4.9
Praised by couples for:
Amenities
Guests comfort
Unique aesthetic style
Waterfall Weddings!
Holds ceremonies and receptions
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Tracy, Kandace, and the entire Dogwood Canyon team for making our wedding day absolutely perfect and completely stress-free. You all did a truly fantastic job!
Everyone was incredibly warm, welcoming, and professional—from the gentleman in the booth, to the servers and bartenders, to the ranger who shared fun facts with the kids, and everyone in between. Every detail was handled so beautifully, and everything was exactly as I had imagined—and more.
Our guests keep raving about how beautiful the setting was, as well as how incredible the food was. One friend even asked if we had paid extra for the full moon and fireflies because the evening was so magical!
If you’re considering Dogwood Canyon as your wedding venue, you will not regret it. We are so grateful we chose this incredible place to celebrate such an important day, and we couldn’t have asked for a better team to make it all come together.
Thank you, Dogwood Canyon, for giving us the wedding day we always dreamed of!
Photos by Chris Killingsworth
Kimberly B.
5.0
Our wedding day in May 2025 at Dogwood Canyon was everything and more. While scouting for venues, we had fallen in love with the Big Cedar properties and ultimately decided Dogwood fit our vision best - beautiful nature, woodsy-upscale feel, gorgeous indoor reception space, and multiple incredible spaces for our two separate religious ceremonies (Catholic + Hindu), ceremony intermission, cocktail hour, and reception. We had cranes and butterflies flying among us during our ceremony on the chapel patio! The pictures online really do not do it justice - it is incredible in person.
This was a destination wedding for us, and we worried that it would be difficult to plan from so far away. However, Tracy, our venue POC/coordinator, was so helpful and incredibly organized. She had everything down to a T. We gave her numerous specific requests, and she was more than happy to accommodate them and make our vision come to life. She worked seamlessly with the venue chefs, venue operations, our outside vendor team, etc., to execute an incredible day.
We really feel like we couldn’t have chosen ANY other place to get married. It was truly a magical and special day.
Gina M.
5.0
AWARD WINNER (3X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Dogwood Canyon Nature Park is a wedding venue located in Lampe, MO, just 30 minutes south of Branson. Spanning the Missouri-Arkansas border, the 10,000-acre property’s lush landscape has been thoughtfully looked after by passionate conservations. This dedication to the land has resulted in its untouched appearance, highlighting the grounds’ cascading waterfalls, crystal-clear streams, ancient caves, and more. This venue is ideal for nature-loving couples who would like to incorporate the outdoors into their milestone events.
Dogwood Canyon Nature Park consists of five event spaces where you can host your big day while being surrounded by unforgettable scenery. Reflecting the natural beauty of the venue, the Hope Wilderness Chapel was handcrafted from primarily local materials. The space’s rough-sawn oak flooring, red cedar ceiling, and views of a trickling waterfall create a rustic, intimate setting where you can say “I do.” Here, you can exchange vows with up to 120 guests watching from the pine-log pews. Directly behind this space is the Chapel Patio, allowing for a seamless transition to your reception. Able to comfortably fit up to 90 people, this outdoor area is framed by deep blue-green pools and rock formations. If you’d prefer to dine and dance inside, you are welcome to celebrate at the Canyon Grill Restaurant. The space’s hand-hewn exposed beams, wood-burning fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows offer a cozy ambience for up to 120 loved ones. Adjacent to the restaurant, the Canyon Grill Patio encourages guests to enjoy the open air and serene sights and sounds of the cascading Indian Cliff Falls. Up to 100 people can share drinks and conversations here while admiring the view. Another outdoor option, the Chuckwagon Pavillion, is a hand-crafted event space situated by a tranquil stream. Its market lighting, rustic decor, and elegant reception layout produce a romantic atmosphere for any occasion. If you’re dreaming of something different to what these sites offer, the venue is happy to work with you to design a custom outdoor site. When selecting this option, you can choose any spot within the vast grounds to hold your ceremony and reception.
Dogwood Canyon Nature Park offers various packages for weddings, elopements, proposals, and more are available to streamline your planning process. For as seamless an experience as possible, the attentive team will set up, tear down, and clean up. The in-house culinary staff can prepare delicious breakfast, hors d’oeuvres, buffet, plated, and station options for a memorable reception meal. Fun activity add-ons such as a Wildlife Tram Tour, fishing, horseback riding, biking, and more can be also incorporated into your celebration. For the convenience and comfort of you and your guests, tram transportation can be provided between the event spaces and parking area. To begin designing a plan for your big day and see the spectacular sites for yourself, the team invites you to book a consultation.
27+ years in business
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Ceremony Types
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Garden
Park
Religious Setting
Church
Restaurant
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Food & Catering
Service Staff
Transportation
Shuttle Service
Awards and Affiliations
3-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2020.2019.2016.
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Reviews
4.9
out of 5.063 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 7
Gina M
Highlighted review.
5.0
Our wedding day in May 2025 at Dogwood Canyon was everything and more. While scouting for venues, we had fallen in love with the Big Cedar properties and ultimately decided Dogwood...
fit our vision best - beautiful nature, woodsy-upscale feel, gorgeous indoor reception space, and multiple incredible spaces for our two separate religious ceremonies (Catholic + Hindu), ceremony intermission, cocktail hour, and reception. We had cranes and butterflies flying among us during our ceremony on the chapel patio! The pictures online really do not do it justice - it is incredible in person.
