About this venue
Mike & Deanna Hessling
OWNER/OPERATORS
Typically responds within 24h
Celebrate your wedding surrounded by the natural beauty of the Gathering Place Resort & Lodge, an all-inclusive venue for weddings in Birchwood, WI. Nestled among tall pines and overlooking a peaceful lake, our venue offers an unforgettable experience for couples who want more than just a ceremony — they want a weekend to remember.
Begin your celebration with a welcoming rehearsal dinner, either in our rustic Wilderness Lodge, which seats up to 50, or on our covered outdoor terrace. The next day, exchange vows in a breathtaking outdoor ceremony framed by towering trees, overlooking sparkling water. Alternatively, you could say, 'I do' under the twinkling lights of our open-air pavilion stage. Then, celebrate under the stars with a glamorous outdoor tented reception area with space for up to 225 guests. This is complete with elegant lighting, customized dining, and space for dancing the night away.
Guests staying onsite enjoy the comforts of our resort accommodations, including cozy cabins and spacious grounds. During the day, invite your guests to join in the fun — from lounging on the beach to a pontoon cruise around the lake. It's a perfect way to relax, connect, and soak in the beauty of the Northwoods. Wrap up your wedding weekend with a morning-after brunch served in the Wilderness Lodge — a perfect send-off for your friends and family.
Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or a full weekend celebration, our venue offers the ideal setting, with all the amenities needed to bring your vision to life.
Meet the team
Mike & Deanna Hessling
Owner/Operators
We are mid-westerners and both very active in outdoors sports and activities. Mike grew up in Peoria, Illinois and is the youngest of a family of 8. As a result, he is great at working with families big and small! Deanna is from Hastings, Minnesota and has spent her career in multiple industries finally landing in project management. This skill allows her to be a great help when it comes to planning and coordinating with you to make your event special.
Reviews
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6/22/22
We had a great stay at the Gathering Place. The cabin was really well set up and super clean. The beach was great and we had a lot of fun playing volleyball and kayaking. Thank you.
6/02/22
Super clean & spacious. Very helpful hosts. Lots of activities (kayaks, lawn games, board games, etc) included in the cabin rental. We rented a pontoon boat from the resort and it was very clean & functional too. We’ll be back!
10/16/24
Recently spent some time here at the end of summer for a family reunion and had a wonderful week! Such a friendly place with the hosts treating everyone like family (the type that you like). I stayed in one of the lodges which was clean, comfor...
table, and with that wooden cabin feel that you anticipate when thinking of a northern lakeside retreat. The RV area was new with full hookups, and fishing was successful at both the lakeside and pond. Recently renovated basketball/pickleball court next to the playground. Large shared dining/event lodge for group meals and overall hangout area. All in all, my family and I are looking forward to our next stay at The Gathering Place!
8/10/25
Wonderful place to stay and unwind. Beautiful resort with great owners on site.
First class RV Resort. Very quiet, country setting in the green hills of Wisconsin.
The RV sites are large and well spaced with plenty of distance from other sites....
The local small towns are fun to visit, with scenic drives, cheese & butcher shops, shopping and many lakes.
8/25/25
What an amazing stay! From the moment we arrived, we felt so welcomed. The resort and lodge is beautiful—our room was spotless, cozy, and had everything we needed for a relaxing getaway. The owners went above and beyond with their warm, attenti...
ve service. The location couldn’t be better, with the lake just steps away. We loved spending time by the water—it made the whole experience even more peaceful and memorable. I honestly didn’t want to leave and can’t wait to come back. Highly recommend!
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Gathering Place Resort & Lodge
Mike & Deanna Hessling
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Owner/Operators
Typically responds within 24h
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