Rock Island Lake Club Reviews

Rock Island was the absolute best decision my husband and I made!!! The venue is GORGEOUS and the staff is so incredibly kind! The communication leading up to the wedding was so helpful and detail-oriented, which allowed everything to happen exactly as planned, and allowed for stress-free wedding planning (a huge plus!!!)! During our details meeting a few days prior to the wedding, we were able to drop off all decor and the staff went through each box with us so they knew EXACTLY where we wanted everything to go. Their attention to detail to make every wedding unique and perfect is obvious and very much appreciated. On the day of, the staff was extremely friendly and accomodating. I was taking photos outside in the snow for an hour, and upon coming inside, they had blankets, hand/feet warmers, and hot chocolate ready for me! They took care of my husband and I all night - making sure that we were having a great time and had everything that we needed. The food was fantastic, and our guests still can't stop talking about how delicious it all was, especially the cocktail hour. And, everyone LOVED the separate dessert room, which was FILLED with sweets galore!! I cannot thank each and every one of them enough for helping to make our wedding an absolute DREAM!!!

Our experience getting married at Rock Island was nothing short of perfect. From the first time we toured, through all of our meetings, and the day itself, we always felt taken care of. The staff at RILC are truly one of a kind. They go above and beyond in making sure your questions are answered and your needs are met. Stephanie in the bridal suite and Matthew in the groom's lounge are exactly who you want helping you on your wedding day. They were friendly, information, kind, funny, and always made sure we had what we needed! We did go through multiple coordinators, but each one picked up where the last left off. I never felt like anything slipped through the cracks. We have a lot of allergies ourself, and not only were they able to accommodate, but they answered each and every one of my (endless) questions in detail. The venue itself is pristine, the cocktail hour is truly the best around (both in taste and getting your money's worth), and the vibes are exactly what we wanted on our wedding day. If you have any questions about whether it is worth it to get married at Rock Island, we'd say don't hesitate! They truly know what they are doing, they truly care about their coupes, and there's a reason why their calendar is often booked up. If you want to feel special as a couple on your wedding day, get married here.

We just got married at Rock Island on Friday and it was the best deicision we could have made. Not only is the place beautiful but the entire team from top to bottom was amazing. They were so professional, responsive and made sure every detail was perfect. When I first got engaged, I just wanted to elope and not have a big wedding, but I am so happy I was talked out of it. Every single guest has reached back out already and can't stop talking about the venue, especially the food. I can't imagine having my wedding any other way, at any other place besides Rock Island. It really is the best and only choice.

My husband and I got married at Rock Island this past Saturday and we had the most amazing experience! The venue is stunning and the food was beyond amazing. We have received so many compliments from our guests being impressed with the venue. But by far the most amazing thing is the caring and attentive staff. All the planning staff were so responsive and helpful. The two bridal attendants that were with us for the day were calm, quick, and perceptive. Everyone we encountered throughout the day was positive and wonderful and really helped keep me calm when there was so much going on. We recommend Rock Island so highly to anyone looking for a venue that is has natural beauty, amazing food and drinks, and great service. Thanks to everyone there for making our wedding amazing!

This venue is seriously amazing. I mean first and foremost, it is stunning. We lucked out with great weather and we were able to take pictures and have our ceremony out on the lake. The food was shockingly good. I’d heard good reviews but we weren’t that impressed at the tasting so we were a bit nervous. Every bite of food I managed to eat that night was delicious. And everything that was left on my plate got wrapped up and sent home with us. Which turned out to be a lot of food, because they ended up giving me a “sampler” for my entree which really meant that they gave me all 5 entree choices.

But it was the staff that made our day so amazing. Our coordinator Amanda communicated with me and guided me from the moment we signed our contract. She worked with my bridal attendant that day to make sure that every detail and everything we discussed went perfectly. My bridal attendant was around all day making sure we were fed and comfortable and that our dresses and my veil were all properly steamed. Any tiny thing we needed, someone took care of it. My mom wanted to change out of her heels before the reception but her flip flops were in the bridal suite so someone went running to get them. My husband left his sunglasses on so my attendant is on the headset getting someone to grab those for pictures. We needed water while we were taking pictures and they radioed in and sent out two water bottles, one with a straw in it so I wouldn’t ruin my makeup. My maitre d finds my MOH struggling with my bustle and she swoops in and gets the whole thing up and good to go in a snap. I dropped a fork with some cake on it and a little chocolate got on my dress and the server standing next to me put down the plate she was carrying and got down there with a napkin and a glass of water to make sure it wouldn’t stain. I went into the dessert lounge to grab some dessert and my maitre d comes up to me and says don’t worry, we’re making you a plate. Next thing I see there’s a giant platter with 2 of every dessert from the viennese style dessert lounge and 2 giant pieces of cake heading its way to our table. Someone even remembered to make us a s’more from the bonfire outside. There was always a fresh drink available for me.

