Amazing Wedding Locations Around the World

Amazing & Unique Wedding Locations

When it comes to planning your ideal wedding, the location is the most important part (after finding the perfect partner of course!) Your venue sets the tone for every part of your wedding, so finding the one that best suits you and your partner is key.

Whether you are looking for something totally glamorous, completely unique or just something to inspire you, we think you’ll find the amazing venues below each offer something that sets them apart from others.

Rent An Entire Summer Camp - Camp Schodack, New York

Why get a hotel or a conference center for three hours when you could book your own private resort for the weekend? Bring the family, friends, colleagues and whoever else wants to enjoy an unforgettable weekend!

By taking over an entire Camp for the weekend, you and your guests have access to everything that the Camp offers. You can zipline down the aisle, have bridesmaids vs groomsman go-kart challenges and finish every night with all of your guests sat around a bonfire roasting marshmallows.

A venue like Camp Schodack has over 40 acres of open fields and 60 acres of private forest for you to plan your ceremony and tented reception, and spacious indoor venue space for a more elegant reception. No matter what your wedding plans may be, Camp Schodack will make it spectacular for you and up to 500 guests!

Find out more: https://www.schodack.com/

Spend A Night At The Museum - Natural History Museum, London

London’s most iconic museum has gained its Civil Marriages and Civil Partnerships license so you can now legally get married at the Natural History Museum.

If the wedding ceremony of your dreams involves declaring your vows surrounded by a bunch of prehistoric characters (and we’re not talking about your in-laws) then you’re in luck. You can now official get married at London’s Natural History Museum.

The iconic London venue recently celebrated receiving its Civil Marriages and Civil Partnerships license. As of September 2019, the Museum is able to host official wedding ceremonies as well as larger or more intimate receptions. It was previously possible to hold your reception at the venue, but now a woolly mammoth could bear witness to your marriage. And we’re very much on board with this.

Find out more:https://www.nhm.ac.uk/business-services/venue-hire/weddings-private-events.html

Take To The Seas - Star Ship Cruises, Sydney

Congratulations, you’re engaged to be married! Welcome to the multi-award-winning Starship Sydney and Starship Aqua, where your wedding will be a glittering occasion set against one of the world’s most coveted backdrops. A once in a lifetime event such as this deserves for every element to be seamless and beautiful. Over the years, countless weddings have been held aboard Starship Sydney and Starship Aqua and we’re proud to say that each and every one has held its own individual charm.

For any bride, groom and their families, weddings are notoriously busy days with so much to consider, and so many people to please. You’ll be heartened to know that Starship Sydney has decades of experience behind us. We know just how to have proceedings running so smoothly that you’ll marvel at how effortless it all seemed.

Find out more: https://www.starshipsydney.com.au/weddings/

Get Back To Nature - Tennessee State Park, Tennessee

There’s something about the outdoors that seems to rise to the occasion of a wedding. The way color palettes of earth and sky highlight the purity of the moment. The way the browns of timber and the greens of grass provide a backdrop for the white of the wedding dress. The way the afternoon light illuminates the face and hair of a radiant bride. The elegance and simplicity of the outdoors draws the hearts of wanderers and leads them to the place where they no longer wander alone.

If a natural setting wedding has captivated your dreams, you have come to the right place. Whether you need space for rehearsal dinners, ceremonies, receptions or anniversary celebrations, you’ll find what you’re looking for in Tennessee State Parks.

It’s not every day that your wedding photos can include a waterfall, breathtaking overlook, or the Appalachian Trail. We don’t know about you, but that sounds a lot more unique to us than the staged photos your friends took in front of some random bushes. Even beyond the photos, it’s just a cool experience to retreat to a destination with so much natural beauty. We all know that life is an adventure, and we think your life together should start with its own adventure.

Find out more: https://tnstateparks.com/blog/5-reasons-to-get-married-in-a-tennessee-state-park

Take over a Theme Park - Disney Land, California

Fancy being a princess for a day? Disneyland has announced that you can now get married in the heart of the Florida theme park, with a clear view of Cinderella's Castle. You can also travel to your wedding in her pumpkin coach, like an actual Disney Princess.

Not only does Cinderella Castle provide a stunning backdrop for your nuptials, but you can arrive at your ceremony in style with Cinderella's Coach and for your wedding party a classic turn-of-the-century Main Street Vehicle.

