Deer Path Inn Reviews

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!

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.

Mary Ellen and Michelle are quite the team of event specialists. from the first email they made me feel like their priority. They put me at ease and made me feel confident that our wedding would be wonderful. Deer Path Inn is a quality hotel with outstanding customer service. they remember all the details and make you feel relaxed so you can enjoy the event. they are accommodating, kind, professional, and classy. I am so happy we went with them for our wedding venue!

Best weekend of our lives all made possible by the team at Deer Path Inn. From the moment we checked in on Friday afternoon to checkout Sunday morning, we were treated like royalty. The entire staff at DPI bent over backwards for all of our friends and family. So grateful to Mary Ellen and her entire team for all they did.

It’s not often that you get to have fun at your own event! The team at Deerpath Inn put together a seamless and memorable wedding. The Event planning team headed by Mary Ellen Powers, accommodated us on every level. The restaurant manager, Fahd and his staff, went out of their way to facilitate a specially curated wine and drinks list.
On a scale of 1 - 10? I give the Deerpath Inn an 11!

We had our reception at the Deer Path Inn in August, 2023 and had an amazing experience! Mary Ellen was extremely helpful and kind with all of our questions and requests. All of the staff at the Deer Path Inn went above and beyond both in preparation for the wedding and on the day of! We got numerous compliments from guests regarding the venue itself and how great the food was. So glad we chose this venue and would recommend it to anyone who wants a professional, kind, and quality location for their reception.

Amazing service, great food, reasonably priced. I would recommend the Deer Path Inn to any bride! It was a great venue for my small wedding (76 people). My husband is handicapped and the venue was very accessible for him. The day of venue coordinator Michelle was amazing, she was a great addition to the day. Mary Ellen helped me from booking the venue all the way until the day of. We plan on having all of our anniversaries at the Deer Path going forward!

The Deer Path Inn has hosted five weddings for my family and there could not be a better venue out there. The service was impeccable, the wait staff was fully briefed on all of our selections and carried them out flawlessly. They were there when we needed them but never intrusive. Thank you all for letting us focus on the guests and our children as they started their lives together.

We held my daughter’s wedding at Deer Path Inn. Our entire time there was perfect. The staff was amazing and especially helpful on the big day. The accommodations, dining areas and ballroom facilities are exceptional. The food during our wedding was incredible. I can’t think of anything negative about our experience at Deer Path Inn. Mary Ellen, the Catering Sales Director, was a joy to work with.

The Deer Path Inn is an incredible hotel and venue. Mary Ellen is so great to work with and made the planning process easy for me. She is readily available and was so accommodating to our requests. I can't speak highly enough about working with Mary Ellen! She was so kind and professional during the entire planning process and wedding weekend. The day of event coordinator was also wonderful. She made sure my husband and I were okay all throughout the day and assisted in escorting us around the hotel while we took photos. Our entire wedding day went without any hiccups and this speaks volumes for the entire team at Deer Path Inn. I highly recommend this venue for your wedding day!

We had a beautiful ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and reception all at The Deer Path Inn. I highly recommend this venue, and give it 5 starts. Mary Ellen and her staff were attentive, professional and quick to respond with every question I had throughout the year of planning. This wedding went off with no issues. Thank you to the DPI and their entire staff.

FROM THE BRIDE: - I cannot express how amazing this weekend was. The service and attention to detail from The Deerpath Inn was something we will never forget! They made our weekend so special. We feel so lucky to have gotten married at the Deerpath Inn and we look forward to coming back to visit soon!
FROM THE MOB: Mary Ellen was a dream to plan with for our daughter and son-in-law's big day. She was so responsive to all of our questions over the many months of planning and helped bring the bride and groom's vision to reality. Michelle and her team (day of) couldn't have been more helpful. You might think the Deerpath Inn is out of your budget, but compared to other venues on the North Shore, it was in the same range. We've heard nothing but wonderful compliments from our guests and the fact is, there's no other venue quite like the Deerpath Inn.

We had our wedding at the Deer Path Inn in October, 2022. Mary Ellen was always professional, thoughtful, quick in her responses, and compassionate throughout our experience. All of our family and friends only had absolute positive things to say about the venue, staff, and the meals - especially the trio desserts! Overall neighborhood is also very nice, and it helped us a lot that we could stay in the rooms at the venue to get ready in the morning, etc.

My wife and I were extremely happy with our decision to have our wedding at Deer Path Inn. The entire venue was stunning (not just the banquet room, but the entire hotel, including all the hotel rooms, the restaurants within the hotel, the bar, the hallways, the entertaining rooms, etc..), the food and all beverages were fantastic, and the customer service was excellent (from all types of personnel including managers, bell-hops, servers, waiters/waitresses, kitchen staff, valet, coordinators, etc...). The entire staff was reliable, hard-working, knowledgeable, as well as kind and generous.

Countless wedding guests went out of their way after our wedding to inform us it was one of the best, if not the best wedding, they had ever been to (whether because of the stunningly beautiful hotel, the delicious food, the quality of the alcohol/beverages available and served, and/or just the top-notch overall customer service received from the entire staff). Almost every one of the wedding guests (not exaggerating) that actually stayed overnight at the hotel (many of the out-of-town guests stayed overnight at the hotel) called us within a week or two after the wedding to let us know how amazing their stay was (everyone was impressed with how luxurious the overall experience was).

