10 Exciting Destination Wedding Locations in the U.S.

 

(This story was originally published in Cocktails and Joints)

 

Destination weddings can take away a lot of the hassle – and cost – from the bride and groom, but it’s difficult to plan when your guests don’t want to leave the U.S.  You can still find some exciting places to head out of town for your nuptials without anyone needing to make a trip to the passport office. In fact, you may find some of these places offer unique scenery you won’t get on an island.

Geyserville, California

Geyserville, California

Between the Mayacamas Mountains and the vineyards, the backdrop for your ceremony will be amazing at the Geyserville Inn. This Sonoma accommodation is laid back and attentive at the same time. It’s family owned and there’s only one wedding at a time. Guests can stay right at the Inn in one of the well-appointed 41 rooms or suites.

You should also consider the rehearsal dinner or next day brunch at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery. It may be in the heart of Sonoma, but it’s part Europe with a bit of Hollywood. The property includes a castle the Academy Award-winning director had designed to look like the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen.

Infinite Monkey Theorem Winery

Denver, Colorado

Forget everything you know about wineries and consider Infinite Monkey Theorem for a destination wedding venue everyone will be talking about. This urban winery doesn’t have a vineyard. Instead, they have a warehouse for their canned wine (which happens to be delicious).

Their tasting room and lounges are located in Denver’s RiNo neighborhood and Infinite Monkey has become a popular location for untraditional weddings.  Just a short drive away, the Springhill Suites Downtown Denver offers oversized rooms and a great location to put your guests up in. 

The Resort at Longboat Key Club

Longboat Key, Florida

If you still want that tropical beach wedding, but you don’t want to leave the country, The Resort at Longboat Key is your answer. Here you can enjoy the best of both worlds with a marina, golf club, beach, pools, and multiple restaurants, all a short drive from Sarasota.

Longboat Key offers a selection of venues for your ceremony, from the beach to the banquet rooms. You’ll also find plenty of suite and apartment accommodations to satisfy everyone coming to your wedding.

Deer Path Inn

Lake Forest, Illinois

How about a classic and historic inn for your destination wedding? Deer Path Inn is modeled after an English manor and has the pedigree to match, having housed Chicago’s elite and Hollywood stars since the 1860s. Every touch to details will be available to your guests at this luxury property, where limousines and butlers are readily available.

Consider the English Garden for your ceremony, followed by a cocktail hour in Windsor Hall. With only 55 rooms in this boutique hotel, you can take over the place with a wedding no one will ever forget.

Newfields

Indianapolis, Indiana

Whether you are looking for classic scenery or old time beauty, the Newfields property can provide it. IMA is located on the 26-acre estate known as Oldfields that also includes the Lilly House & Gardens. The photo possibilities for the wedding ceremony are endless and will not disappoint.

 

For your reception, chose from venues such as the Garden Terrace built by J. K. Lilly Jr., or the Deer Zink Pavilion. Plan to take a gondola through White River State Park before the event, and have the family stay downtown at JW Marriott, which stands above Indianapolis, but is convenient to all.

Mackinac Island

Michigan

Time will stop for your destination wedding on Mackinac Island. You won’t have a problem finding a horse and buggy here as it is the top mode of transportation – cars are not allowed. As for the ceremony, it’s easy to find a spot. Fort Holmes is the highest point on the island and the latest popular wedding location, but you can’t go wrong at the Grand Hotel, which has the longest front porch in the world.

The Grand Hotel is the obvious place to stay on Mackinac, but quite a few bed and breakfasts line the shore if any of your guests want a bit of privacy of their own.

Rafael Winery

Peconic, New York

Napa may have started the destination wedding winery scene, but the North Fork of Long Island has mastered it. Enjoy the beauty of the Rafael Winery vineyards for your ceremony and their Renaissance Room for your reception. Or, make it a quiet ceremony on the porch. Whether you rent out the whole winery or just bring the family, this spot is so beautiful you’ll never forget it.

