Sojourn Lakeside Resort

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Joy Valont, Rob Lampert, and our experience with them throughout our wedding planning and wedding weekend at Sojourn Lakeside Resort. From beginning to end, Joy was my primary point of contact, and as a bride, she was truly a blessing and an absolute breath of fresh air. She was professional, responsive, organized, accommodating, and genuinely invested in making sure our wedding was everything we hoped it would be. Throughout the entire planning process, I always felt that Joy had our best interests at heart. One thing I came to appreciate tremendously about Joy is that she has incredibly high standards for her property and for the vendors who work there. She expects excellence, professionalism, and respect for the venue and bride—and as a bride who spent 2½ years planning every detail of her wedding, I appreciated that more than I can express. I wanted someone protecting the venue, the details, and the experience I had worked so hard to create. And then there was Rob, who was every bit as important in bringing our wedding day together. While so much of my communication leading up to the wedding was with Joy, Rob was behind the scenes putting in the physical work to make it all happen. From the tables and chairs to the arbor and countless setup details, he was there making sure everything was where it needed to be. And, perhaps most importantly that weekend, he was constantly watching the weather. The weather leading up to our wedding was unpredictable and unfavorable, and one of the hardest decisions was whether we would be able to have the wedding as we had envisioned it on the lawn by the lake or move everything to Plan B under the tent on the patio. I ultimately put that decision in Joy and Rob's hands because I trusted them completely. The day before the wedding, Rob asked me a question I will never forget. If the weather remained borderline and the decision could honestly go either way, which option was I leaning toward? I told him Plan B. As much as I wanted our original vision, my guests being safe and comfortable mattered more. On our wedding day, the weather truly made it a toss of the coin. Joy and Rob were faced with making the final call, and I know that decision did not come lightly. Ultimately, they chose Plan B—and I am so thankful they did. The thunder, lightning, and winds came in with a vengeance, but our guests were safe and comfortable under the tent. At that moment, there was absolutely no question that they had made the right decision. What has stayed with me even more than the decision itself, though, was Joy's reaction to having to make it. She was nearly in tears because she knew how hard we had worked and how much time I had spent creating a very specific vision for our wedding. She was genuinely heartbroken for me because she thought I was having to give up something I had dreamed about for so long. What I don't think Joy realized at the time was that I wasn't heartbroken—I was grateful. I was grateful that she cared enough to understand what that change meant to me. I was grateful that Rob had taken the time the day before to understand what mattered most to me if they were faced with that decision. And I was incredibly grateful that when the moment came, the two of them were willing to make the difficult call so that I didn't have to. That experience says more about Joy and Rob than I could ever convey in a simple review. They didn't just know my wedding plans; they understood what mattered to me. They cared about my vision while also recognizing when the safety and comfort of our guests had to come first. Together, Joy and Rob made an incredible team. Joy's attention to detail, high expectations, and genuine compassion paired beautifully with Rob's hard work, calm presence, and willingness to jump in and get things done. There are so many moving pieces behind the scenes of a wedding that a bride never sees. Looking back, I am incredibly grateful that Joy and Rob were the people behind ours. They gave me something absolutely priceless on my wedding day: the ability to trust them completely and simply enjoy the day we had spent so long planning. Our Plan B may not have been the wedding we originally pictured on paper, but it became our wedding—and it was beautiful. More importantly, everyone we loved was safe, comfortable, and able to celebrate with us. Joy and Rob, thank you for caring about our wedding as more than just another event on the calendar. Thank you for making the hard decisions, for doing the work behind the scenes, and for caring so deeply about the experience we had worked 2½ years to create. I trusted you both completely, and looking back, I wouldn't change that decision—or the decision you made for us—for anything. Long story short, 100/10 recommend Sojourn Lakeside resort and the ALL STAR team that made my wedding unforgettable.

We truly could not have asked for a better wedding venue than Sojourn Lakeside Resort. From the moment we arrived, it was clear how much care goes into maintaining the property and making guests feel welcome. The grounds and greenery were beautiful and incredibly well cared for, and the resort offered so many wonderful common areas and built-in activities that gave our family and friends opportunities to relax, spend time together, and really enjoy the entire wedding weekend—not just the wedding itself. Joy Volant was absolutely exceptional as the venue manager. She kept everything organized, on time, and running smoothly from an execution standpoint, while still making the experience feel personal and warm. We never felt like we were simply another event on the calendar. We genuinely felt that Joy wanted us to have a wonderful wedding, and it was obvious how deeply she cares about both the resort and the people who stay there. She is a lovely person, and we felt incredibly taken care of throughout the weekend. Rob was also an excellent member of the staff and contributed to the feeling that we were in very capable and caring hands. Everyone who stayed at the resort commented on how comfortable they felt, and the property remained beautiful throughout the entire weekend. One of the things we are most grateful for is that Sojourn gave us a place where our families and friends could truly be together. Some of our favorite memories came from simply enjoying the property, gathering in the common spaces, and having everyone nearby. The setting itself became such an important part of our wedding experience. We left the weekend with countless beautiful and priceless memories tied to this place, and we will always be grateful to Joy, Rob, and the entire Sojourn team for helping make our wedding everything we hoped it would be. We would wholeheartedly recommend Sojourn Lakeside Resort to any couple looking for a beautiful, welcoming, and exceptionally well-managed place to celebrate their wedding.