Lake Placid Lodge Reviews
Reviews
4.5 out of 5 rating
12 Reviews
83%
Recommended by couples
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Alexandra Sent on 03/20/2019
Dream wedding venue!!
LPL (especially Eden!!) creates a dream for our wedding. We coordinated almost everything from a distance, and she made sure everything was beyond perfect. We stayed at the lodge, had our ceremony and reception there, and had Chef do our food and cake. The process was easy, communication was spectacular. Eden made me feel like a queen and made everything go so smoothly, even when the button on my dress broke 5 minutes before the ceremony (of course someone was there from LPL so repair it in time!) When we realized the night before we didn’t have table cards or menus, Eden made them and had them ready! There were more special touches than I can possibly list, and we can’t wait to return to the Lodge for many years to come. -
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![Kristin]()
Kristin S. Sent on 06/09/2022Beautiful wedding
We had an incredible wedding weekend at the lodge. The staff on site are top notch and went above and beyond to make our wedding a fairytale.Lake Placid Lodge's reply:
Thank you for taking the time to let us know about your experience.
Portions of Bride’s perceived account of the situations are, regrettably, different than the resort’s perceived account of events per file notes and emails. The resort is happy she hired a wedding planner as that is what our sales representatives recommend. It was good to know she felt her planner was fantastic. The resort is a remote destination wedding for most of our guests. To assist our clients, the resort’s sales team provides a recommended list of planners, as well as other vendors. It is important for a 3rd party planner to understand our venue, to assist the Wedding Couple(s) within the parameters of the resort’s policies, physical capacities and NY State Mandates. The Bride’s planner was and is one we recommend as well as collaborate with several times a year with mutual clients. It is good to know the Bride was happy with her choice for a 3rd party planner. Hearing positive testimonials on the vendors we recommend is always good news.
The Director of Sales (DOS) position was never that of an event coordinator (that is why the resort provides recommendations for planners). In early Spring 2020, the DOS, was furloughed prior to the contracting of bride’s event, due to the pandemic. That was not an easy decision for the resort. Unfortunately, as we all know, many people lost their jobs due the awful Pandemic. The resort’s decision was to have a Sales Team member, versed in many hospitality Markets, absorb the DOS’s responsibilities due to the pandemic and the cancellation of group business.
The Wedding Couple was not contracted. Due to the Pandemic what and how the resort could host events changed. From the notes in our file the Wedding Couple was perceived as aggressive and on several occasions’ abrasive in nature in demanding guarantees that would have been false promises by the resort. Per our notes, when the Wedding Couple re-addressed the matter of how they wished to host their event to the General Manager, he re-stated the parameters of what the resort would offer to host a successful and NY State compliant event for them. The resort’s team did not misrepresent our new policy, due to COVID, to the Wedding Couple.
It is true, eventually, the wedding couple contracted for approximately 1/3 of our intimate resort for 2 nights, our resort consists of 30 total guest accommodations. Their agreement was a typical room block & event space for our Wedding Agreements. The resort appreciated them booking as we do with all of our clients. The Wedding Couple kept stating their connotation of their Agreement. As the bride states it was about 1/3 of the guest rooms and specific contracted event spaces. The Wedding Couple kept stating it was a “partial buyout”, to be fair, to their point, anything less than 30 guest rooms per night could be defined as a “partial buyout” and they argued that point. That point stated, a “partial buyout” could be 1 – 29 rooms. However, it is not an exclusive experience at the resort unless it is a full “buyout” of 30 rooms per night for 2 nights. Per our notes, including the email exchanges with the Wedding Couple, it was reviewed multiple times what a “buyout” is and the cost associated with a “buyout”.
It was explained, pre-contracting as well as several times once they signed the contract what a “buyout” is defined as (noted above). A “buyout” would have contracted them for an exclusive experience at the resort with the guarantees they kept, repeatedly, insisting they should be given, per our records. Full transparency was provided for what a “buyout”, offered and that was/ is a built in “exclusive experience” at the resort. This is the denotation of a buyout. These repetitive cyclical conversations included the explanation for the only true instance of when a 100% guarantee can be given for no other wedding couples to be on the property. That guarantee only exists with the denotation of a “buyout”. The wedding couple would then have control over the 30 guest rooms and have no other brides occupying the resort. This definition of an exclusive experience is the same for any type of Group (Social/ Weddings, Association, Religious, Military, Fraternal, Educational, Sports or Corporate). The Wedding Couple could only have a 100% guarantee on the items they requested, if they contracted for a “buyout” and then they would have an exclusive experience. All event space at the resort is contracted in the “buyout” for the exclusive experience as well. Per our notes, the bride’s request was to be the only bride at the resort without a buyout. The resort has elopements at the resort, they do not book event space and we do not know they are staying on property for that purpose, no one is required to share why they are staying with us. Of course, elopement couples are allowed to walk around the resort’s non-contracted event areas, as they too are guests. The staff finds out there is a bride onsite as she walks around the resort in a white dress. This was explained to the Wedding Couple as to why we could not 100% guarantee she may not be the only bride onsite. The pandemic brought many elopements to the resort.