This was a destination wedding for us, and we worried that it would be difficult to plan from so far away. However, Tracy, our venue POC/coordinator, was so helpful and incredibly organized. She had everything down to a T. We gave her numerous specific requests, and she was more than happy to accommodate them and make our vision come to life. She worked seamlessly with the venue chefs, venue operations, our outside vendor team, etc., to execute an incredible day.
We really feel like we couldn’t have chosen ANY other place to get married. It was truly a magical and special day.
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Thank you for your kind words! We loved working with you and Kevin on your beautiful, spe...
cial day!
Kimberly B
5.0
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Tracy, Kandace, and the entire Dogwood Canyon team for making our wedding day absolutely perfect and completely stress-free. You all di...
d a truly fantastic job!
Everyone was incredibly warm, welcoming, and professional—from the gentleman in the booth, to the servers and bartenders, to the ranger who shared fun facts with the kids, and everyone in between. Every detail was handled so beautifully, and everything was exactly as I had imagined—and more.
Our guests keep raving about how beautiful the setting was, as well as how incredible the food was. One friend even asked if we had paid extra for the full moon and fireflies because the evening was so magical!
If you’re considering Dogwood Canyon as your wedding venue, you will not regret it. We are so grateful we chose this incredible place to celebrate such an important day, and we couldn’t have asked for a better team to make it all come together.
Thank you, Dogwood Canyon, for giving us the wedding day we always dreamed of!
Photos by Chris Killingsworth
Any questions?
Molly L
1.0
Shut Down Our Wedding, Then Called It a “Joke”
On May 10, 2025, Dogwood Canyon shut down our wedding reception over an hour early, despite a signed contract and full payment. It t...
ook them nearly 45 minutes to get the bar reopened and the lights turned back down. After we protested, they verbally agreed to extend the event until midnight - then later claimed that agreement was a “joke.” The venue abruptly shut down our reception not once, but twice.
We spent over $20K on the venue alone - not to mention decor, vendors, and flying in guests from across the country. The night was completely derailed. No cake cutting. No final dance. No send-off.
Venue’s own words: they called the agreed midnight extension a “joke.” This was after they shut us down twice and ruined our wedding.
If that wasn’t bad enough, they threatened to call the sheriff on me (the bride) and weaponized the very security we paid for to escort me out the door.
Their idea of “making it right”? Offering a refund only if we waived all legal claims. We refused, and they immediately changed their story.
They’ve since submitted three different timelines to us, our credit card company, and the Attorney General; changing their story again and again. Absolutely unprofessional and dishonest.
If you’re considering this venue, ask yourself what you’ll do if they ruin your once-in-a-lifetime event - and then laugh about it afterward.
Deborah S
2.0
I will say our cordinator did her best and Sheri was wonderful. However we paid extra to reserve the inside and the outside areas but right after diner they made me stop my recepti...
on to clean the inside so they could put the restraunt back to how it is. You already have a short reception time and we had to cut things out because of this. They also charged me an acholo fee for my other vendors and changed the menue AFTER we had already locked in our contract. Instead of giving us the new menue at the same price they charged us the new prices. They then put the desert table outside (so they could clean the inside) and all of our deserts were covered in bugs in a matter of minutes. Avoiding this is one of the reasons I paid extra to have both areas. Overal I had a lovely night but if I could redo it I probably would rebook with them and I don't suggest other book with them either.
Courtney H
5.0
My wedding day was amazing! The venue was beautiful and the perfect backdrop. The wedding coordinators are wonderful to work with and willing to help with anything. Food was great ...
and all our guests were impressed!
Brittany W
5.0
these people went above and beyond to make my dreams come true! they were so helpful and ok point with coordinating our wedding, I couldn't have asked for more !!!!!!
Shana S
5.0
"You wanted to be here in Dogwood Canyon today because there is something more than the trees and the rocks and the waterfalls; there is something deep, sacred, and spiritual. It i...
s indescribable and immense." Those words from our ceremony are absolutely true. Dogwood Canyon could not be any more perfect. And everyone we worked with there was phenomenal -- from coordinator Alyssa to Rev. Jim Scott to tour guide Ian and many others. Our small wedding turned into an elopement at the last minute due to family emergencies, but we still got the same quality service and attention as any other much larger wedding. Your photos can't help but be amazing with all the beautiful backdrops. You will love every minute of getting married at Dogwood Canyon!
Alexandria W
5.0
Thank you so much to everyone on the Dogwood team that made our special day run seamlessly and perfect!
Our wedding coordinator, DeAnna Ulmer, was on top of every last detail not o...
nly on our wedding day, but for months leading up to it!
The venue itself is beyond beautiful, it will leave all your guests in total awe. And while you're busy getting ready and taking photos, Dogwood offers many free activities for your guests!
The area is beyond perfect, worth traveling to!
Lauren J
5.0
Dogwood canyon captured us from the first moment we were there. Not only is it a beautiful venue; they have great food and amazing, attentive,-but not overbearing- staff.
Our expe...
rience from the first moment was professional, relaxed and well organized. I didn’t worry about a single thing; they said they would take care of it and they carried through with their promise.
I will recommend them over and over again. Go ahead and book them, you won’t be disappointed.
