WORD FOR THE DAY “simple” (adj.), (n.) “1. easy to understand, deal with, use, etc; 2. not elaborate or artificial; plain; 3. not ornate or luxurious; unadorned; 4. unaffected; unassuming; modest; 5. not complicated.” Syn. “child’s play, easy as pie, effortless, manageable, no sweat, straightforward, uncomplicated. Related word, “simplify” (v.) “to make less complex or complicated; make plainer or easier:” Related word, “simplicity” (n.) “the state, quality, or an instance of being simple.”

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“Simple” is magic word for wedding venue

Wedding planning can be complex. Quite often, it begins a year (or more, if possible) ahead of the event with the booking of the wedding venue. Dave Peterson and his wife Dr. Julie Nyland (Medical Arts Dental) have a beautiful place, just west of Crosslake, Minn., that they’ve remodeled with a north woods cabin feel and designed as a complete wedding weekend venue. (They visited with me about it at the Wedding Expo in St. Cloud In January.) Dave uses magical words like “simple,” “simplify,” and “simplicity” in any conversation about Pine Peaks Retreat & Event Center.

            The point he was making about this being an EASY event venue was not lost on me …

            I remember my daughter, Jeanette’s, wedding. (Remember, I'm a writer-for-hire, not a wedding planner!) It began at one church, moved to another church’s reception hall, and ended in the backyard of the mother-in-law’s home for more food and live music from my son-in-law’s band. It was A GREAT TIME, but it involved moving decorations for my husband and me, and it was a bit confusing for the guests, some of whom actually GOT LOST in the shuffle.

            There’s no shuffle at Pine Peaks, although, there is a shuttle to the nearby Pine Peaks Lodge and Suites. Pine Peaks Retreat & Event Center is located two hours north of St. Cloud (up Highway 10, northeast on 210 from Brainerd and then, north on 6), on the Whitefish chain of lakes, with Crosslake being the nearest body of water to the resort. The 5-acre venue sits on 80 acres of a former dairy farm, which had been in the Peterson family for four generations.

            The venue can be a completely self-contained community the weekend of any family’s celebration. Its simpler way of housing everyone is apparent. The center will seat 250 to 300 guests and around 200 for the outdoor settings. An attached pavilion can handle 30 people for the groom’s dinner. The retreat house can sleep up to 20, which could accommodate the bride’s entourage and then, serve as the honeymoon nest for the newlyweds. Guest can also stay at the Pine Peaks Lodge and Suites, six miles down the road, (with a shuttle, remember). There’s also parking there for RV’s/trailers. Dave and Julie don’t own the lodge and restaurant; they’ve have made arrangements with the owners to make Pine Peaks a complete wedding venue.

            And, if you’re Lutheran, you can even use the community church, half a mile away.

            Of course, there are also two outdoor wedding ceremony “stages” on the property, featuring a lovely backdrop of pines.

            However, I’m very intrigued with the Italian wood-burning pizza oven in the center and Maucieri’s Italian Bistro, Bar & Deli in Crosslake. Maucieri’s Catering is also available for the wedding reception. This is a great way to simplify the food plans, and I hear the food is absolutely delicious (Dave and Julie might be a bit prejudiced, though.) I’ll have to check it out myself, on my way up to Grand Rapids. (GR is often my destination in the summer because of the family property on Pokegama Lake.)

            Pine Peaks Retreat & Event Center would make a great destination for anyone’s wedding (maybe, for a wedding anniversary celebration, too). Dave encourages wedding planners to simplify the task by choosing Pine Peaks as the wedding venue. Why? The design and flexibility of the buildings and spaces make the planning simpler, and everyone attending will appreciate the simplicity of execution in the self-contained resort environment "Up North."