My wedding day was at one of my favorite places on this green earth. How many people get to say that? As staff/volunteers of Echo Pond Summer Camp, my wife and I knew that the only place we wanted to celebrate our wedding was at a place that was so near and dear to our hearts. We couldn’t wait to share our not-so-secret oasis with the people who we are closest to. It was the second best decision that we made leading up to our wedding, as it was the perfect magical backdrop to this next chapter in our love story. (The first best decision was choosing each other, so that’s a tough act to follow!)
There wasn’t much that we needed to source for our wedding as the location itself was all the decor we really needed. This cut our planning time down tremendously and helped us to feel less stressed leading up to the special day. One of the employees (and a dear friend of ours) made a gorgeous arch for us, we decorated the rental tent with baby’s breath from Costco and my mother in law made our gorgeous floral arrangements on the day of the wedding with wildflowers we had picked along the way. We used one of the bulletin boards to display photos of my wife and I over the 8 years that we had been together, which was a sweet art piece for guests to better know our journey together.
The ceremony itself was done beside the garden just below the cookhouse. Guests were sheltered from the sun by our rental tent and Luca, our officiant (my baby sister) and I were surrounded by the gorgeous arch that was made for us by our dear friend and Echo Pond coworker, Denali. With a couple of speakers and a single microphone, everyone was able to watch the ceremony comfortably- including our beloved kitchen crew and my Grandmother via video call!
The space itself made it so accessible for our family with young children to participate in the day. There were lots of places that they could sneak off to for quiet or play time, including the “child care center” we set up in the classroom in the bunkhouse. Parents could leave their child with the babysitter we hired for some time and they could communicate with her throughout the day via walkie talkie. Even though children were welcomed guests to any part of the day, this gave parents a bit more flexibility to have a break when needed.
Aside from the planned ceremony, meals, dance and camp fire, during down time guests were able to partake in various activities. This included hiking the trails, learning about the flora and fauna around us, playing lawn games, relaxing in the hammocks and even fishing!
One of the highlights of our wedding was undoubtedly the food. As I planned the details of the wedding day with the Director of Echo Pond, I knew without a single doubt that I wanted our meal to be Jiggs Dinner cooked by the kitchen staff. Not only was it one of the most delicious meals that I have eaten in my life, for those who are used to a feed of Jiggs it was comforting and for those who had not yet been introduced to this delicacy, it was a magical introduction. From the peas pudding to the dressing and gravy to our signature Echo Pond tofu, this meal was absolutely delicious. Even my vegetarian sister in law asked to put aside a second plate of the meal for a midnight snack. Of course the kitchen staff enthusiastically stashed away a heaping plate for her and her boyfriend (enough food to feed them for the week). The meal was so good that, when the leftovers were turned into hash by my father for breakfast the next morning, guests ate that up quickly as well.
The tent we used for the ceremony turned into an outdoor dance floor. The warm August weather was perfect for people to kick of their shoes and dance in the grass until the wee hours of the morning. Guests also enjoyed a pondside campfire – the perfect place to relax away from the music and chat with friends and family. When the festivities were over, guests retired to their bunkrooms for a good long sleep!
A few of my family members helped to prepare an unforgettable breakfast the following morning. This included my father’s hash, my uncle’s moose sausages, bread and bagels made by my dear cousin, bacon and eggs and more! It was the perfect food to help us recover from the party the night before and to allow us to linger a little longer in each other’s company.
My wife and I obviously had an amazing time at our wedding, but it is so special to us to hear from our guests that they also found it to be a magical little getaway. My in-laws and our friends just kept telling us how relaxed and fun everything was. Even in our downtime, it was just so serene to sit and be in this magical space.
Echo Pond wasn’t just a venue for us – it was an experience. Having everyone stay together in one place meant the celebration could unfold in a way that felt natural and unhurried. Guests could dance, slip away for a quiet moment by the pond, explore the trails, sit by the fire, or simply rest when they needed to. It allowed each person to experience the wedding in the way that felt right for them, without pressure or rush.
It felt less like hosting a single day event and more like welcoming the people we love into a full weekend of connection, laughter, and shared memories. That, more than anything, is what made it unforgettable.
– Amy and Luca
If you’re interested in booking a weekend wedding at Echo Pond, contact us today.
All pictures by Ian Selig – ianseligphoto.com