The Outing Lodge

hting and a picturesque setting for glam. We took our wedding photos in the forest behind the lodge that couldn't of been more beautiful. For food we started with appetizers of bruschetta and stuffed mushrooms, then an Italian buffet that was very tasty. For the dancing we moved inside to rock the night away to the best wedding band, The Afterwhile. It will always have happy memories of that day. We do have some warnings about the Outing Lodge. Our wedding planning was smooth sailing and very flexible until our first wedding coordinator left the lodge for personal reasons (they seem to have a high turnover of coordinators). It is hard to write a negative review about a place that gave us a beautiful wedding day, but our experience with one of the owners was not very positive and she caused both of us quite a bit of stress. She wouldn't allow us to use our friend’s tent company (that works with their vendor, Apres, but was half the cost). We were required to use a more expensive tent vendor that, the evening before our wedding, delivered a tent that was too small to fit all of our guests comfortably. We were also charged for extra guests because they had to set up a special table inside for some family members with disabilities – even though no extra guests came. We pleaded that this was unfair, and that we had guests who were unable to make the wedding at the last minute and no additional guests in attendance. We had repeated issues with misleading or hidden fees and charges on the invoices we received, which were changing throughout the weeks up to the wedding. We would also recommend getting an itemized bar tab and having someone keep close tabs on the bar, because some of our family members said they were being overcharged and that the bar menu was being mismanaged. In the end, we were unfairly charged for several things, and would insist on a very specific protocol if we were ever to use the Outing Lodge again. In particular, we would want all forms of communication to go to the same people, and we would ask for clearer, itemized invoices that explicitly note all changes and all fees. We would only recommend the Lodge if you have a fantastic wedding planner like Nadia Glynn from The Simply Elegant Group who saved the day, or a strong family member who doesn’t mind demanding clear communication and confrontation. All-in-all everyone else at the lodge is fantastic and very helpful! They sent us wonderful pictures of the day and the grounds, and we had a fantastic time. We hope this was helpful and that you enjoy your own wedding planning. The day will be perfect once you're at that altar with your life partner :)

ed our expectations our guests couldn't stop raving about how delicious the meal was. Also, the beauty and uniqueness of the place made for the most charming wedding ever.

xperience was not very stressful, except for my interactions with The Outing Lodge. Throughout the 8 months of planning our wedding, we were assigned 3 different "planners" and primary contacts, and for at least 2 months had no idea who (if anyone) was our primary planner. It was very disconcerting to see such rapid overturn of staff, and stressful to send email after email, followed up by phone calls, only to wait 1-2 weeks for any type of response most of the time. There were some moments when we did get more timely responses or more pleasant interactions with staff, but these were less common than negative (or non-existent) experiences. In the end, we just wanted to enjoy ourselves and our wedding, so we decided not to let the lack of consistency and feelings of frustration ruin our day. Several of our wedding party members commented afterward about rude or unhelpful responses they received from staff when trying to do something as simple as obtain a glass of water for me or ask questions related to setting up the spaces. The cost of services was also far above what I would ever pay again considering how little assistance and how frustrating our experience was. We were charged to rent the space by the hour, for the use of their equipment, AND a planning fee which supposedly paid for the "planner" we never really had. In the end, I did all the planning myself, and the planning fee covered one 1.5 hour meeting, about 3-5 brief phone calls, and some emails. We even had to pay $3.50 per chair to set up the ceremony space, on top of the space rental and planning fee! Definitely would not have signed that contract if I knew how many fees they would stack up for such limited service!

return often for their Chef's and Theme dinners. Highly recommended!

food was amazing - they really went above and beyond! Lastly, the staff was so kind and wonderful to work with during the whole planning process as well as during the wedding. We are so glad we were able to get married at such a wonderful venue and would highly recommend it to any couples who are looking to hold their wedding there. If you are looking for a classy place that is unique and magical, please go and visit the Lodge - you won't be dissapointed!

I had read some unfavorable reviews by past overnight guests. I clearly stated my expectations (via email so they were in writing) prior to the wedding and everything was exactly as I asked. The gardens are beautiful and despite having a wedding the evening prior, the grass was untrampled, no trash (including flower petals) could be seen, it was perfect. The food was absolutely fabulous despite a questionable meal my husband and I shared there before the wedding. My guests absolutely loved the aesthetic. I would absolutely have my wedding at Outing Lodge again were I to do it over.