For the best enjoyment of the east end, try the spring or fall when things are quieter and you’ll have a selection of reasonably priced rooms to choose from, even if your guests want to stay in the Hamptons.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Cleveland, Ohio

The ultimate destination wedding venue for a music lover is the home of rock and roll, Cleveland, where you can have your nuptials at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. They can accommodate weddings for as few as 20 and as many as 2,000.

If you’d like to have the ceremony in a spot that’s a bit quieter, try the waterfront, overlooking Lake Erie. Your guests will be more than comfortable staying at the Westin Downtown Cleveland, which is walking distance away. The Urban Farmer at the hotel is a great spot for your rehearsal dinner.

Big Cypress Lodge and Bass Pro Shop

Memphis, Tennessee

For outdoors lovers, a visit to a Bass Pro Shop is always a treat, but what about getting married in one? The Pyramid is one of the most unique locals you will ever see. Inside is the largest Bass Pro Shop in the country, as well as Big Cypress Lodge, a hotel within the store. The 103 rustic rooms in this hotel look out at the store in a site like you’ve never seen before.

In the center of the pyramid is the tallest free standing elevator in the U.S. This elevator will take you to the top of the pyramid, where you’ll find a circular bar and surrounding deck that offers a 360-degree view of Memphis, with a bit of Arkansas and Mississippi.

The Edgewater

Madison, Wisconsin

Let your wedding have one destination at The Edgewater on Lake Mendoza. Regardless of the season you’ll be guaranteed some amazing views for your ceremony and reception whether you are up at the Sky Bar or down by the beach. The Edgewater accommodates small and large events, with everything taken care of from your rehearsal dinner to the post-wedding brunch.

Be sure to set up your appointments at the Edgewater Spa for your bridal party, where the specialize in wedding services. You can also take a yoga class to make sure you are fully pampered and relaxed for the big day.

A New Edgewater Resort and Delicious Dines in Madison

My friend Roberta and I woke up in our beautiful room at The Edgewater Resort & Spa in Madison, Wisconsin.

I had been there on a “combo” trip – covering a college tennis tournament and checking out the city. It was our final day.

The first thing on the agenda was tour of the hotel with Jessica Arendas, Marketing and Public Relations Manager of The Edgewater.

I had actually been to this hotel before. It was 2010 and I was there for the Celebration of American Distilling.

Since that time, The Edgewater had gone through a dramatic renovation. I didn’t recognize the place – except it’s lakefront location – and I was looking forward to checking out more of it.

We met Jessica in the lobby and I remarked immediately how much I loved the spiral staircase and lighting fixtures.

It only got better from there.

The resort had taken on an understated elegance, enough so that you felt like you were staying someplace special, but not too much that you didn’t feel comfortable.

We were having a strange winter. It had been warm a few days prior and now a chill was in the air.

We walked outside and saw the ice skating rink and the Ice House, where you could get food, hot chocolate, and rent skates.

From there we went to check out the fitness center, salon, and spa. It was one of the latest to be re-done and it was quite impressive, offering every service imaginable.

We left Jessica and went to breakfast downtown at Marigold Kitchen. It had been recommended to me and we certainly weren’t disappointed.

The food was delicious. We loved our omelets, mine veggie and Roberta’s meat filled, with the Marigold potatoes. We also had their famous macaroons, which were fantastic.

I headed to the University of Wisconsin for a few hours to finish covering the tennis tournament while Roberta did some shopping.

We were running late for lunch at Sujeo and they were about to close, but they graciously told us they would stay open as we were led to the noodle bar.

With the open kitchen, I was able to keep an eye on my food.

It’s a big thing for me since I have a severe seafood allergy and rarely eat in Asian restaurants.

Sujeo is a Pan-Asian restaurant created by Chef Tory Miller, who has three other restaurants in Madison and a James Beard Award for “Best Chef, Midwest.”

They took good care of both of us as we sipped tea.

First, the Korean Fried Chicken came out and it was sweet and spicy at the same time. The rice kept the spice in check.

Then, we each got our noodle bowls.

I chose the Miso Chicken Ramen and it was filled with tender chicken, flavorful broth, and perfectly cooked noodles.