Rock Island Lake Club is amazing - they made wedding planning a breeze. From the moment we booked, they did not disappointment. Amanda R. was fabulous to work with and was consistently kind, professional and prompt in all our our communications. The day of, she was extremely helpful - from helping my mom and bridesmaids with my bustle to solving an issue with our shuttle buses. Amanda and the entire Rock Island team made sure I never had anything to worry about on my big day.

The venue itself is beautiful - it’s elegant without being overly formal, exactly what my husband and I were looking for in a wedding venue. The food was excellent and our guests can’t stop talking about it. Jillian and her team were so attentive to us - we never even needed to ask for another drink or anything. Our wedding was so wonderful, and I can’t thank the Rock Island team enough!

In the marathon that is wedding planning today, we cannot thank Rock Island Lake Club enough. When we began planning our wedding we were focused on only two components; rustic and home'y in nature and amazing food. Our needs were exceeded beyond all expectations with Rock Island. From the moment we walked through the doors to tour the building we felt like we were home. The kindness and the support of the staff is unmatched. There are so many aspects to touch on... the amazing staff, the beautiful venue and grounds, the DELICIOUS food, the endless options to make your reception truly yours... there isn't time enough to accurately describe how great all of these things are at Rock Island. Our guests have been raving non stop about our venue, the staff, the food, etc. etc. We cannot recommend them enough and we cannot thank them enough for everything they did to make our wedding as amazing as it was.
- Travis and Christine Jiroux

My husband and I fell in love with Rock Island the moment we walked through the doors. The venue is so beautiful and so unique with an incredible balance of indoor and outdoor space. From our first interactions with the staff at Rock Island all the way through until the end of the wedding day (and even afterwards!), we felt that each person we met was genuinely hoping to help make our wedding day the best day ever. They did not disappoint. Becca (event coordinator) is the most incredible human and communicated so kindly, professionally, and promptly throughout the entire process. We also want to make mention of Billie (bridal attendant), Amanda (event coordinator), and Jillian (maitre d’). Each and every one of them was lovely and played an important part in making our wedding day such a success. Our guests have not stopped raving over the cocktail hour, the beautiful venue, and the attentiveness and kindness of the staff at Rock Island. So many of our guests have told us that it’s the best wedding they’ve ever attended, and (obviously!) we’d have to agree. Our wedding day was an absolute dream and we wish we could do it over and over and over. Rock Island Lake Club is THE best and we’ll never run out of wonderful things to say about them.

Rock Island Lake Club.... You have our heart! I cant even. This venue is absolutely stunning and not to mention, so welcoming. The atmosphere and calming effect made us choose you instantly. Let me not even get started on the day of. From the moment we arrived, the service was impeccable. My guests can not stop talking about how amazing and attentive you all were. AND THE FOOOODDD. So damn good. IT was all the rave. Thank you for the most magical day of our lives.

Rock island was exactly what me and my husband were looking for when we were looking around for a venue. This might sound ridiculous but the one thing on my do not want list was carpet, so that was the first reason we even went to go check it out. I truly cannot express how perfect our wedding day was. Every single person was professional, attentive and overall fantastic. We were hoping for our ceremony to be outside but unfortunately the weather wasn’t on our side, but they were able to set up the most beautiful ceremony space inside. It totally exceeded any expectations I had and ended up feeling so much more intimate. I can’t even put into words with how happy I have been my whole wedding planning process. Highly highly recommend them.

Wow...just wow. Honestly could have not asked for a more PERFECT day. Rock Island is honestly outstanding in every aspect. I wish I can go back and do this day over and over again. I don’t even know where to begin but Becca and Jillian were heaven sent! Becca was so responsive throughout the entire process, including the postponement, and never once made us feel like we were a bother with questions. She was an essential part of our planning process and I trusted her FULLY! Her bubbly personality never once made me feel an ounce of stress, and I am so thankful for that! She is so efficient and organized. She was with us for most of our wedding day and made sure every vision I had in mind came to life.

My bridal attendant Kylie was also so sweet and so attentive and made it known she was there to make my life easier anyway she could. Holding my veil, my bouquet, getting us drinks and answering questions in the bridal suite while we all got ready...she was awesome!