James P
5.0
Dogwood Canyon was the perfect place for our wedding! Deanna and the staff blew our expectations away and we couldn’t have been happier with our experience. I would definitely reco...
mmend Dogwood to anyone looking for a nature/forest vibe and the waterfall by the chapel is the perfect backdrop.
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
James - Your day was so pretty with the clouds and rain. We were so excited to work with y...
ou, because your attitudes were amazing and we were able to get such great photos! We wish you both many years of happiness together!! Much love - Deanna
Terri B
5.0
A fairytale come true - bond vow renewal
I cannot express how amazingly perfect our Vow Renewal was, thanks to Deanna and the rest of the staff at Dogwood Canyon!! I was incredibl...
y nervous at first booking a venue unseen and then making all arrangements from a thousand miles away, as I am not only a perfectionist, but a decorator also! Deanna handled every question from afar on the phone and calmed me down more times than I can count, reassuring me she had this! When it came to "The Day," she definitely had it to perfection! Though I was running late, my zipper on my dress was broken, she had nerves of steel and did not once get flustered; instead, she did everything to make sure the show would go on and it would be amazing! Driving into Dogwood Canyon on the Day, it was like driving into a fairy tail and then there is the Bridal suite, and the intimate Hope Chapel and the patio where the reception was. Our photograpers, Adam + Dawn told me I had won the lottery for being perfect...it was Easter, not a cloud in the sky, every dogwood and cherry blossom was at the peak of its bloom and it was 70 degrees with a slight wind. I truly felt like a princess on that day thanks to Deanna and the staff at Dogwood Canyon! The food was absolutely amazing, presentation was unbelievable! The value, you will not find anything remotely close to the value for the beauty and charm. My guests from all over the United States were truly blown away and are still talking about it to this day! It became a special day in everyone's hearts! Thank you Deanna and Dogwood Canyon
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Terri - Your day was AMAZINGLY beautiful! The dogwood trees could not have been more perfe...
ct if we had hired them to be! It was my pleasure to be able to assist such wonderful people on their wedding day! Your photographers, Adam + Dawn did such a great job capturing your day as well! Much Love - Deanna
Brianna P
5.0
My husband and I are so glad we chose Dogwood for our wedding. Deanna is amazing and really knows what she is doing. We wouldn’t have wanted our wedding to be anywhere else!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Brianna & Caleb - Thank you so much for allowing us to celebrate with you and your family....
Your mom (Susan) was absolutely wonderful to work for, and even more fun to celebrate with! We wish you many years of happiness together! Much love - Deanna
Alexa F
5.0
Most beautiful wedding my guests said they have ever seen or been to. Couldn’t have done this without Deanna and her staff. They would have waited on you hand and foot if you would...
let them. Such great people and ever better views if that’s even possible. I cannot get over how great it was.
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Alexa & Hunter - Thank you so much for your kind words. It was such a beautiful day, follo...
wed by an incredibly fun reception where all of your guests danced to AMAZING songs! We wish you both all of the best! Much love - Deanna
Nicole G
5.0
Absolutely stunning venue and great staff! Deanna did an excellent job keeping everything running seamlessly. I would highly recommend this venue if you are looking for an outdoo...
r venue with nature as the backdrop!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Nicole - Thank you for entrusting your daughter's wedding day with us! It was our pleasure...
to host you and your family! Deanna
Tiffany F
5.0
My husband proposed to me at Dogwood Canyon while on vacation in Branson over the Thanksgiving holidays, so the venue meant a lot to us. We were so excited to be able to book the v...
enue for our wedding day, and especially excited that it was actually affordable. We are from Louisiana, but I was able to plan the most magical destination wedding in under 4 months, and it's all because of DeAnna, the wedding coordinator at Dogwood. She is AMAZING!!!!!!!!! I cannot say enough about how great she was throughout the planning process and on the day of the wedding. I had absolutely no stress or worries on my wedding day because I knew I was in great hands. Our ceremony took place at the beautiful Wilderness Chapel. The reception was originally scheduled outside, but DeAnna was kind enough to move it to the restaurant when mother nature decided to send a flood. Even though it rained the entire day, our wedding was absolutely perfect. Dogwood Canyon is absolutely beautiful, no matter the weather, and they went above and beyond to make accommodations that helped the entire wedding party and our guests avoid the rain. We were even still able to take pictures in the park. The venue and park are so beautiful, decorations are very minimal. I didn't bring much more than a picture of the two of us and a guest book. Everything else was taken care of. I can't leave a review without mentioning how incredible the food was as well. We all (including myself) wanted seconds of everything. It was delicious. I would give Dogwood a 10 star rating if I could.. It is absolutely incredible and I will forever cherish our wedding day.