Roberta had something different. The Khao Soi also had chicken and noodles, but was in a spicy red coconut curry.

We arrived back at The Edgewater Resort with lots of leftovers and a forecast of snow for the next day.

Jessica Arendas arranged for us to stay an extra day at the resort.

She also put together spa treatments for us.

The Edgewater Spa turned out to be even better than it looked and we left Madison relaxed and rejuvenated.

Hand Pies, Chocolate and More in Madison

It was day three in Madison, Wisconsin, and my friend Roberta and I were getting ready to leave The Graduate Madison and heading to our next hotel, The Edgewater Resort.

I had chosen to split the stay between the two accommodations because they are totally different.

We certainly had enjoyed the college town atmosphere of The Graduate Madison.

Before we left, we had breakfast in the lobby café, Portage Pi.

Hand pies are the specialty here, and very popular with college students.

Lots of locals show up just to eat here and get coffee and smoothies, while taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi and power hookups.

I went for sweet, while Roberta preferred the savory. Both were good with our smoothies and coffees.

It was one time I wasn’t anxious to turn in my keys as I loved the idea that Graduate Madison had made them look like student IDs, but it was time to head out.

While in Madison, I was also covering a tennis tournament at the university. Roberta dropped me off and did some shopping while I was there. 

She picked me up and we headed to a place I knew I had to visit the minute I saw the sign -- Chocolaterian Café.

The selection here of chocolate goodies did not disappoint and it took a while before either of us could make a decision.

We saw a selection of cookies, including Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Cherry Chocolate, Molasses, and Spicy Chocolate.

There was also something called, Kouiagn Amann, which was a cross between a croissant and a cupcake, layers of butter and sugar, and a crunchy exterior.

We decided to get two things to share: the Ugly Cookie, a chocolate chip cookie with pistachios, cocoa nibs, oats, and, toffee, and a Manona Bar, with gooey caramel, peanut butter, Rice Krispies, and milk chocolate.

With it we completed the cocoa overload with Parisian drinking chocolate. It was a heavenly experience.

Roberta and I left the café and took a scenic ride along Lake Mendota. It looked especially beautiful as the sun was beginning to set.

We checked into The Edgewater Resort & Spa. Our suite overlooked the lake and had a balcony so we could really take in the view.

It had been a few years since I had been to this resort and it had since been totally remodeled, making it the only AAA 4 Diamond in Madison and Dane Counties.

We got settled in and freshened up for dinner in The Statehouse, one of six dining options at The Edgewater (including room service).

I started with a Winter Kiss cocktail and we shared a mushroom flatbread for an appetizer.

It was the first in a selection of delicious food that arrived at our table, including steak, a tender pork chop, and scrumptious macaroni and cheese.

For dessert, the skillet apple crumb pie with ice cream was a perfect choice.

Roberta and I relaxed in The Statehouse bar for a bit before heading to our suite at The Edgewater .
It was supposed to be our one and only night there. 

History and Fun in Madison, Wisconsin

My friend Roberta and I woke up early in our room at The Graduate Madison hotel. We both had full days in this Wisconsin capitol, even though it wasn’t all together.

I loved our room at The Graduate. It’s got a dorm room look, but certainly upgraded from what I shared with two other women (only for a semester, then I decided to get my own apartment).

The beds had cute pillows labeled, “Brat” and “Curd,” old-fashioned phones and notebooks, and even a unique clock.

We had a light breakfast downstairs at the Portage Pi coffee shop before heading to the Henry Vilas Zoo.

Not only is this zoo impressive, but there is no charge for admission or parking. I love the idea of exposing children to animals.

As a small child, my grandmother used to take me all the time to the (then free) Bronx Zoo. I think that has a lot to do with my love of all types of creatures even today.

This zoo is set up for the same experience with a Children’s Zoo that includes goats and red pandas. There is also a carousel and a train ride (for $2).

We were in awe as we watched the polar bears put on a show for us (video below). Then we visited the African lion, brown bears, and tigers before we left.

