Blog Posts
Reconnecting with my family at Deer Lake
By Guest Writer: Cynthia J. Drake
Guide to Your Weekend Dallas Getaway in East Texas
By Guest Writer: Cynthia J. Drake
8 Reasons Why Brides & Grooms Love This Texas Destination Wedding Getaway
By Guest Writer: Cynthia J. Drake
Deer Lake Cabins Ranch Resort, Where Social Distancing Happens.... Naturally
8 Reasons Why Brides and Grooms Love This Texas Destination Wedding Getaway
By Guest Writer: Cynthia J. Drake
Saying your wedding vows under a canopy of majestic East Texas pine trees … swaying to your first dance as a married couple under a star-drenched sky beside a toasty fire … these are just some of the magical memories dozens of brides and grooms take with them after hosting their destination wedding at Deer Lake Cabins Ranch Resort in Mount Vernon.
Located about two hours east of Dallas-Fort Worth, this secluded Western ranch resort offers up unlimited options for creating a romantic wedding ceremony, reception, and honeymoon experience that is unique and special for each couple.
The private, family-owned Deer Lake Cabins Ranch Resort staff loves serving as the “Point A” in a couple’s lifetime of memories to come. Here are a few of the ways that this team will help make your Deer Lake wedding special.
Social distancing friendly.
Pandemic protocols during COVID-19 have highlighted the importance of hosting weddings and other events in spaces where guests can spread out and enjoy fresh air. Deer Lake is a natural fit for a COVID-era Texas destination wedding, with plentiful outdoor space to set up chairs and tables for the wedding ceremony and reception, while keeping guests safe and socially distanced. Additional tent coverings are available to offer additional space to spread out.
One-on-one attention.
The hard-working staff at Deer Lake treats every guest that visits like they’re family with their signature East Texas hospitality, and that certainly includes brides and grooms who choose to host one of the most special days of their lives here.
“The staff here—we get to be a small part of the memories that are created and that drives us,” says general manager Kendra Daugherty. “With our team, we bring their vision for their wedding to life. We make sure every little piece falls into place for them.”
Jaw-dropping scenery.
Though not far from the bustling Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, Deer Lake feels like a totally different world. Offering 850 acres of land filled with pine forests, two private lakes (Deer Lake and Dream Lake) and secluded cabins by the lake, wedding couples that are looking for a natural backdrop for their ceremony will find it here. Wedding and reception-ready facilities include a large outdoor pavilion with a nearby rock patio, an outdoor fireplace, and a romantic gazebo.
Custom wedding packages.
This is not your cookie-cutter destination weddings venue where couples are limited to the same bland options as every other couple.
“We like to meet with couples and walk through the space and get their vision for their day and create a custom package for them,” says Daugherty. “Each wedding is so individual and special. I always tell my brides and grooms, utilize me and my expertise.”
Whether couples are working with a wedding planner or going it on their own, she can connect them with local vendors for food, linens, flowers, entertainment from bands or string quartets, and more. Couples might want to rent out the entire ranch, set up outdoor reception space that accommodates up to 200 guests, or host a more intimate cabin-style wedding with fewer than 25 guests.
Stunning photography backdrops.
Looking for that Pinterest- or Instagram-perfect wedding backdrop for your first look? Photographers have plenty of scenes to work with at Deer Lake, from engagement photos to wedding party and family portraits, including: forest bridal photos, rustic barn photos, and lakeside portraits.
“We offer them full access for pictures leading up to the day of the event,” says Daugherty. “I have had brides utilize the barns and the stables, the backdrop of the big red barn, I’ve had them on horseback.”
Outdoor magic throughout the seasons.
One thing that most Deer Lake wedding couples share is their love of nature and their wish to get married immersed in the majesty of the great outdoors, and the experiences that arise from that are spectacular here.
From a first dance under the summer stars to brilliant fall leaves and lush spring greenery, Deer Lake offers a natural palette with something different throughout each season of the year. Daugherty advises destination wedding couples to start planning about a year in advance to secure preferred dates.
Versatile overnight options.
Whether a bride and groom has out-of-town guests wishing to stay overnight before or after the wedding festivities, or if the couple wants to extend their stay with a romantic getaway in Texas following their wedding, Deer Lake has nearly 20 options to choose from. Take your pick of huge lake houses and cabins accommodating up to 16 guests, with full kitchen and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, to small, two-person honeymoon suites, all including complimentary access to non-motorized sports equipment such as bicycles, paddle boats and stand-up paddle board.
Wedding party fun.
Getting your crew of friends and family together to bond before, during, and after your wedding is exciting at Deer Lake. Facilities and services include basketball, horseback riding, ATV or UTV riding through the woods, a fully staffed escape room, boating and fishing, stand-up paddling, Gaga ball, a petting zoo, and more. It’s ideal for guests bringing young children, as well as adventure-minded adults and friends just wanting to catch up over a glass of wine around the firepit.
Ready to start planning the outdoor East Texas destination wedding of your dreams? Let’s chat and set up your visit.