Dr. Phillips House on Lake Lucerne

e who work there make it even more incredible. We received so many compliments on the food & the beauty of the venue. From the beginning of planning to our big day, we have loved our experience with this venue. We tried our best to choose vendors who aligned with our values & would create the loving, warm atmosphere we wanted for our wedding, & that is exactly what each member of the staff did. We are so grateful to Krista, Angie, Stephen, & the rest of the amazing staff at the Dr Phillips House. Thank you!

rovides a room upstairs for the bride and groom as well as the option to book additional rooms. (I recommend getting one the night before, it was so nice to wake up and be able to get ready at my own pace!) The package we selected included tables and chairs, catering, a beer and wine bar, as well as the venue. It made it SO EASY to only have one contact for everything. But here’s the best part- THE FOOD. IS. AMAZING. I’ve worked in catering for a very long time and never expect much from Wedding food. I had so many people tell me that this was the best meal they had at a wedding pretty much ever. Seriously better than weddings I’ve attended at big name hotels and Disney. They made it so easy and provided me a great backdrop for my wedding, as well as wonderful service!

e if needed. We booked 1 room for the night before and then used it as the girls getting ready room for the morning. For the night of our wedding we reserved all 6 rooms and were able to have most of our wedding party stay on sight which was great! The staff here is also amazing and really made our wedding perfect! I was nervous about it raining and we talked through multiple different rain backup plans (which thankfully we didn’t have to use). They went above and beyond and made us feel so special and took care of us the whole night. We wanted to step away for a moment during cocktail hour and they brought us a whole plate of the cocktail appetizers we had chosen along with a drink for each of us. For dinner, we chose the buffet option but they brought us each a prepared plate to our table. By the end of the night they even had two leftover boxes of food waiting in our hotel room fridge in case we got hungry later. The food was amazing and so is this venue! I cannot imagine having chosen a different option for our wedding as everything was perfect with the Dr. Phillips House!

g room and rest of the exterior. I appreciated that our catering staff was attentive for the most part during the reception and put food at the table for us while we were mingling. There were two main concerns we had: - Communication leading up to the big day was definitely a struggle at times. Compared to all my other vendors, they were the slowest to respond. I also repeatedly had the issue of asking 2-3 questions in one email, only for one of them to be answered and the rest ignored, meaning I had to try to get in touch with them AGAIN. It got to the point where my coordinator stepped in because we were repeatedly asking about certain details with no response. Communication leading up to wedding day is so important for a bride! Especially from a major vendor like the venue itself. The lack of communication was definitely an added stressor. - How they handled the cake. First, we were bummed because no one made us aware that the cake was ready and being served, which led to us not getting any of our cake to eat and about 10-12 of our guests not getting cake either. This doesn't fall just on the venue, as I recognize the DJ or coordinator could have also stepped in and said something. I also have no clue where the remainder of the bottom tiers ended up as the cake fed way more people than we had there, especially with that many people not getting a chance to have any of it. The second issue was that there was no communication about the top layer of the cake and what they were doing with it. I had come down from the room we were staying in later that night and the cake was just sitting on the table by the entrance. Because it was a cheesecake, it could have spoiled by being left out all night if I didn't happen to go down there. Some discussion about the cake would have been nice, as we saw catering staff multiple times and they could have told us. All in all, it was a positive experience but there were definitely some areas of improvement.

e I was drinking water, eating, and even game me some tums. I felt better and was able to enjoy the rest of the night! The venue itself has so much character, too, and my vision was complete thanks to the house's unique charm ❤️

