Echo Lake Inn

e finding a place that made our friends and family feel as comfortable as being welcomed into our own home. It was important to us to find a venue that was all inclusive where the ceremony, reception, restaurant, and lodging, etc. were on the same campus. We wanted our friends and family to stay at a location that really showcased all that Vermont has to offer. Echo Lake Inn is beautifully located steps away from Echo Lake and near Okemo Mountain. The Inn not only checked all of those boxes for us, but it far exceeded ours and our guests’ expectations. From the first moment we met Tom, the Innkeeper, we felt at ease. We had visited many venues before visiting Echo Lake Inn, but after staying at the Inn and meeting with Tom, we knew our search was over. Tom is the kind of guy that makes you feel like you have known him forever. He answered every question we had and was willing to work with our vision including fireworks show, specialty drinks, and bringing in a 3-piece band for the welcome dinner. We suggest spending the night, having a delicious dinner, and taking a tour of the grounds to get the full experience. You won’t regret it. One of the things we didn’t even know we were looking for was a location to host a weekend wedding. We didn’t even think it was in our budget. But when Tom reviewed with us all that Echo Lake Inn had to offer for wedding events, we couldn’t imagine doing our wedding any other way! We had such a fun and relaxing 3-day weekend with our guests. From the moment guests arrived on Friday they were welcomed with an outdoors BBQ dinner, music, games, fire pit, specialty drinks, a pool, hot tub and more. Saturday we were married in a gorgeous, enchanting, wooded wedding dell. We had never seen anything like it or known of any friends or family members to get married in such a natural setting. The evening didn’t just end with a sparkler arch and fireworks show. The party kept going in the historical tavern at the inn. The pace throughout the weekend was perfect, ending with a full breakfast where we had the opportunity to thank and say goodbye to our guests without rushing off. If you are looking for a wedding venue that is in the heart of Vermont that will make you and your guests feel like you are on vacation from the moment you step foot on the Echo Lake Inn campus, and with the coolest Inn keeper around, then look no further! We strongly recommend Echo Lake Inn. Stop in and visit Tom and let him show you why weddings truly can be stress free.

got engaged we knew we had to have dinner at ELI. We were strolling around the grounds before dinner when a couple pulled us aside to ask if we were considering having our wedding there. They went on to absolutely RAVE about their experience, so we booked ELI the day after our engagement and never looked back! Tom is the most caring and thoughtful person you could ever ask to plan an event with. Everytime my husband or I had some weird idea, he would just be like- i'll make it happen! When Okemo mountain stopped booking mountaintop ceremonies, Tom went out of his way to find a mountaintop location through his personal connections and it was STUNNING, everything we had dreamed of. The welcome reception on Friday was so much fun and such a great way to talk to my guests before the craziness of the ceremony, the wedding way went smoothly, the food and drinks were incredible, the venue was beautiful and everyone had such a great time. The breakfast on Sunday was the perfect way to say goodbye to my guests. After our reception on Saturday, Tom let us host a Harry Potter-themed pajama pizza party in the cellar and I really can't imagine not having had that extra party, because the reception flew by so fast! He let me put little fake spiders everywhere, hang banners, photo ops, the works. I got SO many compliments on all the extra touches that made the wedding so special and unique. Having the pizza and popcorn was so great, since we were all hungry from dancing! Tom helped us design signature drinks named after our dogs, found 2 types of cider kegs for my husband- who is a picky cider aficionado, helped coordinate with all of the vendors, just anything and everything we could ask for. Another thing we loved was how the ELI staff assigned a specific person to my husband and I to make sure we got a chance to eat and keep everything running smoothly at the reception. They also set aside a plate of appetizers and a glass of champagne for directly after the ceremony so that we could have a quiet moment as husband and wife. Tom was so unbelievably communicative and wonderful throughout the whole process, as someone who has never been in a wedding before let alone planned one, his help and organization was SO crucial. If you have your wedding at Echo Lake Inn you can look forward to not just a wedding; but an entire weekend filled with fun, love, amazing food and drinks and wonderful staff to help you with anything you may need. If you are reading this, definitely book your wedding at Echo Lake Inn!

