Author Archives: Kat Summers

#UniquelyInLove: Top 7 Locations to Get Married

Love is found everywhere, so it may be difficult to choose your perfect wedding location! Guest Services has a variety of unique wedding locations that are perfect for any couples’ desires in all areas of the United States – rustic, mountains, cozy accommodations, large venues, outdoor set-ups, indoor sites, and more. Take a look at our top seven places to get married and be #uniquelyinlove!

1. The Lodge at Breckenridge – Breckenridge, Colorado

Get married on top of the world at WeddingWire’s Couples’ Choice Award Winner for the last two years – The Lodge at Breckenridge! With the Rockies as the backdrop and the lodge as the stage, your wedding day (and photos) will be magnificent. Nestled cliffside overlooking Breckenridge Ski Resort, The Lodge at Breckenridge is a boutique hotel with rustic Colorado charm and breathtaking views. Guests will enjoy a relaxing mountain-top getaway and alpine adventures while just a quick shuttle ride from historic Main Street Breckenridge for shopping, dining, festivals, and more.
The private wedding deck, reception room, and rehearsal dinner location are available year round. The deck can accommodate 220 guests, and the main lodge offers 3,000 square feet of space, perfect for the reception. With a wide selection of packages, the catering menu is fully customizable with the support of our culinary team and on-site event planner.

Did we mention that The Lodge at Breckenridge is dog-friendly?! Here comes the pup down the aisle after the beautiful bride. Find out more information, here.

2. Echo Bluff State Park Lodge – Eminence, Missouri

No detail is overlooked for your wedding at the Echo Bluff State Park Lodge. Many wedding goers appreciate the extra mile our skilled staff takes to ensure everything is perfect for each wedding. At Echo Bluff, they pride themselves in working closely with each couple to custom design each wedding. They specialize in planning an exquisite reception menu, helping the couple choose the perfect ceremony location, offering stunning embellishments and recommendations – all this to achieve your goal of creating an unforgettable wedding and memories to last a lifetime.

Echo Bluff State Park provides the perfect natural setting for your wedding – with all the comforts and conveniences of our full-service hotel and catering team with a twist of Ozark-rustic luxury. Find out more information, here.

3. Bear Mountain Inn – Tomkins Cove, New York

Bear Mountain Inn has the rustic-style wedding vibe that many couples love! This historic venue is the idyllic destination getaway. Guests can enjoy everything available in the venue including fun outdoor activities and a relaxing spa! The Inn offers many services to create a memorable and stress-free wedding experience. They also provide all needed barware, china, flatware, glassware, linens, and even a chocolate fountain. Three wedding venue locations on site accommodate groups ranging from 75 – 250 guests! There is even their Merry-Go-Round Pavilion in a stone and timber rotunda to create a memorable atmosphere for the big day! Everywhere you look, it’s inviting, cozy, and romantic, which is exactly what you need for your wedding.

Bear Mountain Inn is listed on the National and New York State Registers of Historic Places and a member of Historic Hotels of America, so your wedding will be a part of history! For more information, visit their website.

4. Lodge at Wakulla Springs – Wakulla Springs, Florida

Offering a southern flair, The Lodge at Wakulla is a peaceful location for weddings! The Lodge is surrounded by nature and located right next to one of the country’s largest springs. It isn’t a rare occasion for you to see manatees as they love to visit throughout the year. There are so many activities for guests to enjoy such as swimming, riverboat tours that give guests a glimpse of Florida wildlife, and more. For wedding events, they accommodate up to 250 guests. Also, the variety of in-house catering services is something to note – buffet style, cocktail reception, plated options, food stations, and more.

The Lodge at Wakulla Springs provides the perfect natural setting for your wedding – with all the comforts and conveniences of their full-service hotel and catering team. Find more information on their website.

5. Big Sur Lodge – Big Sur, California

Picture your special day in a lovely lodge setting surrounded by majestic redwoods and the calming tranquility of the Big Sur River. At Big Sur Lodge, they have four lovely venues that provide indoor and outdoor seating that can accommodate up to 120 guests. It offers charming and comfortable accommodations, including family-style rooms with kitchenettes and fireplaces to enjoy during your guests’ stay for your big day! Their on-site Event Coordinator makes your wedding day planning a breeze by providing helpful insight for everything – from recommended service providers to planning the rehearsal dinner in Pfeiffer State Park.

