Deer Path Inn

We had our wedding at Deer Path Inn in October 2025, and the entire experience exceeded every expectation.

From the very beginning, everything was impeccable—from our initial venue tour, to the tasting, to the final walkthrough. Each step of the planning process felt organized, seamless, and thoughtfully guided. The service throughout was consistently outstanding, and we always felt fully supported and taken care of.

My husband Nick and I worked closely with Mary Ellen, who was truly a dream throughout the process—extremely organized, responsive, calm under pressure, and incredibly accommodating as we planned our wedding weekend.

They also helped seamlessly coordinate our room block, and helped one of our guests host a beautiful bridesmaids brunch at the Inn before the wedding, which set the tone perfectly for the weekend. On the day itself, we had the most beautiful fall weather, and the setting at the Inn was incredible! Our vendors all commented on how wonderful it was to work at the Deer Path, which speaks to how smoothly everything runs behind the scenes. The food was, without question, the most talked-about part of the entire wedding (guests are still raving about the butternut squash soup!). From appetizers to dinner to dessert, everything was exceptional. They worked with us to do signature drinks on top of our bar package, which were also perfectly executed and flowing all night.

What truly sets the Deer Path Inn apart, though, is how they handled an unexpected situation that weekend—a pipe burst and a city-wide boil order. No one could have planned for it, but the team took care of absolutely everything behind the scenes. They brought in ice, managed all external contingencies, and ensured there were zero disruptions or concerns for us or our guests. I didn’t even learn about it until the next day!

Overall, the Deer Path Inn delivered exceptional hospitality, flawless execution, and a level of care that made our wedding feel effortless and truly unforgettable.

I had my wedding at Deer Path Inn last weekend and I am still in shock at how PERFECT it was - from the suites we got ready in, to working with Mary Ellen and the entire event team, to the flawless set up and execution of the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception all within the same space - I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience and memories we have as a reflection of choosing Deer Path for our wedding. It was a dream come true and I couldn’t recommend choosing Deer Path as your wedding venue more. Thank you, thank you thank you!

We are still floating from our wedding at the Deer Path Inn. From the very beginning, the team was simply incredible. It started with Mary Ellen, who is kind, responsive, and unbelievably knowledgeable. Her professionalism is second to none, and the guidance she offered—based on truly listening to what we hoped for—was unlike anything we experienced while planning. She provided thoughtful recommendations that genuinely shaped our day in the best way.

The entire DPI team took care of us like we were their own family. Michelle at the front desk treated us with such warmth, and the valet staff and waitstaff were exceptional. Al and Felix, who supported us throughout our wedding dinner, were amazing—genuinely excited for us, attentive in every moment, and clearly proud of the work they do. Their positivity made such a difference.

The space itself is stunning. Richly stained wood, a cozy fireplace, windows everywhere, beautiful ivy—it felt like stepping into a beautifully curated storybook. We also appreciated the second valet dedicated specifically to wedding guests, which ensured everyone felt welcomed and taken care of.

And the food… wow. Wedding meals don’t always get rave reviews, but ours sure did. We’re still receiving compliments. The value for the quality is exceptional. The flexibility was another huge plus: we didn’t need to submit our final count until a week before, and they made it easy for us to bring in our cake and sweets table from our favorite bakery.

One of the highlights was being able to have a live band for our wedding size (125), and coordinating those details with Mary Ellen was seamless. She made everything feel simple.

The accommodations, especially the Cornwall Suite, deserve special mention. They are truly beautiful. My hair and makeup vendors were shocked by the size of the suite, and our friends and family are already talking about coming back after feeling so cherished during their stay.

We feel so lucky to have found the Deer Path Inn. It was the perfect backdrop to the most important day of our lives, and we cannot recommend it highly enough.

Deer Path Inn made our dreams come true!! We feel unbelievably lucky to have had our wedding at Deer Path Inn and most importantly amongst the AMAZING staff. I couldn’t recommend DPI more. Not only were the staff above and beyond accommodating to us and our guests, the food was phenomenal, and all our guests raved about our wedding. Having your wedding at Deer Path Inn will be the best decision you’ve ever made. We love DPI! -Ryan and Kaylie married on 10/26/24

OMG! I could not have been a happier bride!!! Michelle, the event day coordinate, is quite literally the sweetest and funniest human being on the planet. She was so comforting to my own specific needs as a bride (IYKYK), and was the most professional when it came to any situation that arose. I could not recommend the food or the ambience enough. It's so cutesy and delightful! I wish I could get married there over and over!

Deer Path Inn was a dream wedding venue! Working with Mary Ellen made the entire process so smooth—she was communicative, organized, and made planning so simple. Her events team was equally wonderful, ensuring that every detail was perfect and the day-of execution was seamless. I couldn’t recommend Deer Path Inn more for anyone looking for a beautiful, well-coordinated venue with an outstanding team!

I enjoyed working with the deerpath for the past couple of years while planning our wedding. Very responsive and a very magical place to get married.

Couldn’t have chosen a greater venue for our Lake Forest Wedding.

We are the “hands off” couple! That did not stop Mary Ellen and her crew from giving us the perfect day. They thought of everything so we didn’t have to! They helped recommend vendors and gave guidance where needed. I couldn’t recommend them more.

staff was very attentive. venue was beautiful. joyful experience

Our wedding at Deer Path Inn was absolutely perfect and went even better than we could have imagined! The team was incredibly attentive, helpful, and friendly and answered every question throughout the planning process and the day of. Michelle, Al, Felix, and the rest of the team were amazing from the start of the day all the way through the end, keeping the evening on track and ensuring we had everything we needed. We were beyond lucky to work with them and they made our wedding weekend perfect!