While I love to chime in with some in-house destination wedding finds of my own, I a.d.o.r.e. saving the first Monday of every month for Christina Matteucci, the executive director of david beahm destinations.
If you have been following Christina's posts on Merci New York, you already know she has a fabulous flair for wonderful destination {and honeymoon!} finds {read: Christina has shared david beahm destinations approved enclaves in Tulum, Mexico, Mykonos, Greece, Napa Valley, California, Williamsburg, Virginia, and Lake Como, Italy}. I always wonder where she'll whisk us away to next... and this month, I'm thrilled she is bringing us to one of my favorite wintery locales, The Lake Placid Lodge. Take it away, Christina!
It’s that time of year again and I can’t get enough! Bundle me up in an oversized blanket and I’m one happy girl. Now, take a snuggly Christina, move me to a snowbound upstate New York, plop me in front of a roaring fireplace with a hot cocoa and there is a real chance I might take up residence. At least that’s what happened when David and I recently visited the Lake Placid Lodge. Poor David had one tough time wrangling me into the car for the drive back to civilization. I left kicking and screaming and I have to admit a big part of me departed Lake Placid dreaming, “ohhhh I’d love to have my wedding there one day!”
Here’s the thing about the Lake Placid Lodge: it truly feels like your luxurious second home, right down to Maggie, the Lodge’s resident Golden Retriever who greets you with an ebullient tail wag upon check in. Be it amidst the glories of summer or the depths of winter, the Lodge is the epitome of Adirondack charm from the moment you drive into the porte-cochere.
Tragically lost in a fire in 2005, the original main Lodge has been painstakingly rebuilt in the style of the numerous “Great Camps” that dot the lakes of the Adirondack region. Not a single detail was overlooked. Local artisans, from stonemasons to woodworkers, were commissioned to create one-of-a-kind hearths and furniture that implore you to unwind. But then again, the overstuffed beds and soaking tubs do a pretty good job of that too.
The Lodge boasts one of the largest private collections of Hudson River paintings and en masse, they speak to a bygone era that is echoed by a series of extraordinary private rooms that line the water’s edge. These refurbished hunting cabins built in the 1940’s exude a downright masculine aesthetic, yet one that is categorically enchanting and luxurious. Even the girliest girl (me) melted while watching the sun rise over the lake from my lofty boudoir as a family of rabbits frolicked in the snow outside my window.
So, if it were me, how would I do a winter wedding on Lake Placid? Well that’s easy…Keep the guest list small and intimate – this place is a treasure best enjoyed by fast friends and dear family. Welcome every guest to the property with a gift basket in their room of local goodies and don’t be afraid to go heavy on the maple products. Maple syrup, maple candy and maple cream just don’t get any better than in the Adirondacks. We recommend South Meadow Farm’s variety of great gift options!
Start off the weekend with a casual welcome/rehearsal dinner in Maggie’s Pub. If you are lucky, you may get the local barn owl Tess as a party crasher. She loves a good soiree and will even coo and preen when complimented! Once everyone has been warmed by spiced apple cider and Chef Rich’s hearty fare, proceed down to the open air campfire amidst the snow and good cheer.
On the big day, send the Groom and your more adventurous guests over to the half-mile, thrill-ride down THE actual 1980 Olympic bobsled run with a professional driver and brakeman. After that feat, saying “I do” will be a cake walk for any gent!
Those seeking a quieter morning can enjoy a peaceful yoga class to prepare for the party ahead. And what exactly does that celebration entail? Well that’s pretty clear too… David and I are huge fans of echoing the surroundings in your wedding style.
Adorn yourself in a simple white fur shrug (faux or otherwise) as the perfect complement to a magnificent winter gown. Carry a delicate bouquet of winter berries, elfin flowers and downy feathers to express a nod to your environment. Embellish your guest tables in a centerpiece that hearkens to a wintry forest floor, employing unique botanticals like moss, mushrooms, acorns and bark to convey a refined rustic feel. 
Complete the day for each of your guests en suite with a gift designed to inspire romance. At the crackling fireplace in every room, leave a hand-written note of thanks with the makings for your guests’ own private s’more celebration. That’s a recipe, dear readers, for lakeside wedded bliss.
Editor's Note: Be sure to visit Christina's other posts on the Merci New York blog... Click "David Beahm Destinations" under our "Experts" drop down menu, then visit their site for more...
david beahm destinations is a by-invitation resource of amazing destination wedding, honeymoon and celebration locales, all expertly curated by the renowned David Beahm team. Merci New York readers can gain instant access to all of the properties mentioned in Christina's articles, by entering code "Merci2011" on the log-in page. Pretty fabulous, no?
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