns were ...
responded to professionally and immediate. John McGraw’s (owner) demeanor suits him perfectly, no question was too big or too small…he has a calmness about him that is key when working with wedding families, from the very first tour that was apparent. His staff, Mike and crew, were also wonderful. They told us multiple times “we want this day to be perfect for you”! Our guests also commented on the exceptional service they received. CRR is also a supper club located on the shores of Manitowish Waters – if you’ve never been you are missing out on a slice of heaven. The venue is absolutely gorgeous – you’ll be thrown back in time with a high touch of elegance. Thanks again to all at CRR.
Caroline J
5.0
9/07/2025
Chippewa Retreat Resort was absolutely our dream wedding venue. The rustic charm, serene lakeside setting, and elegant touches created a perfect backdrop that charmed every guest. ...
Even when a light sprinkle began during cocktail hour, there was plenty of covered space to keep everyone comfortable—no one missed a moment of the celebration. It felt effortlessly beautiful and intimate from start to finish.
John was great to work with! He directed our rehearsal with ease and attention to detail, and on the day of, he ensured every table setting was just right. His calm, professional approach made everything run smoothly, and we felt completely at ease throughout. We couldn’t have asked for a better venue or support team for our special day.
Response from Chippewa Retreat Resort on 09/08/2025
Thank you Caroline. It was our pleasure. Working with you and your whole family was fantas...
tic. Well organized and beautiful to execute. Don't be a stranger, come visit often. Best,
Ellie I
5.0
7/28/2025
What a GORGEOUS venue. Our wedding party stayed on site in the cabins for the week of the wedding and it was a dream come true. The ceremony site was perfect and the reception area...
is beautiful. It required very little decor. It truly gives elegant north woods vibes. We could not have asked for a better venue. John was very helpful and definitely knows what he’s doing. We ended the night in the pool!
Jamie S
5.0
6/22/2025
From start to finish working with Chippewa Retreat was a fantastic experience. John provided a thorough tour of the facility on our first visit, followed by a detailed booking bid ...
sheet itemizing potential costs for us to review before making our decision. We then signed a Letter of Commitment and we were off and running. John guided us through the entire process and was always willing to answer questions and assist with finding vendors through his approved vendor list. I would not have known where to start without him. Once the wedding week came, we were relaxed because he had things organized and in control. We wanted a wedding where our friends and family could relax and have fun, and John and his team made this a reality. The venue is gorgeous, the Chippewa team is fun and professional to work with, and our day was perfect. We cannot review Chippewa Retreat highly enough.
Krystal M
5.0
10/03/2024
John and Chippewa exceeded our expectations! Pictures do not do this venue justice. The beauty is absolutely breathtaking to the point where all of our guests are still talking abo...
ut it over a month later. John and all of his employees made our wedding weekend the best weekend of our lives. Everything ran perfectly and smoothly with absolutely no hiccups. We were able to have down time, relax and enjoy every moment. The food for our rehearsal dinner and brunch blew everyone away (and we are picky). I don’t know many newlyweds who can say this but there wasn’t a single problem that arose during our four day wedding weekend because of John and his staff. We will be coming back for a visit we loved it so much. Thank you John and everyone at Chippewa.
Meghan O
5.0
8/10/2024
CRR was the experience of a lifetime. The peace of mind that was provided with the care and ease of the venue and staff was beyond compare. Everything went beautifully and the comm...
unication was key. Any questions or concerns we had were taken care of immediately. The location is stunning and the food was out of this world! We had a small, micro wedding of about 60 people and it couldn’t have been a better day or experience. We would highly recommend CRR, John and all the amazing people it took to create such a memorable step to our new future as newlyweds!
Rebecca L
5.0
11/09/2023
Our daughter’s reception on 10/21/23 was a great success at this beautiful facility!! It’s a beautiful outdoor setting with picturesque views by the lake and the warmth of the ins...
ide is Northwoods elegant! John McGraw and his team were great support throughout the process and very easy to work with. Thank you John for making our event a very special experience!
Response from Chippewa Retreat Resort on 11/09/2023
Thank you Rebecca. It was an honor and pleasure working with you. Hope to see you soon at ...
the White Oak. Best,
Megan M
5.0
11/23/2021
I cannot say enough great things about this venue. We had a late September wedding here & it was absolutely beautiful with the fall colors popping. What really made it amazing wa...
s John, the owner who made everything run seamless. He was there the whole day to help with anything needed & made sure it was the best day for us. I would recommend having your wedding here over & over. We cannot wait to be back for our anniversaries in the future!!
Rachel A
5.0
11/13/2021
The Chippewa Retreat Resort was the perfect location for our wedding weekend! Everyone stayed at the resort and was able to be together all weekend, the outdoor space/on the lake i...
s beautiful, and indoors is amazing as well. John works with every couple to make sure everything runs smoothly. Perfect location for a larger Northwoods wedding!
Morgan P
5.0
11/07/2018
If you are looking for the perfect Northwoods Wisconsin wedding venue look no further than the Chippewa Retreat Resort. This is one of our favorite resorts for multiple reasons! Fi...
rst, the bridal and groom cottages to get ready in are the perfect amount of up north cabin and class. We love the different options this resort provides for their guests including places to stay right on site, which is perfect when guests don't want to travel and just continue to celebrate an amazing day. Second, we love the location site and reception area. Both of these places are absolutely stunning and always leave guests in awe when they come to the wedding! Finally, sunset photos along the lake never disappoint. Chippewa Retreat Resort is truly one of the best wedding venues in Wisconsin. Chippewa Retreat Resort Wedding Film: http://bit.ly/2QrUlld
Lauren H
5.0
12/20/2015
My husband and I had our wedding ceremony and reception at Chippewa Retreat Resort this June. The title of this post came from many of our guests declaring Chippewa Retreat Resort ...
“a little slice of heaven.” Every expectation we had going into our wedding weekend was blown away by how fabulous the entire experience was. The staff at Chippewa Retreat redefined accommodating. The owner was present throughout the weekend and was clearly committed to making everyone’s experience a positive one. The resort staff was extremely friendly. They were always ready and willing to help with even the smallest detail. Franny, the events coordinator was a good as it gets. She made almost every request we had a reality. She helped brainstorm fun ideas, communicated regularly and promptly, always maintained a professional yet happy demeanor and was extremely fair through the entire process. The location of the resort cannot be beat. The cabins are beautifully decorated, comfortable and come with amazing views of the lake. The resort itself is centered around a beautiful pool, which served as a perfect meeting ground for all of our friends and family. The resort grounds are meticulously maintained with flowers everywhere. The day of the wedding was a truly a dream come true. Franny and the rest of the Chippewa Resort staff helped decorate the reception hall and ceremony area exactly the way I had imagined it. They provided all the necessary sound equipment for the ceremony, set up the chairs and helped make sure everything was set to go. Everything went off smoothly and I was able to take the entire day in and enjoy every moment knowing the staff had everything under control. The reception was held in the resort’s newly built restaurant. We didn’t have to do much decorating because the restaurant area is gorgeous as is. Our guests raved about the dinner, saying it was the best wedding food they had ever had, some said it was the best FOOD they had ever had. We stayed on Sunday and ate at the restaurant because we loved it so much. Putting all the pieces of the wedding puzzle together can be a lot of work, however I truly enjoyed the entire process working with Franny and the rest of the Chippewa Resort crew. They were dedicated to making our experience one we would cherish for a long time to come. I must agree with our guests, we found our slice of wedding heaven at Chippewa Retreat Resort.
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Chippewa Retreat Resort
John McGraw
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CEO
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Chippewa Retreat Resort
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