Stop
and listen to the sounds of your favorite state park: Chirping
birds. Rustling leaves. A gurgling brook. And
wedding bells?
Yes, you’re more likely than ever to hear the music of matrimony
mixed with the sounds of nature as more and more betrothed Buckeyes
seek out a scenic state park when they’re ready to tie the knot. And
this is the time of year when park managers begin receiving calls
from inquiring brides-to-be – not surprising since wedding planners
say December and February are the two busiest months for
engagements.
Fortunately, the newly engaged are in luck. Whether their desired
venue is woodland, waterfront, gazebo or grassy lawn – there’s an
Ohio State Park to fill the bill.
Among
Ohio’s 74 state parks, nine feature resort lodges set amid some
of the state’s most scenic landscapes. Each is well equipped to host
weddings and receptions, from the rehearsal dinner the evening
before through breakfast the day after the ceremony. If the guest
list is for 50 or 250, these experts will make sure that your big
day is one to remember.
The
Lodge and Conference Center at Geneva is Ohio’s newest state
park lodge. This shining jewel along Lake Erie’s eastern shore has
become a wedding destination. Its sweeping views of the lake provide
brides and grooms with a picture-perfect backdrop. A similar
experience can be found at
Maumee Bay Resort and Conference Center along western Lake Erie.
It also boasts a championship 18-hole golf course, a popular feature
for many wedding parties.
South of Geneva, in Geauga County, is the English-style
Tudor manor house at Punderson – the smallest of Ohio’s nine
state park resort lodges. It’s also the only one originally built
from a private residence. Just inside the lodge’s heavy wooden doors
is the “Grand Hall,” featuring a dramatic spiral staircase that
lends itself to some stunning wedding photos.
And the list goes on, with each of the other six resort lodges
providing its own special touch that ensures a memorable wedding
day. These include the lodges at
Mohican,
Deer Creek,
Salt Fork,
Burr Oak,
Shawnee, and
Hueston Woods state parks.
But who said the wedding had to be at a resort lodge?
Malabar Farm State Park in Richland County and
Quail Hollow State Park in Stark County provide vintage settings
for unique nuptials.
Malabar
Farm is the former home of Pulitzer-prize winning author and
renowned conservationist Lois Bromfield. The only working farm in
Ohio’s state park system, it also features Bromfield’s 32-room “Big
House.” For romantics, this was the very place where Hollywood
legends Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall tied the knot. Across from
the house stands a restored 1896 timber-frame barn, which makes an
excellent setting for receptions.
Tucked amid the rolling hills of northeastern Ohio is Quail
Hollow State Park. The centerpiece of this scenic park is Stewart
Manor House, originally built in 1838 and expanded under the Stewart
family until it grew to be a 40-room manor house. Although weddings
cannot be held inside, there’s no lack of ideal outdoor locations.
Two popular spots for couples to exchange their vows include a
formal 9,000-square foot herb garden, accented by a quaint stone
archway, and the nearby 16-foot white gazebo.
Rustic and charming, gazebos add an extra touch of class to any
outdoor wedding – and they’re available for rent at several state
parks. Picturesque gazebos at both
Lake Milton and
Scioto Trail state parks have been the scene of many wedding
moments over the years. While
Lake Alma and
Mount Gilead state parks boast new gazebos, for which park staff
is already busy taking reservations.
Some
couples are looking for an even simpler, but still distinctive way
to celebrate their wedding. Many brides-to-be inquire to the
availability of
Marblehead Lighthouse. While the lighthouse and nearby keeper’s
house are not open for such events, wedding parties with 50 or fewer
guests are welcome to “take the plunge” along the adjacent Lake Erie
shoreline.
Another delightful alternative to the traditional church wedding
can be found at
Blue Rock State Park in southeastern Ohio. This modest but
beautiful park has a scenic covered bridge and nearby shelter house,
providing an enchanting backdrop for the betrothed to pledge their
love.
Some couples say they first met at a state park, and that’s where
they want to return when saying their “I Dos.” Still others envision
getting married beneath a canopy of trees, hosting a picnic
reception then inviting their guests to overnight at the park’s
campground.
From the state parks of
Lake Hope to
Grand Lake St. Marys and
Rocky Fork to
Wolf Run, all it takes to get the old ball-and-chain rolling is
a commitment from your true love and a
telephone call to your favorite Ohio State Park.