I cannot stress enough that the hotel and wedding staff went out of their way to make sure our wedding experience was wonderful, and we're very thankful Deer Path Inn create such happy memories for us that will last a lifetime. I would highly recommend Deer Path Inn to anyone for any type of special occasion, especially a once-in-your-lifetime wedding.

And one more important point....my wife and I are savers, not spenders, and Deer Path Inn was the more expensive option compared to the other final venues we were considering before deciding on this hotel for our wedding.....and every additional dollar we spent at Deer Path Inn (compared to the other less expensive venues that made our final list) was beyond worth it. We received tremendous value for the extra money spent, and we could not have been more satisfied with the entire experience (it just would not have been the same somewhere else now looking back). If you pick Deer Path Inn for your wedding, cheers and congrats! You're in good hands.

My husband and I had our wedding reception at the Deer Path Inn in August 2022, and the experience was wonderful. The staff was anticipatory and responsive, the food was excellent, and the venue was beautiful. The actual reception space was upscale and classy. It was absolutely beyond anything I had envisioned. There are so many spots to take amazing photos onsite. The Catering Sales Director, Mary Ellen, made the planning process easy and enjoyable. She was responsive, flexible, always professional, and went out of her way to accommodate any and all requests. I highly recommend this spot for any event you need to host!!

We had the most amazing wedding day thanks to all the staff at Deer Path Inn!

I had been to the Deer Path Inn for tea service before and thought it was a charming place for a wedding. Mary Ellen, the Catering Sales Director, was wonderful to work with. She was prompt, professional, and answered all of our questions. She went out of her way to make sure we were accommodated and had an amazing time.

I cannot say enough good things about the attention to detail, the service, and the overall experience of having my wedding at Deer Path Inn. It was really a phenomenal experience from start to finish.

Our daughter became engaged in 2020 with all the unknowns of what a wedding would look like in 2022. She made the decision to stick with her date, regardless of the uncertainty. From the moment we toured The Deer Path, and met Mary Ellen, we made our decision to hold it there. Not only for the beauty and charm, and the incredible food and unparalleled service, it was the constant support and professionalism that Mary Ellen provided.

venue is gorgeous food is spectacular and all the staff go out of their way to make your event fabulous. fireplace and artwork is so charming

We had our wedding Sept 2021. Venue was beautiful, staff was beyond helpful and accommodating and our guests (and us!) had an amazing time. So many perfect photo opportunities too with Deerpath Inn’s unique architecture. It was wonderful and would highly recommend! Mary Ellen was also great to work with when planning our even. So helpful and professional throughout the process!

From start to finish Deer Path was amazing! MaryEllen has been in our wedding journey for months and has been extremely helpful, professional and made everything fun. Kim was with us during our entire wedding day and was indispensable.Every bit of our experience at DP was so great; everyone was friendly and caring. The venue is stunning! We felt like we were a world away; yiu are transported by the charm and the ambience. We all spent the entire wedding weekend there so we really absorbed the exceptional service 24/7. Our daughters suite was breathtaking; our king room was charming and cozy. All the food we had, whether room service, our wedding entrees, breakfast and lunch in the courtyard … even the chocolate chip cookies that are ready and waiting every evening were amazing.
I can’t speak highly enough of every component of Deer Path. In a era of cutbacks and poor service, the Deer Path is a shining example of class, service and true caring for their guests. We will always be huge fans of this outstanding business. Sincere thanks to one and all.

People always say “Something WILL go wrong with your wedding, and you just have to accept it”. I’m here to tell you that this isn’t true. The Deerpath Inn created a flawless wedding weekend and ensured that every detail was done to perfection and with caring, impeccably high service levels. Each staff member takes deep pride in their work and it shows. It all began with months of planning- Mary Ellen was extremely responsive to every tiny question I had. When the weekend finally arrived, every suite were stunningly appointed and made guests feel like they were on vacation in the English Countryside. The ceremony in Windsor Hall was gorgeous and seamlessly produced. Cocktail hour in the Garden Courtyard felt like a magical fairytale. The reception itself was equally memorable thanks to the on-site staff, ensuring that all of our vendors were on their game. Our every wish was granted with a smile. My family and friends were raving about the delectable food, calling it “the best meal of their lives. I can’t say enough about Mary Ellen, Kim and the entire DPI crew. We will be looking for reasons to come back for special occasions for the rest of our lives.

The Deer Path Inn holds many special memories for my family and me. From my grandparents wedding in the 1930’s, to my parents rehearsal dinner in the 1970’s, this rich history of family and tradition was united with my husband’s family on June 19, 2021.

During a visit to The Deer Path Inn with my father in winter of 2020, I was instantly attracted to the beauty, elegance, and decor of this North Shore gem! The moment the doors were opened for us at The Deer Path Inn, we were hypnotized by the English charm and beauty. We were greeted by an extraordinary staff who went above and beyond our hospitality expectations. My Father and I felt like royalty! Instantly, I knew The Deer Path Inn was where I wanted to celebrate my wedding.