the rehearsal dinner, the wedding, and Sunday brunch at one location. Our guests really appreciated being able to stay on-site and having use of the full property all weekend. Tom and his team facilitated what was most important to us – getting to share time and make memories with our family When we booked the venue, I was originally concerned about having our wedding in a tent. I’m so glad that didn’t stop us - the tent is very sturdy, comfortable temperature, and is decorated with a sophisticated feel. Tom and his team were very helpful in helping us coordinate all aspects of the wedding and giving us ideas. We had some untraditional requests, and Tom and his team were accommodating in making our wedding wishes a reality

track, and helped us through having to reschedule the entire event and pus it back a year due to the pandemic. We planned most everything remotely from Boston, making a few trips up to the site, and everything was made easy! Our guests loved everything from the welcome bbq the night before to the ceremony up in the dell, and all the space and activities around for them to do. Having the inn exclusively ours for the weekend was an amazing touch, which allowed out families to connect and relax as well.

m, Rachel, and the entire Echo Lake team were always ready to help and answer any questions we had. From the very first meeting with Tom, the innkeeper and wedding coordinator, to the final busy days before the event, we knew our wedding was in good hands. We wanted a weekend-long wedding at a venue that could accommodate our 65-person guest list and Echo Lake Inn was absolutely perfect. All of our guests had a wonderful time and many told us it was one of the best weddings they had ever attended. And while the gorgeous surroundings and many amenities definitely played a part, it was really the people at Echo Lake that made our wedding a success. They took care of everything. From making sure our guests with dietary restrictions had delicious specially-made meals, to ferrying the guests who needed some extra assistance to the ceremony space via golf cart, to quietly ensuring my wife and I always had full water glasses on our sweetheart table at the reception, so we could dance the night away, the Echo Lake team never missed a beat! Finally, as my wife and I held our wedding during the COVID-19 pandemic, we also wanted to express our gratitude for the effort and flexibility the Echo Lake team put into making our event as safe as possible. The gorgeous outdoor ceremony and reception spaces were perfect for us. Even during the dancing, the tent felt well-ventilated and spacious. The large porch meant folks could eat outside for every meal if they didn’t feel comfortable eating inside the inn, and the wealth of outdoor activities in beautiful Ludlow kept everyone out in the fresh air for much of the weekend. We would highly recommend holding your wedding and or any event at Echo Lake Inn. The natural beauty, incredible professionalism, and amazing staff all combined to create an unforgettable weekend for us and our guests. We can’t wait to come back for a visit!

modate lodging for 125 guests. Tom, the innkeeper, and his staff were absolutely fantastic throughout the process. We visited and stayed multiple weekends during the wedding process and were well taken care of each time!! Our guests raved about all the different wedding events the Echo Lake Inn offers and LOVED utilizing the pool, the hottub, the basement and upstairs bars throughout the weekend. The venue is gorgeous and unique with the opportunity for the tent, the dell, and the field for partying!!!! The inn really made for an incredible weekend and Tom took amazing care of us!!! His staff were always checking in, asking to see if we needed anything!!!! We love Tom, the staff, and the Inn and plan to visit for all our anniversaries to come!

o groups of seven. Tom and the e tire staff were accommodating and courteous and made the entire weekend a huge success.

breathtaking dell in the woods behind the inn where we had our wedding ceremony. Tom the innkeeper and the entire Echo Lake staff were so attentive and helpful throughout the wedding planning process and our wedding weekend. Planning a wedding is stressful and having the staff consistently available helped us avoid feeling overwhelmed, especially as our big day arrived. The staff was also so supportive in accommodating all of the creative touches we wanted to bring with us for the wedding weekend. Having almost our entire guest list stay at the Inn allotted extra time with everyone and built in additional moments we would not have gotten otherwise. Between the variety of single rooms, apartment and suites, the inn easily accommodated a majority of our guests (100+) and made each person’s stay unique. The food was absolutely delicious from the first appetizer that came out through the last cut of meat, all of which was created by the Inn’s own chef. We highly recommend this venue to anyone who is looking. We wouldn’t change a thing and plan on coming back for our anniversary next year.

y easy to get in touch with, I was constantly e-mailing him questions and he was always very quick to respond. I love everything about our wedding at the Echo Lake Inn, it was perfect! We had a small wedding (50 people) and we had a welcome bbq the day before and I would say about 40 people came to that, the food was amazing and it was a nice way for our families to get to know each other before the wedding. The wedding day was made a stress free as possible. The staff was amazing! They took care of setting up for our reception, made sure everything was going according to schedule. We had our ceremony in The Dell and it was truly magical! For our reception we had dinner as buffet style and the food was great! And there was no long line waiting for food which was nice for the guests. We heard nothing but great things from our guests and some of them even said it was the best wedding they have ever been to.