The venue is fit for royalty - so couples who want to get married here should probably make sure they are dressed in the plushest outfits they can find. All you need to do is add some seating, charming décor, and a little bit of pixie dust and voila! You have a wedding ceremony venue that is a real-life fairy tale.

Find out more: https://www.disneyweddings.com/california/

5 Great High School Retreat Ideas

Amazing Ideas for High School Groups in a Summer Camp Environment

Trying to entertain large groups of young people, especially in a setting not familiar to you or them, can often be a daunting task. You have to make sure that there is suitable accommodation. Food choices and menus can be a sticky point if you have fussy eaters in your group and then you also have to plan what they will be doing in their free time.

Here at Camp Schodack and the Berkshire Retreat Center we aim to take the challenging part of all that away by providing all-inclusive packages that cater to groups of all sizes and all ages. Over the years we have seen many young people came and go through Camp Schodack and all of them will have taken something from the experience.

Below we have listed 5 ‘Camp’ ideas that you can use individually if you want to create a focused environment or combine elements each to create a more inclusive experience that will appeal to children and young adults alike.

Whether you decide that one of these ideas is right for you or not, we hope that you will at least find ideas and inspiration from our suggestions below.

Nature Camp

Pack a lunch, pull up your hiking socks and head outside to explore! Our privately-owned site is surrounded on all sides by 60-acres of crisscrossing woodland trails and paths, perfect for educating young minds on the great outdoors. You can experience different wildlife and fauna and really reconnect with nature all within our boundaries.

The rest of our main site has designated camping areas for those that may want to spend a night under the stars. For those less adventurous, our beautifully renovated cabins will provide a home away from home during your time with us. We also have several fire pits around the site that are an ideal way to round off a day spent in the woods, where groups can share stories and roast marshmallows.

Sports Camp

Have a competitive group that likes to test their skills? Our main site features some amazing sports facilities. Basketball courts, soccer fields, outdoor street hockey, a baseball field, 2 heated swimming pools and more.

If team sports aren’t enough, we have a number of one on one and individual sports and challenging activities that can keep your group entertained. A purpose-built go-kart track, 5 sided climbing tower, table tennis and 7 brand new tennis courts should all be enough to make sure that no one in your groups gets bored! All of this is spread conveniently over our 40-acre site and is within easy access of our dining hall and accommodation.

Personal Challenge

Overcoming a challenge or conquering fear can instill real confidence in any young person and we have a whole host of challenging activities across our site that are perfect for doing just that.

Starting with our auto-belay, 5 sided, 40ft climbing tower! The tower is designed to allow climbing without an instructor so that participants can tackle the wall at their own pace and in their own time. It allows up to 10 people to climb unaided at a time and reaching the top is an exhilarating feeling! We also have a purpose-built go-kart track, a horse corral and a 300-yard zip-line for those that want to challenge themselves further.

Team Building

Nothing brings a group together like an element of achieving something as a group and overcoming common obstacles. Across our 100-acre site there are a number of activities that are available to our groups to help facilitate team building. We have many small and large groups activities that our special events team can oversee and facilitate.

We have a low ropes course with several working elements that are designed to be overcome by whole groups together. Beyond that (and for the more adventurous) there is our high ropes course, set way up in the trees. Many of these elements are designed for one person at a time but individuals often have trouble overcoming them without the support of the rest of their group.

Low Ropes, High Ropes,

Get Artistic

Got a group that is dying to let their artistic side loose? We have got everything you need right here. Our dedicated Arts Shack has all the arts and crafts project a group could want. Simple wood making projects, the ever-popular Tye-Dye, drawing painting, jewelry making and more are all under one roof.

If getting creative and making a mess (probably!) isn’t the order of the day then perhaps enjoying some light yoga or meditation would work. We have a soft play gymnastics area and also a recreation hall that both serve well as a yoga and meditation space. It could be the perfect way to end a day in the studio.

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So there you have it, 5 different ways that you could offer a group of young people an incredible experience, with top-class facilities, in a safe and controlled environment. If you would like to find out more then please get in touch with a member of our team at camp@schodack.com or call us at 781-444-5520.

Alternatively, you can visit our website BerkshireRetreatCenter.com to find out more.

