The Lakehouse was the “base camp” hotel for our destination wedding weekend September 12-16, 2019; we rented out the entire property for our wedding guests because we wanted to create an Adirondack camp-type feeling where all our guests could hang out and mingle for a few days before our wedding on September 15. Our intent was to foster community and fun, in an easy, unfussy way.
The Lakehouse was the perfect choice for this intention; it became the crucible of our community, a melting pot of cultures and cousins. The Lakehouse is uniquely suited for a group because of its giant “community room” with floor to ceiling windows that face the lake. It’s a big cushy living room, with tables to play games, fireplaces to warm and gather, and a bonfire nightly outside on the lawn for s’mores and more (we played Viking chess, a German lawn game).
We had snacks and drinks every night at the Lakehouse, and we hosted a sumptuous barbeque supper for our guests on Saturday night, the night before our wedding the next day. The food was superb: Tasty, delicious, more than ample, and the servers were attentive, fun, interested and happy. Throughout our weekend Lakehouse staff was on site to help us; Ryan was a fount of great local ideas and warm helpful feelings…we felt sad when we had to say goodbye to him.
Our Lakehouse experience created the firmament for our whole wedding community, just as we intended…but it never would have happened without the months of help and guidance from Gina Cimaglia, Manager of our contract and point person from High Peaks Resort (The Lakehouse is part of the High Peaks Resort, but is its own special property).
Gina worked with us months in advance, helping us form our ideas and add to them, so that we had the right setup, the right bartenders, the right help and furnishings, the right menus. Gina became more than a vendor contract, she truly became our friend. By the time the wedding rolled around, I thought of her as one of our guests, one of our family.
Gina owned the details, followed through, nailed them down so that I didn’t have to worry. When I met Gina on one of my visits before the wedding, it was instant recognition, one strong capable amazing woman to another. Her friendly openness and strong competence made the entire weekend flow smoothly; she came and followed up on site several times to make sure things were flowing properly. Gina is more than a manager, she is the face of High Peaks, the face of the Lakehouse, the guarantee of successful outcomes. Gina in a valuable asset, a great planner, and a friend.
If you choose the Lakehouse for your group or wedding, you will be thrilled with the decision, the memories, the staffing, the food. Just be sure to ask for Gina.