ver. If you want your wedding to have an outdoor element while also having a good backup in case it rains, this is the best option in Orlando. The garden is stunning, but the house is beautiful and spacious enough that you can get married indoors too if that’s what you prefer or if it rains on your wedding day. Angie, the venue manager, is phenomenal at what she does. She is an excellent, reliable communicator and we loved working with her. Some things you should know about this venue: 1) If you book this venue, you MUST use their catering company for food and for bar service. For us, this was a bonus. The price was better than anything else we had seen, it cut down on the number of vendors we needed to coordinate with, and the food was delicious. We had several guests tell us it was the best meal they’ve ever had at a wedding, and I saw most of the guests get up for seconds. However, if you have a catering company you love, you will not be able to use them here. 2) The max capacity is about 120 people. Our wedding had 100 people, and we fit comfortably. If your guest count is above 100, it will likely be a bit cramped. 3) A one-night stay is included for free if you host your wedding here. The suite we stayed in was spacious and clean. It had a large bathtub, a huge bed, and a mini-fridge. You don’t have to stay the night, but make sure you know which room you’re staying in if you do as they are not all the same. 4) The Wellborn is right next door to the wedding venue and is an excellent place to continue the festivities. We had our after-party here so that no one would have to drive immediately after the wedding ended. Our wedding was on a Saturday, and there was still plenty of space for about 50 of us. The Wellborn is half-indoors and half-outdoors, so this may not work out if it’s a rainy night. 5) There is a small parking garage around the corner of the wedding venue for guests to park at. It’s got about 30 spaces and fills up quickly. Encourage your guests to car pool or use a ride share app to get to and from your wedding. This venue was perfect for us, and we hope it’s perfect for you too!

ved that it allowed us to have an intimate spot to get married with the ceremony and reception in the same spot. It's also fairly priced. Many other venues are way over charging couples, taking advantage of the specialness of our weddings but Dr. Phillips does not do that, they charge, I would say a very reasonable amount for the rental fee and per person food/alcohol cost. I'll also add how delicious their food was! We had the buffet option and even buffet style it was incredible. We stayed in one of the rooms offered by the house both the night before and the night of and loved being able to wake up at the venue and go to sleep there. It allowed for a seamless day, very relaxed and just let us enjoy our wedding and not stress about getting to the venue with all of our stuff. Angie was the main contact for the venue and she was always very responsive and sweet.

ons and we couldn't have been happier! Sherri Rinker was our DOC based off of Angies suggestion and wow! Literally with out the two of them I have no idea how I would have functioned.

or space for a ceremony and indoor dining area for a comfortable 80 person dinner. Despite a few strange occurrences (the fire alarm went off just before I walked down the aisle, they refused to hold my cake in the fridge that morning, vegetarian plated meals were served after the buffet was released so some people got 2 plates) the venue was easy to communicate with and was a gorgeous backdrop for our special day. I would recommend it!!!

s and how amazing the food turned out. The prices were very reasonable for this beautiful venue and allowed my husband and I to have the most amazing day. There was not one thing that we were not happy with. Thank you!

6 bedrooms and we rented all 6 rooms for the night of our wedding with most of our wedding party and family staying in the rooms. This house is an amazing venue location to host a wedding. When we first started looking for places to get married this was the 1st location we toured & we instantly fell in love with it. The catering staff on the night of our wedding was phenomenal! The food was amazing, as well as the hors d’oeuvres during our cocktail hour. We want to give a special thank you to Sally as well as the entire catering team that was there. Sally was our captain & she made sure that we had everything we needed that night. Amanda our bartender was fantastic as well. Also thank you to ce ce, Steve, and Jarret the serving staff. They went above and beyond and were very friendly and attentive. We could not have asked for a more perfect wedding day, everything was perfect and we would highly recommend this location! A big thank you as well to Angie for everything! She helped us through the entire process. Planning a wedding in the middle of a pandemic is hard enough but Angie was there from start to finish. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 5 stars for sure!

could not have asked for a better experience. Angie was able to give guidance and support throughout the planning process and the day of turned things over to Christine to run a truly flawless event. Biggest compliments were the outstanding staff to many to name but everyone pulled their weight to make sure that every guest was comfortable and well taken care of. The food was also fantastic served hot and on time with plenty for everyone. The attendant at the buffet as well as the chefs in the kitchen didn’t let anyone down. Thank you to all of the incredible staff for making this an event to remember.