I couldn’t wait to show off The Deer Path Inn to my fiancé Carl! We decided to make an appointment to meet with Mary Ellen Powers, the Director of Catering & Events at The Deer Path Inn. She graciously took the time to meet with us to go over all of the details involved with hosting a wedding at The Deer Path Inn. She kindly gave us a tour of the beautiful rooms, restaurants and banquet halls. Carl and I decided that we wanted to celebrate our wedding during our favorite season…. Fall. So, we booked The stunning Windsor Hall for October 2020.

Just when things started to get exciting for Carl and I with wedding planning, the COVID- 19 pandemic hit and we were devastated. After talking to our families, we decided to postpone our wedding to Spring/Summer 2021. Mary Ellen Powers was extremely accommodating and happy to move our wedding date to June 2021. As Carl and I got closer and closer to our wedding date, there were several challenges that we had to overcome with a pandemic wedding. Mary Ellen handled everything with poise and went above and beyond accommodating us. Planning a wedding is quite an undertaking, but doing all of this with pandemic restrictions was incredibly stressful. Mary Ellen provided several options and was empathetic to our challenges with wedding planning. I am forever grateful for all of her hard work and extraordinary efforts to make the wedding of our dreams come true!

Everyone kept telling me that it’s all going to come together and be a beautiful wedding……..

On the morning of my wedding day, I woke up in the most elegant Royal Suite excited for the magic to begin. The entire day was filled with memories that will last forever. Truly it was the happiest day of my life! When Carl and I arrived at The Deer Path Inn after becoming Mr and Mrs, we walked up the stairs to the breathtaking Windsor Hall and realized, everything did come together! When the room opened up after sharing cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, laughter, tears and hugs with wedding guests…… My heart stopped, I squeezed my husband’s hand and our eyes lit up as we saw the Windsor Hall decorated to perfection. We looked at each other in excitement and smiled. The Wedding of our dreams came true!

Special thanks to Ryan, the Front Desk Manager for taking the utmost care of my Dad and I whenever we dined at The English Room and Felix, the Banquet Captain for an outstanding experience during our wedding tasting and providing the best service to our guests on our wedding day.

Many thanks to everyone at The Deer Path Inn for the sensational hospitality!

Our daughter and son-in-law’s wedding was perfect and magical at the DeerPath Inn. The service, venue, food and hotel rooms are all 5 star. Highly recommend!

Our wedding at the Deer Path Inn was everything we hoped it would be. The venue was beautiful, the food was delicious, and every staff member we encountered during the planning process and on our wedding day was helpful and accommodating. I would highly recommend this venue to everyone!

The Deer Path Inn provided the most magical setting for our wedding reception! Mary Ellen is a pleasure to work with and her team operates under the highest standards and levels of service. They will work with you on every detail. There are many different ways you can set up your event to create your ideal reception. Bonus that the hotel and suites are the highest levels of luxury and you can't beat having that right on site. The bridal suite even has a private elevator that goes directly outside of the reception hall. Not to mention.... Deer Path has some of the most delicious food options, be sure to try their Bar and English Room restaurants for a preview of what they have to offer! We cannot say enough wonderful things about the Deer Path - many of our friends complimented that it was the best wedding they've ever attended!

The Deer Path Inn has always been special to me, since I grew up in Lake Forest and have many memories of family dinners and celebrations there over the years. It now holds an even more special place in my heart, after hosting our wedding reception there; it was truly the best day of our lives, and we are so happy we chose the Deer Path Inn for our big day.

The whole day and night went off without a hitch thanks to the attention to detail and extreme professionalism! From the lovely cocktail hour on the patio, filled with fabulous appetizers and signature cocktails, to the delicious food, fun dancing, and magical sparkler exit at the end of the night - it was all the best. Our guests who stayed at the Inn over wedding weekend had a wonderful experience; the charm and fabulous service did not go unnoticed. Both the bridal party and the groomsmen got ready at the Inn, and it was the perfect place to start the day. We also loved our photos outside of the Inn; they look like they came straight out of a fairytale.

I cannot thank Mary Ellen, JoAnne, Matt, and the whole Deer Path staff enough for all of their time, effort, creativity, and thoughtfulness throughout our wedding planning process! We had so much fun working with the team. We would highly recommend the Deer Path to anyone looking for a unique, charming, elegant wedding vibe and for those who are looking for a professional team to make their vision come to life. Thank you for making our dream come true, DPI family!

We held our rehearsal dinner here. Mary Ellen was great from beginning to end. She answered all of my questions so quickly, and she was great at keeping in touch and following up. During our rehearsal dinner, the staff was amazing. The food was out-of-this-world good. They even stored our stuff the night before the rehearsal dinner. I would recommend using this venue if you are looking to host a classy rehearsal dinner in Lake Forest.

Words cannot describe how incredible Deer Path Inn is. From the moment you walk in until your departure, every employee treats you like family. It's always a treat to spend the weekend and get dinner at the Pub and brunch in the Garden Room. Every time I check out, I anxiously await the next time I get to check in.

We had both our wedding ceremony and reception at the Deer Path Inn and highly recommend this venue! Mary Ellen at the Deer Path Inn is fantastic, she was always available to assist with any wedding need or question leading up to and on the big day. The staff created a warm and welcoming atmosphere for our guests during the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. The food is delicious, all of our guests could not stop raving about how great their meals were. Overall, this is a wonderful and elegant venue that has such a warm, homey feel. The rooms and outdoor spaces are beautiful, and served as lovely backdrops for our pictures.

