Please help if you have any ideas! We are trying to arrange an early summer wedding next year that will accommodate families and friends spread out all over the US.

We want to host an entire weekend so location is key! We are looking for an intimate lodge (20 or so rooms) or cabin based resort where we can feel at home, comfortable, with lovely scenery and a sprinkling of activities for all age groups. I imagine that somewhere out there there is a "cabin or lodge campus" on a lake or nestled in the mountains that would be perfect for everyone to spend a relaxing weekend together around a campfire and BBQ. (though not TOO rustic, it is my wedding after all!)

Ideally we've been thinking of some mountain or West Coast setting (CA, CO, WA, OR), but we live in Chicago so Wisconsin or Michigan could also be possible, but we don't know enough about these places to compare them with the nature of the Western US. The key is the location has to be reasonably close (2 hrs) to a major airport for everyone flying in.

This might not be the most specific of information requests, but that tells you just how open to ideas we are. If you have a favorite lodge that you've spent good times in, please suggest!

Many thanks!

I live on the east coast so not really familiar with your territory. But I've always been interested in going to Mackinac Island. Have a look here

http://www.mackinacisland.org/

Not sure it meets your transportation needs though.

Not sure if that intimate lodge feeling can be had within your travel distances but...

How about Olympia Resort in Oconomowoc, WI which is easy driving distance from Chicago or Milwaukee. You might also try the American Club in Kohler, WI. On the local front, perhaps the Doral Resort in Itasca, IL (previously Nordic Hills). All the above have golf, spa, etc. A bit smaller idea is the Heidel House in/on Green Lake in WI. 2 hours or less to Milwaukee and 3ish from O'Hare.

Well an idea of how much you want to spend would be key. There are definitly some locations in Colorado but depending on how nice and relaxing you want, it could be expensive. I have posted a link of a small mountain resort that my husband and I have looked at before (just for a getaway). This place looks fantastic and I have read amazing reviews about it. I would say it fits your criteria for appx 2 hours or less from Denver International Airport. On their wedding page, it does mention that you can have the whole place to yourself and your guests and they do have a lake. Just one idea.

http://www.goldlake.com/weddings.html

A couple of ideas for Washington, may not be quite what you are looking for--the first one is small and intimate and you can only have children if you rent the whole place but it is VERY popular for "wedding weekends" such as yours. The second is much larger than what you want and probably too far away--more of a resort but therefore you would definitely have a wide range of activities for all age groups.

www.mthome.com is the first

www.sunmountainlodge.com is the second

Regarding weddings and accomadations for all - have you looked into Traverse City, MI at all? The area has great lodgings atmosphere (Lake Michigan, Grand Traverse Bay, Shopping, Cherry Festival, Wineries and much more)

Nantucket Island

McMenamin's Edgefield just east of Portland Oregon:
http://www.mcmenamins.com/Edge/
Lots of weddings happen there, great place!