the way. A catering company called Millenia Catering recently bought the house and proved to be extremely disorganized. When we toured the house we were given a handout of the prices for food and drinks and when we booked the venue a week later the prices had increased without the company notifying us. I found this out after we had signed the contract. She also told us during the walk though that Sparklers for an exit were allowed- which she later said they were banned, and then they changed their mind again at the last minute and said they were allowed again. During the walk through she also said that a rain plan alternative would not be an issue but we later found out that this in fact would be an issue as they really didn’t have a rain plan in place. She also showed us the bridal suite during the walk through and informed us that we would get a free stay the night of the wedding in that room. We booked a year and a half in advanced and during the rehearsal we found out that they double booked this room on our wedding day/night. They also tried to lie to us and told us that the room “wasn’t the bridal suite” and showed us to another room, when in fact on their website it has a picture of that room labeled “bridal suite” with a wedding dress in the photo. The bridal suite is not even available to book on their website so we were so confused as to how it was double booked when there was no other guests spending more money than us on that day. My wedding coordinator fought for us to get the bridal suite but they ended up just put us in another room to get ready in and stay the night. Figuring out the seating chat was probably the most stressful part as they had no idea how many tables would fit in each room in the dining room and they told us 3 different numbers when it came to how many guests could fit at each table. This made it really stressful as I didn’t have enough centerpieces at the last minute and we had to rearrange the seating chart countless times. On their website it says they hold weddings of up to 250 people but when she sent us an old layout it didn’t even have enough seats or space inside for our wedding of 100 people. I ended up making my own layout of the venue with the positions of all the tables, cake, etc. and presented it to them. They said our wedding was complicated because it was “very large” with 100 people when they advertise that their venue can seat 250 people. They also told us that we would have premium liquor at our open bar and ended up serving wells. If it had not been for my wedding coordinator that I hired outside of the venue it would have been a total disaster. The catering company is still getting to know the venue but if they want it to be a successful wedding venue they need to hire someone specifically to handle weddings at the Dr. Phillips House rather than just having it be one of their 30 properties that they own/cater.

e of four potential destination venues we were taking a look at in the Orlando area and it was truly love at first sight. This venue has everything and we fell in love with the home's classic architecture paired with its dreamy, romantic outdoor spaces - it's beautiful and truly comes alive at night with with twinkle lights. The service throughout the evening of our wedding was impeccable and the free-flowing layout of the home is so perfect for mingling no matter how your guests choose to spend their time at your wedding. Our one reservation about this venue was its proximity to the highway but we didn't notice the noise at all once the ceremony had begun and the music played. Thank you to Angie and the team for providing us the wedding venue of our dreams. We cannot imagine a more perfect spot to have had our wedding.

able. Angie, the Account Executive would email me back every time I had questions almost immediately. Amy, was there the day of the wedding. She was extremely helpful and so pleasant. The staff was amazing, the food delicious. It was a magical place to be married. 10/10 would marry there again.

gie was amazing. She was so accessible, answered all of my crazy mother of the bride questions throughout the planning process and accommodated our many venue visits and special requests. The venue is absolutely beautiful with spacious rooms to rent during the wedding weekend! Amy, our catering contact was wonderful too. Our guests told us it was the best wedding food they’d ever had. Millennia catering was professional, prompt and extremely helpful. Could not have imagined a more perfect wedding for my daughter!

of them were extremely flexible and professional. I couldn't recommend this venue more!

dinner and reception. It was also very nice to have the bridal suite included in our rental for the night of our wedding. Communication was prompt and professional. Highly recommend this venue!

