Merriweather Lakehouse

***BEST Choice We Made!!*** Outstanding staff, with Patty leading the way. Provided flexibility and choices that were made just for us and allowed us to have a unique event. The food, cake and services were top of the line and the bespoke Peach Kyiv Mules were a huge hit ! The pastry chef even made my favorite Madeline cookies! Thank you for exceeding all of our expectations *Bonus: The site is spectacular along the lake. All of our formal pictures are from the balcony/patio just off the banquet room.

Great views, excellent staff & service for a stress-free and beautiful experience for our wedding, Thank you to Patty and staff!

This lake means a lot to my husband and I. We had our first dates here, we walked here nearly every week, and he proposed to me here. So we found it fitting to have our wedding reception here as well. In November, the temperature and the scenery isn't as nice, but we were able to still step outside for a few photos. The room itself was beautiful, spacious. They decorated the chairs with these plum sashes that matched the wedding colors. Amanda was great to work with, very responsive to changes. I had 50 guests and even though that room says it holds way more than 50, it was actually perfect. That room (Terrace AB) held 5 rounds of 10, a head table, and a dance floor flawlessly. Guests loved it. There was a small communication mishap with them not receiving my reception decorations/items the day of the wedding (actually during cocktail hour I found out they didn't have my favors, guestbook, placecards, cake topper, etc). I asked them to look again and just trusted that they'd figure it out. THEY DID! Everything was set up in no time, as if nothing had happened. It was good. My vegan guest did not receive her meal and had to pick around the cheese (she didn't tell me until the next day though or I'm sure the hotel would have gladly fixed it). No wedding is perfect, but this was pretty much as close as I could have imagined it would get to it! :) I highly recommend.

Overall we had a great experience with the Sheraton. We chose the location because the Columbia Town Center is a special place for my now-husband and I, and I always wanted a reception with a water view. Michelle and Bebe were incredible to work with throughout the planning process. They were flexible, patient, responsive, professional, and fun. Bebe went out of her way to arrange a special tasting time because my parents and my fiancé all lived out of the area at the time. Michelle was especially calm and flexible during the final two weeks before the event, which helped put me at ease. Ashley helped us with our room block, which needed some special coordination because about 70% of our guests were from out of town. She was also accessible and great to work with. The highlight of the facility is the lakeside patio, and it made for a lovely cocktail hour location. (One issue: I arrived late to the cocktail hour due to traffic and photos. I just wanted a glass of wine and to hear the band sing my favorite song, so I stayed on the porch with a few guests even though the captain had rushed most of the guests into the dining room. The captain then stood at the door ringing a bell during the entire song to get the rest of us inside. I understand that they were on a schedule to serve the meal, but I wish she had just talked to me instead!) The ballroom is pretty standard, but it worked well for the dinner and dancing. The food that came with our package was standard hotel wedding fare (chicken, fish, beef), but it was tasty! Our guests seemed to enjoy their stay at the hotel. My husband and I and our families all came in a few days early, and had a very pleasant extended stay. The staff was incredibly helpful and friendly! There were a few small hiccups (for example - the dance floor was coming up on one corner and had to be fixed while guests were waiting for us to enter the reception, and our bar ran out of one kind of beer), and I wish the coordination with the DJ would have been better during the actual event. However, the staff was very responsive when an issue arose and took care of it efficiently. I mention the small issues because no wedding is going to be perfect, but how the staff responds is what matters most, in my experience. The five stars are for the gorgeous location and the staff, who make this a very special place to have your reception!