My husband and I had our winter wonderland wedding (ceremony & reception) at the Deer Path Inn last month. We also stayed at the Inn the night before/after the wedding. We had our absolute dream wedding!

Mary Ellen and her entire team were attentive, professional, organized and so easy to work with. They went above and beyond to assure everything was beyond our expectations for our special day and it absolutely was.

More than that, the whole staff at the Deer Path Inn (from the valet to the Concierge to the cleaning team) was amazing - the service here is truly unparalleled.

Not only were we so impressed, but our guests were as well. We received SO many compliments about the venue (every last detail of the architecture, decor, and the layout is well thought out), the food, the service, the bathrooms.. the list goes on.

We are so thankful for everything Mary Ellen and her team did to assure our wedding was perfect!

LOVED my wedding at Deer Path Inn. Mary Ellen Powers was absolutely incredible to work with. She was so responsive, timely and informative — kind and friendly. The hotel rooms are outstanding. We stayed in the Buckingham Suite and gosh, no words for how lovely and comfortable. My family and friends were so complimentary of the venue and it’s elegance. The outdoor area is as incredible for photography as the inside. Rain was in the forecast (thankfully it didn’t rain) and I felt so comforted knowing that there were so many beautiful places inside to take photos. The food, drinks, etc. were wonderful. It was the perfect sized venue for my 140 guests. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

My husband and I are so happy we had our wedding at the Deer Path Inn. They are so flexible and willing to work with you. Our wedding looked more beautiful than we could have ever expected (see below pictures). Mary Ellen and Joann are pros and made the event run smoothly despite some setbacks (i.e. rainy weather). We felt like we had a wedding planner even though we technically did not. Our guests still continue to tell us how great the food and wine were and how happy they were that the venue was child friendly. Additionally, there were some little surprise gifts along the way from the hotel that I will not reveal in case you have your wedding here and want to be surprised. Finally, if you get married here, stay in one of their beautiful hotel rooms. It is well worth it.

We could not have been happier with how our wedding reception turned out! Mary Ellen was incredibly helpful in planning what would work well for us and our group and was especially flexible when our RSVP count turned out lower than we anticipated. Although the prices are a little bit higher, it's well worth the money for the delicious food, elegant atmosphere, and attention to detail from the on-site captains and staff. Thanks, Deer Path Inn!

Mary Ellen was so attentive to detail and was super easy to communicate with. All the staff was so professional on wedding night and didnt miss a detail. We got many compliments on the food, a few guests commented that it was the best steak they ever had. Thank you for making our night so wonderful!

How does one summarize classic, timeless elegance, astounding food, and incredible service into three words? Easy, those three words are Deer Path Inn, which is the perfect wedding venue. Don't just take my word for it, either. Having around 150 guests, each one expressed similar thoughts.
Planning a wedding can become very stressful and everyone at the Deer Path Inn, especially Mary Ellen, ensured that all needs were addressed with exceptional care and attention with top-notch communication. Furthermore, they were very accommodating with other vendors. Each detail was covered from the start of planning through the end of our reception. We cannot recommend them highly enough!

Deer Path Inn does an amazing job. The facility is beautiful. It feels like a castle in the countryside of Europe. The staff is extremely responsive, supportive, helpful and professional. This will be my first choice for any future events.

The staff at Deer Path is the most accommodating helpful and knowledgeable staff I have ever worked with. I grew up in the restaurant/ service industry and as someone who appreciates excellent service, I can assure you if you have your event here it will be one of the best and most memorable experiences of your life!
Each member of the staff will make you feel welcome and at home throughout the design process of your event. I truly felt like I had a dream team of experts behind me throughout the entire process. From selecting the menu, courses rooms they know it all!!! Thank you so much for all your help and for making our daughters day perfect!! We can’t wait for the next milestone in our lives to celebrate with The Deer Path Inn!!

Where do we even begin? The Deer Path made our special day amazing, and the team was extremely professional. We have received endless compliments from all of our family and friends saying the Deer Path was truly the best service they've ever received at any hotel - including places like the Four Season and Ritz. People were blown out of the water by the attention to detail at Deer Path. They thought of everything and made us feel so special on our big day! They are truly exceptional. We are so glad we chose Deer Path to celebrate our wedding and are even happier we have a place to come every year for our Anniversary! Mary Ellen and JoAnn make a stellar team and we couldn't have been happier! The General Manager, Matt, was always available and welcoming, as well. I could not more strongly recommend this as your wedding venue.

10 stars!!!! I don’t even know where to begin to describe how amazing this place is. It truly was the most magical day of my life. Starting with the space itself, its such an amazing canvas to build your dream vision of what you want – best part is that Mary Ellen is the most accommodating and professional person to work with. Her and her team are just so responsive and right there to help you with whatever you want or could ever need. I brought these lanterns and totes full of items and they were ready to go to help store things and get it ready for my big day. And the staff – WOW, I mean everyone is so nice there, polite, and just ready to help with whatever is needed. AND PLEASE GET ME STARTED ON THE FOOD – the DPI just takes the food to a level that gets everyone to join the clean plate club – that was one of the main things people said – from the cocktail hour to the main dinner everyone was blown away by the food and not just the amazing taste but the amount – when you do your tasting, what you see is actually what you get. I really couldn’t have asked for a better venue for the biggest day of my life and thank everyone at Deer path for all they did. If you are debating on your wedding look no further.

