Marshmellow Fluff

I saw amazing pictures of a little place called Hidden Creek Lodge in Lake Arrowhead.  These pictures were of a bride standing in the middle of a forest with large pine trees towering over her.  It was my ideal for a wedding venue and after a little research I found it to be in our price range.  So, we decided to pack in the car and see the site ourselves.  This was the very first venue we were going to check out so we weren’t sure what to anticipate.

While we drove, I had visions of me standing in the fresh mountain air that would be crisp in November.  Paul, seemed to not be as in love with the idea of an Arrowhead venue as he silently navigated the treacherous mountain roads.

His mom, my future MIL, went with us and decided she would play the role of “bad cop” should we need someone to help wheel and deal.

My visions were a little dampened when we arrived to the location.  Hidden Creek Lodge leads one to belive that with such a name, it would be a little….well hidden.  Instead, this place was right off of the main road directly across from the fire station.

We went inside for our appointment and were told to wait outside for the wedding coordinator.  We waited, and waited and waited.  30 minutes passed and still no coordinator.  This was the second red flag.  I couldn’t imagine putting my trust in someone, for one of the most special days of my life, who didn’t even show up to make a first impression.

The front desk receptionist decided it was better to give us the key to check out the lodge ourselves, than to wait for the MIA coordinator.  So we walked (I hobbled) over to the ceremony site and the reception area.

Let me preface this by saying that I am an outdoors girl.  I LOVE camping, cabins and the entire rustic feel.  This place had amazing potential for a wedding place but it didn’t rise up to be amazing.  The lodge was run down and the carpet was stained and ragged.  There was trash lying around the area and broken chairs strewn about.  I was told they had a wedding that afternoon so I was left to assume that this was a standard state.

The area that held the ceremony and dance floor also had amazing potential but it looked dirty and unkempt.

Pros:

• Beautiful scenery
• Sleeping accommodations for 20 people
• Takes beautiful pictures
• Dont have to add many flowers or decorations because it is so beautiful

Cons:

• Wedding coordinator is less than dependable (I assume)
• Grounds aren’t kept up well
• Lodge that people sleep over in is old and ratty
• This place is off a main road, across the street from the fire station…take a moment and think about what that could mean
• Their packages seem to have a lot of upgrades which means to m, hidden costs and surprises.  What may start as a budget friendly venue could end up being anything but

Basic Package Cost:

1 night lodging

Sleeping accommodations for 20 people

Use of ceremony and reception site

Ceremony chairs and reception tables and chairs

Site Rental: $3,744 for 150 guests PLUS

Catering including wedding cake, one entree, side salad, roll and drinks $4,350 for 150 people

Decision:

While this would be an amazing place to have a fun party for a reunion or a birthday, it lacks the magic that a wedding venue needs.  ALTHOUGH, if you have the money to pay someone to pay attention to detail, pick up the place before your wedding and a larger budget to add special touches to fancy up some of the run down aspects of the lodge, I think you could have a very pretty wedding here.  Case and point: http://greenweddingshoes.blogspot.com/2009/07/wedding-in-woods.html