Intimate Weddings In the Forest
A small wedding on a private lake and 850 acres. Just the people who matter most, somewhere quiet and entirely your own.
A Smaller Celebration, Fully Considered
An intimate wedding isn't a scaled-down version of a bigger one. It's a different kind of day—closer, calmer, and built around being present with the people you love most.
On-Site Lodging
Your closest guests stay on the property. No driving after dinner, no rushing off—just a slow morning together before and after the celebration.
Elevated Dining
Our culinary team prepares a meal designed for your group. Smaller numbers mean more attention to every detail, from the menu to the table.
The Setting
Lake, forest, and quiet. Your ceremony and reception take place in some of the most beautiful corners of the property—spaces that feel right-sized for a smaller gathering.
Bridal Party Suites
Grace Manor
Grace gives your party room to spread out—hair and makeup stations by the windows, natural light, and space for the dress, the champagne, and everyone who matters most. Big enough for a full party, calm enough to actually enjoy the hours before the ceremony.
Spa Lounge
A getting-ready space built for comfort. The main lounge holds a crowd—plenty of room to gather, relax, and let the morning unfold together. Just off it, the salt room works as a quiet spot for a massage or doubles as an intimate hair and makeup station. It's the space for parties who want to be pampered as much as prepared.
Frank Soule Lodge
An easy, unhurried place to gather. Frank comes with a card table, room to spread out, and zero pressure—coffee in the morning, something stronger in the afternoon, and space to pass the hours before the ceremony without anyone hovering. The relaxed counterpoint to the getting-ready bustle.
The Venue
Choose your ceremony site and reception space. Each venue offers something different—from the intimacy of the forest to the grandeur of our historic hall.
The Waterfront
Exchange vows with the lake as your backdrop. Open water, forested shoreline, and late-afternoon light—our most iconic ceremony site needs nothing added. For a small group, it feels even more like the world has narrowed to just this moment.
The Forest
An outdoor ceremony site framed by white pines. A natural aisle, forest canopy, and the kind of stillness that makes a small ceremony feel sacred. The intimacy of the setting matches the intimacy of the day.
Kempwick
Our indoor space, Kempwick easily accommodates a party of 50 with plenty of room for dinner and dancing. Timber beams, a stone fireplace in the lounge, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the forest create the perfect reception venue.
The Hall fluidly connects to the Lounge and Bar—spaces for cocktail hour, late-night conversations, and morning-after breakfast.
Lodging
Lodging at Vanderkamp is booked separately from your wedding and isn't included in the venue price. Intimate weddings begin with three required lodges, with the option to reserve more of the property, and more privacy, if you'd like it.
REQUIRED
Every intimate wedding reserves these three.
Together they house your closest people and anchor the weekend.
Grace Manor
Our most refined lodge—a warm, neutral palette, generous amenities, and a private bath for every bedroom. The natural home base for the couple and immediate family.
Frank Soule
A spacious lake-edge lodge with room to gather. Ideal for the wedding party and the people who want to be in the center of it all, steps from the celebration.
The Boathouse
A two-bedroom, rustic-modern retreat right at the water's edge, with sliding-door lake access and a bright upper living space. Quietly one of the most memorable lodges on the property.
OPTIONAL
Add any of these to bring more guests on-site.
Or to reserve more of the property for yourselves.
Wohlleben Cabin
Tucked into the north forest, pet-friendly, and made for two. A private escape for guests who want the quiet edge of the property to themselves.
Langston Cottage
Modern comfort with primitive, organic roots. A small, romantic, characterful cottage for guests who like their own corner of the woods.
The Suites
Seven new suites opening late 2026.
Ask about reserving them for your weekend.
A Note on Privacy
Any optional lodges you don't reserve may be booked by other guests during your stay. If you'd prefer the property entirely to yourselves, you're welcome to reserve every lodge—just let us know and we'll hold the whole of Vanderkamp for your weekend if its available.
Intimate Wedding Pricing
Nov - May:
Bookable anytime
June - Oct:
Bookable 7 months in advance
Starting at $8,000
SPACE & DÉCOR
Kempwick Commons, including the Hall, the Lounge, The Bar, and all outdoor space for 2 days.
Access to White Pines Spa for 4 hours
(50) Folding chairs for the ceremony
Standard ceremony arch
8’ Wood Banquet Tables (no linens needed)
7’ Wood Banquet Tables (no linens needed)
(50) Wood Banquet Chairs (no cover needed)
6 Foot Folding Tables for DJ, etc
(8) Cocktail Tables
(1) Mobile Bar
Basic Napkins – White, Ivory, or Black
China + Standard Flatware + Standard Glassware (Water Goblets, Rocks & Wine Glasses)
Ample Event Parking
Courtesy golf cart for guest transport
Lake activities, including canoes, kayaks, fishing gear, etc
9 miles of hiking trails
850 acres of secluded space to enjoy with your guests and celebrate your day.
SERVICES
Email correspondence
Curated trusted vendor recommendations
Layout and floor plan options
Reception Dining Set Up and Breakdown; includes all plates, silverware and glassware, centerpieces (provided by other).
Ceremony Set up and Breakdown
Ceremony and Reception timeline
Event Staffing, cleaning, servers
DINING
Includes 5k F&B Minimum that can be used however you want.
Rehearsal Dinner, Lunch, Reception Dinner, Late Night Snacks, Farewell Breakfast, etc. Build your menu with our dining team or choose from our proven favorites.
Not included:
Lodging is not included in the venue and food price.
Wedding tasting is not included, but can be added on.
Vendor outreach and detail verification
Décor setup styling and takedown
Wedding Day vendor management
Vendor payment and gratuity distribution
Full Wedding Day management
Secure gift retrieval
Where We Are
Vanderkamp is located just north of Onieda Lake about 35 minutes from Syracuse Ny.
The forest, lake, and quiet of an Adirondack retreat, on a property nobody else is sharing.
Address
204 County Route 17, Bernhardsbay, NY 13312
Drive time
.5 hours from Syracuse | 5 hours from NYC | 5 hours from Boston
FAQs
Can we have more than 50 overnight guests?
1
75 is our on-property lodging capacity. Additional guests are welcome for the ceremony and reception and we can help arrange a shuttle to additional lodging in the area.
Do you allow outside catering?
2
No. Our culinary team prepares all meals for wedding weekends. We work with you to design menus that fit your vision
When should we book?
3
Peak summer and fall weekends are restricted to booking 7 months out. Spring and weekday dates have more availability and can be scheduled anytime. Schedule a tour to check specific dates.
Is Vanderkamp available year-round?
4
Yes. We host weddings in all seasons. Winter weddings have access to cross-country ski trails and snowshoeing; summer weddings have lake access and outdoor ceremony options.