Historic Venue Nestled in the Woods
Recently updated
This vendor updated their storefront within the last 15 days.
Holds ceremonies and receptions
Julie Rotz
MANAGER
Krippendorf Lodge at Cincinnati Nature Center is a picturesque wedding venue in Milford, OH. It is an idyllic destination to host special events with a maximum guest capacity of 200 people. The expansive property features sprawling woodlands and a historic mansion built in 1900. If you and your partner long for a gorgeous, natural backdrop for your big day, this splendid venue will surely fulfill your vision.
You can begin your day in Krippendorf Lodge at Cincinnati Nature Center’s lavish get-ready suites. Fitted with many useful amenities, these comfortable facilities are perfect for your pre-aisle preparations. A spacious stone terrace provides a spectacular outdoor place for your wedding ceremony and reception. It has a custom-made awning to provide shelter during the spring and autumn months. You can also gather with guests on the venue’s charming wrap-around porch for a few drinks and customary celebrations. During your function, you will have access to a range of equipment and event items to help make your stay comfortable and memorable. The property is wheelchair accessible for total peace of mind and provides complimentary WiFi for you and your guests to enjoy.
The staff at Krippendorf Lodge will help make your wedding design process feel straightforward from the very beginning. These experts offer hands-on event planning services and will guide you on your journey to creating your dream celebration. The property is wheelchair accessible for total peace of mind and provides complimentary WiFi for you and your guests to enjoy.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Estate
Garden
Historic Venue
Park
Tented
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Cakes & Desserts
Food & Catering
Planning
Rentals & Equipment
Tents
Service Staff
Any questions?
Meet the team
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- Laura PetersonVenue Rental and Event CoordinatorLaura, originally from the vast prairies of Wyoming, has called Cincinnati home for the past 13 years. Her approach to event planning mirrors her artistry in stained glass—every detail is thoughtfully crafted and perfectly placed to bring your vision to life. With a rich background in events and bar management, she’s the perfect leader for both our bar programs and wedding team. If you’re undecided on a cocktail, just ask her for a recommendation—chances are, she’ll suggest a splash of Elderflower Liqueur, because she believes it elevates any drink!
- Lauren McKennaVenue Rental and Event CoordinatorHello, Newlyweds and helpful planners! My name is Lauren McKenna and I’d love to assist you in crafting a magical wedding. If you decide to host your Big Day with us at the Cincinnati Nature Center, I can be certain the gorgeous setting and attentive team will not disappoint! As someone who has been in the event industry for 23 years, I’ve seen it all and can attest to the unique appeal the 2 venues at CNC can offer. I’m in this business because I truly enjoy making someone’s day. As the Sales Manager at Ruth’s Chris Steak House, it was a joy to create personalized wine tasting dinners, extravagant retirement parties or simple (yet elegant) happy hours. I’ve been honored to host and coordinate weddings featuring French haute cuisine with a James Beard Award Winning chef. In Texas, I had the opportunity to work with and coordinate events for a celebrity chef featured on Oxygen Network. Every event, no matter the size or celebration, the goal is an absolutely great day. I would love to meet you and start the journey to creating YOUR exceptional day.
- Charlotte GrahamVenue Rental and Event CoordinatorKnown for her calm and steady presence, Charlotte keeps every event running smoothly with grace and composure. With a strong passion for any kind of celebration, she believes weddings are the ultimate expression of love and the perfect reason to come together, dance, and create lasting memories. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Charlotte has always loved the energy and community in her city. Her event experience began in running live music events, where she discovered her passion for creating experiences that bring people together. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, where she earned a degree in Communication and a minor in Spanish, she brings organization, strong communication skills, and a fresh perspective to every event she plans. Outside of work, you might find her performing with local bands around the city, teaching private music lessons to kids, or spending time with all of her nieces and nephews!
- Julie BellCentralized Event and Venue Rental ManagerSomeone once commented to me, “Julie, you cannot put a price on an experience”. As I reflect on my life, and my career, I have discovered this truism to be what fuels my passion in life - which is connecting with people and creating unforgettable experiences. Having the opportunity to fuse my passion for curating unforgettable experiences with my love of nature and the outdoors has given me the opportunity to “work” in my dream job at The Cincinnati Nature Center. The Cincinnati region is so fortunate to have a such a timeless treasure right here in our own community where not only can families enjoy the outdoors, but companies can meet in high-quality unique venues, individuals can form lifelong bonds through marriage and unforgettable experiences can occur. When I am not imagining your next event at The Cincinnati Nature Center, those who know me will share stories of my passion transcending work and into my family life, where I have been known to create timeless events for my kids that rival a professional production.