At Big Sur Lodge, they are happy to help you plan your special day and go the extra mile to ensure it exceeds all expectations. Check out their website for more information.

6. Giants Ridge – Biwabik, Minnesota

Giants Ridge is WeddingWire’s 2019 Couples’ Choice, and we can see why! The new Giants Ridge chalet is the hottest location to host your upcoming wedding or special event! They have over 5,000 square feet of flexible indoor gathering space, along with beautiful scenic outdoor areas – perfect for any couple! Giants Ridge offers full-service event planning that includes meticulous attention to detail including menu selections ranging from simple buffets to elegant multi-course meals. Giants Ridge also features two on-site lodging facilities, each offering guests a unique experience with the safety, comfort, and convenience of staying right within the resort village.
At Giants Ridge, guests experience extraordinary connections to nature through their first-class, four-season recreation resort situated in the true north woods of Minnesota. Make giant memories on your big day! Find out more information by visiting their website.

7. Flamingo Everglades – Homestead, Florida

Weddings on the water are the next big thing! So, get married on a houseboat on the water at Flamingo Everglades!! Flamingo Adventures has 42-feet houseboats that are ready to get the party started! They sleep up to six people (four adults and two children) and are fully equipped with all the necessities as well as essential amenities you and your guests will need. Have a mermaid gown already picked out? It will match perfectly with this vibe!

Flamingo Adventures has a Captain on-site and can serve as your officiant if you wish. Set sail on your perfect water wedding! Find out more information about their houseboats on their website.

Congratulations on your engagement and make sure to choose the best location that fits for your wedding! Interested in any of these places? Check out their websites.

Finding the Perfect Autumn Aesthetic for an Unbea-leaf-able Group Selfie

Ahh, fall time. Leaves are changing, families are gathering, and group selfies are taken. Whether you are with your family or at a Friendsgiving, capturing that perfect fall moment is a must. Check out these few locations that will make you want to stop and say, “But first, let us take a selfie.”

BIG SUR LODGE

When you think of fall, you think of tall trees with bright leaves. The Big Sur Lodge is surrounded by the redwood forest, making it the epitome of autumn. Group selfie opportunities are found all over the place: from the heated pool and swimming hole to the largest tree in the park measuring 31 feet in diameter – The Colonial Tree. We are going to go “out on a limb” and say that is the perfect place to take your group selfie. But, if that doesn’t sound fall-like enough, there is also hiking, wine tasting, and wildlife all through the “mini-Yosemite.” LEARN MORE

NORTH CASCADES LODGE AT STEHEKIN

If you want a group selfie with nature, North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin is the place for you. To get to the quiet lodge, you have three options: fly in a plane, ride a boat, or take a beautiful hike. Having the fall foliage shown from a whole new perspective in your group selfie will make any newsfeed unique. When you get to the Lodge, make sure to partake in the Red Bus scenic tour, kayaking, or horseback riding for that extra autumn magic. So, throughout your entire trip at the Lodge at Stehekin, there are so many opportunities to get that social media worthy pic that it is hard to choose just one!  LEARN MORE

BEAR MOUNTAIN INN

Bear Mountain Inn is the perfect escape from city life. The colorful foliage and historical presence create the perfect autumn aesthetic for any social media group selfie.  Not only will the view be breathtaking, but there are so many activities held on the grounds to keep you feeling that fall atmosphere. A variety of guided hiking tours are offered weekly for those adventure seekers, and the spa is opened for those wanting to relax before the holiday season. For the perfect photo opportunity, while on your hike, try to find the brightest-colored leaf to add that pop of color to your social media feed. LEARN MORE

ECHO BLUFF STATE PARK

If you have seen the Netflix show, Ozark, then you should be very eager to visit the Lodge at Echo Bluff. This Lodge is centered in the Missouri Ozarks and is the perfect getaway for any outdoor enthusiast or traveler. When you think of fall, you think of relaxing on a rocking chair in front of a bonfire surrounded by all the things you love – including your favorite pup! Yes, you can enjoy life in Echo Bluff with your favorite adventure buddy by your side. All social media worthy moments with your dog are found here—kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, geocaching, and, most importantly, cuddling! LEARN MORE

MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK LODGES

Being 14,410 feet above sea-level is one thing, but also being on an active volcano is another. At Mount Rainier National Park, you get both! Being the most glaciated peak in the continental US, the Paradise Inn and National Park Inn are both great places to really disconnect from the world and enjoy the company and fall spirit around you. Afternoon tea in front of the fireplace or enjoying a glass of wine overlooking the fall foliage views are both great moments to capture for social media. LEARN MORE

All these places offer a wide variety of opportunities to capture that perfect autumn aesthetic with your friends and family.

