Cedar Lakes Estate

My Husband and I got married at Cedar Lakes in July of 2015 and it was truly everything we envisioned for our wedding. We wanted a location that was elegantly relaxed and allowed for us to spend multiple days with friends and family in a beautiful setting. Cedar Lakes definitely provides that plus much much more. The property itself is expansive and stunningly beautiful, but not in an overly manicured way. (Read Luxury Glamping, but not Country Club Stuffy).
From the moment I arrived for our first visit I knew CLE was the right place for us to celebrate our marriage. The lake, the pool, the ceremony locations, the barn and the cottages are all equally exquisite — and then the blob, basketball courts and and sports fields added a playful feeling to the weekend that everybody appreciated. In addition to lovely event spaces and accommodations, the service and food provided by CLE cannot be outdone. The week of our wedding I knew that every detail would be taken care of, which allowed me to relax and enjoy time with our guests.
Stephanie does an exceptional job of managing all «front-​of-​house» service (including their exceptional taste in décor and much more) and the food and beverages from Lisa and her team are truly gourmet (and also modern — ie mini chicken and waffles, not just typical boring wedding fare.) I honestly still dream about the food from the rehearsal dinner and wedding — everybody was raving about it all weekend. (Another CLE perk: The option to have your rehearsal dinner at a gorgeous long wooden table in a garden lit by twinkle lights and surrounded by flowers and fresh veggies — very reminiscent of a dinner in the Italian countryside and exactly what we had hoped for.)
After it’s all said and done I truly cannot imagine us getting married anywhere else, and we’re both very happy that we made the decision to spend one of the most special weeks of our lives with Stephanie/​Lisa and their team at Cedar Lakes. If you’re on the fence about getting married here, don’t think — just jump over the fence. It won’t be regretted :)

My sister got married here last weekend. They had to drag me away. I cried almost as hard leaving our cottage as I did during the wedding itself. (I’m kidding. Sort of.) My family stayed in one of the Sleepy Pines cottages, which was small and adorable and so prettily decorated and with a FABULOUS bathroom. My mom stayed in the Bluebird, which was very hunting-​cottage-​for-​a-​fabulously-​wealthy-​person — I could seriously live there.
And the wedding stuff was great, too. It was much rainier and colder than anyone was expecting, but Stephanie, one of the pair of sisters who runs this place, kept everything cool, had contingency plans on contingency plans, and basically made everything run smoothly despite the changes that the weather made to the original wedding.
Lisa, the other sister and the chef, made amazing food all weekend. Everything was good, but I seriously can’t say enough about the biscuits. They are biscuits that taste exactly like what you imagine biscuits should taste like.
I want to go back. Tomorrow.

My husband and I got married at CLE in August and it was without a doubt the most incredible weekend of our lives. From the moment we toured the property, we fell in love with the vast grounds, beautiful property, incredible ceremony and reception locations and the genuine, loving family that runs it. Stephanie, Lisa and the entire CLE team made us feel like family from the very beginning. They went above and beyond to give us the wedding weekend of our dreams, and they even managed to surpass every single one of our expectations. I know this is probably rare to hear, but the entire weekend went off without a hitch. From the moment we all arrived, our friends and family could not stop saying how incredible everything was and how no detail was left untouched. The food was AMAZING — Lisa is the most talented chef we have ever met. Her food it not only delicious, but it is presented so beautifully that you really feel like you are in a 5 star restaurant. Stephanie is an incredibly talented logistics coordinator. She made it so that I did not have to worry about a thing for the entire weekend. If you want a unique, glamorous yet rustic wedding, Cedar Lakes Estate is the place for you. We are still over the moon with the entire experience and cannot wait to return!