11 guests, and made for the best night of my life. The patio strung with string lights outside made for the perfect dance floor, and the gazebo was so special to get married in. This venue is cozy but not cramped, and because it is an old house, it comes pre-decorated with beautiful artwork and antiques. I truly could not recommend a better or more special venue!

hings turned out. From start to finish, Angie was so easy to work with, and really made the process go so smoothly. This was especially impressive considering my husband and I live in Kentucky and we did all of our planning over phone and email. The day of our wedding, Amy was our point-person, and she was a sweetheart. She made sure the day went by without a hitch, and that my husband and I, as well as our guests, had a fabulous time. The food, prepared by Millenia Catering, was absolutely wonderful, and I honestly wish I would have taken the time to eat more of it the day of our wedding! All of our guests voiced their approval though and said it was some of the best food they had ever eaten at a wedding. To make a long story short, the Courtyard was absolutely wonderful. We cannot thank them enough for making our day perfect, and we would definitely recommend them to any couple getting married in Orlando.

The food was excellent. The servers catered to our every need. The evening coordinator was so attentive. Most of all, Angie - our wedding coordinator - she ensured all of our needs were met and was always ready to answer all of our questions days leading into the wedding until the day of. I completely and utterly recommend this venue. It was a night to remember!

time of booking because the rooms are run by different staff.

had a small wedding of 30...which most venues require a minimum amount, the courtyard accommodate our wedding and help us stay within budget.

a rain plan when it started to rain during our reception. Our bridal suite was stunning and we loved being able to stay onsite. Lastly, the food was phenomenal. I could eat those mashed potatoes all day.

what your hopes are for any special event. A few weeks before the wedding we decided to go with a "day of coordinator." We were given Shannon and she was hands down a total lifesaver. Like any event with several components and vendors there are always minor hiccups. But Shannon took care of everything so seamlessly, that we barely even noticed. I highly recommend this venue if you like simple and organic things. Thank you to the whole team!

t was perfect for our small ceremony and a reception. Everybody told us the place was so beautiful. My hudsband and I were really happy to be there.

in the courtyard in the gazebo and a reception for about 100 in the Dr. Phillips House. We also rented all of the rooms upstairs so that we could dedicate one room for the bride's room and use the extra rooms for family and out of town guests. The house has a very warm and intimate feel to it. Perfect for our family and guests. Shannon, our coordinator for the day was nothing short of phenomenal. She was on top of everything, super friendly and went the extra mile to make our day perfect. I highly recommend you book her services with the venue. We will all have great memories of the day thanks to the great people at this venue!

the Dr. Phillips House for our ceremony and reception. Even though it rained on our wedding day, our day was still perfect with the rain plan indoors. They went above and beyond making sure the space was ready for our vendors to come in and set up! We rented the Turret Room for the two nights surrounding our wedding day and it was beautiful and clean! I would recommend this space to any bride, just make sure that you also hire a day of coordinator and good catering team! :)

edding was not until 530pm. I feel like that was the biggest waste of extra money ever. It was a rushed - GET OUT and we were trying to actually get ready for first look...It was hard to snap back from having to deal wit that. I still loved the photos, but the staff were not very communicative and sometimes did not return emails for a week or more.

ond to all of my emails. The bridal party and myself stayed the night prior to the wedding in the Dr. Phillips room and was able to have our hair and makeup stylist doll us up in the room. The room was huge, the gazebo was beautiful, and the lights made the venue something out of a fairy tale!

ny more, but we enjoyed the intimacy and uniqueness of the setting. Angie was very responsive to contact and any changes we made. The team member onsite the day of the wedding were very personable, helpful and worked well with other embers of the team to create a beautiful event.

azing!!! Angie, our point of contact, was INCREDIBLE! Always available and super responsive, we never had a hiccup planning our event. There was an option to add valet for $200 which our guests adored..their parking is a little difficult so I would highly encourage this upgrade. The space is beautiful, the furniture is beautiful, the gardens are beautiful, the fountains are beautiful...the entire venue is wonderful!! I wish I lived there :)

cation is perfect in Orlando, centered in downtown and easy for everyone to get to. The staff are very friendly and great to work with. We had Angie help us and she is amazing, very responsive and patient with me with all of my questions. The venue itself is stunning, it has a charm all in its own and very little decor is needed. We got married in October, it was warm but no rain. At night the lights strung up in the courtyard were so pretty. If you are looking for a venue that is unique, this is a great place to pursue. They have great wedding packages and are affordable, they make it very easy on you! We were so pleased from start to finish and loved this venue! The venue is an active bed and breakfast, so bonus we got to stay in an amazing suite the evening of our wedding! The room was huge! Beautiful decor, very clean and comfortable accommodations.