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Tiffany - Thank you so much for your kind words! We absolutely love it when our couples be...
gin their marriage journey with their proposal at Dogwood Canyon, and finish it with the wedding! Your clear umbrella photos turned out amazing, and even with Mother Nature not cooperating, you both had wonderful attitudes (which really helps in a marriage!). We wish you both all the best! Much love - Deanna
Heather L
5.0
Deanna at Dogwood Canyon was absolutely amazing to work with. I planned a wedding from 3 hours away, and she made the entire experience a breeze! Response times were almost immed...
iate and they didn't spare any details. The wedding day went off perfectly and pictures are better than I could have imagined. Such a great venue and staff!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Heather - Elopements like yours make my job full of such sweet little moments! I'm so happ...
y I was able to assist you in all of your plans with the park! We wish you both all the best on your upcoming move! Much love - Deanna
Victoria S
5.0
My wedding was an absolute dream come true because of Dogwood Canyon. The entire park is breathtakingly gorgeous. We chose the grill patio to have our ceremony and reception and th...
ere are not enough words to express how amazing it was. The waterfall in the background was so perfect. I knew my wedding was going to be amazing when I chose Dogwood Canyon originally but I had no idea how truly magical it would be until the day finally came. Everything flowed perfectly, like nothing went wrong AT ALL. Dogwood Canyon allowed me to have my dogs in the ceremony and they were able to walk down the aisle! It meant so much to me to have them there. Deanna, the wedding coordinator, was so wonderful. She has so much knowledge and had everything organized from the very beginning. I knew I didn't have to stress about a thing because she had it under control. She was so accommodating and felt like much more to me than just a wedding coordinator during this process. Deanna answered all my questions and calmed me down when wedding stresses would take over, even before the day of! I can say without a doubt that my wedding would not have gone as well as it did without Deanna's help. We also did the pictures in the park before the ceremony and it was so beautiful seeing different spots of the park. So many of my guests were so impressed with the location of Dogwood Canyon and the incredible staff. They were so attentive, so helpful, so nice. I can't say enough good things about the entire team. The food for our rehearsal dinner and wedding dinner was delicious! People were also raving about that all night as well. You can not go wrong by choosing to have your wedding at Dogwood Canyon. We can't wait to go back to experience everything else the park has to offer as it will always hold a special place in our hearts. <3
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Victoria, I cannot thank you enough for your wonderfully thoughtful and thorough review of...
all of our services! Since I work with my clients for such a long time, my hope is always to leave the event with more friends for life, and not be just a coordinator. If there is anything else that I can do for you, please do not hesitate to ask! I wish you all the best on your future - Much love, Deanna
Holly E
5.0
Every girl dreams of a fairytale wedding, well the Dogwood Canyon made mine even more than this. First off, dogwood canyon is breathtaking. I will add one of our wedding photos j...
ust for a glimpse of the beauty of the park. Despite being a full time student, mom, and full time nurse, Deanna our wedding coordinator At dogwood canyon made the wedding planning a smooth process. She didn’t miss any detail! The food was exquisite, each of the staff was always right there to assist throughout the wedding and were very accommodating to our needs. The price was very reasonable and not only included the use of the venue but also the food, the bar, the cake, the food, the wedding planner and so much more. If I had to do it over, I would choose Dogwood Canyon again. We can’t wait to go back ❤️
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Dillon & Holly - Thank you so much for allowing Dogwood Canyon to host you, and for trave...
ling to us from Texas! Please travel safe back home as you three begin your new life together as one family! We wish you all the best, and truly enjoyed having you! Much Love - Deanna
Caitlin L
5.0
I don't think that I have enough words to describe just how perfect our wedding at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park was. We chose an elopement package, because our families and us live o...
ver 12 hours away and we didn't want to ask extended family to travel. It was just my husband and I, our parents, a grandparent, our brothers, their fiancees, and a groomsman. We eloped at the Hope Wilderness Chapel, then opted for the photo tour afterwards. We then ate lunch at the restaurant on site, and took a 2 hour tram ride through the canyon.
The entire experience was nothing short of magic. The chapel was absolutely gorgeous. Soft light from the lanterns that line the aisle and the chandeliers over head made our ceremony feel so intimate. We left the doors open so that you could hear the waterfall behind it during our ceremony. Fall was just starting, so the trees were still full, but just starting to change.
We adopted a puppy a few months before our wedding, but after we had booked it. We asked Dogwood if she could be in our ceremony and they said yes!! Having her there was so special for us and we were so grateful that they were so accomodating.
The photo tour after our ceremony was such a perfect touch. It gave my groom and I a chance to take a breath and have that "oh my gosh we just got married" moment, without any sense of rush or urgency. We took photos in several absolutely breathtaking spots, including under a waterfall and on a covered bridge.
Lunch at the restaurant was great as well. It allowed us to stay on property for the rest of our plans. They accomodated our group with ease, and were so friendly and attentive.
If you're thinking about eloping at Dogwood, I can't recommend adding the tram tour enough. It was such a surreal moment in our day, climbing on this open tram with all of our family. We watched trout race along next to us, saw bison and elk, and took even more incredible photos. My husband and I love the outdoors, so having this special trip be our first adventure as husband and wife, just hours after we said "I do," was absolute magic.
I could write a whole book about how perfect our entire day was! And it's funny, because it actually rained all day and was unseasonably cold, but looking back, I don't think about the weather. I think about how surreal everything felt, how beautiful Dogwood was, and how happy everyone was. Deanna, Dogwood's wedding guru, takes care of everything for you, so that there's no stress or worry on the big day. If you're on the fence about eloping, or about Dogwood as a venue, take it from me that you won't regret a single thing!!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Caitlin - Your review is above and beyond, and we greatly appreciate your time to provide ...
such a wonderfully detailed review of our services for your special day! You were both wonderful to work with, with such great attitudes about Mother Nature watering your wedding day! Your day is what we strive to make all of our clients' special days out to be. We are so thrilled to have been able to fulfill all of your dreams! Much Love - Deanna
Brian & Dawn K
5.0
My wife, Dawn, and I are coming up on our 10 year anniversary this year and we were married at Hope Wilderness Chapel in 2009. The location is absolutely beautiful and the day cou...