history, sustainability, amenities - all for a great price, and with an amazing support staff. Tom and Kyle were absolutely amazing and made us feel from the start that any kind of special custom element we wanted to do to make our day special would be possible. And we asked for quite a few custom things - from sourcing meats from a local farm for the Welcome BBQ, to getting chairs up to my parents’ rustic mountain-side camp for the ceremony (usually the ceremony is done on the Inn’s beautiful campus) - they made it all happen! I’m a highly detailed-oriented designer-type, who was planning the whole wedding on my own, and they helped bring it all together and kept me from getting too overwhelmed. They had great advice from their years of experience, but were also so flexible. The wedding day/weekend was perfect! The guests loved that the whole Inn was exclusively ours for the weekend. They enjoyed the awesome facilities and activities for guests to enjoy - pool, tennis, jacuzzi, lawn games, darts, billiards, boats on the lake, and more... And the food was awesome! I can’t say enough good things about this venue!

as easy as possible. Neil, the wedding coordinate, was great both on Friday night, and all day and night on Saturday. He made sure that everything ran smoothly and kept us stress free the entire time. Our dedicated bartender, that's right you get one of those, Kyle was also amazing. The outdoor venue for the ceremony was absolutely gorgeous and the tent for the reception was simple yet elegant. Everything was perfect at Echo Lake Inn, and we highly recommend you book your wedding there!

try, most of whom stayed there from Friday through Sunday, and from the BBQ rehearsal dinner to the wedding, the reception, and Sunday brunch, it was a flawless and thoroughly enjoyable time. Lots of local things and places to do and see (cremees, swimming holes, hikes), and the Inn is a charming and beautiful venue. Worth every penny.

to the lake and canoes/kayaks. When you have a wedding here the property becomes exclusively yours so all of the people at the inn were our guests and we got to have an intimate weekend with all of our attendees. The wooded dell area for the ceremony is simply breathtaking. There is even a tavern downstairs where you can continue the party afterwards. Lots of fun details too including a wishing well and archway,great for photographs. The tent has birch trees on the pool. The staff: the staff here is above and beyond. They were so attentive to our every need and several people commented to us how great they were. It seemed they knew what we needed even before we asked. We were treated like royalty here. The owner Tom was so caring about everything we needed and quick to respond to our every need. We were planning the wedding long distance and he'd jump on the phone with us late night to go over a question. He was thorough and organized and so caring about our wedding we knew we were in good hands. I cannot say enough about Tom or Neil who truly did everything to make it the best day/wedding weekend ever. The food: the food was spectacular. From the made to order breakfast each morning to dinner it was very good. Everything is locally sourced and many of our guests arrived early so we got to try the prix fix meal they have on Thursday. It was great. The appetizers and buffet were incredible. Many of our guests who commented on the food and deliciousness. Lastly but certainly not least the prices are very very reasonable and the bride and groom get free drinks all weekend as well as a complimentary stay. We got an entire weekend for what some people spend for an evening event. Our overall experience was amazing and we wish we could have a wedding here again

ving the tavern downstairs after the reception was great. Guests also raved about the sandwich board offered there. It was such an amazing weekend and a beautiful place.

ley region since my husband Chris’ family annually spends a week during the summer in between Lake Rescue and Lake Pauline for the past 30 years. Chris and I had seen the Inn for the previous 7 years on our hikes along the lakes and when kayaking under the nearby bridge of Kingdom Road and we were always in awe of it and thought it looked cozy and welcoming. Laurence gave us a tour of the Inn, we got to have a tasting, and he was always receptive/treated us well and we knew that the entire staff (Neal, Anne Marie, Chef Kevin and the others) would be able to accommodate the guests we would be having. Throughout the planning for the following year the Inn staff were quick to respond and informative. I would describe our wedding as semi-destination (not too far from the New York metropolitan region but still, some communication with vendors had to be Skyped or emailed as much as possible) and it was also planned from a semi long-distance relationship (we resided about three hours apart up until we were married) which could be tough logistics-wise (Chris and I relied a lot upon Google docs as well as Pinterest since we both were equally invested in the planning process and details). Laurence emails a monthly newsletter with planning suggestions based on the month and season of your Vermont wedding. The wedding website and our save the date were electronically sent to them which ensured all parties would be on the same page and I even sent pictures of floral arrangements, backdrops, and other details for the wedding along to receive input but you don’t have to do this as the Inn’s staff will easily rally around what you provide and will know where your items go for your special day. And the coolest thing ever is that as those you’ve invited arrive, they can use the pool, boating equipment on Echo Lake, and even the tennis courts. It made me so happy to know our friends and family were being treated to a mini-vacation of their own too. One of the reasons I love Vermont so much, and the Inn, is due to the fact that everyone is so kind, listens to you, and the pace moves much slower. Even the store manager at Shaw’s, the grocery store in downtown Ludlow, spotted me fretting in the aisle a day after the wedding worried about how we would transport our cake to Montreal for the honeymoon and she offered to hold on to the cake in their employee freezer for the week if I would purchase the freezer bags needed for it. I am still astounded by her response and kindness-something like that would unlikely have ever happened elsewhere (and by the way, she mentioned that her son is also getting married at the Inn this coming summer). I can relay further stories evidencing all the abundance of love outpouring from the Lakes area but I think our experience with the Inn demonstrates this pretty well. As of March 2015 Echo Lake Inn now has a new Innkeeper, Tom. From his introduction it sounds like he truly appreciates the history of the Echo Lake Inn and will be able to carry on the torch well and be an excellent Innkeeper and Master of Ceremonies for all weddings at the Inn to come. From one fellow admirer of Calvin Coolidge to another, I wish him and the Inn continued luck and prosperity.

