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!

I don’t even know where to begin… our wedding was absolutely perfect!
Our guests had the most wonderful time. They absolutely loved the hotel, the food, location, and the exceptional Deer Path Inn service. It’s been 3 weeks from our wedding and I’m still receiving messages from our guests saying how great of a time they had! (Also the “best wedding food” they have ever had).

The Deer Path perfectly matched my husband and I’s style- classic, elegant, and timeless. We had a lot of guests traveling in from out of town and Deer Path was the perfect proximity to O’Hare International Airport as well as Chicago. There is a Metra train line steps away from the hotel, that takes you right into downtown Chicago. Our guest’s definitely took advantage of that. Also a big hit- checking out the beautiful lakefront of Lake Michigan as well as the Chicago Botanic Gardens in a neighboring town.

It was a beautiful weekend. Thank you for making our wedding dreams become a reality. I had a lot of ideas and personal touches that I wanted to add to my wedding- Mary Ellen made all that possible.

Mary Ellen and Michelle are amazing! They both played an instrumental role in putting our minds at ease throughout the entire wedding planning process as well as the day of. It was like I had known them for years. Their professionalism, kindness and warmth did not go unnoticed. So lovely working with Felix, the entire banquets team, and everyone at the front desk. Natalie at the Front Desk was so helpful and accommodating with our requests regarding our wedding welcome bags! Major kudos to the bellman and valet team as well. Friendly, helpful, and so professional!

I come from a hotel and hospitality background and have traveled and stayed at many luxury hotels. The service does not get any better than the Deer Path Inn.