The Shores of Turtle Creek Reviews
Reviews
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Jessica Sent on 10/07/2025
GEM of a venue
We were looking for a venue that had a beautiful outdoor and indoor space. This was it. Very peaceful and pretty outdoor ceremony site with a stunning indoor space for the reception. We got married on a Sunday and the pricing was great. The recommended caterer's food was delicious and Anna, the venue owner, was very helpful and responsive. -
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![Karissa]()
Karissa Sent on 06/27/2024D + K 6.23.24
Absolutely stunning inside and out. My wedding day went perfect. I couldn’t have picked a better venue. Anna is amazing, she is very helpful and gives great advice. I highly recommend this venue, you won’t be disappointed! -
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Cecelia Sent on 08/17/2023
Beautiful Venue!
The shores of Turtle creek was such a beautiful venue. I would Highly recommend. You have the whole property so it is just your event going on and the scenery is just beautiful especially in June which is when we got married. You don’t need a lot of decorations because the venue itself is just stunning. Anna was wonderful to work with! She was on top of everything and even though she is not a day of coordinator, she helped to make sure everything went smoothly on our wedding day. We did a butterfly release during the ceremony and this venue was the perfect backdrop. Anna was absolutely amazing and I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect wedding at the shores of turtle creek! I cannot say enough good things about this place. 10/10 recommend! -
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![Steven]()
Steven Sent on 07/20/2023Most unique space in the entire Midwest!
This place is NOT your typical banquet hall with old furniture, disco balls and chandeliers from the 50's! Shores feels more like a lodge in Yellowstone NP! It is warm, inviting and spacious. And the owner runs the place like a well-oiled machine! Our day - even with rain at an outdoor setting - was flawless. -
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![Lindsey]()
Lindsey Sent on 09/10/2022Best wedding Venue in IL
We had our wedding here on 9/2/22 and it was absolutely beautiful! Anna is a joy to work with! From the very first meeting up to the day/night of our wedding everything was perfect! She is very meticulous and makes sure everything runs as smooth as possible! She had a smile on her face the whole wedding day! Anna truly loves what she does and it shows. We had so many compliments on how beautiful the venue was and how wonderful Anna and her staff were. The Shores made our wedding day perfect. Thank you! -
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Lisa Sent on 12/31/2021
The Perfect Place
I cannot say enough about how perfect it was to have our wedding at The Shores of Turtle Creek. From the minute we walked in we knew this was exactly what we wanted! Anna was so incredibly helpful, detailed, and quick to respond with any questions we had. She gave us preferred vendor suggestions which made the rest of our planning process super simple because everyone we called and talked to, we loved!
What really sets The Shores apart from other venues is the incredible property it sits on. This location is a tucked-away spot of beauty with perfect backdrops for a wedding anytime of the year. There are bridges, ponds, pathways, and beautiful trees. You will have a hard time picking your favorite spot!
Since we were getting married at 5:00 in October, we opted to have our wedding inside as weather and temperatures at that time can be questionable. Before making that decision, Anna was very helpful in giving us all of our options and possibilities of what our plans could be. She also talked to us about cocktail hour options for where our guests could be while the room was flipped for our reception. We decided to have cocktail hour on the outside deck and I’m so glad we did! It was cozy, intimate, and allowed easy access for appetizers and drinks at the bar…not to mention our guests also got another beautiful view of the property!
Our reception was where the ceremony was and the room was flipped incredibly fast and efficiently. The same went for dinner service and cake table set up. Anna said from the start they have a plan and know exactly what to do and when to do it, and you can be assured that is exactly the way your day will go.
From start to finish Anna and her staff took care of everything and our only job was to enjoy our guests and to have the best day of our new life together. It was perfect 💕 -
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Kirsten Sent on 09/19/2021
Couldn't have asked for more!