on Echo Lake Inn because the Innkeeper called us back (instead of emailing us back), he did his best to work within our budget, they hosted us for a night, and immediately earned our trust and confidence. As the year progressed and we planned the wedding Laurence and his crew responded immediately to any questions that we had and were extremely helpful. During the weekend of the wedding (9.13.14) our expectations were blown away! Everyone at the Inn was extraordinarily welcoming to all of our guests (even those not staying at the Inn) and professional. We really didn't have to worry about a thing. We had a beautiful camp fire on Friday night, followed by some fun in the Tavern. Saturday went perfectly - even though it rained all afternoon! They managed to transition the tent from the ceremony (which ended up being so cozy and intimate despite the 130+ people there) to the reception seamlessly. We decided to take a little time for ourselves on the porch and Neal provided us with a delicious plate of appetizers. Laurence made sure we ate dinner! Neal anticipated our drink choices and made sure we had everything we needed. I was blown away at how much fun it was and all of our guests LOVED it. Everyone wants to make plans to go back! There are a ton of wedding venues in VT so the choice is overwhelming - and we are so extremely happy that we chose the Echo Lake Inn. It was perfect in every way.

in one place (BBQ Friday night, ceremony and reception Saturday, breakfast/brunch every morning and on-site bars open late night). The Inn was also able to accommodate the majority of our guests. We had read many reviews and heard from almost every local we talked to about how fabulous the food and service was at the Inn and what a great wedding Laurence puts on. Even after hearing everyone build up the venue, our expectations were surpassed! The food was absolutely delicious and the service was second to none! Laurence coordinated every aspect of the wedding perfectly and to our request for our big day (most of our planning was done through email with only a few site visits since we are from PA). Neal was amazing and seemed to be everywhere and do anything! We really can't say enough about the service! All of our guests had a really good time, telling us how great Laurence and Neal were and what a great time they had at the wedding. We highly recommend Echo Lake Inn as a wedding venue. It is certainly worth the cost and will surpass your expectations! Seth & Melissa

to the finer points of planning a successful reception. His professionalism made the entire planning process a breeze, and his staff (especially Neil the innkeeper and Karen in the kitchen) are second to none with regard to their attentiveness and enthusiasm. They each made sure there was nothing my husband or I had to worry about the entire weekend. Even when the weather threatened a 100% chance of rain on our wedding day, Laurence's extensive contingency plan made us confident that our celebration would still be a success. And when the storm blew through early and we were left with bright, sunny skies, the team at Echo Lake adjusted their preparations with the ease of a well-oiled machine. I'm not sure which to rave about more - the ease of planning or the celebration itself! The Echo Lake Inn's customary Friday night cookout and Sunday morning brunch turned what would have otherwise been a 4-hour event into a weekend-long party that our guests thoroughly enjoyed. Not to mention the wedding day itself - our outdoor ceremony on the back lawn was elegant and rustic with a quintessentially "Vermont" feel, and our reception was reported to be one of the best our guests had ever attended. And get this: thanks to Laurence's attention to detail during dinner, my husband and I not only got to eat from the buffet... we actually got second helpings! Overall, the accommodations were quaint and cozy, the food and drink were absolutely phenomenal, and our guests are STILL raving the fantastic time they had. I would encourage anyone thinking about a Vermont wedding to check out the Echo Lake Inn, even if you are not locals (we weren't!). Our experience was low on stress, high on quality, and completely through the roof on satisfaction, for a very fair and reasonable price.