Jillian was with us all day at our wedding and she was constantly checking up on us to make sure everything was going great and if we needed anything, we always had a drink, we were always eating, and to make sure we were getting the most out of our experience.

The food was INCREDIBLE! All of our guests were talking about how delicious everything was. I hope I can come back as a guest one day so I can eat everything, and even so, we were able to eat because they made sure we had food from cocktail hour waiting for us in the Grooms suite after the ceremony so we can eat before going to greet our guests. They also refilled those plates throughout cocktail hour. It was such a thoughtful touch. Becca and Jillian greeted us after walking down the aisle after our ceremony with drinks. Just all the little things made this alresdy amazing experience so much better. We had a s’mores cart and Jillian made sure to go get us some and brought it to us so we could continue dancing and spending time with guests.

I can’t say enough amazing things about Rock Island and everyone involved. The wait staff was so attentive and the bartenders were so fun!!

So many times throughout the night guests would come up and ask me “how did you find this place?” They were all so impressed with how breathtaking the venue was and how amazing the food was. Our wedding day was a little slice of heaven and we can’t thank everyone enough at Rock Island. Thank you for making our wedding dream come true!

I got married back in May and am still reminiscing and mentally replaying the entire day in my head. The entire day ran so smoothly. The entire staff at RILC is calming, extremely helpful and really does everything they possibly can to make the bride feel special and at ease. I got ready at the venue and they constantly checked in to make sure we were okay. There was always someone by my side as I moved around taking photos during our first look, and someone from the staff even helped bustle me after the ceremony.

The feedback we got from our guests was INCREDIBLE! So many people raved about the view and the extraordinary cocktail hour. Rock Island truly gives you a wedding without the traditional wedding stiffness and thats just what we were hoping for. The entire event was relaxed and felt like a home the whole day we were there.

Rock Island worked with us; May 2021 was our third wedding date they did all they could to accommodate us during the craziness of everything. Me and my husband went there so many times for a final meeting that it's weird to think we no longer will be going there anymore! But we will miss it. And we are so happy we get to remember our special day so fondly for the rest of our days.

Where can we even begin with Rock Island? These are some of the best people we had the pleasure of dealing with in planning for our wedding. With these trying times, Becca and Jillian always made sure to ease our nerves. The day of the wedding they were always around making sure that everything was going great and checking in if we need anything! The food, out of this world. We had multiple people come up to us saying how amazing the cocktail hour was, and how delicious their dinners were. We could probably write a book on all of the great things that this team did for us from the day we booked with them, through the day of our wedding. It was so reassuring to see that they genuinely care about each and every one of their couples as if it was their only couple. I would recommend this venue and team to ANYONE looking for a intimate rustic venue for their wedding. We cannot thank Rock Island and their team enough for all that they did to make our day as memorable as possible!

Rock Island is a gorgeous venue and the staff is beyond amazing. Even after having to postpone our wedding, Heather at Rock Island, made us feel so at ease during a time where we were panicking. Truly a welcoming and professional place to work with!!

Rock Island was one of the first venues that we visited while we started the planning process of our wedding. We fell in love with it immediately. Between the gorgeous reception and cocktail space and the outside area where the ceremony would take place we were amazed. We signed our contract and was ready to start planning. Unfortunately COVID did force us to change our date and Rock Island was accommodating. When our date finally arrived, the staff truly made the day so special even midst a pandemic. I didn't have a care in the world that day because I trusted the staff and they knew how to handle everything. All of our guests felt safe with the precautions in place. The food was exceptional also. Overall I am so happy we kept with having our "big" wedding and thank you to the Rock Island staff for making our day so special!

We booked our wedding with Rock Island Lake Club for 9/18/2020. Given COVID, our wedding reception was to be held in a tented outdoor space, lakeside; however, the week of the wedding, the owners offered us to switch our reception to the sister location, Bear Brook Valley, due to expected low temperatures on our wedding day and being in an outdoor space. Bear Brook Valley was newly renovated to allow indoor/outdoor access and increased comfort for our wedding guests. We were initially wary of changing the location of our venue the week-of (due to logistics and fear of guests declining to attend since the reception would no longer be fully outdoors), but we were also concerned about the reception being chilly for our guests the whole night in a tented space. Ultimately, we decided to take the owners up on the offer as we were assured this would be a great option for our guests. We met the owners and Bear Brook staff on 9/17, saw the renovations and incredible space, and were SO excited to host our event at Bear Brook. We had zero doubts that our wedding would be incredible and fully trusted the staff to accommodate our wedding details as originally planned at Rock Island. Even still, they beyond exceeded our expectations on our wedding day. From the very moment our wedding party arrived on 9/18 to the very end of the reception, we were treated like royalty. The service of the entire staff and owners was seamless and top-notch. Our guests had an awesome time and followed up with us the next day about how great the event was. We couldn’t have been happier with how our day went and are so grateful to the owners and staff for having our day run so smoothly. We have been raving about our wedding ever since and encourage couples to trust that the renovations and indoor/outdoor access is a great hit. Our only hope is that we will attend a future wedding at Bear Brook or Rock Island as guests ourselves because we had such an incredible time!