The staff tab DP are amazing. Everything was perfect. All of the staff are so friendly and responsive. It truly made my wedding a dream come true. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. If you are looking for a beautiful venue with accommodations, I would highly recommend DP. The staff made my family and I feel special.

We recently had our wedding at Deer Path Inn and it was absolutely perfection! Mary Ellen was beyond excellent during the planning and execution of our wedding. She is very responsive, professional, and a joy to work with! After months of planning, Deer Path Inn felt like home to us. Every single employee we dealt with at the venue was beyond helpful whether it was the valet, a server, the general manager, you name it. Along with it being such a beautiful venue, our guests have raved about how delicious the food was! Oh! And how could we forget, the guest rooms are BEAUTIFUL. Very spacious and luxurious! You don’t want to leave the room. We can not wait to celebrate our anniversary with a staycation weekend at Deer Path Inn, but we will be back sooner for brunch in the Garden Room! Thank you Deer Path Inn for everything!

We had an amazing experience with the Deer Path Inn. Mary helped us coordinate everything, her responses were prompt and very detailed. She helped remind us of small things that are easy to look past. The venue itself is wonderful. The guests were very impressed with the garden for ceremony and Windsor room for banquet. If looking for a reasonably priced beautiful, well run, accommodating venue, Deer Path Inn will exceed your expectations. We strongly recommend choosing them :)

Exceptional venue, service, food and wedding coordination expertise! Unforgettable experience! Highly recommend!

Amazing!! Beautiful venue, impeccable service, and outstanding food. Our wedding day was perfect!

The Deerpath Inn and their staff made our wedding an undorgettable event for our guests and us.

The venue is absolutely stunning. Each room is more beautiful than the next. The guest rooms are top notch down to every detail. The don't feel like hotel room, but rather a private manor.

The food is amazing, and comparable to a 5 star restaurant. Our guests raved about the meal.

The staff is top notch. The Deerpath Inn has raised the bar for the level of service. Their staff attended to every detail, big or small, and made our event worry free.

If asked what The Deerpath Inn could do to improve our event, I can honestly say nothing. It was perfectly executed.

For my husband and I and our families, Deer Path Inn now holds a special place in our hearts.

We are deeply grateful for everything that Mary Ellen, JoAnn, Ashley, Courtney, and the entire staff did to help make our wedding day so extraordinary. There must have been a great deal of behind the scenes effort and coordination to accommodate all of our special requests (reserving a larger-than-usual table for at brunch, addressing special dietary requests made directly to the staff the night of the event...to name a few) and ensure the whole event ran smoothly. My dad (father of the bride) recounts how he texted Ashley with a special request during the reception and she seemed to "immediately appear from a trap door in the floor", to subtly handle the situation.

We were so surprised at how many special extras were showered upon us--the discount on the brunch, the champagne and strawberries waiting in our suite at the end of the night, the straightening up of the rooms while we were at the ceremony, a wedding picture (that we hadn't even seen yet!) crafted into a special desert at brunch the next morning, plus a gift from Deer Path. We were absolutely speechless.

It was the TIME OF OUR LIVES, and many of our guests have reached out after the fact to express how lovely everything was. In fact, we just made a reservation to come back for our 1 year anniversary. :)

We wanted to share our wedding video that was recently posted. Every time I watch it, I relive the magic everyone felt at DPI. http://312film.com/portfolio/deer-path-inn/

We hosted a graduation luncheon for 17 family members and friends. The majority of us were going to be late due to the graduation ceremony running late. The staff took care of our guests by starting to serve appetizers and serving drinks. They were flexible in moving back our entree serving time by 45 minutes to accommodate our late arrival, and the food was excellent. The steaks and salmon were perfectly done despite the change in serving time. The Inn is beautiful, we took pictures outside after in front of the many beautiful flower gardens. Mary Ellen was a pleasure to work with!

We chose Deer Path Inn for our ceremony, our reception and a place for all of our out of town guests to stay. The entire weekend and our Saturday evening wedding were all fabulous. We got so many compliments on the great food, the excellent service by the entire hotel staff and the wonderful location (restaurants, common space, courtyards, sleeping rooms, etc.) One of my sisters said she didn’t want to go home, the hotel was so comfortable and beautiful! The Windsor I space was perfect for us. It felt intimate and elegant. We had a wonderful breakfast out in the back courtyard with my husband’s family on Sunday morning who had all come from all over the country to be with us on our special day. I couldn’t thank the staff enough for all their help. Everything went so smoothly and I didn’t need to worry about a thing. Mary Ellen and her team partnered with my wedding planner for a perfect weekend.

My daughter and son-in-law just had a dream reception at the Deer Path Inn. Mary Ellen helped us for a year as we planned the event...ALWAYS welcoming our input and making the dream come true. It is an exceptionally beautiful venue, with exceptionally delicious food and exceptionally refined and attentive service. We could NOT have asked for more. JoAnn was our "day of" coordinator and took all the stress off our shoulders. Thank you to everyone. We have such happy memories of that special day!!

Book it!!! Your won't be disappointed.

We had our daughter First Communion reception at the Deer Path Inn and everything was perfect in any detail. My husband and I were very pleased, all the guests were so complimentary and we will use this venue for future family events!