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.032 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
The Krippendorf Lodge at the Cincinnati Nature Center is highly praised for its beautiful setting and attentive staff, particularly Charlotte and Laura. Reviewers found the venue to be stunning and whimsical, with unique touches enhancing the overall experience. The coordinating team ensured seamless planning and execution, providing a stress-free process for couples. Despite a minor issue with bartenders, the overall consensus is overwhelmingly positive, emphasizing the competitive pricing, top-tier service, and the venue's natural beauty as a perfect backdrop for weddings.Review photos
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Brenna L
5.0
1/29/2026
Our experience with the Krippendorf Lodge and the Cincinnati Nature Center was wonderful! Our day went so smoothly and the staff made sure to fulfill all of our wishes -big and sma...
ll - even down to bringing champagne to the bridal suite the day of. They were super helpful and kind. The venue itself is beautiful - lots of charm and the unique touches within the lodge really added to the whimsical feel of our event. The lodge is now a very special place to us and we were so happy to spend our wedding day there. We really had the perfect day! The only downside was the bartenders that were a part of the required caterer were unprofessional and rude to our guests, but they somewhat remedied the situation once I brought it up to them. It was a little frustrating to have to address this with them during my wedding day, but it was a blip in an otherwise perfect event. Note: this was not a reflection on the Cincinnati Nature Center staff. Lauren and her team were wonderful from day one. Everyone else involved with the catering company were also great. Thank you to all the staff at the CNC for executing our vision and giving us a beautiful core memory.
Michael N
5.0
11/05/2025
Charlotte is amazing! She helped us every step along the way and made our wedding process as easy as possible. Even in the cold and rain, the venue is beautiful, and everyone had a...
great time. 5 stars for Unicorn (the owl) joining cocktail hour!!
Any questions?
Savannah M
5.0
11/03/2025
After over a month of settling into married life, one thing my partner and I both agreed on is that we would not have asked for a better venue. Charlotte and her team were professi...
onal and made sure that we were comfortable throughout the planning process. The venue itself is a work of art that needs little to no decoration to make it shine. If we had to do it all over again, I would choose the Nature Center every time.
Olivia S
5.0
7/14/2025
We had the absolute best experience with this venue for our wedding. From start to finish, everything was seamless and exceeded our expectations. The coordinator we worked with was...
incredibly communicative, organized, and truly cared about bringing our vision to life. Every detail was thoughtfully handled, and it made the entire process feel stress-free.
The venue itself was just as breathtaking in person as we had hoped. It provided the perfect backdrop for our ceremony and celebration. The bridal suite was not only beautiful and spacious for getting ready, but also served as a perfect private retreat for my husband and me after the ceremony — a moment we truly cherished.
We also found the CNC pricing to be extremely competitive for everything that was included. It was an incredible value for such a stunning location and top-tier service. I truly couldn’t recommend this venue more.
Kairee F
5.0
10/23/2023
Absolutely beautiful venue with organized and helpful staff. Laura was our coordinator, and she was incredible!
Abby G
5.0
6/30/2023
Krippendorf Lodge and their staff/day of coordinators made our wedding planning process so smooth! The Lodge is gorgeous tucked back inside the Cincinnati Nature Center which crea...
tes a naturally beautiful backdrop for all wedding events! You don't need much extra decor and it's covered in case of bad weather. We hired their day of coordinator and she made our wedding day and time leading up to it so much easier. She set everything up that day and we didn't have to worry about any of it! We LOVED having our wedding at Krippendorf and got so many compliment on the venue.
Evan G
5.0
9/27/2022
An absolutely beautiful venue! Very few extra decorations were required, which was great for our budget.
Sandy and the rest of the staff were so easy to work with and exceeded our...
expectations in every way. Many of our guests complemented the venue. Could not be happier!
Cara I
5.0
7/17/2022
The Krippendorf was just wonderful to work with! Kyle, our coordinator with the Krippendorf and Elegant Fare (who runs the Krippendorf for the Cincinnati Nature Center) was so easy...
to work with, and the wedding went off flawlessly! We had such a wonderful time, and the location is beautiful! Would recommend to anyone getting married in Cincinnati!
Laura R
5.0
6/28/2022
We came across Krippendorf Lodge by complete accident and decided to go tour the venue on a whim. We fell in love with the environment and the charm of the venue. It was the perf...
ect setting for our special day.
Maria C
5.0
12/24/2021
Wonderful from start to finish. We had a great wedding here. Staff was great at communication and execution. Location is beautiful. Highly recommend.