There aren’t even words to describe how incredible this venue made our special night. They were on top of everything and exceeded our expectations in every way! Would highly highly recommend

Speechless is the only word we can think of right now because Rock Island left us completely in awe. We could cry all over again writing this review. The second we walked into Rock Island and Heather showed us around we knew we had to get married at this absolutely stunning venue. Everything about it is absolutely perfect from the beautiful scenery to the stunning inside.

From the minute we booked Rock Island, Heather and Karly kept In constant contact with us ensuring that every single detail was taken care of and that we would have nothing to worry about come our wedding day. This venue has an incredible amount of weddings every single week, yet they made us feel as if we were the only ones getting married there. Their attention to detail, genuine care and love for you, organization, and understanding, were immeasurable. Each meeting we had with Heather and Karly and the staff made us more and more at ease with our wedding.

Upon getting to Rock Island for our wedding day, we were greeted with smiles, and amazing people ready and willing to do whatever we needed to ensure our day was perfect. Kellie, the bridal attendant is absolutely phenomenal. She made sure that myself and all the girls in the bridal suite were enjoying our time, that we had food to eat, and drinks in our hand. She could not have been more helpful. Throughout the whole day she was holding my dress train to make sure that it didn’t get dirty and followed me around to help me whenever I needed it. She was calm, passionate, dedicated, professional, and all around the most perfect bridal attendant I could have ever asked for!

Mike was beyond words. Mike assured that Greg and I and also our guests were completely happy and satisfied at all times. He set aside good for Greg and I to eat knowing that we would not get much of a chance to eat. While we were eating dinner he continued to check in on us to make sure we ate enough and to get us anything we needed. Mike is incredibly kind, dedicated, passionate, and truly one of the hardest working people we have ever known. By the end of the night he feels like the brother you never had!

Like I said, words can truly not do this venue justice. Their service was immeasurable, their kindness and caring was unexplainable, and their love for each couple that walks through the door is admirable. Rock Island, and all the staff, thank you truly from the bottom of our hearts for the most perfect day we could have ever asked for. It was better than anything we could have ever dreamed of. If you are getting married I cannot recommend this venue enough. After getting married here, I could not see why anyone would get married anywhere else. Rock Island, WE LOVE YOU!!

I honestly don't know where to begin...the scenic backdrop to our ceremony, the endless cocktail hour AND A HALF, and a fantastic banquet space upstairs made our wedding day the best day of our lives. From our initial meeting, we were blown away at the options to choose from for the cocktail hour, dinner, and bar. We still get compliments on the food from our wedding! The all-included package is honestly the best part, and having Heather as our coordinator made planning the entire day a piece-of-cake. She was quick to respond to emails, and every idea we had she took all of the pieces (photographer, florist, musicians, rehearsal) and put it al together. The day-of, the RILC staff helped us out every moment. Having the bride and groom suites to get ready in at the venue made the morning a lot less stressful! Since they only have one wedding per day, they allowed us to transform the space into our own personalized celebration of "us", which was truly amazing...our guests say that it felt like coming home, which we loved! Mike, the maitre-d, was absolutely fantastic. He ran everything behind-the-scenes to make sure the day went smoothly, while also attending to us and making sure we had everything we needed. Hands down, RILC was the simply the best decision we could've made!

I don't know where to begin with our wedding at Rock Island. Dreaming about your wedding day for what feels like forever means you have extremely high expectations. Every single time my husband and I visited Rock Island, we left impressed and so beyond excited for our big day. The staff, FOOD, atmosphere, view, location, EVERYTHING about Rock Island is beyond amazing! Our guests cannot stop raving about our wedding at being the best and most fun wedding they have ever been to. Seriously! The food is SPECTACULAR, the views and location/building/grounds are just breathtaking, and the staff left such a lasting impression on everyone that our guests knew them by name by the end of the night. Heather, our wedding planner, was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. She is so warm and welcoming and made everything a breeze. Mike and Jessica made our wedding day run absolutely seamlessly. Karly, my bridal attendant, was extremely attentive to me and she was right there with me through our first look and all of my pictures to help with my veil and dress. Rock Island is the absolute BEST place to have your wedding and most of all, you really do feel like part of the family. Thank you to our Rock Island family for making our wedding day an absolute dream!