We had an amazing reception at Deer Path Inn last Sunday. The venue is gorgeous and the food was delicious and plentiful. But I think it is their 5 star service that really sets them apart from other high-end wedding venues in the Chicagoland area. From the beginning till the very end Mary has been a joy to work with. She not only promptly responds to pretty much any email you send her (even over the weekends!) but also goes above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect on our wedding day. I would highly recommend Deer Path Inn to anyone who wants a hassle-free wedding in an elegant location that serves superb food whether you want a small wedding with 40 or so guests like us or a big fat one with over 200 people. For us, Deer Path Inn was the best decision we ever made in terms of our wedding planning!
PS: They also provide the bride and groom a complimentary suite for the night after the reception, which is a blessing after a busy day of wedding festivities!

This is a wonderful location, I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an elegant and sophisticated venue with a top quality staff. I worked with Mary Ellen who was exceptional and very attentive to our specific desires. Overall 5 stars across the board. We will return for future events.

Deer Path Inn makes planning your wedding easy. They are extremely accommodating and flexible. The quality of service is superb and the cuisine is exquisite!

We have always come to the Deer Path for family dinners and holidays, and recently we hosted both a bridal shower and rehearsal dinner. Everything was top notch from start to finish. Fahd Alaoui helped us to pick out all the wines and took a special interest in our international guests. Mary Ellen Powers was a delight to work with and made sure everything was wonderful. And when we ended up having a few extra last minute guests, Felix quickly accommodated our expanded number without hesitation. The food, drinks, and atmosphere were exactly what we wanted and we couldn't have been more pleased with the entire experience.

What a joy it was to host a luncheon at Deer Path Inn! Our event included 65 women from the Lake Bluff/Lake Forest community. Mary Ellen was incredibly easy to work with ~ she was very responsive to emails/phone calls, accommodated our many last minute requests, and made sure our luncheon was a delicious, wonderful, and memorable event. The Deer Path Inn staff are extremely professional from the valets who greeted us, to the Hotel Manager, to the coat check personnel, to our bartender and our servers. Felix, our luncheon manager, provided impeccable service. I was incredibly impressed with this venue and look forward to hosting many more events at this lovely location!

A remarkable staff who gets it about the particular vision, needs, quirks, and relationships. Truly amazing service from start to finish!

I cannot say enough about the wonderful service. We had a very last minute wedding luncheon scheduled in under 10 days. The sales staff couldn't do enough to help us to make every detail of the event perfect. Worth EVERY PENNY and more! Thank you for your kindness, patience and professionalism.

We gave a Holiday Party for our office staff. We had about 35 people. The evening was amazing. Deer Path Inn is a wonderful place for any event. The room was beautiful and set up perfectly. Our staff was very attentive, could not do enough for us....friendly, helpful, knowledgeble. The food was delicious. Not a plate went back to the kitchen with anything on it. The overall facility is truly lovely and beautifully maintained. The room was cozy and inviting. I cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience. We will certainly be using Deer Path again.

This event was my dad's 90th birthday; it could not have been any nicer. Mary Ellen at Deer Path Inn did a fantastic job providing direction on the menu selection, was flexible in the entree selection and assisted in the room layout. Felix, managed the evening event and the service was impeccable. What I mean by that, the service was white gloves and Felix managed the pace of seating, dinner service and cake cutting perfectly we never felt rushed. The room was warm & inviting, did not feel like a banquet hall, the access was perfect for handicapped people as well.

Deer Path Inn was an outstanding choice for our wedding. The venue is beautiful and timeless and the staff go above and beyond to make sure that both the hosts and invitees feel like extremely valued guests. Everyone loved the food, all dishes came out hot and were correctly placed. In the planning of the event, Deer Path Inn's wedding coordinator was very flexible and worked hard to accommodate our vision for the evening. She offered great advice and helped move the planning process forward with ease. We couldn't be more grateful. The staff even took a couple of great pictures the day of the event and sent them to us.

We were lucky enough to have our wedding reception here over Labor Day weekend. And I mean it when I say lucky. Everything Deer Path Inn did from the moment we first sent a request for information to the Tuesday morning after thank you note we received exceeded our expectations and made us feel so incredibly special. What struck me more than anything is that everyone I interacted with (including Mary Ellen and JoAnn, the front desk staff, the valet staff, the rest of the staff) seemed like they were sincerely interested in taking care of us, helping however they could, and genuinely happy at work. I find that a rare treasure these days. With that being said, if I had to pinpoint the reason to host an event or stay at the Deer Path Inn, it would be the flawless service.

The hotel itself, however, has been redone to an unparalleled level and truly luxurious experience, with an adorably cheeky sense of humor (still can't get over the rubber ducks and rain boots, knackered 'do not disturb' signs and candy dishes).

Back to the event planning process...we were planning without a wedding coordinator. Mary Ellen and JoAnn made sure absolutely everything was planned for and arranged for at the hotel. They were responsive, accommodating, professional, kind, patient, knowledgeable, proactive, and organized. Literally everything you'd want in planning an event. Mary Ellen handled everything up front, the contracts, menu selection, rooms, etc. JoAnn handled the execution the day of. They've been working together for a long time and it's evident in how seamless it was. I didn't have to comprehend or take care of anything the day of the wedding, was instead able to relax with my bridal party while getting ready for the ceremony in our stunning hotel room. (Speaking of which, I just saw a Facebook post where a patron mentioned wanting to figure out how to move in and I second that.) I didn't want to leave and can't wait to go back! I highly recommend it!

