Lakeside Occasions

Lakeside Occasions in Topeka, Indiana, is a wedding venue located on a dairy farm that's been in the owner's family for over 100 years. Couples who love farming, couples who want a relaxing wedding and city couples who want to escape the rat race on their special day find serenity and fresh rustic style at this well-kept and fun wedding event spot. Brides, grooms and guests from South Bend, Battle Creek, Toledo and Fort Wayne can easily access the property from I-69, I-90 and US-20. Lakeside Occasions has outdoor and indoor ceremony spaces and a large barn for your banquet.

Gazebo Site. You may host your ceremony at several spots in the meadow and grounds, but this spot is the most popular outdoor site. An elegant stained wooden gazebo with decorative trim and roof is poised at the edge of Emma Lake for a serene backdrop of water, fields and trees. You may drape the gazebo in fabric in your wedding colors or use floral decorations to make the site more formal.

The Guernsey. Host your banquet in a restored dairy barn originally built in 1887 by the current owners' forebears. Much of the original woodwork can still be seen inside the structure, which is heated and air-conditioned. A balcony fashioned from the old hayloft overlooks the action in the main space below and a prep kitchen has been set up where the old milk house once operated. A deck on the rear of the barn has scenic views of Emma Lake and the renovated basement can be used for backup ceremony space if it rains or as a buffet station room. Indoor and outdoor staircases provide grand entrance and exit spots or host your ceremony on the sweeping front steps.

The Coop. You have to see this little gem of a venue to believe it. A 1950s-style diner in red, white and corrugated metal with a jukebox, pool table, booths and plenty of retro decor is an awesome wedding photo backdrop for a 1950s wedding. It makes a sweet little cocktail hour, rehearsal dinner or groom's lounge too.

Bridal Suite. Farm brides adore this converted feed silo with a chandelier and it offers great getting-ready photo opportunities. A groom's dressing area is also provided.

Lakeside Occasions can offer wedding planning and coordination services, but this is also a venue for couples who want to DIY and choose their own catering and event professionals. If you choose a caterer that is not on the list of preferred vendors, there is a fee.

Ceremonies and receptions are only held from April until November due to the weather extremes in the winter months. A horse-drawn carriage is possible for the bridal arrival or the couple's getaway ride.

Lakeside Occasions set up and break down up to 200 chairs and matching tables. More tables and chairs are available for rental as are other event rentals, such as decor, lighting and signage. String lighting already in the barn is included in the rental. The venue is happy to work with you to help you create the event you envision and you may have a tent on the property.

One perk that being in Northern Indiana bestows on Lakeside Occasions is the close proximity to Shipshewana, which is only 10 miles away. This is the third largest Amish settlement in the United States and a pleasant wedding party base. Over a million visitors tour this area every year, so there is comfortable lodging in the town. You can also take part in the following activities when staying in the area, many of which may inspire ideas for your photo shoots:

• Wedding quilts and crafts shopping
• Amish homestead and cheese-making tours
• Hostetler Hudson Auto Museum tour
• 1906 German-made Shipshewana carousel ride
• Golfing, canoeing and swimming in town
• Buggy tours of the town and country