er for the whole weekend and the bride and groom, wedding party, and parents could feel well cared for with all the details looked after. Owner of the inn Laurence Jeffery charmed us from the start, and served as wedding planner and event coordinator from day one. He has vast experience in making it all happen, and yet happily accommodated the many things and ideas we had to make the weekend special for everyone. Every aspect of the wedding weekend was provided, from a Friday night party to Sunday brunch and everything in between. The food (award winning and part of the Vermont Fresh Network) was exquisite and beautifully presented, and many of our guests raved about it. ALL the staff are so friendly and helpful, wearing many hats over the weekend. Most of our guests stayed at the inn and in the "condos" in the old cheese factory, with overflow staying nearby and welcome at the inn all weekend. We had lots of family and friends with kids, and it was perfect for them too. Also of note, we found the cost to be the most reasonable of the various venues we investigated. We also used the local florist, and a bluegrass band and photographer from central Vermont. The whole weekend exceeded the bride and groom's hopes and expectations, and we can hardly imagine how we could have had the perfect wedding anywhere else. We know we will be back for future stays and visits in the years ahead.

at the Inn, it becomes yours exclusively for the weekend & closed to the public, which was a huge perk for us. They have enough rooms & condos to accomodate 100+ guests, though we only had about 80+. Since we didn't fill all of the rooms, they actually began to upgrade some of our guests to better rooms at no cost to the guests, which was a really nice touch. They also allowed us to come in Friday morning (the wedding was Saturday) so we could bring over all our decorations & welcome bags for our guests and we were able to put them in our guests rooms. The Inn is in a lovely spot right by Echo Lake, which a bridge going over a babbling stream/river. The Inn is absolutely gorgeous as well- the huge front porch was a big hit with us and our guests. We roasted marshmallows in a kettle on the deck and all our guests milled about there on Friday night- it was just perfect. The rooms are all different, full of antique furniture and decor with a really warm and homey feel rather than a cookie cutter hotel. They have air conditioning as well- major bonus! The Inn has rooms and condos, which were perfect for some families who traveled up and wanted to have a full kitchen and lots of room. An added perk for us was that we got a king luxury suite on the house for two nights- with a HUGE jacuzzi tub, full bathroom, TV and gorgeous antique 4 post bed. We loved it so much we booked an additional night before we headed home. The Inn's also super close to town, so we enjoyed seeing our guests get out and about the area and enjoy the local VT businesses. I loved that I could peek out of my window and not only my groom getting ready, but I could see guests enjoying the pool, volleyball net, and I saw handfuls of guests sitting in the rocking chairs on the porch- chatting, sipping wine, reading books, relaxing. They also have a tent which we used for the reception, and it was beautiful and perfect. We had the ceremony under an apple tree on the property, and took photos in front of a beautiful old wishing well. The service we experienced the entire weekend was absolutely wonderful. I felt like a star! The inn keeper, Laurence, was on top of every detail and was consistently checking on us to be sure we were enjoying ourselves. Neil may have been my favorite staff member, as he checked in with me all weekend to be sure I had everything I needed, whether it be more food, more wine (yes please!), and he treated my guests like celebrities- they are STILL raving to me about how wonderful Neil was! I can't rave enough about the wedding coordinator, Ruxana, either- she was absolutely wonderful as well, and so sweet and caring. Every bride should have a coordinator as enthused as she was! The Inn was really excellent at working with us on pricing and details as well, as we wanted a non-traditional wedding and they helped make it possible. Neil even warded off a drunken invader who tried to come into the bar one night! And Laurence was just wonderful, making sure we had everything we needed. We had our rehearsal dinner & wedding at the Inn and the food was AWESOME! Chef Kevin made a custom menu for us and it was delicious! I do wish we knew that VT State Law won't allow food out for more than 2 hours- but we were still given plenty of food. I would recommend the Inn to EVERYONE!

Laurence and his staff were amazing. Whatever we needed they were able to accommodate, you can tell they really love hosting weddings. The wedding planner Ruxanna was the main contact person before the wedding. She helped answer all my questions, gave us advice and suggestions and make sure the day was all planned out. Our guest commented on how beautiful, organized and unique the wedding was- that truly is a testamet to Laurance and his staff. Two weeks before our wedding hurricane Irene hit Vermont. The Inn had some flooding and quite a bit of damage to the grounds. You would never have known it on our wedding day! The entire Inn staff worked hard to clean up the mess from the flood so that we would still have the wedding we imagined. I know if we had chosen to get married at a different venue they would not have worked so hard to get things back to normal and probably would have canceled on us. We are SO HAPPY we went with Echo Lake Inn, it was exactly the wedding we hoped for.

o do over, I would use Echo Lake Inn for my reception again in a heartbeat!