It is noted in our files the wedding couple had explored a full “buyout” option during the proposal stage of contracting for an exclusive experience, however, they chose the option to contract a limited amount of guest rooms and selected event space areas. Per their Agreement the guest rooms and event spaces were a binding contract and therefore, as required, the contracted terms would be/ were honored for the dates and times specified in the contract.
In reviewing the notes for the group from the emails and conversations our files reflect the many frustrations of the Wedding couple over the NY State COVID Mandates vs. the state they resided. Their state had more relaxed codes. The Pandemic codes were all posted on the NY State Website and the CDC’s websites. The resort, by law, was required to follow the codes or face the penalty for not complying. These requirements to mention a few included: face masks, enforcing social distancing for seating, limit the amount of guests that would be allowed to attend an event (that was expanded closer to their event date), no standing during cocktail hour (then standing allowed except if you were eating or drinking), no dancing (later in the year dancing was allowed, however, dancing was limited to dancing in “pods” with the table the guests were eating dinner with, that also had to be socially distance from each other), the resort was required to create a method to review proof of vaccine process (at one point required to record and document that information was verified as well). The resort could and did empathize with them as well as what was happening in the rest of the world. This led to many banquet event order (event details) contracting and floor plan concerns. The resort knew it was frustrating for all of our contracted client events to host an event with the ever changing Mandates while worrying about keeping all guests safe. However the resort had to comply with the NY State Mandates for all contracted client events. Unfortunately, it was a nightmare for most event planning in NY State during that time for the clients and the venues.
The resort’s records for alcohol reflect typical Banquet Bar questions and what was contracted for each event. The resort file does not have what the bride states in our notes.
The resort’s notes reflect the perception the repetitive conversations from the Wedding Couple, that the resort never misrepresented the Wedding Couple, at any point, on what the resort could provide physically and compliant to the mandates. Everything was detailed (multiple times, per the ever changing mandates) for proper execution by our operations team to deliver the Bride, (in her words) the, “absolute dream wedding”, as contracted with no false guarantees /promises, only full transparency and what was within the NY State Mandates, of the resort’s policies and physical capacities. This was/ is resort team’s ultimate goal for each contracted event.
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![Emily]()
Emily Sent on 02/12/2018When we walked into Lake Placid Lodge we knew instantly that this is where we wanted to get married. The lodge is so beautiful, and rustic, and cozy. Each room is prettier than the next - from the fireplaces, to the antique rugs, to the rustic furniture .. you will feel like you are secluded in your own cozy winter wonderland. For our small, intimate wedding we knew we wanted something special - and Lake Placid Lodge was just that.
The planning process was a bit complicated. Perhaps I'm just an over organized person, but I often felt like I had to follow up with multiple emails and reminders in order to get answers. The lack of communication meant most of our planning was unfortunately left for the last two weeks - which caused a bit of chaos. There were billing errors (we were charged too much - twice), and food errors (a course was left out), and other timing errors - BUT nothing significant enough to damper the big day. Ashley (who took over for Chris as the coordinator) and CJ (the general manager) were WONDERFULLY accommodating. Their hospitality more than made up for any of our planning frustrations.