Don’t leaf us hanging, and make sure to tag us in your favorite fall group selfie location! #bigsurlodge #lodgeatstehekin #bearmountainin #echoblufflodge #mountrainer

Bear Mountain’s Oktoberfest: No Internet, No Problem.

Keep your social media connection in a place of internet disconnection.

You just took the most perfect photo with your friends dressed in lederhosen and dirndl while drinking steins of endless beer. You need to post it online ASAP. So, you scroll to your favorite social media app, apply filters, and press post! But, you come to find there is no Internet! Don’t panic!

When you come to Bear Mountain’s Oktoberfest, don’t let Internet limitations stop you from making posts online. We have tips on how to stay on top of your offline social media game.

Instagram

The Instagram creators know we need access to our social media at all times. In a recent update, all of Instagram’s features are now available for use even when offline.

It’s very simple. Just go through the picture posting process as you normally would while on the Internet – pick photo, apply filters, add caption, etc. Once you are done, press post! It will give you a “posting failed” message, but that’s okay. The app already recognizes it is in a “dead” zone, and will automatically post your photo as soon as you get back on the Internet.

Don’t think Instagram stopped their features there! If you like, comment, or direct message an Instagram post while offline, it will automatically process those actions as soon as you’re back online.

Twitter

You will have to go old-school for this one, but you can text your tweet! Here’s how to do it:

Before leaving for Oktoberfest, make sure your Twitter settings are set correctly for text tweeting.

  1. Go to settings
  2. Click “mobile”
  3. Insert your cell phone number under “Activate Twitter text messaging”
  4. Text “GO” to 40404

Anytime you want to send a tweet, just write your message in a text and send it to “40404”; that’s it!

Now, there may be some spotty cell reception since so many people want to show-off their time at Oktoberfest too. But, that shouldn’t stop a social media mogul like you!

Another way to tweet is to save your message as a draft. Compose your tweet like you normally would. However, don’t press post. Instead, click the “x” in the top-left corner and choose the option to save your tweet as a draft.

This tweet will be moved to your Twitter draft folder, which you can find by clicking on the quill icon on the bottom-right-hand corner. You can access this at any time and hit post.

Facebook

If you liked texting in your tweets, then you’re in luck! Facebook also allows status updates sent over text. You can also sign up to receive updates from friends you are “subscribed” to and your Facebook chat! Do we need to remind you this is all without the Internet?

Again, before leaving for your amazing Oktoberfest experience, check to see if your Facebook settings allow you to text in updates.

  1. Go to your account settings
  2. Click “mobile”
  3. Insert your cell phone number under “Activate Text Messaging”
  4. Text the letter “F” to 32665
  5. Go through the confirmation process sent to your phone

Ta- dah, you’re all set! You can now show your Facebook followers the fun you’re having just by texting “32665” with your status.

If you want to post more than a status, like a picture, for example, you can set up that post similar to Instagram’s offline posting process. Create the post you want to upload and press “share” once finished. Again, it will come up with a “posting failed”/“not connected” message. That is okay because the system will automatically post it for you once you connect back online.

Snapchat

There is a trend within the social media outlets because Snapchat processes offline posts very similar to Instagram and Facebook.

Whenever you see the perfect Snapchat moment, just snap and share it as you normally would. It will say “failed to upload”, but it will be added to your Snapchat queue. Once you get Internet access again, tap on your queued snaps and they will be uploaded in the same order in which you posted them.

You won’t be able to add geofilters. However, everyone will know you are at Oktoberfest with the German-themed foods and attire in your photos!

There you go! Those are all the ways to keep your social media connection, while enjoying a time of internet disconnection at Bear Mountain’s Oktoberfest!

Follow Bear Mountain online to stay updated on all things Oktoberfest, as well as any fun activities happening at the Inn!