I initially fell in love with Rock Island Lake Club from their website alone – the beautiful pictures and insane menu options vaulted it high to the top of our venue list, and once we started visiting venues in person, it was clear nothing was going to top it. The aesthetic was exactly what we were looking for; not a “big Jersey ballroom”, but a gorgeously understated glam-rustic vibe that didn’t need to be hidden behind excessive décor and florals. The new birch arch by the water and the beautiful farmhouse tables in the ballroom are just a few highlights.

The staff was beyond amazing from beginning to end. I told my husband the day before the wedding that there’s no way I would’ve stayed (mostly) sane if we’d booked anywhere else. We visited the venue twice before officially booking, and both times we walked in the place were greeted warmly and offered beverages before the tour began. Once we were under contract, Heather was our main point-of-contact and was an absolute dream to work with. She’ll outline everything the venue needs from you, and as long as you provide it, everything will run smoothly. Our actual wedding day ran like clockwork. I’d purchased the bridal suite upgrade for my bridesmaids, and we spent the morning upstairs with Karly as our wonderful bridal attendant while we had our hair and makeup done (highly recommend the bridal suite package – it made the day stress-free knowing we were there early, with breakfast and lunch taken care of). Jessica and Mike ran the show when it came to the ceremony and reception, and every part of the evening progressed timely and smoothly.

Lastly – the food! The menu options are overwhelming in the best way. The included tasting several months before our wedding was helpful for us to narrow down the options, and was a nice way to get a preview of how the venue manages an event. I appreciated being able to select four or five entrée choices, and the breadth of cocktail hour choices allowed us to easily make sure guests with various dietary restrictions had no issues getting enough food. We capped off the night with the brick oven pizza upgrade, serving as our favor for our guests as they departed, and heard rave reviews the next morning.

Rock Island was an amazing place to get married, and I’d recommend the venue with zero hesitation!

From the day we stepped foot in Rock Island, we knew we wanted to become a part of the RILC family. The grounds are gorgeous, well maintained, and are simply stunning and unique. This was just the beginning. As soon as we booked, we began working with Heather who was absolutely unreal - Heather is responsive, full of ideas and knowledge, and above all else, truly felt like our friend who genuinely cared about our wedding, despite the fact that she helps so many other couples - this is evidenced by our 100+ email chain. It is so important when planning a wedding to fully trust your vendors, and Rock Island made this easy. The day before our wedding, we met with Mike A, the RILC Maître d', and Jessica, the RILC day-of coordinator. Jessica took the time to go over every piece of decor we were dropping off to ensure that everything we wanted to be used was used, and similarly that everything we brought was packed up for us after the wedding was over. Mike and Jessica then went over every detail for our wedding, making sure that everything would be smooth the day of - and it was. Mike was AMAZING and everyone complimented us about how smoothly everything was and how promptly dinner was served. We are from Long Island and during cocktail hour, everyone came up to us to ask how we found Rock Island because they were in awe of the venue - the grounds, the lake, the ceremony space, the food, the service, and everything in between. I cannot stress this enough - my bridal attendant Amelia was EVERYTHING. She took care of absolutely all of my needs, made sure I stayed hydrated, whipped out pliers to help affix charms to my wedding shoes, and made sure we got platters of food from the cocktail our in the bridal suite after our ceremony. I cannot thank these people enough and truly did not want to leave at the end of the night. Everyone is raving about the food, saying that people were fighting over the lamb at dinner, cleaned their plates even after being stuffed after an amazing cocktail hour (especially getting rave reviews about the mini lobster tacos, coconut shrimp, chicken and waffles, grilled cheese shooters, and the slider station). Our guests told us how nice the bartenders were, how attentive the wait staff was, and how delicious the boardwalk station was that we added as a dessert. I could honestly go on and on and on about how amazing our day was because of Rock Island, but honestly, the most important thing to know is that Rock Island knows what they are doing and there are simply no other venues that you should be considering. I am so grateful to be part of the Rock Island family!

There aren't enough words to explain how amazing Rock Island Lake Club is. All the stellar reviews here are true!!