We are unbelievably glad that we found and chose SOTC as our reception venue. As the bride, I really valued vendors who were organized and responsive to help ease the stress of wedding planning, and Anna was these things and more. She helped keep us on track with the many considerations needed for a perfect wedding, and recommended other great vendors that we also used and loved. She was also patient and the perfect sounding board as we had questions and navigated a COVID wedding. The venue is beautiful and rustic (the best of both worlds), and the grounds were the absolute perfect backdrop to our photos. The staff was friendly and professional and our guests had many great things to say about the night. We would choose The Shores many times over, - wouldn't have changed a thing. Thank you!! -
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![Grace]()
Grace Sent on 01/19/2021Amazing group
My fiance & I were invited to this venue for a fun Friday night holiday date night. Their invitation also gave us a chance to get out of the house amidst cov19 in a safely distanced & intimate environment while also being given information regarding what the venue offered. We were greeted at the door by the entire crew for just the 2 of us which started the night off with such a VIP feeling, hospitable experience. Upon being given a complimentary charcuterie board w/a wide variety of snacks, fun cocktails, & the opportunity to make a cute "Our 1st Christmas Engaged" ornament, we were given so much more than one could ask of a venue or its supporting members. It's not every day you can meet all the supporting vendors you could possibly need on your big day all in 1 spot, being able to ask all the questions you have for them. Not to mention the vibes they give off being a team that's worked so well together for a large number of years created such a sweet feeling & very comforting to see. They were patient, sweet, informative, kind, so very personable, and just all around fun to spend your evening with & hang out. Tell me there is another vendor out there who will also, for the price of $0, give you advice on helpful tips you might not be able to hear from anyone else. Not only did they offer tips for the big day regarding things like lighting & how to get the pictures you want but they eagerly gave you a guided dance lesson, relationship pointers & marital advise for a continued strong marriage after the fact once the exciting day was something behind you. This venue with it's crew of supporting vendors was the very 1st one we saw on our journey of venue hunting, and we wanted so badly to book them right there on the spot. We are venturing around because its just what you do when you've only seen 1 place but it will be a very hard example for other vendors to try and follow or compete with for sure!
Grace & Alex -
Marie Sent on 10/24/2019
Amazing and great customer service!
Great place to host your next party with amazing picture perfect spots all throughout the grounds! -
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![Anna]()
Anna Sent on 10/16/2019The Perfect Location
We went with this venue as well as vendors from their recommended list of vendors. Everyone worked well together, and I had to do very little to ensure everything went well that night. I found myself moreso enjoying the night, rather than worrying about how everything was going. I am incredibly OCD, and Anna matches my level of OCD and ensures everything is done properly. -
Tyler Sent on 09/22/2019
amazing venue and team
My wedding was held at the shores of turtle creek august of 2019 and it was PERFECT! We had the best day ever. The location is absolutely gorgeous and I received endless compliments from guests on the venue. The grounds are beautiful we took the most amazing pictures and the ceremony was breath taking. The staff was courteous and very professional. They met all the needs of my guests. Anna is amazing to work with! i could not have done this wedding without her. She is an expert at every aspect of the venue and knows how to make things run smoothly and ensure the day goes according to plan. From knowing where to set the head table to avoid glare for photos to the best spots for after ceremony pictures, she knew it all totally took control and made my day stress free and amazing, Thank you Anna and everyone else from the shores of turtle creek for making our wedding day so perfect! -
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Tianna Sent on 08/09/2019
Absolutely perfect!
Anna is one of the easiest people to work with! She knows so much about the industry! Her recommendations were spot on and every vendor went above and beyond the day of the wedding!!! I would recommend to everyone to get married here! You will not regret it! It could not have gone better! I’m sad it’s over!!! -
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![Jennie]()
Jennie Sent on 04/17/2019Our wedding was everything we ever wanted!
I couldn't have imagined a more perfect venue that had everything we were looking for. Our wedding was incredible and everything we wanted. Not one thing went wrong. Nothing!!! The staff was excellent! Our guests were so impressed with how fast and efficient the buffet dinner went! Honestly from the start of the day all the way up to midnight, the night was everything my husband and I had hoped for. Things were more than perfect and I could never thank The Shore enough for all that they did. Anna steered us in all the right directions for all our decisions and we are still hearing about how good the food was! Words will never be able to explain our gratitude! I have nothing but amazing things to say! Thank you for making our wedding absolutely amazing. -
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Al Eads Sent on 10/17/2018
Turtle Creek was perfect!