As mother of the bride, a foodie, and a service diva, my standards frighten myself and my loved ones. With that in mind, my daughter cringed at the thought of weathering my reactions when we first visited. Surprisingly, it was love at first sight. The property is extraordinary, the cabins adorable and Lisa and Stephanie – the sisters who run the show – were unbelievably gracious, non-​salesy and real. But that was nothing… and I mean N-​O-​T-​H-​I-​N-​G compared to what I have to say about the wedding itself. I honestly have no superlatives strong enough to convey the warmth of the entire Cedar Lakes experience, from the family who owns the property to the bartenders. Everyone was exceptionally accommodating and kind. The food. OMG the FOOOOD. As I looked around the room at the gorgeous reception I kept seeing people look up from their plates with the same expression on their faces: «Whaa? This is SO NOT wedding food.» And this was not a fly-​by wedding. This was an entire Labor Day weekend, three meals a day and 120 people. It was almost weirdly flawless. Cedar Lakes didn’t have control over the weather, which was sparkling, cloudless and 75 degrees throughout, but that was all they had no control over. Oh. At one point my daughter’s dog was left alone in one of the cabins (where he was technically off-​limits) and scratched huge chunks out of the bottom of the front door. The staff discovered the issue, brought the dog up to the rehearsal dinner but handed him off to someone on the staff willing to walk him around until the evening was over… and they did everything in their power to downplay the issue (even though they had another wedding immediately following ours, with no time to repair) so it wouldn’t upset the bride or bridal party. That kind of stunning behavior happened all weekend long. I must have gotten 25 emails from people the next day talking about the experience of Cedar Lakes. If I go on any more this will read like a fake review. It’s not… and moreover, in all the time I’ve been using Unilocal (constantly, since it was available) I honestly don’t think I’ve ever reviewed anything. So. There you have it. This place knocked me out.

It has now been 2 months since my wedding, and I absolutely can not stop thinking about it. I can’t stop thinking about the BEAUTIFUL setting of my ceremony, the DELICIOUS food that was served the entire weekend, the INCREDIBLE hospitality/​service that was given to me and my guests throughout the entire weekend, I have Cedar Lakes Estate to thank for EVERYTHING. On my first visit at CLE, I fell in love and my imagination went wild with ideas for my wedding– but on that first visit, I never could have imagined how amazing my actual wedding would have been. Some highlights include: a day with my guests floating at the pool and blobbing on the lake, my rehearsal dinner with homemade flavored marshmallows for s’more, golf carting around the beautiful camp grounds, my ceremony with the most spectacular views of the Hudson, the absolutely most incredibly delicious food (fried chicken and waffles apps, tomato soup with mini grilled cheese, chocolate cookies with a shot of milk, red velvet cake in mason jars), cocktail hour with specialty drinks by the lake, my first dance under 9 spectacularly beautiful chandeliers in the gorgeous rustic barn, after party at the tree house with a bonfire. I mean really– Cedar Lakes Estate gave me the wedding that I could have never imagined. The grounds, the staff, the amenities, the cabins and the food isn’t even the best part of CLE— the Karvellas family is! Stephanie (the Event Coordinator) was a dream to work with from start to finish. She was so responsive, so approachable, so relatable, so helpful and she even stepped up and ran my rehearsal when my wedding planner bailed last minute. Lisa (the chef) came up with the most delicious creations the entire weekend and was SO accommodating to my guests who had eating restrictions– she even made me and my husband special root beer floats at the end of the night! These two went above and beyond for us and I will forever be grateful for them and the dreamland of CLE!