Casey J
5.0
9/19/2020
We were married here in June 2019, and I would highly recommend. It’s much more than a beautiful venue - They took care of the meal, the bar, and Julie was more like a day-of coord...
inator than just an event contact. She made sure we kept to our pre-wedding schedule in terms of meal selection, coordinated the tastings, helped with the seating chart, etc before-hand and on our wedding day, continued to make sure we were running on schedule, helped time out the wedding party walking so that I came out at the perfect part of my song, helped with where family members should sit for the ceremony, reminded us when it was time to cut the cake, totally transformed the space between the ceremony and reception in what seemed like a matter of minutes (and in a totally organic, not awkward way while our guests enjoyed drinks and appetizers), etc. she has been with this venue for years and had dozens of incredibly helpful recommendations based on her vast experience. She and her team were always very responsive to all of our questions - often returning emails within a few hours or even minutes.
There is certainly something to be said of the convenience not having to coordinate between as many different vendors. I can’t say enough about this venue and the services they provide. Like many couples doing this for the first time, we had no idea what we were doing, and they made everything so easy. The staff was super friendly, helpful, and professional. We feel that we got everything we paid for and so much more.
And the location was perfect, having guests coming from out of town, the city, and further east (Brown and Adams Co.). There are hotels nearby, and both Ubers and on-site parking were super convenient.
We had several guests tell us it was the most beautiful and well-thought out wedding they had ever been to and, while I may be a bit biased, I’d have to agree. Our day was everything we could have dreamed. Thank you Krippendorf and Julie for giving us the most perfect day and memory to look back for the rest of our lives.
Lauren L
5.0
6/29/2019
We were married at Krippendorf lodge June 2019. It was beautiful and perfect. Julie and her team were easy to work with, knew every question to ask and made our planning and day of...
easy. We couldn't be happier with our choice.
Emily V
5.0
5/31/2019
Our wedding at the Cincinnati Nature Center was wonderful! Julie was so helpful during the planning process and for coordination on the day of the wedding. It is a beautiful venue,...
and the food and service were excellent. The ability to close the walls of the tent helped give me peace of mind in case of rain on our wedding day. Our wedding photos in the surrounding forest are amazing and just what I wanted; green, bright, and natural looking. You also get a free membership for 2 to the Cincinnati Nature Center for one year if you book here. Our wedding ended up being on a hot day with plenty of gnats in the outdoor tent (they seemed attracted to our flower displays), but our guests had a wonderful time and enjoyed the lovely scenery.
Alexis G
5.0
12/19/2018
Krippendorf lodge was perfect! It was exactly what I was looking for. It was such a unique and romantic location. The catering provided by the lodge was exceptional, all the food w...
as amazing, not traditional boring wedding food.
Tori Y
5.0
12/07/2018
Julie was our wedding coordinator and she was awesome! She kept us on track before the wedding and on the day of.
Julie was very prompt with answers to our questions, and she was ...
very patient when was a tad indecisive.
She made sure our day went off without a hitch!
Rachel R
5.0
12/02/2018
I absolutely loved working with this team. Gorgeous venue, amazing staff, they know how to create a dream wedding!
Stephanie/Jo El K
5.0
10/11/2018
We got married at the Krippendorf Lodge on October 5, 2018. Elegant Fare was the caterer. The lodge and grounds were spectacular! Our guests went on and on how beautiful the Cincin...
nati Nature Center/Krippendorf Lodge were. Elegant Fare absolutely nailed our wedding!!! Everything was "spot on" and the staff not only treated us/married couple like royalty they also treated our guests like that too. We received so many compliments on the delicious food as well as how well the staff took care of everyone. Julie is a joy to work with and each and every detail was handled perfectly. She's a gem and a true professional at her job. We couldn't be happier with our choice in wedding venue and caterer. If we could give more than 5 stars believe us we would. Highly recommend having your wedding at the Krippendorf Lodge with Elegant Fare as your caterer!! Bravo.
A D
5.0
5/23/2018
Naturally beautiful venue so we didn't have to spend a lot on decorations our flowers. The catering service Elegant Fare provided delicious food and the staff were very professiona...
l and great to work with. Julie the coordinator was so organized and reached out throughout our planning process to make sure everything was covered. The cost of the venue was moderate pricing but well worth it. I have no regrets because it was a day that I'll never forget.
Carley A
5.0
10/16/2017
Such a unique and beautiful venue! We had the greatest compliments about how wonderful the place was and how different and exciting it was. The staff was amazing and went above and...
beyond to make sure everything went smoothly. Can not give them enough praise for the most amazing day!