We had our wedding at the end of Sept at The Shores of Turtle Creek! Such a beautiful venue. It was just the look we were searching for! The outdoor scenery was perfect for pictures! Anna was always getting back to our emails quickly! The entire process was very easy!
The vendors she suggested were absolutely perfect as well!
Our wedding day was everything we could have asked for and more! -
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![Kerri]()
Kerri Sent on 10/17/2018Perfection
The shores of turtle creek provides an elegant yet laid back vibe. I cannot even tell you how many people told me how much they loved my wedding and how beautiful they thought the venue was. My wedding day was more than perfect because of Anna and the beautiful shores of turtle creek. -
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Kristine Sent on 10/09/2018Loved it! Couldn't be happier with the way things went. <3
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Kirsten Sent on 10/12/2017My husband Eric and I are beyond thankful that we chose The Shores if Turtle Creek to hold our wedding ceremony and reception. Not only was it visually perfect & romantic, the staff was phenomenal. So many of our guests mentioned how accommodating the staff were and on top of everything. Eric and I didn't have to worry about a thing the day of. Ana and Irma (wedding coordinator) were a dream come true. Thank you to all of the staff for helping make our big day unforgettable! Would highly, highly recommend The Shores of Turtle Creek for any event!
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Victoria Sent on 10/10/2017Loved it! I couldn’t have imagined having my wedding anywhere else! Anna was amazing to work with and sooooo helpful!! Definitely recommend to anyone!! Thank you Turtle Creek staff for being so awesome on our big day!!
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Krista Sent on 12/18/2018
Magical Day!
My husband and I had our wedding reception here in 2016. The venue was amazing, the atmosphere was magical and Anna and her staff were beyond accommodating and professional. We were even allowed to bring horses for our grand entrance! We wanted out guests to experience the beautiful property so we set up a “treasure map” where the guests could stop at photo locations with our own props. We had a camping place with a tent and fake fire, kayaks with vests and oars, backpacking with packs and hiking poles, fishing, etc. We were able to set up a few days before since the other weddings were not using those areas of the property. She couldn’t have been more helpful and understanding since we were out of state for the actual wedding ceremony and wouldn’t be able to set up the night before. Our celebration couldn’t have gone more smoothly and Anna couldn’t have done more.
PC: Bridal Kaleidoscope (Also HIGHLY recommend!)
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![Jenny]()
Jenny Sent on 07/01/2022Natural Beauty & Flow
Anna at The Shores is a force to be reckoned with! She made sure that everything for our day went smoothly and was extremely knowledgable about the venue itself. Her expertise guided us to make so many of the important decisions for the wedding that I don't know what a wedding coordinator would be left with (in regards to planning). On the day of, there were a few small miscommunications and changes--which may have made hiring an actual coordinator for that day worth it, but in the end, it all worked out alright. In the planning stages, Anna can come off as a bit controlling, but she made sure we got everything we wanted in the end. She made the day absolutely beautiful for us.
The catering vendor that the venue works closely with (Picnic Basket) was the best--every aspect of the meal was better than any other catering food I've ever had, and Anna did a fantastic job organizing the delivery of the food AND the very important Spotted Cow (a personal touch we added last minute).
The DJ (also a recommended vendor from the venue) was alright--they played all the music I requested, but some of the speeches and order of events were not clearly communicated. The DJ also ended at 10:30 pm when I asked the week before the wedding to end at 11:30 pm (and paid the extra fee to go an hour later).
The bakery (also from the recommended vendor list) was great, and I really appreciated the small detail of getting all of the leftover cake wrapped up and ready to pack up--thanks again to Anna.
Overall, it was a fantastic experience with The Shores, and we are so glad we got married at this naturally beautiful and serene location. -
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Cassandra Sent on 07/05/2022
Beautiful venue, difficult venue coordinator
This is going to be a long review, but I highly recommend reading the whole thing so you know exactly what to expect with this place. I would give the actual venue and day of the wedding 5 stars, but I would give our experience leading up to the wedding 2 stars.