When we were looking for a "home base" for our wedding weekend, the Deer Path Inn was a natural choice - the convenient location and historic charm compounded by a truly spectacular renovation! We were bowled over by the beauty of the DPI and the general standard of excellence to which everybody adhered. The DPI provided phenomenal service to our family and friends over the wedding weekend. The rehearsal dinner in the altogether lovely Garden Room and brunch event were perfect, as were all experiences with the guests rooms. I later found out that guests were treated with superlative kindness and generosity (an offer to procure socks for a harried groomsman, a lended guest room for breast feeding privacy, and the list could go on). This is the kind of service that not only attracts and impresses guests but instills loyalty. I'll be back, that's for sure!

We held a formal anniversary party at the Deer Path Inn and it was the most wonderful experience! Mary Ellen handled every detail leading up to the event and made the process stress-free. The staff was incredibly attentive, and the food was excellent. The venue itself is gorgeous and the rooms are lovely. My guests were calling and messaging us for days afterward to gush about the experience. We highly recommend The Deer Path Inn. It will be our first choice for any future events.

Exceptional care and service!

Whatever your questions or concerns will be answered by the staff promptly and professionally. We couldn't have had a more wonderful experience both in planning our 50th wedding anniversary luncheon and the luncheon itself. The beauty of the Deer Path Inn, the food, the staff, and the service are all outstanding.

Please note this was not a wedding, it was a dinner for a group of people traveling to see gardens. This was our "kick-off" dinner for the week.

Mary Ellen did a fabulous job at helping us set up our sons First Communion in under 2 weeks time. The staff, room and food were exceptional! Also big thanks to Joann who helped manage the evening and made sure everyone was being accommodated. We will be back for sure.

Book it! They will take great care of you and make your event special. A superior facility with elegance and charm.

FYI...we had a surprise party not a wedding but it was still terrific

We hosted my mother's memorial service luncheon at the Deerpath Inn. Because I live out of state, I had to mostly make all arrangements from afar. Mary Ellen and Joann could not have been more helpful, compassionate and understanding of our circumstances. The day went as planned, and everything was beautiful, well organized, and the food was delicious. Many of our guests commented they had always wanted to attend an event at the Deerpath Inn, and now, they have and were glad to see the inside of this wonderful historic hotel. My mother loved her time living in Lake Forest, so having her memorial service luncheon at the Deerpath Inn was most fitting.

Mary Ellen and her F&B team did an excellent job serving our guests. Communication was prompt and thorough. Food presentation and service was impeccable.

Thank you for all your assistance. We hope to return!

The Boys & Girls Club of Lake County held their annual benefit at the Deer Path Inn this past Saturday in Windsor Hall and it was awesome! The entire event could not have gone smoother! The entire Deer Path staff were most accommodating. The food was wonderful and all of our needs and special requests were met. It was a beautiful evening.

The Deer Path Inn was the venue for my daughter's wedding. The staff did everything possible to make sure the garden ceremony went on as planned on a cool, slightly damp fall day. Tarps were purchased and put under chairs and several heaters were used to make sure the guests were comfortable and the musicians were able to play. The ballroom was beautifully prepared, the food was delicious and the staff was excellent.

Mary Ellen Powers was very helpful in the planning of our event.

The service was excellent, the food was delicious, the venue was beautiful. The staff at the Deer Path Inn went above and beyond and exceeded my expectations in every way.

MaryEllen and Joann were incredibly professional and super helpful with organizing our wedding! We would definitely recommend Deer Path Inn to everybody!

This is an amazing venue for an elegant, vintage and traditional wedding. The courtyard where cocktail hour is served was relaxing, breezy, yet intimate . The hors De oeuvres were a hit what with gloved service. The dinner in the English room was intimate and elegant. The food did not disappoint. Truly 5 star fare! My flowers from Polly's Petals complimented the dark wood of the room. I had no need for a wedding planner. Mary Ellen and Joan were a great team with coordination, prompt response to queries, suggesting timelines, everything!! The Deer Path inn wait,, staff, front desk, valet were all great: courteous, professional, helped with the food and flowers at the end of the night. The bridal suite was a step back in time in terms of old world charm but with modern amenities. It over looked the courtyard and I was able to see guests mingle while I was bustling my wedding dress.

On top of being a beautiful historic location, the staff made every detail of our wedding completely perfect! While there were no problems at all, I watched the staff making each guest feel important and helping to make this not only memorable for myself and my new husband, but all of my friends and family too. Thank you all!!!

We had our wedding ceremony in the Garden at the Deer Path Inn and our reception in the English Room. I can't thank the Deer Path Inn enough for giving us the wedding of our dreams. It was absolutely perfect. Mary Ellen, Joann and the rest of the Deer Path staff were wonderful and so attentive. I didn't have a wedding planner but Mary Ellen kept me on task and helped me out so much. On the day of our rehearsal and our wedding day Joann made sure everyone knew where they had to be and kept us on schedule. Not to mention the beautiful suite I stayed in the night before the wedding. While I got ready the morning of the wedding I was able to see the garden from my room and peek at our guests as they took their seats before the ceremony. My guest told me how great the staff and the food was. We were on a budget and Deer Path Inn was able to work with what we had. Honestly, we couldn't have chosen a better place to have our wedding. Deer Path Inn is the most romantic and beautiful place for a wedding. I would absolutely recommend it as a venue for a special occasion. Thank you so much for giving us our dream wedding.