ld not have been more perfect. Dogwood Canyon is very beautiful with the waterfalls, the streams, and the nature all around and would highly suggest this location for anyone looking to get married. Hope Wilderness Chapel is a beautiful log cabinesque-type chapel and caught our eye a few years before I even proposed to my wife. I know most of the people who took part in our wedding are probably no longer a part of Dogwood Canyon but we had an absolutely great wedding coordinator in Leah Hardin. We could not have been happier with all that she did to make our day so special. Jim Scott, was our officiant and did a fantastic job with his sense of humor and general demeanor. Our musician was Rod Phillips and for anyone getting married in Dogwood Canyon, this gentleman was a godsend. He played dulcimer, guitar, and harp at our wedding and plays many more instruments and sings as well. Consider this gentleman for your weddings! I do not remember Tammy’s last name from Dogwood Canyon but she did an excellent job with setting up our rehearsal dinner and the reception after the wedding. There were other people who made our day so special including Jeff Wilhoit (videographer), Tammara and Grant Terry (photographers), and Pastries by Carla for our wedding cake.
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Brian & Dawn - Congratulations on your upcoming 10 year anniversary! Thank you for the won...
derful comments. I think it is fantastic that Jim is still doing our weddings for us, Carla with the cakes just retired this year, and we still work with many of the other wonderful people you mentioned as well. We love our close vendors that we recommend to our clients because they do such an amazing job for them! If you ever get the itch to renew your vows, you know where to find us!
Jessica F
5.0
Dogwood Canyon is the most beautiful and accommodating place to have a wedding by far. Deanna the wedding coordinator was so helpful, knowledgeable and caring throughout the proces...
s.
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Thank you so much! We wish you and your family all the best on your future! - Deanna
Jennifer D
5.0
De Angelis
Ashley G
5.0
Deanna was our wedding coordinator at Dogwood and she was absolutely amazing! she always answered our questions quickly and was upfront about things! I never thought I would find s...
omeone who could wrangle both our families during wedding day but she handled them so well! our day went so smoothly and perfectly! if I could get married there every year I would!!!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Ashley & Connor - Your families were so easy to work with, and you both had wonderful outl...
ooks on the day even though we were all a icicles after the photos outside! Keep us in mind for your vow renewal down the road! We'd love to have all of you back again! - Much love, Deanna
Marissa D
5.0
Dogwood Canyon was the perfect choice for our wedding day! Deanna and her team were organized, friendly, and so easy to talk to. I was nervous planning a wedding that was 4.5 hours...
away from home, but Deanna and her team made this a perfect day! We cannot thank them enough!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Marissa - It was our pleasure to be able to create your wedding day for you here in the Ca...
nyon. I'm glad to hear that we made planning an out of state wedding so easy for you and your family. We hope to be your favorite vacation spot in the future! - Deanna
Cassie M
5.0
Had the most beautiful wedding there on November 3rd. The staff was wonderful and easy to work with and they did an incredible job of putting everything together! No regrets whatso...
ever!!!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Kyle & Cassie - thank you for the wonderful comment about the staff! We all go above and b...
eyond to put together all of your dreams for your wedding day. Thank you for trusting us to do so!! We wish you all the best - Deanna
Cassie D
5.0
The forecast for my wedding was rain and cold all weekend. I was stressed and so concerned on what to do. Luckily, the wedding team had a back plan in place and made everything com...
e together. They were there for me every step of the way on our big day. It was such a blessing.
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Cassie - Thank you so much for hosting at Dogwood Canyon! Even though the weather was unco...
operative, you and your guests all had such great attitudes towards the day! It was our pleasure to assist you in every way possible on your wedding day! - Deanna
Christine S
5.0
We can't express enough how grateful we are to Deanna, Emi, and the whole team at Dogwood Canyon for making our wedding so special. We have had several compliments on how beautiful...
the venue was and how attentive the staff were during the ceremony and reception. They met our every expectation, would definitely recommend this beautiful venue to anyone who wants a country dream wedding.
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Chris & Becky - your wedding was absolutely gorgeous, everything from the flowers in the ...
chapel to the dresses! I am so happy to hear that you loved the staff, they work very hard to pull together all the details of our events! I can't wait to see you lovely ladies back in the park again soon! - Deanna
Belinda F
5.0
Dogwood Canyon is the BEST place for a wedding! We can't put into words just how perfect our day was from beginning to end, and it is all due to the Dogwood Canyon staff! Deanna ...
was more than helpful, she was the best wedding coordinator! She answered all my questions (even before I asked some of them) and saw my vision and made it become a reality. The chapel was quaint and inviting. The backdrop of the waterfall right outside added a scenic touch. The patio was perfect for our small number of wedding guests to enjoy the beautiful evening and each others company. The timing of everything worked so that pictures were done while guests enjoyed hors d'oeuvres on the patio and then dinner was served. The food was EXCELLENT!! I feel as though the staff did all the work and thinking that day and we just got to enjoy...worry free:) Dogwood Canyon proved to be our very own slice of heaven that day. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change one thing.