My wife and I spend a few days here each summer to unwind and relive the fun of summer camp. Hey you guys– summer camp is way cooler with alcohol, air-​conditioning, a private pool, a scantily clad woman in your cozy cottage bed and not having to poop in a rustic, spider-​infested closet suspended over a hole in the ground.
The property IS actually an old camp complete with dock, rowboats and real life camp cabins across the lake. But it is SO much more. Cedar lakes has constructed blissful little cottages/​homes that completely remove the threat of rogue skunks, raccoons and other woodland creatures wandering into your quarters at night and chewing your eyes out. Each dwelling has its own unique charm, from the Hobbit-​like Lakeside Cottage with mossy roof, stone walls and private dock to the Poolside Cabana with incredible outdoor kitchen and private pool. This is by far my favorite, as the lake is a blackwater lake and I half expect Jason Voorhees to pull me into the dark depths as I tread water. Great bass fishing, though.
Each cottage has a television, ipod hookup, fireplace and all the accoutrements to make your stay romantic and/​or fun regardless of the season or weather. The grounds are quite peaceful and I even had an idyllic, disgustingly cute movie moment while fishing when a mother deer and her newborn fawn began frolicking 15 feet from me as I dangled my feet in the cool water. A butterfly should have landed on my nose as a spontaneous rainbow broke out or something. I can understand why one might want to take advantage of their wedding services.
If you’re one of those monsters who can’t deal with solitude for two seconds, there are restaurants, a grocery store and enough human static to hold you over no more than 20 minutes away. But if that’s you, you likely didn’t come here by choice anyway. Someone dragged you. You’d only appreciate a beautiful fawn if it was dressed in Givenchy and sipping a cappuccino at an outdoor café in the Village.
I dread the thought of really calling attention to this place, as New Yorkers have a tendency to swarm and ruin everything serene and beautiful, but these guys have done such a great job with the property– they deserve the business. Besides, nobody pays attention to anything I say– I’m a grown man who used the word «poop» in a review.

Well our wedding has come and gone and I am sad about one thing. Its over. Cedar Lakes EXCEEDED our expectations. We had about 1.5 years of planning with the Cedar Lakes Estate staff and they did exactly what they said they would. They are a newer venue so we were expecting a few hiccups and over sights-​and there were none. Our guests were floored by the perfectly groomed grounds, the attentive staff, the 5 star restaurant cuisine and the unique weekend that was offered to our guests. When serving at a camp to over 220+ you would expect standard wedding food. No, the entire weekend Chef Lisa Karvellas went above and beyond with her intimate touches and made the food a roaring hit. From the summer salad perfectly blended with dressing and toppings, to the ribs falling off the bone– people were in awe and going up for seconds.
This privately owned estate allowed for all my DIY touches, no noise restrictions, beautiful accommodations on site. From our parents questions (and boy did they have questions) to the continuous one on one attention from Stephanie & Lisa, they made planning a wedding from the west coast seamless. I wouldn’t say I am a bridezilla, but I have a vision and a particular style. When you do planning for a living, its challenging to give the reigns to others. After our wedding, my husband and I would have changed NOTHING and we owe it ALL to Cedar Lakes Estate. I am happy to speak to anyone regarding my process, vendors and further experience as this truly was a wedding to remember. Thank you Stephanie & Lisa– you started our marriage out perfect, just like you both know I like it

