On this episode of Wedding Day Podcast, Iron Diamond Media owner Sonja Babich sits down with Paul Barbaro, Director of Sales at Grand View Lodge, to discuss how the iconic Minnesota resort creates destination wedding experiences designed for couples, families and guests alike.

Located on Gull Lake near Nisswa, Minnesota, Grand View Lodge offers couples several distinct settings for their wedding day, from an intimate chapel that accommodates 72 guests to a picturesque staircase overlooking the lake. The latter has become one of the property's signature wedding views, allowing couples to exchange vows with the water stretching out behind them. The resort's carefully maintained landscaping adds another layer to the setting, creating naturally beautiful surroundings for wedding photos and celebrations without couples having to manufacture the atmosphere themselves.

But what makes a resort wedding especially appealing is everything that can happen beyond the ceremony and reception. Rather than having guests arrive for a few hours and head home, Grand View Lodge gives couples the opportunity to create a full wedding weekend. Welcome dinners, family meals and downtime can all become part of the celebration, while guests have the freedom to explore the property between scheduled events. As Barbaro explains, the goal is to create an experience that is memorable not only for the people getting married, but also for the friends and family who have traveled to celebrate with them. Once guests arrive on the property, the weekend can feel like a vacation.

That experience extends to guests of all ages. Grand View Lodge's family-friendly amenities make it particularly well suited to weddings where children are included in the festivities. Families can take advantage of the resort's Kids Club, while activities throughout the property include everything from ping pong and foosball to time on the lake. Guests can rent pontoons, including the option of a captained boat, as well as enjoy other water activities. Dining can become part of the itinerary, too, with options such as family-style Italian cuisine offering couples an easy way to turn meals surrounding the wedding into additional opportunities for guests to gather.

Adults have plenty of ways to make the most of the trip as well. Grand View Lodge offers pools, waterslides, a gym, yoga studio, golf and spa experiences, giving wedding guests the flexibility to shape their downtime around their own interests. That variety can be especially valuable when planning a multiday wedding with guests from different generations. Instead of filling every hour with organized wedding activities, couples can leave space in the itinerary and let the destination do some of the entertaining for them. The same amenities also make the resort an option for other wedding-related celebrations, including bachelorette weekends, honeymoons and anniversary trips.

The resort's variety of accommodations helps complete that wedding-weekend experience. In addition to traditional hotel rooms, Grand View Lodge offers larger homes capable of hosting groups together, giving couples options for different budgets, group sizes and styles of travel. For wedding parties and extended families, sharing a home or cottage can make the celebration feel even more personal—and allow the time spent together outside the official events to become part of the memories. Ultimately, Barbaro and Babich's conversation highlights an important consideration for couples planning a destination or resort wedding: the best venue isn't necessarily one that only delivers an incredible wedding day. It's one that gives the people you love a reason to remember the entire trip.

On this episode of Wedding Day Podcast, Iron Diamond Media owner Sonja Babich sits down with Paul Barbaro, Director of Sales at Grand View Lodge, to discuss how the iconic Minnesota resort creates destination wedding experiences designed for couples, families and guests alike.

Located on Gull Lake near Nisswa, Minnesota, Grand View Lodge offers couples several distinct settings for their wedding day, from an intimate chapel that accommodates 72 guests to a picturesque staircase overlooking the lake. The latter has become one of the property's signature wedding views, allowing couples to exchange vows with the water stretching out behind them. The resort's carefully maintained landscaping adds another layer to the setting, creating naturally beautiful surroundings for wedding photos and celebrations without couples having to manufacture the atmosphere themselves.

But what makes a resort wedding especially appealing is everything that can happen beyond the ceremony and reception. Rather than having guests arrive for a few hours and head home, Grand View Lodge gives couples the opportunity to create a full wedding weekend. Welcome dinners, family meals and downtime can all become part of the celebration, while guests have the freedom to explore the property between scheduled events. As Barbaro explains, the goal is to create an experience that is memorable not only for the people getting married, but also for the friends and family who have traveled to celebrate with them. Once guests arrive on the property, the weekend can feel like a vacation.

That experience extends to guests of all ages. Grand View Lodge's family-friendly amenities make it particularly well suited to weddings where children are included in the festivities. Families can take advantage of the resort's Kids Club, while activities throughout the property include everything from ping pong and foosball to time on the lake. Guests can rent pontoons, including the option of a captained boat, as well as enjoy other water activities. Dining can become part of the itinerary, too, with options such as family-style Italian cuisine offering couples an easy way to turn meals surrounding the wedding into additional opportunities for guests to gather.

Adults have plenty of ways to make the most of the trip as well. Grand View Lodge offers pools, waterslides, a gym, yoga studio, golf and spa experiences, giving wedding guests the flexibility to shape their downtime around their own interests. That variety can be especially valuable when planning a multiday wedding with guests from different generations. Instead of filling every hour with organized wedding activities, couples can leave space in the itinerary and let the destination do some of the entertaining for them. The same amenities also make the resort an option for other wedding-related celebrations, including bachelorette weekends, honeymoons and anniversary trips.

The resort's variety of accommodations helps complete that wedding-weekend experience. In addition to traditional hotel rooms, Grand View Lodge offers larger homes capable of hosting groups together, giving couples options for different budgets, group sizes and styles of travel. For wedding parties and extended families, sharing a home or cottage can make the celebration feel even more personal—and allow the time spent together outside the official events to become part of the memories. Ultimately, Barbaro and Babich's conversation highlights an important consideration for couples planning a destination or resort wedding: the best venue isn't necessarily one that only delivers an incredible wedding day. It's one that gives the people you love a reason to remember the entire trip.