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June 29, 2026
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN – The Heidel House Hotel & Conference Center is solidifying its reputation as a top wedding venue in Wisconsin following a recent award and a period of strong growth.
Brittny Gerig – wedding sales manager at Heidel House Hotel & Conference Center – said the Green Lake property recently earned recognition in Wisconsin Bride’s 2026 Best of Awards, as Best North Central Venue.
Gerig said the honor comes during a period of expansion, with the venue doubling its wedding business from 2024 to 2025.
“[The award] gives us more exposure for sure, but it also confirms we’re a reputable wedding venue,” she said.
Since 2012, Wisconsin Bride’s Best of Awards – per wibride.com – have recognized top venues and wedding professionals across the state.
Gerig said the recognition is especially meaningful for the Heidel House, particularly since it was its first time participating, and reflects the team’s service-focused approach.
“We go above and beyond for our couples,” she said. “We do a lot of coordination with the rehearsal ceremony, the timeline, all the fine details. Our team takes care of our couples very well. It’s maintenance blowing off the sidewalks, housekeepers vacuuming, banquet staff setting silverware and conference services setting up chairs. We couldn’t do it without everybody.”
Gerig said that coordination translates into a seamless experience for couples and guests, something the team hears time after time.
“It’s usually, ‘Everything ran so smoothly’ – and that’s because we’re 10 steps ahead of them,” she said. “We’re ahead of the game, and they realize they don’t have to worry.”
Natural scenery, operational convenience
Located along Wisconsin’s deepest inland lake, Gerig said the Heidel House blends natural scenery with operational convenience, a combination that is difficult to replicate.
She said its focus is weddings of up to 300 guests, often ranging from 270-300, with lake views as a key draw.
“I don’t know of any venue that has the lake literally 200 feet away from the reception and the ballrooms,” she said. “Not to mention, ceremonies [can be held] five feet from the water.”
Gerig said the property’s layout supports a fully integrated event experience – where couples can host ceremonies, cocktail hours and receptions in one location, with options including lakefront and hilltop ceremony sites and multiple indoor venues.
She said ballroom options range from the Sandstone Ballroom, which accommodates up to 110 guests, to the Dartford Ballroom, which can host up to 300.
Gerig said the Escapade Yacht also offers space for rehearsal dinners and smaller gatherings, adding flexibility and destination appeal.
“A lot of our brides want a blank slate to do what they want to do and have their personality in the [space],” she said. “[Our ballrooms] have character but are neutral enough for brides to do their theme and make it feel like theirs. People are realizing life is short and want to do their wedding the way they want to do it.”
That flexibility extends to evolving wedding traditions, Gerig said, including smaller ceremonies, “first looks” and customized timelines that allow couples to spend more time with guests.
Behind the scenes, Gerig said Heidel House works closely with local vendors and internal teams to execute events.
She said couples are provided a curated list of recommended vendors, from florists in Green Lake to bakeries in Berlin, while final selections remain with the couple.
“Recommended local vendors know how we run things – they love us, and we love them,” she said. “We guide our couples, but it’s ultimately their decision.”
Weekly cross-department meetings, Gerig said, align staff on logistics ranging from setup to guest dietary needs.
“We communicate very well with our vendors, and they feel open to call us for whatever they need,” she said. “The team really cares about the couples and making sure their day is absolutely perfect.”
Statewide and beyond draw
Gerig said the venue’s growth is also tied to its regional draw.
Though some couples come from across the country – often with ties to the area – Gerig said a significant number come from Milwaukee and Chicago.
“We have couples from New York and Arizona [marrying here],” she said. “But a lot of people are [more regional] and want a getaway that’s not too far but still feels like a destination wedding.”
Gerig said the Heidel House’s weddings also contribute to the local economy, bringing visitors to surrounding communities such as Princeton and Ripon for shopping, dining and extended stays.
“We have a lot of cute little towns near us,” she said. “If guests come from a Thursday to Sunday, they can hit the towns for shops, restaurants and more.”
Gerig said there is also a natural connectivity between the property’s wedding business and its corporate events.
“It’s neat to see how our ballrooms can be universal,” she said. “We can hold a corporate event all week long, but when the weekend comes, it becomes a wedding [venue]. There are a lot of people from the corporate side who say, ‘I’m going to tell my daughter about this place.’ It comes full circle.”
Validation
Originally built in 1890 as a private estate, Gerig said the Heidel House evolved into a hospitality destination in the mid-20th century and expanded significantly in the 1980s.
After closing in 2019, Gerig said the property underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation and reopened in 2021 as part of the Ascend Hotel Collection by Choice Hotels.
Today, she said the updated property offers modernized event spaces and enhanced lakefront access while maintaining its historic character.
Gerig said for her, the recent award is both validation and visibility of the jewel known to an increasing number of brides and grooms as the Heidel House.
“It reminds them we’re here,” she said.
Heidel House Hotel & Conference Center was also recognized as a finalist in the contest’s Best Hotel Venue category.
The full list of Wisconsin Bride’s 2026 Best of Awards can be found at its previously mentioned website.
Head to heidelhouse.com for more details on the Heidel House Hotel & Conference Center.