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Belinda & Kelly, thank you so much for your kind words! Events like yours allow us to enjo...
y our careers so much more! Your family was great, and we loved the intimacy of your event. We hope to see you in the park in the future together and wish you all the happiness! - Deanna <3
Shannon R
5.0
Our wedding a Dogwood was everything we hoped it would be. Deanna and her staff treated us with kindness and appreciation from the very beginning stages of planning. Deanna was alw...
ays available to answer questions via email or telephone. Because this was a destination wedding (with family and friends coming in from all over) she even made suggestions for local accommodations and guest gifts. She was patient with our crew (mostly made up of kiddos under twelve) and was calm when a thunderstorm threatened to derail the ceremony right before the vows. Our ceremony was held in the evening on the chapel patio in front of the waterfall. It was beautiful. The only thing I would suggest is a rehearsal to assure the microphone will work where you want to stand. We chose not to have a rehearsal, so our microphone didn't work. This was ok, because we were saying our vows to one another anyway. Our reception was in the restaurant , a beautiful setting as the lights come on outside lighting up the waterfall. We were able to take the ride through the park with our photographer and Deanna gently made sure we were not late for the ceremony and made the trip fun. We would suggest taking the time and little extra money to go through the park with Deanna for your photographs. The food was wonderful, we chose the BBQ buffet option and the guests loved it. We wanted the night to go on forever. Thank you, Deanna and your staff for treating our non traditional wedding with such respect and honor. We will be back every year for more photos!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Shannon & Maria - It was completely my pleasure to assist in making your day all that you ...
both had dreamed. You were so extremely pleasant to work with! I very much look forward to seeing you again in the future! Much love - Deanna
Annie S
5.0
Deanna has been great from start response time is amazing.. she helped see in every way our best day ever really was the greatest. We had outdoor ceremony they had water ready for...
guests and their tram s are really efficient. While the first Jewish style she has handled she did quickly accommodate the horah our chuppah and the glass breaking.
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Annie & Kevin - I am so happy the rain held off so that you could do the ceremony outside ...
like you had always dreamed! It was truly an unique event for Dogwood Canyon! Much love, Deanna
Megan W
5.0
We got married at the Hope Wilderness Chapel. The chapel is so beautiful, the only decorations we took with us were my bouquet & two other flower arrangements. I can’t wait for t...
he pictures. Even though it was a hot June day, the chapel was comfortable for everyone.
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Megan & Scott - it my personal pleasure to assist you on your wedding day to make it as le...
ast amount of stressed and laid back as possible (even though I couldn't make it cooler in the park)! One of the things I love most about Dogwood Canyon is how sometimes, less is more on the decor works out so beautifully! We wish you all the best, and thank you for hosting your special day with us! - Deanna
Danielle C
5.0
Our wedding is what dreams are made of. We had a small wedding and wanted to "wow" our guests. This is exactly what Dogwood Canyon helped us do! Best day of our lives!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Danielle, it was so great to get to celebrate with you! Thank you for choosing Dogwood Can...
yon to make your day the best day of your lives! Your family was wonderful! - Deanna
Colt D
5.0
Our wedding experience at Dogwood Canyon was great! The park is beautiful and we decided to have our ceremony outdoors behind the wedding chapel. The setting could not have been b...
etter. We are both lovers of nature and all of the natural beauty God created, so once we toured the park, it was an easy decision to make this the place where we start our lives together. Deanna, the wedding planner, was great to work with and went above and beyond to help make our day special and stress free. Check out the park for your special day!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Thank you for your kind words! It was a great day with great weather for your event on the...
patio, right in front of the waterfall! We are so excited that you allowed us to share in your special day with you and wish you many, many happy years together!! - <3 Deanna & DWC Staff
Maliwan Y
5.0
Josh & Maliwan Rackley 5/12/18
Our wedding could not have gone any better, the food was fabulous, the staff were perfect, everything about Dog Wood Canyon is what my wife dreamed o...
f. Our wedding planner Deanna deserves an award, she kept us calm and happy, anything we asked for she was able to take care of within reason.
Truly recommend this venue for any couple looking to bring their dream wedding to life!!!
Thank you again Dog Wood staff
Love Josh & Mali
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Josh & Mali, thank you for your review! It was my personal pleasure to work with and for y...
ou and your family! Your family was so kind and pleasant throughout your wedding day, it makes our job so much easier! I hope you have a great time on your trip & we hope to see you locals in the park often over the next years! - Best wishes!! Deanna
george l
5.0
The venue was perfect. Our wedding was in April and the park did not disappoint. The dogwoods were in bloom enough to make a beautiful backdrop. Deanna and her team made the whole ...
process seamless. We were on schedule and it came off without a hitch. We would recommend Dogwood Canyon to anyone wanting a special place to marry.
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
George - I'm so happy you two found each other! It makes it so easy to come to work knowin...
g that I get to work with couples like you! We look forward to seeing you in the park again in the future! - Deanna
Ashley P
5.0
Our wedding at Dogwood Canyon was far above my expectations! I had visited 2 years prior and at that time I had decided it would be my dream to be married there. Dogwood is natura...