I headed to the tennis tournament for a few hours while Roberta explored more of Madison, Wisconsin, which included more free attractions.

The Overture Center for the Arts is a beautiful venue for all formats of the arts, from touring artists to shows.

Overture also has galleries and Roberta walked through and saw some paintings housed there.

She then strolled through downtown to photograph the Capitol Building in daytime. It looked very different from the night before, but the architecture is still striking.

Next was the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, which has interesting exhibits dating back hundreds of years.

Among them are displays honoring Wisconsin and the Civil War, the Philippine War, the Spanish-American War, World War I & II, and the Vietnam War, The Veterans Museum also examines the War on Terror and looks at years of Look at weapons, uniforms, medical equipment, and the evolution of medicines.

The State Historical Museum is another stop worth making in Madison. It looks at Native Americans in Wisconsin, the dairy and auto industries here, and the effects of historical events, such as the Suffrage Movement and the Great Depression.

After Roberta left downtown, she drove by Lake Mendota and watched the ice fisherman and hockey players on the frozen lake. It’s a site fairly limited to Wisconsin Winter.

She then picked me up at the University of Wisconsin, where I was covering a tennis tournament, and we headed back to The Graduate Hotel .

We had dinner at the Graduate’s rooftop restaurant, The Madison Blind.

We started with a cocktail while we looked over the menu.

The Madison Blind uses local ingredients so the menu changes often. We enjoyed the meatballs, cheese dip, a beet goat cheese salad with orange slices, and a black angus burger.

The desserts were too good to pass up. The Chocolate Banana Hand Pie, with vanilla ice cream, and the Profiteroles were scrumptious.

I always like dinner in hotel restaurants because I don’t have to get in a car and go anywhere after.

This was especially true as we were both exhausted for the day, and had much more to come in Madison.

Arriving in Madison, Wisconsin

It’s not often I get to combine both tennis and travel into one trip. I was happy when the opportunity came to do just that in Madison, Wisconsin.

I had been to Madison only once before, and that was quite a long time ago for the Celebration of American Distilling.

I only stayed for one night and didn’t get to see much of the city.

This trip was scheduled for three nights: two at the Graduate Madison and one at The Edgewater.

They are totally different accommodations and I was looking forward to seeing Madison from these completely different angles.

My friend Roberta came along with me.

Our first stop in the city was to check in at the Graduate Madison .

I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t what we got.

The Graduate brand has truly unique hotels. They are very welcoming with large open lobbies.

They are also each uniquely remodeled to the (college) town they are located in.

Although my first instinct was modern, retro is probably a better explanation.

Everything was colorful and bright, but contemporary in the sense of convenience in connecting devices and getting work done.

I loved their open table set-up for Portage Pie, the coffee shop-like restaurant in the lobby.

Even the front desk was not like any other I had seen.

I also liked the furniture and artwork that had been chosen specifically for this hotel.

The rooms at The Graduate Hotel are also themed on the local college, the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

They are set up a bit like dorms, but certainly more spacious and convenient

Madison is a big college town. Having lived in Champaign, home of the University of Illinois, for eight years, I am not only used to the concept, I love it.

I went down to the university for a while to check out the tournament before Roberta picked me up and we headed downtown for dinner with Curt from the Visit Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Dinner was at a highly popular restaurant in Madison, Cento. It was warm and comforting, with a thoughtful cocktail list.

I began to wind down from the day of travel with a Mule Romano, made with Tito’s Vodka, Ramozzatii Romero, ginger beer, and mint. It was served in the traditional copper cup made for mules and stayed nice and cold.

We began with salads made with fresh, local ingredients. The main courses were equally well-prepared. The short rib was tender and delicious, and the gnocchi with butternut squash was amazing.

We managed to also save room for some sweet concoctions from their pastry chef.

After dinner, we walked around the beautiful downtown.  The capitol building in in the center and it is architecturally beautiful.

We went past the Elephant Chocolate Café and I made a note that I needed to stop by there before I left town, but we were ready to head back to

The Graduate Madison and rest up for another day in Madison.