Camp Culp
Our First Wedding Weekend Recap 💚🤍
Conneaut Lake, PA
When we pictured our wedding celebration, we knew we wanted something different.
My blog post explaining a bit more of how we came up with what we did, coming soon.
Friend Group: Girls on the Run
These are the ladies I coach Girls on the Run with at Paradise Park. We have some sig others, and some adorable babies to add to the mix. These are the ppl that are down for anything. I put up a sign-up sheet for food/items to bring, they have it filled out in 5 minutes. (Think Type A teachers). Will they don bandanas and be assigned either white or green team to compete in silly games for points? HECK YES. Are they supportive people that help each other's parenting styles and love on all the babies? Of course.
Enter: Camp Culp — our version of a wedding weekend at Conneaut Lake, complete with team competitions, projector screen movies, winery/distillery visits, friendship bracelets and hair tinsel, paddle-boarding, late-night karaoke, and all the s’mores your heart could want.
Thank you to all Camp Culp Campers, for snagging pics t/o the trip to document the memories!
Day 1: Let the Games Begin 🏕✨
The weekend kicked off as friends and family arrived at our Airbnb rental, a dreamy setup with six chalets on one property. (It looks like it was an old RV park!)
Once everyone settled in, we gathered around the campfire for dinner and a champagne welcome toast to set the tone for the weekend.
Our "meet the campers" board had silly/embarrassing pics of everyone to keep things light. However, kind thank-you notes were handwritten on the back of each one. Think a personalized "note of appreciation" to each guest thanking them for the support they have given Matt and I, and how they played a role in our journey.
We split into Team White vs. Team Green, unveiling the first of many friendly competitions with a “Jeopardy” game titled “How Well Do You Know Matt & Julia?” (Yes, the Friends trivia episode was our full inspiration — minus the apartment on the line).
While we were distracted by questions and laughs, our friends snuck a surprise welcome basket into our chalet — packed with our favorite snacks, caribeaner cups, custom T-shirts, and much more, along with the sweetest handwritten note. Cue all the warm fuzzies.
Day 2: Lake Day at Fireman’s Beach 🌊🛶
We got perfect weather for our beach day at Fireman’s Beach on Conneaut Lake. The kids splashed in the water, dug in the sand, and ruled the playground while the grown-ups took turns paddleboarding across the lake, and just laying out. We packed picnic food for the day, and enjoyed the sunshine and good company.
Fireman's beach has parking for $7 (cash only), but there is a lot nearby (walking distance where you can park for free; 245 N Third St Conneaut Lake, PA 16316). Bathrooms on site, and cash-only snack bar.
The 2 T-shirts we had found in our welcome basket the night previously? Our friends sneakily packed them, then donned them at the Lake! Big matching group with "Camp Culp" T-shirts. Even the babes!
Ppl headed back to the chalets at their leisure, with some babies laying down for a nap. Once everyone had some down time, we got going around the campfire again with some minute-to-win-it games.
Let’s just say — when you tell a group of GOTR coaches they’re on teams and there are games involved… things get competitive. Bandanas on, energy high, and spirits even higher.
We wrapped up the day with a projected outdoor movie night — The Parent Trap, a camp themed movie of course — thanks to Chris’s amazing setup. Complete with s’mores. Pure camp magic. 🎥🔥🍫
Day 3: Rainy Day Pivot & Local Sips ☔💫
The rain rolled in on Saturday morning, so we pivoted to indoor fun — cue hair tinsel and friendship bracelets in the mess hall, while Matthew cooked up breakfast. Total throwback energy and honestly, kind of iconic.
In the afternoon, once the skies cleared, we ventured to Conneaut Cellars Winery & Distillery. I heard great things about this place, but it wasn't my fav. The inside space was small, too small for our group, and the outside was just picnic tables on grass. They did have a picnic pavilion which I bet is nice! but it was rented out while we were there. We still had fun with some taste testing, bottles and apps to share, and a game called "Herd Mentality." This group makes anything enjoyable.
The rain caught back up with us, so we brought takeout back to the chalets from Silver Shores Restaurant. Hopping place! Good food. Online menu needs updated hahah.
The evening into a dance party/game night with:
🎤 “Finish the Lyric”
🎤 Karaoke
📱 Heads Up
💃 Just Dance
Safe to say… the vibes were undefeated. and the videos will not be shared online.
Day 4: Camp Culp Sendoff ✌🏻💚
We wrapped up our first wedding celebration with full hearts, leftover food and drinks, and a little less sleep than usual.
We joked “HAGS” — but honestly, it’s true: Have A Great Summer vibes all around.
We’re so thankful for everyone who made the trek, brought good energy, helped with food, games, setups, and surprises. This weekend was full of so much joy and so many moments we’ll never forget.
And we can’t say enough good things about our Airbnb property — the 6 chalets gave us our own mini camp feel and made it easy to keep everyone close while still having space to breathe. Scroll for some of our favorite pics 📸 and click the link for the listing 💚
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