call to the front desk the music stopped, but the stomping and slamming doors have not. I am about to place another call. So, if you want a quiet place to get some rest, look elsewhere. Don't let my sacrifice be in vein.

ny was amazing and the bartenders was good as well. Having our out of town guests staying here as well was great! I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a venue.

get married!

had a headcount of 94 and it was the perfect size for the space; we were able to interact with everyone and dint feel crowded. The vintage feel of the building in conjunction with the beautiful gardens/courtyard make a beautiful backdrop for ceremony and photographs. The courtyard is already lit with strings of lights on the trees and overhead to make the perfect dance floor. Also, it is only 2-3 miles from downtown Orlando, allowing you to easily continue your wedding celebration after the reception. So pleased with this venue, it was everything we hoped it would be. As my photographer said, "our own secret garden" =)

ps was quiet (the 408 normal traffic sounds were not heard) and whimsical (all of the lighting strung through the trees was gorgeous). We wanted an inside/outside wedding and this location had that in spades. The ceremony was held on the porch steps, cocktail hour in the courtyard, and the reception was inside and on the wrap around porch. We had access to the whole space the whole night, so our friends and family had plenty of space. The staff was amazing to work with, very knowledgeable and willing to answer 1000 questions. The required food vendors we chose from were very nice and had a wide range of options to choose from. The cost of the location includes quite a bit. And of course there are "upgrades" available. We had just under 100 guests and "upgraded" to the mid-level drink package. If you had a small wedding (60 people is the starting amount there) it could be much less $$ than what we paid. My suggestion for the Bride: If you choose this location get a room (or two if your maids are staying with you for your last night of singledom) at the Art Deco the night before. If possible have your hair/make up team meet you there to get ready for the wedding. The room I had was "perfect" according to my Hair/make up team for lighting and space. Also it allowed for a lot of lead time between getting to the venue and remembering if anything was forgotten - the groom (or anyone else) would have the ability to bring anything the day of the wedding.

nd it to any bride.

ul. I have always been a big fan of ballroom weddings, so I'm sure you can imagine this didn't exactly fit that mold. The Courtyard was so different and fit our personalities so well, I am so glad with the choice we made. The staff was VERY accommodating to our needs and went above and beyond their call, the venue is beautiful, and the guests absolutely loved it. The price we paid I found to be very reasonable to make our dreams come true. If you are on the fence and not sure, trust me this place is worth it!

the gazebo, the dinner in the main house and the reception in the garden! The only problem I had was that some rules & regulations were sent to me just months before the wedding causing me to have to change the centerpieces last minute. (They do not allow open candles in the house). Overall we had a wonderful experience at The Courtyard at Lake Lucerne!

her for an indoor/outdoor reception. It's Florida so we had a rain plan and it was nice to know that we would have been comfortable inside if the weather had not cooperated. The location was great because it offered the advantages of being downtown (great skyline shots on Lake Lucerne, plenty of hotels and amenities within walking distance, central location) but still offered a private seclusion and easy parking for our guests. Angie was a pleasure to work with and we had no trouble getting access to the facility with our planner or making small changes like adding an hour to the reservation time. We had a nice stay and our guests did too (everyone loved the breakfast).

h an outside ceremony but have the option of moving inside if the weather was unpleasant. As it turned out the weather was perfect, and the courtyard was gorgeous as the sun went down. There are so many gorgeous little nooks and hideaways that photograph well. I had expected to be overwhelmed and stressed out from all the little details needing to be done for the set up on our wedding day, but the courtyard staff as well as the catering team (chosen from a list provided) were amazing and I ended up not having to do a thing that day. It was much less stressful than I expected! It was a wonderful evening and I would definitely recommend the Courtyard at Lake Lucerne to any brides looking for a venue.