THE PRIVATE ROOM THAT WE USED WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL, THE STAFF WAS SO HELPFUL AND MARY ELLEN MADE SURE EVERYTHING WAS EXACTLY THE WAY WE WANTED IT TO BE. OUR GUESTS WERE VERY COMFORTABLE AND THE DINNER CHOICES WERE DELICIOUS! I WOULD RECOMMEND DEERPATH INN TO ANYONE FOR ANY TYPE OF EVENT!

The event went exactly as planned (or better). The staff from the hotel (Mary Ellen and Jo Ann) were very professional and very helpful throughout the entire planning process and throughout the event itself. All of our guests had a wonderful time and a "colder than usual" end of April didn't dampen their spirits or enjoyment. Jo Ann was especially helpful in taking care of our guest who required a wheelchair - continually seeing to his needs and even having two men gently carry him down some of the steps.

These folks made me look like a wedding planner extraordinaire and all I had to do is stand back and get the compliments. Mary Ellen and Joanne we're simply amazing and everyone at Deer Path impressed me with their warmth and willingness to go over and beyond any request. I am still stunned at how perfectly everything was handled. The guest rooms we're very lovely as well

Our event at Deer Path Inn was perfect! Mary Ellen Powers was terrific in helping us plan the event. Mary Ellen made my job so much easier! She was responsive, provided helpful suggestions, flexible and her work was very accurate. She had a great attention to detail that helped me think through exactly what would make the event flow perfectly. She also helped a choose a menu that was perfect for our guests, including tailoring the packages offered by the hotel to ensure that all of our guest preferences were met. On the day of the event, JoAnn took over. She was really helpful in terms of getting the event set up, making sure that we thought about the best places to have pictures set up, locating decorations for an extra table that we added so that our older guests could sit during the cocktail party, etc. She also accomodated the last minute changes to downsize a table when two guests dropped a few hours before the event and then to upsize the table again when we had an unexpected guest. She checked with me throughout the evening to ensure that I thought that everything was perfect. She even made a point of ensuring that we had a picture taken with our cake before the photographer left and even helped us gather up all of our decorations at the end of the night so that we could get home a bit sooner after a very long day. The food was absolutely amazing. We received lots of positive feedback from our guests that it was the best food they had ever eaten. The service during the event was perfect, with everything being executed perfectly! There isn't anything that I would have wanted to happen differently.

There is no better place to hold your wedding. Inside or outside. It is like being in the middle of a fairy tale. The staff is amazing! The accommodations are fantastic! It is a magical place. We couldn't have asked for more!!

With the excellent help of the Catering Managers from Deer Path Inn, on a 3 days notice I was able to organize a surprise engagement party with over 30 guests for my Fiance and me. The party was absolutely perfect! The Catering Managers were extremely accommodating and met with me for a couple hours to prepare an upscale menu with appropriate portions and still maintain the cost under my tight budget. When we arrived, we walked into a dim lit room that was setup at the event planner's discretionary, but with the perfect touch. Additionally, the event planner set everyone up with a glass of champagne to toast to us on arrival, which was a really nice tough. The food tasted fresh and delicious. Every guest had raving reviews on the evening. We couldn't have been more thrilled by the night!

We couldn't have been more pleased with the professional service we received planning our daughter's wedding at the DeerPath Inn. Mary Ellen was attentive to every detail in the planning stages and JoAnne made sure everything went smoothly the day of the wedding. Our guests thought the venue was beautiful and inviting. Thanks to all at the DeerPath for a memorable evening for our family!

LOVED this place! We had a retirement dinner for 17 guests. The Hearth room was perfect with the fireplace and sofas. It was very easy to work with them. The appetizers and dinner was excellent. Staff was extremely polite. I would highly recommend for any special occasion!

Our wedding experience at the Deer Path Inn was fantastic! I cant express enough how my wedding went so perfect this day.. Starting from the catering manager, she was very professioinal and flexible with our our questions and needs, our whole experience was smooth and stress free. The wedding day catering manager, the staff and everyone at the Deer Path Inn were so accommodating and amazing how they made us and our guest ffeel so welcomed. All were professional. We did our ceremony in the garden and the reception in the English room - very vintage and so very pretty. The food was excellent!

I would highly recommend the Deer Path Inn to brides

There honestly is not anything I would have done differently for this wedding. Mary Ellen and Joann are both such a delight to work with. They made planning and preparing more fun than I expected!

To this day we are still receiving compliments on the quality of the brunch! Everyone commented on finding several things to choose from the brunch line as well as how good the food tasted.

I was very impressed with the level of service and professionalism that the Deer Path Team provided for both the planning and the day-of event. My guest were truly impressed with everything - the food was amazing, the venue was beautiful, the service was spectacular. I cant say enough great things about the deer Path Inn and their event planning team. Thank you Mary Ellen and team.