Cedar Lakes hosted our dream wedding this October. It was a perfect setting for the type of atmosphere my wife and I were wishing for. Our «rustic chic» theme was met with every detail Cedar Lakes had to offer. This place was soooo unique!!! We immediately saw the potential for a knockout weekend wedding to wow our guests. We’re hands-​on type of brides, so with some welcomed creativity we were able to really put our personal details throughout. .
This is a family owned full service operation and they couldn’t be lovelier. They saw to every single detail we requested and made us feel like part of their own family. The grounds are huge and just breathtaking — there’s a private lake on site, a huge barn, plus other unique dwellings, 2 pools, and an incredible scenic mountaintop. We were able to use multiple venues on the grounds to showcase different sessions of our event allowing us to really be honored in a way one could only dream of.
There are private luxury cottages available for about 30 people or so, with the rest of our guests given the option to stay in camper style cabins. Those unenthused about staying in the camper cabins (older guests really) were given the option to stay in a Holiday Inn only about 20 minutes away.
Stephanie prepared all the luxury cottages onsite to be occupied by our bridal party and close family. She saw to it that not only did the event run smoothly but that all needs of our guests were met. Cedar Lakes just built a cluster of new cottages that sleep about 20, which was just perfect for our bridal party. These new cabins are absolutely gorgeous — a perfectly styled mix of rustic luxury. The attention to detail really came through. They were warm and intimate allowing our guests to individually enjoy their stay just as much as being a part of our special day .I travel often for work; these 5 star cabins were much, much cozier than any hotel I’ve ever stayed in.
Our ceremony was held on the mountaintop. It was **breathtaking**. The staff set the stage perfectly; they even had a gorgeous handmade arbor.(incredible) I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect setting for the ceremony.
The reception was even better in their incredible barn. It’s all done in stunning 100 year old reclaimed barn wood with low strung soft lights — really like a page out of magazines and wedding blogs!!!
The food, the food, the food was really something. Chef Lisa executed these culinary delights, a home-​style feel; far from typical wedding food. You could tell everything was homemade and made with pride, from homemade pizzas for a casual lunch the day before to bouillabaisse and braised short ribs for the reception. We teamed up with Chef Lisa to fine tune the menu for the entire weekend. She couldn’t be more accommodating; her excellence shined through at each gathering.
Our guests were just blown away; many of them commented that it was the best wedding they had ever been to. The serenity of Cedar Lakes made the perfect backdrop for our day, allowing our love and energy to shine. The food, the grounds, the kindness of the staff and owners… all of this came together to make a remarkable day and quite an impression. This is something you could never get from your typical venue. When we look back and re-​live the best day of our lives we have Cedar Lakes to thank. There is no other place that offers alllllll that our weekend ensued. I had the opportunity to marry the woman of my dreams, host an incredible event for family & friends and create memories that will last in our hearts forever
If you’re looking for a cookie cutter place like every other wedding you’ve been to, this isn’t for you. But if you can get a little creative, aren’t a bridezilla, have an open mind, an appreciation for touches only a family business can offer, you will be more than pleased with Cedar Lakes. They made our day one we will never forget and we are so, so, so incredibly grateful. (side note: yay for gay marriage in NY. Cedar Lakes showcased us like one of their own, with pride and honor).

I can’t really speak for the cottages here, because I attended a wedding on the grounds and didn’t stay there. I can, however, speak to the events and general grounds.
This is one of those reviews that sounds like: «Everything was great, except for one specific thing that ruined the experience.» And honestly, almost everything was great!
We attended a wedding weekend, but stayed at a hotel about 20 minutes away since we didn’t really think we were cabin people. So we were on the grounds for lunch, the ceremony, the reception and brunch the next day. And the grounds are beautiful! The lake was peaceful, the scenic overlook where they held the actual ceremony was lovely with views that stretched on for miles, and the grounds have a nice balance of built up, but with a few pleasant buildings that don’t overwhelm the scenery. It really is an upscale summer camp!
And the food was great! Lunch was sandwiches with a couple of different salads (the orzo and garbanzo bean salad was lovely). Brunch the next morning was two kinds of eggs, great breakfast potatoes, excellent biscuits, phenomenal pancakes, cucumber sandwiches and a rustic bloody mary bar.
All in all, it was a great time to spend in a beautiful setting with family and friends!
BUT…the driveway was awful.
Seems like a little thing, right? Nope, the driveway is a steeply-​climbing mountain road, covered in potholes, running what felt like more than ¼ of a mile. And the parts that aren’t potholed have the pavement worn away and uneven. And all the while the road itself is narrow, maybe 1 ½ car widths with a sharp drop off of anywhere from 4 to 8 feet on both sides.
If I wasn’t driving, it would have been beautiful. But I was driving and since I was staying elsewhere I had to keep driving it, a total of three round trips in two days. And I am amazed, AMAZED, that I didn’t pop a tire or even break an axle. And this was in beautiful weather! Wet leaves, or an early winter storm (and it gets cold that high up) and that road would have been not just unpleasant but flat out dangerous. Granted if I’d been in something with four wheel drive and an extra strong suspension this might not have been an issue. But I wasn’t. I was in a sedan and was worried.
Obviously, this is a small business and a labor of love. The staff was all lovely and I wish them and the owners the best. But while this place would normally get a solid four stars for the rest of the experience, I can’t give them more than 2 ½ after getting in and out of the place. Which I will round up in the hopes that they manage to find a solution to the one bit that detracted from an otherwise lovely place.