Retreat Center Inspiration

Amazing Retreat Center Inspiration

When thinking of planning a group retreat, whether it is a family reunion, a corporate getaway, a spiritual gathering, or whatever the reason may be, picking a location is not only a very important decision but also an incredibly hard one to make. There are so many options for to choose from that picking something ideal for your group can be a challenge that cause many to fall at the first hurdle.

This is why we have put together a list of 5 amazing retreat centers that all offer something a little different, whether it is the activities they offer, the beautiful scenery around it or simply the facilities onsite. So even if you do not find the retreat center you ate looking for from this list, we are sure that you will find ideas and inspiration here to help you in your search.

Hire a Whole Summer Camp for the Weekend - Camp Schodack / Berkshire Retreat Center

Why get a hotel or a conference center for three hours when you could book your own private resort for the weekend? Bring the family, friends, colleagues and whoever else wants to enjoy an unforgettable experience!

We are set on 100 acres of privately owned lawns and woodlands located just 2.5 hours from both Boston and New York City.  We have overnight accommodation for up to 500 people and a number of picturesque locations around the grounds that people have chosen as the ideal place to share their vows, relax or spend time with friends. With plenty of activities included there is so much for you and your guests to do.

Find out more: https://berkshireretreatcenter.com/

Go Glamping and get off the Beaten Path - Collective Retreat at Governors Island

Collective Retreats is a new, meaningful way to travel. Each retreat is located in an iconic destination and features luxury outdoor accommodations, exceptional culinary experiences, and genuine hospitality. We created Collective Retreats because we love travel and believe in its power to help us connect—to places, to people, and to ourselves.

Our team has decades of experience in travel and hospitality—and more importantly, a shared appreciation of exploration, adventure, and innovation. We are building a company that makes it possible for luxury to coexist with ruggedness, for fine dining to happen under the stars, and for people to connect to a place and to those around them

Find out more: https://www.collectiveretreats.com/retreat/collective-governors-island/

Enjoy the Mountains - Shalom Mountain

Shalom Retreats® were developed by Jerry and Elisabeth Jud, in 1969, as a process for exploring the transformative power of loving community.  Jerry and Elisabeth demonstrated that by creating a community that practices the skills of intentional loving, great personal healing and transformation can occur. In 1976, Shalom Mountain Retreat and Study Center was established in the Catskill Mountains one hundred miles northwest of New York City as the home of Shalom Process. It was founded as a ‘hope structure’, calling people to live passionately and with compassion in the world.

From 1992 to 2007 the subsequent owners, Joy Davey and Lawrence Stibbards expanded the center’s retreat offerings and developed leadership training programs.  Currently established as a not-for-profit 501c(3), Shalom Mountain is governed by a board and management team, and run by staff, volunteers and a network of retreat leaders with backgrounds in psychology, theology, education, medicine and business.  Our retreat leaders are extensively trained and experienced in Shalom Process.

Find out more: https://www.shalommountain.com/

Enjoy Lakeside Views - Ashbury Retreat Center

Located on the shores of Silver Lake in Western New York, Asbury is a premier retreat center that offers a variety of facilities to meet everyones needs. Our site boasts over 60 acres and over a quarter mile of shoreline on Silver Lake. In addition to providing facilities for groups to conduct their own retreats, meetings, worship services, and programs, we can assist with program planning, guide groups through our low ropes course, conduct retreats and workshops, lead singing and games, and provide supervision for recreational activities.

Asbury also offers year round retreats for families, children and youth, clergy, and adults.

Find out more: https://asburyuny.org/

Make the Most of the City - Sanctuary NYC Retreats

We welcome you to the serene spiritual atmosphere Sanctuary provides, as well as varied programs on bhakti (yoga of devotion) which we offer as part of our membership program. These include sacred meditation in the yoga studio/temple room, workshops on Vinyasa infused bhakti yoga, kirtan (devotional chant/prayer), history and philosophy of yoga, Ayurveda (science of life and healing), as well as varied workshops/events on related subject matters (nurturing body, mind & soul).

Each room is equipped with a mini library of books on the science of the soul as delineated in the ancient classic Bhagavad Gita, the text that inspired Gandhi, Emerson, Thoreau and Einstein who wrote; "I bathe my intellect daily in the cosmological wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita." Weekly classes are included in the Sanctuary membership program @ our affiliate The Bhakti Center.

Find out more: http://www.sanctuarynycretreats.com/