Let’s start with the positives: The Shores of Turtle Creek is a beautiful, scenic venue that had the exact vibe we were looking for. The outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour were perfect, and the availability of the outdoor decks during the reception was a great opportunity to have an indoor/outdoor reception. This helped with COVID anxiety, and just to have a space to cool off from dancing at the reception. Anna and her staff were on point on the day of the wedding, and things couldn’t have run more smoothly.
However, throughout the entire process, Anna was difficult to work with in a variety of ways. Our experience boiled down to gaslighting, an overall rude attitude, and acting as though we were a huge inconvenience. My biggest recommendation is to have EVERYTHING in writing (I mean EVERYTHING) to have a paper trail to back up all the claims she makes. Write a follow-up email after every meeting that has a list of every decision that was made.
If you are interested in details, the following are a few situations and experiences we had with her, from the beginning stages to the wedding day:
1. When we first saw the venue, there was a photo booth machine, and we were told it was included in the reception if you book with them. Suddenly, as we got closer to the wedding, the photo booth was gone and we would have to book our own vendor if we wanted one. She basically pretended it never existed.
2. About a year after booking the venue, there was a day that we brought our families for a walkthrough of the venue because they hadn’t seen it due to COVID. We had a 30-minute timeframe. Our parents wanted to be excited about the venue, but Anna was cold, acted annoyed at our presence, and refused to answer any questions from them, saying “the couple will discuss this at their scheduled meetings” every single time. By the end of the 30 minutes, she was basically pushing us all out the door and hadn’t answered any questions from our parents.
3. At our second-to-last meeting, were told to have our rehearsal on a Thursday because the venue apparently only has big events on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. We weren’t thrilled about a Thursday rehearsal, but we booked it along with the rehearsal dinner. At our final meeting about 2 weeks away from the wedding weekend, Anna told us there was going to be a 150-person event on the Thursday of our rehearsal, and that we would “have to work around it”. She then asked us if we wanted to switch to that Friday. Obviously, we couldn’t at that point, and we were super frustrated. Then, we got to the rehearsal day, and there was no event at all. She also pretended like this alleged event never existed.
4. At the rehearsal, my string trio was there to rehearse with us so they could get the timing down for the ceremony. I asked Anna for 3 chairs, and she actually said “we don’t have chairs”. Apparently, the “outdoor” chairs were locked up somewhere, and she couldn’t possibly get them for us. I told her that the cellist needs to sit and literally cannot play standing up. She acted like I was asking her for an impossible task, but ended up offering a folding chair that was just sitting in her office. So, the cellist sat, but the violinist and violist needed to stand in 90-degree weather, AND the rehearsal went 30 minutes longer than it was supposed to.
5. Also at the rehearsal, my mother-in-law asked why the bridal suite can only be used from 2-5 pm on the day of the wedding (which, by the way, is also an inconvenience) and Anna said “Use your imagination.” It was simply unkind, and this was typical of her responses to perfectly reasonable questions.
6. On the day of the wedding, I was waiting in the bridal bathroom to head to the ceremony, which was at 5:30. My maid of honor went to ask Anna if she would be getting us or if we should head down at a certain time. Anna said, “I’m not in charge of your timeline, but I can get you when it’s time.” By 5:35, I did not see her, so my bridesmaids and I started heading to the ceremony and passed her on the way. She said, “It’s still early, you are all in such a rush.” But supposedly she’s not in charge of the timeline? Her comments towards us, the bridal party, and families in regards to her position were often conflicting, with it not being clear about what her expectations were and what the parties could rely on her for. All parties involved were quite frustrated with her by the end.
Do I recommend this venue? There are not many venues that are as beautiful as this one. But you need to be prepared to put everything in writing, stand your ground, and remember that you are the one paying thousands of dollars to this place and you should be the priority. Every other vendor we had was so amazing, accommodating, and kind, and that reminded me that there is really no excuse for anything less than that. -
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![Jennifer]()
Jennifer Sent on 10/14/2020Hard to work with but day was good
Picked the location for the beauty and anna was very nice. However moving forward we had many difficulties working with Anna and always seemed to give attitude. The day turned out fine but would have liked a much better prior experience to the day. Would still do it all over again but still.
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