Sarah I
5.0
5/27/2017
We had the dreamiest wedding at Krippendorf Lodge. The outdoor stone terrace makes for a perfect setting for both ceremony and reception, and the beauty and history of the lodge it...
self give an added bonus. Without a doubt though, the best thing about having your wedding at Krippendorf is Julie and the Elegant Fare crew. Julie is truly a seasoned professional, and made our entire wedding seamless from start to finish. Elegant Fare not only had wonderful food, but gorgeous presentation and professional and courteous servers and bartenders. Another added bonus about booking here is that you do not have to worry about dealing with multiple vendors, contracts, and fees for tables, chairs, linens, china, tent, day of coordinator etc - it is all included, which makes the whole process a little less stressful. Our guests raved about the beauty of the venue, and how great the food was. We could not be happier with our decision to book here.
Katie R
5.0
9/07/2016
The MOST beautiful venue I could have dreamed of. The bistro lights make it magical at night. We loved it. Also, Julie with Elegant Fare is the coordinator and she is awesome as we...
ll. Easy to work with, thinks of everything, quick responses. Loved it all!!
Regina T
5.0
6/04/2016
We LOVED the Krippendorf Lodge! The setting is beautiful and exactly what we were looking for and our guests were all raving about the beautiful setting. The Elegant Fare staff wen...
t above and beyond to make our day special and it was so helpful to have all our needs covered by one vendor. Would highly recommend!
Brooke S
5.0
10/22/2013
it was perfect, outdoor setting but tent was up which gave the space a very intimate feel
Rach H
5.0
10/08/2012
The overall use of the lodge was amazing. The beauty of the woods in the background, with the huge wrap around patio, plus the lights strung up our wedding night felt magical. The ...
one big negative is that you can't choose your caterer - you have to go with the one caterer they provide. However, although a little pricey, the food was amazing and we received many compliments throughout the night.
Julie, the venue coordinator, is great to work with. On the day of, she does EVERYthing possible to make your day go smoothly.
Rachael W
5.0
5/23/2012
Once we saw this venue we fell in love with it. It was perfect for our outdoor wedding. There was no need to be worried about bad weather too, bc they have an awning you can rent i...
f it doesn't end up being a perfect sunny day. Luckily we had perfect weather though, bc I really didn't want to have to use it. Working with Julie was great! She was very helpful and quick to respond to my emails. The staff was very helpful and the food was delicious.
Brad S
5.0
12/05/2011
The venue was great and everything my wife was looking for! I liked having the woods surround us. Having to book through the caterer seemed to make everything easier for the wedd...
ing.
JC L
5.0
11/04/2011
Perfect. I can't say more. Absolutely Perfect.
Melanie S
4.0
10/03/2011
I highly recommend this venue. It is beautiful and rustic, while still being handicapped accessible. My reason for 4 stars is the communication between Elegant Fare and myself. ...
Julie was good to work with, but would sometimes not reply to emails for 3-7 days. It is a very busy location, so I wonder if maybe they need two coordinators to handle it? At any rate, the wedding day was perfect and went very smoothly, especially flipping the ceremony site to reception. At the end of the evening, my mother did say that they were very much almost pushing them out and they threw away some decorations (including a caramel apple favor) that my Mom was trying to save to take home. They boxed up leftover food to send home with my sister and there were tons of leftovers! Excellent food, excellent location. Julie also worked with us on the cost of catering and menu options.
Katie S
5.0
7/25/2011
I would definitely go with my decision to use Krippendorf Lodge at Cincinnati Nature Center again. It was amazing! The food was great and the atmosphere was beautiful. I was look...
ing for an outdoor venue that could hold a hold of people and where you didn't have to rent tables and chairs and all that separately. This was perfect.
Meghan C
5.0
7/06/2011
The location at the Krippendorf Lodge in the Cincinnati Nature Center in Milford OH was absolutely beautiful! It was wonderful to have an all in one location for the wedding and re...
ception, as well as having the option for outdoor and patio coverage via tent/awning in case of poor weather. Luckily, we had a beautiful day with no rain!! The staff through the catering company were fabulous too
Tracy W
5.0
9/21/2010
I was so thrilled with how everything turned out. The staff were extremely professional and knowledgable, and the setting was absolutely beautiful. I would highly recommend this ...
location to anyone.
Sharon R
5.0
5/10/2010
Absolutely beautiful scenery. The wedding party walked up through the woods to get to the ceremony site. Able to have the guests on the porch of the lodge for the ceremony and re...
ception so they could look out into the woods. Gorgeous setting!!! Julie the catering manager was fantastic to work with.
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Krippendorf Lodge at Cincinnati Nature Center
Julie Rotz
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Manager
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Krippendorf Lodge at Cincinnati Nature Center
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