lly beautiful from the green grass, stone bridges, clear spring water, animals, to the amazing, breathtaking waterfalls! There are many places to get married here, but we chose the Hope Chapel and it was amazing! The log chapel is beautiful and has plenty of seating for guests while listening to the waterfall behind the chapel with the French doors open at the alter. Truly a dream wedding for sure! Deanna, the wedding coordinator was way more than accommodating to my husband and myself and our guests, she made everything go so smooth the day of our wedding. Communication with her prior to the wedding was wonderful, and if she didn't have the answer, she answered promptly! All the staff at Dogwood were so great and happy! The other park guests cheered and clapped as they saw us through the park during the day. After our 2pm ceremony we took a private tram ride with our guests and we requested to have drinks on the ride, which were there, cold, and ready for us to drink while on our tram ride! This made the guys happy! We were able to stop at waterfalls to get pictures during the tram ride, which is what we wanted. Honestly from a brides perspective, the day at Dogwood could not have gone more perfectly! My now husband had not previously been to Dogwood and was skeptical at first but he knew this is what I wanted so when we arrived that day and as the day went on, he was 100% happy with the choice of Dogwood. He really enjoyed not only our wedding but he enjoyed learning the history of the park on our tram ride that was told to us by our tour guide, who was also our minister! These people and this place is magical and beyond beautiful! The prices were completely reasonable, especially when you compare to what we would have spent in a big wedding. We are glad we decided to do a small intimate wedding here as it was more special to us to share together and those who meant the most to us. Deanna gives you a recommended list of people for hair, make up, photography, flowers, etc. I chose take 1 hair in Hollister, this was a disaster,I don't recommend, however, we chose Erica from Linegar photography and she is absolutely AMAZING! She is so laid back and just snaps everything! Consid wrong driving all the way down there for future photography needs from Iowa for sure ! I hope thus helps in your decision to marry the man or woman of your dreams at Dogwood Canyon, because we would do it over and over again if we could, actually, renewal of vows are definitely in our future here!! God bless!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Ashley - Thank you so much for the time you took to write this lengthy and honest review. ...
We greatly appreciate it and you! I absolutely love it when our clients do the tram tour, it is a fantastic experience for all the guests involved. We are so happy that your husband enjoyed his time with us as well, and we absolutely look forward to seeing you in the future!! - Deanna
Abby M
5.0
I loved working with Dogwood Canyon on my wedding. They were very professional, easy to get in contact with, and very friendly. The chapel was beautiful and everything went off wit...
hout a hitch!
Jessica M
5.0
Our experience was the best. Even though the weather was dismal and the park had to be closed, the staff made sure that our event happened anyway and that everything was perfect! ...
They went above and beyond to make our day special.
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Jessica & Greg,
Your attitudes more than made up for the weather! You are a very special ...
couple, and have already learned how to dance in the rain, both in reality and figuratively. Congrats again!!! - Deanna
Sarah B
5.0
As a bride, who has been dreaming of my special day for a long while, I cannot say enough good things about Dogwood Canyon. The whole day was perfect, from the park to the chapel, ...
the coordinator to the staff, the food to the weather. Each detail was so perfectly aligned and I didn't have to lift a finger. To say they treated myself, my groom, our families and friends like royalty is an understatement. There's something so peaceful about getting married in Dogwood Canyon that I cannot put into words, but I know I will never forget the feelings from that day. Thank you for being the only place I would have ever wanted to spend the happiest day of my life!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Your family was so sweet to host. Your entire bridal party and family were so kind and war...
m to the staff, and it makes our jobs mean so much more when the feelings of love and gratitude are conveyed all throughout an event! We hope to see you in the park in the future! Much love!!
Robyn G
5.0
Our special day was perfect! The chapel is gorgeous with no decorations required! The park is gorgeous no matter what time of year you are there! Deanna Ulmer, the wedding coordi...
nator, is amazing and so sweet! Even though we had a small intimate wedding she took care of every detail and made the day stress free! I didn't worry about a thing. She was also easily reachable by email and was timely with her responses. Jim Scott, the officiant provided by Dogwood Canyon, is just adorable and I loved his wording in the ceremony. I highly recommend Dogwood Canyon for a wedding!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Thank you for your kind words! I'm so glad we could make your day amazing and intimate for...
your setting! We wish you all the best in the future years to come!
Anonymous
5.0
My daughter's wedding at Dogwood Canyon could not have been a more special, blessed event! The beauty of the park and the peaceful setting of the Chapel can not be equaled. I sim...
ply can't imagine a more perfect venue.
Reverend Scott's ceremony was wonderful and left you feeling as if he was one of the family!
The food was fantastic and beautifully prepared and presented!
The entire staff was warm and friendly - graciously accommodating.
By far though, the greatest of the many blessings provided, was Deanna. Her genuine concern for the family's wishes, her attention to detail, her ability to take a potentially stressful time and turn it into a calm, pleasant day is absolutely amazing! She is well-equipped with the knowledge and wisdom to help plan the perfect event! Her list of trusted vendors extends this grace into every avenue of the planning stages and comes to full bloom on your special day! I could not imagine having done this without her!
When planning, please consider the carriage ride and the "pictures in the Park" options as they are the perfect compliment to your event.
I truly could not have hoped for a better wedding day for my daughter, everyone in attendance was amazed, impressed, and blessed!
Thank you!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Your daughter's wedding was so sweet and intimate with great family and friends! Thank you...
for allowing us to share in her day, as well as for sharing your kind words with us. We wish them many years of happiness and joy together!
