Lake of Isles Wedding
In the greater Mystic area, most waterfront wedding venues are shaped by rivers or Long Island Sound. They’re beautiful in a familiar, expected way. But a Lake of Isles wedding offers something quieter and more deliberate.
It’s the kind of venue that doesn’t demand attention, it supports it. The water feature is present without being overbearing. The facility itself, and the staff who run it, do very well at guiding rather than grandstanding.
This post explores what it’s like to have a wedding at Lake of Isles, which is among the best wedding venues in Connecticut.
Images in this post were taken by me while working for Katie Lovaas Photography.
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Vibe and Features |
Lakeside views with tons of foliage, golf course feel, classic ballroom style |
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Guest Capacity |
250 |
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Location |
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Similar Venues |
Candlewood Inn, Aria, Connecticut River Museum, Branford House, Lyman Orchards, The Towers, Mystic Yachting Club, The Venue at Winding Hills |
History of Lake of Isles
Foxwoods Resort Casino opened in earnest 1992 in Ledyard, CT. Twelve years later in 2005, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe expanded their vision into neighboring North Stonington with the opening of the Lake of Isles golf course.
The golf course property spans 900 acres of land on reservation land. At its center sits Lake of Isles itself, a 90-acre lake surrounded by the course, with a 50,000-square foot clubhouse and lakeside patio serving as the architectural and social anchor of the venue.
Mashantucket Pequot Tribe
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation’s modern history includes a landmark victory in 1983 that affirms Indigenous land rights and sovereignty. Following that decision, the Tribe originally opened Foxwoods in 1986 as a bingo hall.
Nearly twenty years later, Lake of Isles emerged as a natural extension of that growth: a destination rooted in tribal ownership, designed with permanence in mind, and built to serve many purposes beyond a single day or event.
For couples choosing to marry here, that context should matter. Lake of Isles isn’t just a scenic venue, it’s part of an ongoing story shaped by resilience, autonomy, and intentional use of land.
Lake of Isles Venue Vibe and Features
Lake of Isles is a wedding venue with golf course, banquet hall, and water view vibes. Given its location, the venue is very well rooted in nature. It should be high on your venue list while wedding planning if nice views are something you appreciate.
The Deck and Golf Course
Ceremonies take place on the lakefront deck, positioned directly along Lake of Isles itself. The water remains present throughout the ceremony, framed by trees rather than open development, which keeps attention centered where it belongs: the two of you.
A good-sized parking lot is out front, with plenty of room for your wedding guests. Lovers of fall foliage would do well to have an autumn Lake of Isles wedding.
The lower grounds near the lake work especially well for group portraits before or after the ceremony. There’s room to gather without compressing people into tight spaces, and the surrounding trees create visual separation between groups.
For couple’s portraits, coordinating a golf cart escort opens up access to quieter pockets of the property, including small bridges tucked among the trees along the golf course. These locations allow for portraits that feel distinct from the ceremony without pulling you too far from the flow of the day. This setup is very similar to that of The Venue at Winding Hills in upstate New York.
The Clubhouse
Inside the clubhouse, cocktail hour can be hosted in the lower level of the clubhouse (which is a restaurant) or upstairs in the reception space.
The downstairs cocktail hour setup is nice. This area has a unique style, focused on golf and history. The separation from the reception space is nice too, if you can manage it.
A large dance floor is in the center of this room, whose décor shows a touch of classic elegance. This banquet-style space does well at combining modern amenities (like string lights) with classic touches (like Chivari chairs and white linens).
The rear of the ballroom has large windows which overlook the lake. As expected, sunlight will pour into the room as you dance into the early evening on your Lake of Isles wedding day.
From a planning perspective, Lake of Isles also simplifies catering decisions. Food and cake options can be handled directly through the venue, which reduces the number of outside vendors involved and streamlines logistics.
When the venue is part of the story…
Lake of Isles is a venue that rewards intentional planning and thoughtful photography. I’ve worked here and at venues like it throughout New England, focusing on imagery that reflects how a wedding day actually unfolds.
If you’d like to learn more about how I approach cinematic photography, you can explore that here.
Foxwoods Casino Access
One of the more practical advantages of a Lake of Isles wedding is its proximity to Foxwoods Resort Casino. The drive between the casino in Ledyard and the venue in North Stonington is roughly seven to eight minutes (and ride-share services like Uber frequent this area).
Having a main attraction like this so close to your wedding venue can be key; it gives guests (and you) something to do. It’s a small detail, but one that often makes the day easier for everyone.
Hotels Near Lake of Isles
North Stonington has a few hotel options nearby, including Abbey’s Lantern Hill Inn, Hilton Garden Inn Preston, and Bellissimo Grande Hotel.
Above all, you should consider reserving a Foxwoods room block for your guests and wedding party. The casino has the The Fox Tower, Grand Pequot Tower, and Grand Cedar Hotel options.
Foxwoods has a big parking garage where where Fox Tower Drive intersects Trolley Line Boulevard in Ledyard. This is at the northern end of the casino property (follow the signs then look for “SELF PARK” painted on the street). It’s connected to the casino and accessible on foot.
A Photographer’s Take
From a wedding photographer’s standpoint, Lake of Isles stands out as a beautiful location, yes, but also because it’s exceptionally well run. The staff understand how wedding days move; that shows in how transitions are handled, how spaces are prepared, and how quickly the venue adapts when timelines shift.
Location plays a larger role here than most couples realize. Lake of Isles is secluded enough that the day stays contained. There’s very little outside noise or visual clutter, yet it’s minutes from Foxwoods and Mystic. For guests traveling in, that balance matters. They get a destination experience without complicated logistics, and the wedding itself remains the focal point.
Lake of Isles Wedding Photos
The following images highlight Lake of Isles as it’s experienced during a wedding day.
About the Author
Learn More About Lake of Isles
Start your conversation with the venue using the links below.
Citations
I used the following references at different points in this post:
- “About Us,” Foxwoods Resort and Casino
- “Lake of Isles Home Page,” Lake of Isles
- “Lake Of Isles Named One Of The Top 100 Courses You Can Play by Golf Magazine,” The Golf Wire
- “Lake of Isles Golf Resort, North Course,” Links Magazine
- “Pequot War,” Wikipedia
- “Foxwoods Resort Casino,” Wikipedia
- “Foxwoods Is Fighting for its Life,” The New York Times