Located right on the shores of Lake Erie, Vermilion-on-the-Lake is an absolutely incredible location for any wedding. Located in a 100 year-old log cabin with an extensive history, this location is sure to be a gorgeous backdrop for your wedding. How do I know? I’ve shot over a half-dozen weddings at this venue and this is the venue where I personally got married!
The cabin was built in 1919 from the logs that were cleared from the same property to be named the Vermilion-on-the-lake Clubhouse; a location where the local bands would play for crowds of dancers who were looking for a fun night. During The Great Depression, the property would become a place for high-rollers to hang out, and later the property was handed over to an association specializing in the handling of the property as the landscape of the area changed.
After a serious decline in the health of the building, the board of the association set out a single goal – to renovate and preserve the health of this historic building. In 2003, they set out a plan to restore the property to its original glory. When you book your wedding at Vermilion-on-the-lake, the profits go directly into this very project.
The building is built from large, old logs and is perfect for a rustic summer or fall wedding. There are 4 main areas to the building, with a single large common room and 3 side rooms. One of these side rooms faces the water, overlooking the lake, which is absolutely gorgeous around sunset. In one side room is a bar, which is available for couples to use for serving drinks at their weddings, as well as a small prep kitchen. The venue doesn’t have a full kitchen, so catering and drinks must be provided by your own caterer. There are so many options in the area, such as Blue Ribbon Catering out of Huron.
Looking to have both your ceremony and reception at the same location? There is an adorable gazebo outside in the lawn, which is perfect for this smaller, intimate ceremonies. Then, you can head straight into to enjoy your reception and your guests don’t have to worry about traveling to multiple locations or having long time periods between the ceremony and reception (side note; this is what we did for our own wedding!)
VOL is one of the most popular venues on the coast, typically booking over a year in advance on Saturdays. They also host weddings on Sundays as well, for which availability is a little more common. According to their website, Saturday rates for 2021 start at $2400 and Sunday’s start at $1000, which makes this an affordable option for anyone looking to book a naturally beautiful and historical location.
