In the few years since I've moved from Syracuse to Fayetteville, I've had Green Lakes State Park practically in my backyard, but never realized its potential as a wedding venue... until now! It's all thanks to Mackenzie and Jeremy, who held their ceremony and reception at the park's Old Administration Building. If you've been to the park but aren't familiar with this building, you've probably seen it before; if you're standing on the beach, it's the stone building up on the hill to the left.
The rustic building fits in well with the surrounding woods and a commanding view of the lake. However, anyone considering this venue should be aware space is somewhat limited, compared to many venues. The main lodge accommodated about 70-80 guests at several round tables, with ample room for a sweetheart table, a cake table, and of course, the DJ table and some room for dancing. Several large doors on the two longer sides of the room provide plenty of access for guests to freely wander outside to get some fresh air or to enjoy the bar, while also providing breezeways for the interior.
A space on the hill next to the building provides an ideal location for a wedding ceremony; there's plenty of room for seating. Although the building overlooks the beach, the ceremony space is set back far enough out of view, so there's no worry of random beachgoers unknowingly stumbling into your wedding or gawking from afar. Afterwards, Mackenzie and Jeremy went around the other side of the building, where the lake provides a breathtaking backdrop for photos.
Here are the songs Mackenzie and Jeremy selected for the key points of the reception:
- Wedding Party Intros: Hootie and the Blowfish / I Go Blind
- First Dance: U2 / All I Want is You
- Bride / Father Dance: Stevie Nicks / Landslide
- Cake Cutting: Goo Goo Dolls / Come to Me
- Last Dance of the Night for Everyone: Semisonic / Closing Time
And now, some photos I snapped throughout the afternoon:
Click any photo below for a larger version.
Since Mackenzie and Jeremy live out of state (she grew up in CNY), it was actually her parents, Jack and Donna, who found me and got the booking process started. Since they signed the contract, here's the 5-star review they posted on WeddingWire after the wedding:
We are so happy that we chose Peter as the DJ for our daughter's wedding. From our very first contact he was very prompt, organized and able to help us planning how his services could best be utilized. He incorporated music my daughter and her husband selected with more current dance music and kept the wedding hopping. The wedding pictures showed how much fun everyone was having. I would recommend Peter to anyone looking for a great worry-free experience!
Thanks again to Mackenzie, Jeremie and Mackenzie's parents, Jack and Donna, for choosing me to DJ this wedding! It's always fun to add another item to the list of venues where I've performed, and you had a great crowd on hand! Lots of great music selections from the bride, groom, parents and the guests helped keep the dance floor packed right up to the last song of the night.
