Summer Camp Wedding

Have not, but I think that sounds awesome!

I have but it wasn't a "camping" wedding. The wedding took place at a Girl Guide Camp that was rented out in the off season for events. The chapel and mess hall were used. The catering was top notch and everything was decorated beautifully. It was actually a fairly formal wedding.

This camp is set up for weddings. They have a full kitchen with catering service, and the guests can stay in their lodges with bathrooms and everything. Their big lodge is a backup space in case of rain

My cousin's wedding was at a summer camp. Guests stayed in cabins. The wedding itself was absolutely amazing. We had cocktail hour in the boat house, dinner in a large tent (which was DELICIOUS) and the dancing was back at the boathouse. They had a huge bonfire with smores, more food and lots of log seating. There was a 20-25 minute firework show over the water.

However, the arrangements itself were pretty rough. The cabins were just beds nothing else. It was in the 40's at night. The bathrooms were big bathroom houses. The bathrooms itself were nice but it was a pain to walk there at night. Communal showers like dorms in college. At first I wasn't thrilled but the weekend ended up being great. I feel like it fit their personality and their friends/family are big hunters and campers. I think if anything my family was the one who was most surprised and maybe a little displeased at first.

eta: Some tips/advice... the cabins were not baby friendly so that sucked because my sisters couldn't come with their newborns and missed the wedding. Also the nearest hotels were about 30 minutes away and they didn't reserve a block so they were booked really fast. Communication wasn't the best either between those who were staying in the cabins. The bride/groom had a lot of accommodations which helped like all out of town guests went to the rehearsal dinner on site, breakfast in the morning and catered brunch the morning after the wedding. We never had to leave the site to eat. They had buckets in each cabin with toiletries, flash light, kleenex, etc. They lit the pathways with lanterns which was super helpful.

I attended one, as an evening only guest, and never again. We almost passed out in the heat, during the outside ceremony (no shade). We almost passed out in the heat in the barn, where the food was served; no fans and all the windows were closed. There were 2 toilets, for 100 guests and they were both down a steep hill, over gravel or grass.

I would never take my toddler to a wedding at a camp: creek, pond, swimming pool, archery, rock climbing wall ...

I was in a wedding this summer at a camp, just be aware of older people getting around, how far guest have to travel for bathrooms, and don't wear heels. Otherwise it was absolutely beautiful.

I went to a wedding last month in upstate NY at a kids camp. Here are my take always:

* Hire a wedding planner to help with decor and set up. It's a blank slate and while everything will be personalized, it will take a lot of work to coordinate and set up.

* Be prepared for bad weather (wind, rain, cold, heat).

* Let your guests know what the cabins/bunk houses are like. The ones we stayed in had no heat (was in 40's at night), only had screens with wooden shutters (no windows) and some of the bunks were wet due to recent rains. We had to bring our own sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, space heater, etc..

* Our hosts provided baskets for each bunk house that had snacks, tissues, a flash light to get to the bathroom at night, bug spray, and water.

* You'll need to assign bunk houses/sleeping arrangements. Our hosts did it mostly by age. We were in a room with the MOG's 2 sisters and another couple our age. Our daughter and FSIL were with the 20 somethings.

* Feed your guests - we were provided dinner during the RD, breakfast and lunch the next day, and brunch on Sunday in addition to the wedding dinner.

* Find out what will be available to use in the kitchen - they found out the hard way that most pots, pans, utensils, etc. were removed at the end of the season.

* Our hosts stocked the communal bathrooms with all paper products, hand soap, shampoo and conditioner.

* Do a hotel block nearby for those who can't or won't stay on property.

* Include a contingency fund in your budget for last minute or unforeseen costs.

I can tell you that the wedding we attended was on a beautiful lake and the views were amazing. Everything was personalized and reflected the bride and groom perfectly but I'm sure it came with a pretty big price tag for all the rentals, decor, and catering for all the extra meals.

ETA: this is the same wedding @Spaghetti attended

I like this idea, but I would look into what the "accommodations" are. If it's bunk beds in a cabin, you're definitely going to have guests that will probably book at hotels instead...that just will not appeal to everyone.

I have not done one, but I've been to one. My friends rented a girl scout camp over Labor Day weekend a couple of weeks ago. They had us all stay in the bunks, but they provided local hotel options for guests as well. It ended up being the older relatives stayed at a hotel and mostly their friends and younger relatives stayed at the campsite. It was very rustic, but nice to not have to pay for overnight accommodations. What they did I thought was cute. They had a check in and you were assigned your bunk and they gave a map of the grounds and agenda for activities. They made a weekend out of it, so when everyone came in the night before, they did a baked potato bar, sangria and trivia night (combination of general knowledge trivia and couple trivia). The next day they had activities that people could participate in: scavenger hunt for the kids, archery, canoes and kayaks, swimming in the lake, stuff like that. They had the wedding in the evening and did a pig roast. Afterwards everyone partied around campfires (smores kits were part of the favors). The day after they did a breakfast for everyone (just a continental style).