The food was wonderful, our guests raved about the venue, and the atmosphere was PERFECT for our simple rustic winter wedding. Lake Placid Lodge is VERY expensive compared to other venues in the location, but if we had to do it all over again we would 100% do it exactly the same. Sometimes location and venue are worth the price, hiccups and all. My advice: don't be afraid to follow up again and again, double check your receipts, make lists of everything you brought and want to take home. If you are lucky enough to have your wedding at Lake Placid Lodge, your day will be absolutely breathtaking. -
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![Ashley]()
Ashley R. Sent on 04/23/2020Most beautiful winter wedding venue
We loved our February wedding at Lake Placid Lodge in the end but it was a bit of work to get there. We picked our wedding date 60 days out and were thrilled LPL was available and was quick to respond and get us most of the information we needed to make a decision quickly. I’m guessing it was the short lead time that lead to the issues we had. The main issue is there’s a small room block minimum but they won’t do a booking promo code so my guests which ended up being 10 or so rooms had to go through me to get the discounted rate before they could decide if they wanted to stay at the Lodge. At contract signing we had to know the room types we wanted to hold for our guests and pay for them in full in our deposit with a refund at the end of the event for guests that paid own - all but two rooms. This added an extreme amount of stress on me as I had to deal with family asking me room type questions and rates because we weren’t given the number for them to call to book until we had signed the contract with the room types & assigned guest names. Also, the rate we were quoted was not always better than the rate online and our discounted rate wasn’t guaranteed until the contract was signed. But we couldn’t sign the contract until people picked their rooms. But they couldn’t pick their rooms because the discounted $400+ rate kept changing. Get it? Me either. It was a very backwards way of booking rooms and was more work for me and my family. I also feel the wedding planner was a little intense and not very flexible. She was often frustrating to work with in planning up until it was wedding time. The event was flawless, she took care of a lot of the little details for set up that was a huge relief and time saver for us. The venue is astounding, the food was delicious, guests were sledding at the rehearsal dinner in dresses and making s’mores outside even though it was 10°. Such a fun experience for everyone! The breakfast staff was so accommodating fitting us all in, moving tables, remembering our preferences. The concierge was so kind and would help lighten my stressed out mood. The car service to take you to town and pick you up is a great perk. We stayed in a cabin and liked being removed from the property and it wasn’t an inconvenience at all. All our guests said it was one of the most remarkable and memorable weddings they’ve been too. I would highly recommend booking a wedding here but I hope my experience helps improve yours. I really hope they can improve their room booking process. Or when you get the rates for the rooms just reserve every room and sign the contract. You can cancel any rooms over your minimum block two weeks out and get a full refund - but you don’t know this until you get the contract. Also, a really Type A bride will likely clash with the wedding planner.Lake Placid Lodge's reply:
We thank you for taking the time to let us know about your experience.
The resort is not sure why the bride was not offered a booking code, however the resort can verify we currently offer an online booking code for a group block and/or an 800 reservation telephone line for guests to book their own room in the contracted room block. The agreement had the guest’s rooms being reserved via a rooming list but there are no notes or email exchanges in our files reflecting why that option was selected for this group. After reviewing the bride’s contract neither the booking code or telephone reservation options were in any of the Agreement’s clauses. At this time the brides have 3 options to have in the Agreements: to send the resort a list of the guests they want to make a reservation for a room or the guests may make a reservation with the resorts other 2 options via online with a booking link or calling the 800 reservation telephone line.
As we are an intimate resort with 30 guest accommodations we do require a minimum amount of rooms be contracted with every Catered Event at the resort. Currently the resort designates the rooms the group is able to contract based on location and availability. The only record the resort has is the contract. However the resort’s Agreement currently requires a 10% deposit at the time of signing an Agreement for the total amount of the guest rooms, event space, food and beverage minimum and the remainder of the event space, food and beverage is on a deposit schedule with the final deposit due a few weeks prior to the event. Currently, this deposit schedule is listed in the Agreement. As the bride noted, she had “short lead time” and that would have accelerated the deposit’s due, process.
The resort does not have a wedding planner onsite and the sales team at the resort currently provide the brides with our recommended vendor list with 3rd party wedding planners as well as other vendors. The resort is a remote destination wedding for most of our brides and they want assistance during the planning process because it is a destination wedding. The resort’s sale team contracts the guest rooms and event space as well as detail each event with a banquet event order (smaller contract for each event) and coordinates the event space set-up, food and beverage that the resort’s operation’s team execute. The resort has no record of this vendor list being supplied to the bride, however the current sales team does provide a vendor list that includes several 3rd party wedding planners. Currently, our sales team strongly recommends the assistance of a 3rd party wedding planner being engaged for the extra services and items the resort does not handle.
The resort’s team goal is to provide a wonderful wedding experience so we were happy to hear the bride’s guest said “it was one of the most remarkable and memorable weddings they’ve been too” and that she titled her review, “Most beautiful winter wedding venue”. -
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User2401603 Sent on 10/30/2015We LOVE the location venue and the food... It was beautiful and precisely where we wanted our small wedding reception. However, there were some simple, very specific requests that were not met. We bought some very special wine for our reception - wine not available on the open market... allocation only... We asked that we get the empty bottles and corks back - to use in our wine cellar we are putting in at our home. They did not. We got very few bottles back - and for a small crowd of only 12, of which less than half were drinking the wine - it was odd to me that so much wine was not returned, nor the empty bottles and corks.
In addition, we brought our own decorations and had purchased the urns for our floral arrangements. We had urns stolen from our reception. We left at almost midnight and when we returned at 10:30 the following morning, our items were not all there. Odd, sad, unfortunate and unacceptable.
For a venue that charges as much as they do, one would think they would have better oversight and management. They overcharged us and thought their "credit" would be sufficient. I guess if it were their event, things would have gone differently. I would NOT recommend someone else hold their event there - as much as I love the property. They lack in overall management.
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