Yes, the venue is stunning! The staff is extremely professional and yet personable. Heather, the wedding planner, was always there to help answer any of my ridiculous questions and kept me sane throughout the process helping me find a solution even though everyone else told me it wasn't possible. They truly made me feel like a bride every step of the way.

For reference, I got engaged in February 2019 and got married in July 2019. Although everyone said it was too short to plan a wedding, I had the fairytale wedding of my dreams all thanks for RILC. It was everything I hoped for and more. Everyone still raves about the food/drinks. We're so happy we added the midnight munchies (a must have). They were an unexpected unique wedding favor that left my guests well fed and happy.

The day is still a whirlwind in my mind. It went so fast and I'm still getting little flashbacks of it that I couldn't remember but I just want to thank RICL for making our day so special. And special thanks to Mike and Jessica. You guys were my rock on the day of and kept me the most calm I've ben in my life. That's just how much I grew to trust everyone at RILC. They make you feel like family.

-Amy and Peter

To start off, I'll give the disclaimer that RILC was the one and only wedding venue that my now husband and I looked at. We had a good feeling after hearing and reading great reviews, but when we went for our initial consultation, we were blown away, not only by the space and scenery, but by the plethora of options available to us as part of the basic wedding package and the abundance of upgrades. The kindness and patience of the staff to answer our questions was also evident in Jessica's warm smile and demeanor at our meeting! As we planned, Heather (the wedding coordinator on staff) was always available to guide us in decisions when we were stuck or to answer questions about everything from wine options to car services. I truly felt that she was always happy to hear from us and help us as best as she could. By the time we got to the final meeting the day before our wedding, we felt that everything was in fantastic hands, no matter how many times the seating chart shifted in the final week! Mike, the maître d', made us confident that the reception would be awesome and Jessica, our day of coordinator, made us confident that our ceremony would run like clockwork. Carly, my bridal attendant, was extremely helpful on the day of the wedding, always willing to hold my bouquet or fix my unruly veil. One thing that really blew me away on our wedding day (and that I told a few of them) was that the whole staff really seemed genuinely thrilled for us as if it was the first wedding they had ever worked on. I really think that their excitement and enthusiasm for us made the day even more perfect. I would wholeheartedly recommend RILC to anyone looking for a wedding venue!

If you're reading this review, you're probably considering Rock Island. My advice - DO IT! Rock Island was the PERFECT choice for our wedding day. Heather, the wedding coordinator on site, is incredibly helpful and keeps you on track. She is always there for help and advice along the way. We called and emailed her many times and she was always incredibly friendly and helpful. Once you get to the final week, you meet with Mike and Jessica who are also beyond helpful. They take care of you the day of the event and make sure all of the details are ironed out before hand. Not only is the entire staff at Rock Island is great, but the food options CANNOT be beat. As a guest at weddings, two of the top things I care about (other than the couple, of course) are food and drinks. Rock Island has you covered. People still rave about our cocktail hour and guests literally had dreams about our desserts!! Also, who else gives you 5 options for dinner? It's unheard of. The premium open bar is a huge hit as well (for obvious reasons). Not all venues include this free of charge!! You may also be thinking, as the guests of honor, you won't get to enjoy any of the great food and drinks. But Rock Island does not let you miss out on this! We had our wedding at a church nearby and then came to Rock Island for pictures, before the cocktail hour. The bar was open and they had food waiting for us. Which was great because I was too nervous to eat before the ceremony and thought I would pass out if they didn't have food waiting for us!! We also stepped away for a few minutes during cocktail hour to freshen up and breathe and found trays of cocktail hour food along with our signature drinks waiting for us in the bridal suite. Our bridal attendant Amelia was awesome. She kept coming up to check on us to see if we wanted more to eat or drink. (She's also there for you throughout the night to make sure you're doing ok and to see if you need anything at all.) And the food didn't stop there. Every time I turned around, someone was asking if I needed anything. My drinks were never empty and if I left to dance, a new one was magically refilled by the time I got back. I tell everyone, I felt like royalty on my wedding day!! And the venue... just look at it. It is breathtaking. Months later, at other weddings, people talk to us about how wonderful it was to have the lake and our outdoor area to hang out at during cocktail hour. We also lucked out with a beautiful sunset on our wedding night, so the balcony was packed with people snapping pictures. We had so many guests tell us we did our wedding "the right way" and that it was the best wedding they had been to. People still are talking about it months later. I cannot thank the Rock Island family enough for making our day so special. I would not change a thing about our day.