Amanda R
5.0
Dogwood Canyon is absolutely beautiful... Idyllic, really. From the log cabin chapel and restaurants (both with full wall windows overlooking two waterfalls!) to the impressive tre...
e house and the bridges crossing the streams, it's like a dream. On top of that, the wedding coordinator is SO on top of it! We had outstanding communication with her (Deanna) the whole time. She's a great listener, is incredibly organized, and is fun to work with. The rest of the staff is extremely friendly and helpful, too (Melody, Bob, Robbie, Mandy). The food was delicious, and there is plenty of room for dancing! We had an intimate destination wedding of about 80 guests, and our day could not have been more perfect. We appreciate how hard the staff works, how accommodating they are, and their sense of pride in the gorgeous park. We are grateful we were able to get married at a venue that had special meaning to us AND be able to share its serene beauty with our closest friends and family (they are still raving). We can't wait to return to the park and visit everyone! Thank you!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Thank you for your kind words, and thank you for letting us be a part of your special day!
Shelly M
5.0
Deanna and Dogwood Canyon helped us have our dream wedding! Amazing experience!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Thank you for sharing! We thoroughly enjoyed your guests (and props) for photos! Many wish...
es and blessings!
Jamie R
5.0
This is an amazing venue! It is so beautiful all year round and the park has so much to offer. Deanna, who is the wedding coordinator, is wonderful and is very easy get a hold of. ...
I would recommend this venue to anyone!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Thank you so much for reviewing us! It was our pleasure to host you and your guests for yo...
ur wedding day! We hope to see you in the park in the future!
Caleb L
5.0
We can't speak highly enough of all the staff from both Dogwood Canyon and Big Cedar, who worked so hard to make our wedding so amazing.
In particular though we owe basically all o...
f it to our phenomenal wedding coordinator, Deanna Ulmer.
To give a little needed background, we booked our wedding and reception for the Hope Wilderness Chapel at Dogwood Canyon about 9 months in advance. We had seen the grounds, the decorations, the food, and the staff's abilities so we weren't worried one bit. Sadly, we found out 20 days before our wedding that Dogwood had been flooded and we would be unable to have our wedding there. We were heart broken, but it was in the midst of this ordeal that Deanna and the Big Cedar/Dogwood staff really stepped in for us. Even though our prior venue was lost, Deanna and the rest of the staff helped move our venue to Integrity Hills. We only had the time to drive up once to see the new venue and decide how the ceremony would need to change, yet even with such sort notice everyone did such a phenomenal job! The chapel and reception were both so beautiful, also all the staff were ready and able to help us out. Additionally, the food was delicious and all of our guests loved the stone work and timber displayed throughout the venue. Because of Deanna and everyone else, our wedding turned out even better than we could have imagined.
So thank you Deanna, Dogwood, and Big Cedar,
We couldn't have done all of this so spectacularly without you all.
Highly satisfied customers,
The LeBows
Tarrah B
5.0
Our special day couldn't have been any better. The setting was absolutely beautiful, no decorations required! Deanna (the wedding planner there) was absolutely amazing and kept the...
day stress free!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Thank you so much for your kind words! We loved hosting your day in our beautiful park, an...
d hope your return to visit in the future! Many blessings on your new marriage!
Becky J
5.0
We were there in September for our Anniversary it was amazing and we will be back the water falls were spectacular and everyone was so very nice the animals where up close we still...
talk about it. I am so blessed to have this in Missouri just wanted to say thank you to all of the staff for being so helpful continue to make it a better park for all to see
Anonymous
5.0
I played violin at a wedding ceremony here yesterday and found the venue absolutely beautiful and the Dogwood Canyon staff a joy to work with.
As soon as I pulled up to the park...
ing lot, Joanna (an event planner) picked me up immediately in the Dogwood Canyon van and took me along with some other wedding guests to the chapel. She was welcoming, professional, and got to work quickly in the chapel setting up the decorations, getting me a chair to sit in, even got me a cough drop in the midst of the preparations! She communicated with me about the different musical selections to be played in the ceremony and then gave me a clear cue as to when to start. The ceremony started on time, all the guests were happy, and the bride and groom were able to enjoy their moment in the gorgeous setting. I hope I get to play the violin at another Dogwood Canyon wedding, and that I will get to work with Joanna again. A stellar professional!
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Thank you Allison! We hope to have you back soon!
Anonymous
5.0
The chapel at Dogwood was the perfect setting for my daughters September 2013 wedding.The scenery was breath-taking with the falls behind the chapel-making pictures fantastic.Both ...
sides of our families loved the area and the quaint little chapel.We all rode the tram to and from the chapel and the sun came out during the ceremony.Couldn't have picked a better location for a Special Couple
Response from Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Thank you for sharing!
Karly
5.0
When we suddenly had to move our destination wedding closer to home, it didn't take us long to figure out exactly where we wanted to get married! I emailed JoAnna and she was super...
fast to respond! We initially wanted to get married in front of one of the waterfalls but when she took us to the wilderness chapel to show us our "backup" plan in case of rain, it instantly turned into our number one choice! The chapel is absolutely beautiful and litterally took my breath away when she opened the front doors! The staff at dogwood canyon are so friendly and amazing to work with. JoAnna was always so helpful and made the day perfect! I can't say enough good things about this beautiful venue and amazing staff. Thank you!
Want to book a visit?
Start the convo
*=Required
Use this secure form to reach out and share your wedding vision.
Wedding vendors in Lampe
Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve
Why use The Knot to message vendors?
Messaging our verified vendors on The Knot is free, safe and secure. Conveniently track vendor messages and planning details all in one place. Our mobile apps make it easy to stay in touch with vendors while you're on‑the‑go. For personalized pricing and package details, sending the vendor a message is the fastest way to get info.