A few things to note:

My friends were incredibly lucky, it was a gorgeous weekend weather wise. If it was rainy, they would have been in trouble, because they would have had a lot of people just sitting in the main lodge with nothing to do.

They had a lot of good information on their wedding website, but I think they could have had more. I was never a camper growing up, so I when I was told that I was staying in a cabin, I didn't realize that meant no door, no windows, no electricity. They let us know we were responsible to bring our own sheets and pillows, but it would have been nice if they said bring some flashlights (they gave some little cheap ones out when you checked in, but we definitely needed something more), make sure your phone is fully charged (there was electricity in the main lodge and the bathrooms, but that's a lot of people on a few outlets). My FH an I ended not doing as many activities on Saturday and going into town so we could drive around and charge our phones, buy a flashlight and we also got some drinks and a cooler for the after party.

Not sure how your people are, but mine like to party. It became a weekend of a lot of drinking, people brought drinks with them to the ceremony, someone actually fell into the campfire at the end of the night (he ended up being fine, but it was a bit of a scare). If you have people who like to get down, just be mindful that people may do stuff like this at your wedding. If you don't care, than it's all good. Make sure you have people who are willing to cook for you (or you are willing to take that on yourselves).

It was a ton of fun, but definitely roughing it. The more details you can communicate with guests, the better off they'll be.

I went to a camp wedding in the fall last year and it was a cluster. I do not camp regularly and for me, camping is Motel 6. I hate camping and don't expect the same level of enthusiasm from all guests. I would recommend letting your guests know what the cabins/accommodations have in case they want to bring their own food and beverages. Let guests know what meals you'll be providing. Let guests know what the bathroom situation is going to be--do they need to bring ALL their toiletries or are you providing anything? Do they need to share a bathroom with strangers? Also, are you planning any activities for your guests during the weekend? An itinerary would be helpful so guests don't get bored.

I agree with @WED18. Please look into every possible weather scenario, provide food outside of just the wedding, provide toiletries, plan extra activities, and please please please keep people very well informed of what they're responsible for bringing/what the accommodations will be like. I am not a fan of summer camp or camping at all - like AT ALL. My idea of camping is a 3-star hotel. It's not for me and I'll just be frank about it. I'd have to be really close to someone to attend a summer camp/camping-type wedding if I have to stay overnight.

If it were me, I'd invite fewer guests and provide as much as physically possible for them. I would honestly be really annoyed and not want to go if I had to stay in a cabin and bring my own sheets, pillows, a space heater, a cooler, extra food, etc. I'm not a roughin' it kind of girl and won't pretend like it doesn't bother me.

Make sure there are options for people to stay at local hotels.

Provide cans of Deet as your favors ....

I photographed a few woodsy weddings and bring my own supply and guests have always asked to borrow some.

Thanks for all your answers! This camp isn't quite as rustic as some. The guests would just stay for 1 night if they choose to at all, they will stay in the lodge not cabins, and I have found some hotels within 10 minutes of the camp as well.

I think it sounds absolutely fun! I would love to attend that wedding!

Mosquitoes in northern MN laugh at DEET and view jeans as a mere challenge.

Depending on the size of the nearest town, I'd lock up hotel blocks and fast.

ETA: Is this Camp Miller? I have extended family in the area, and that's really dang rural around there.

My brother did a camp wedding at a salvation army camp. The wedding party stayed in the cabins but the guests stayed at local hotels

We are getting married at a YMCA Camp in Northern Michigan in May and I couldn't be more excited!!! My advice is look at others wedding websites who have had Camp weddings!! It does take a lot of planning but all of our family and friends think it is the best idea ever and are sooo excited, I'm sure yours will be also!!! Our wedding website is withjoy.com/lindsayplusaj if you want to get some ideas! I think the wedding website is the most important part because it is different than a "normal" wedding . Best of luck with the planning!

I'm also getting married at a YMCA camp but our camp is in northern Michigan. We are doing our reception in the lodge. Our loved ones are super excited. Definitely make hotel arrangements near the camp. There are a few lodges that aren't bunk lodges on the grounds but there are three really nice hotels about 10 minutes away for the majority of our guests. I definitely would suggest hiring a DOC but from my understanding the majority of YMCA camps are used to hosting weddings. Ours has a wedding booked for the majority of their weekends out of the year.

Thanks so much for sharing your wedding website! I'm doing something similar so it was really helpful - I'm wondering how you worded your invites with cabin payment/options?