Wedding Policies

We will be taking a break from hosting weddings at The Barn at Five Lakes Resort as we undergo renovations and review our future services. While we will not be booking weddings at this time, we continue to look forward to booking smaller events and repeat groups and guests. We hope to return to hosting weddings in the future and appreciate your interest in our venue!

Five Lakes Resort has established the following guidelines and policies with our guests’ safety and satisfaction as top priority.

Wedding packages are offered from May through the end of September.  We are not open for winter wedding dates.

Deposits/Cancellation Policy

To make a reservation for your wedding, we require a signed contract and a $2,000.00 deposit, which will be applied to your final bill. In addition to the deposit, we require that 50% of the estimated total bill be paid to Five Lakes Resort 90 days prior to the wedding day and full payment must be received 30 days prior to the wedding day. The 50% can be paid all at once or on an installment plan prior to deadline. Payments can be made by check or credit card (Visa or MasterCard). Please mail checks to P.O. Box 6 Detroit Lakes, MN 56502. A credit card must be left on file for any extra charges or refunds. Finance charges begin to accrue after 30 days. Interest rate is 19.5% APR.

Event Cancellation/Reductions

In the event that you need to cancel your reservation, the percentage of the amount returned will determine on the time of advanced notice given.

• 61 days to 90 days before scheduled arrival – 50% of Total Anticipated Revenue
• 31 days to 60 days before scheduled arrival – 75% of Total Anticipated Revenue
• Within 30 days of scheduled arrival – 100% of Total Anticipated Revenue

Limited Liability

Five Lakes Resort reserves the right to inspect and control all private parties, bands and receptions being held on premise. Five Lakes accepts no responsibility for damage or loss of personal equipment. Clients accept liability in case of damage to function space or any property belonging to Five Lakes Resort.

Non-Exclusivity

Please note that groups on the property are not granted exclusivity to the entire resort unless arranged under contract. We feel you should be aware that while not allowed in your contracted spaces during your event times, there may be other guests or groups on property. 

Function Space Availability

Private function spaces are available on a first come, first served basis in accordance with group guarantees and deposits. You space is available to you for the time period for which you have rented and paid. Early entry is not guaranteed (even for decorating) and will only be allowed if the space is vacant and has been properly cleaned and re-set by our staff. Additional fees may apply for early entry. Early availability of the function space is subject to change. Please plan the appropriate time frames with your attendees.

Function Space and Decorations

Please check with your venue coordinator in regards to how things may be affixed to the walls and ceilings in each event space.  In some places nails, tacks and staples are acceptable while in other spaces they are not allowed. An additional fee will be assessed for excessive clean-up (above and beyond normal circumstances) or damage/vandalism to the event space (walls, ceilings, furniture, etc.).

Decorating is the sole responsibility of the group. Any additional help needed from Five Lakes’ employees will be subject to an up-charge. For example, if you bring in your own linens, we will charge you for the time it takes our staff to set them up. We will keep track of how many people were used and how many hours they worked.

A fee of $50.00 per day will be assessed to items not picked up the next day. Five Lakes is not responsible for any of your items or decorations that may be broken or lost.

All decorations must be in compliance with local and state fire codes. Nothing can block exit doors. Any flammable materials used to decorate must be pre-approved by your venue coordinator. Only battery operated candles permitted inside the event space. Fireworks are not allowed on property. Sparklers are only allowed outside and use is subject to weather. Venue coordinator has final weather use approval. Only biodegradable items may be used in the confetti toss.

All our function spaces are non-smoking. Smoking is only allowed in designated smoking areas. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in a fee.

Function Space Closure Times

Barn & Tent: 12:00 a.m. the night of the wedding, otherwise 10:00 p.m.

Campfires must be extinguished at 12:00 a.m.

Inclement Weather

Though it is always a beautiful day at Five Lakes, occasionally weather may force your planned outdoor activities inside. Your venue coordinator will work with you to plan back-ups for each outdoor activity. Each back-up will be specific to your event.

Food & Beverage

You may select your menu and beverage options provided in the wedding menu packet. To ensure that every detail is handled in a professional manner, Five Lake requires that selections and specific requests must be finalized 15 days from your event. Any deviations from the menus provided or special orders are subject to availability and may incur a surcharge. Our Chef reserves the right to make substitutions.

Included in the meal price are the dish, glass and silverware, servers and table setting. Dishes are 10” round white ceramic, the silverware is stainless steel, glasses are mason jars.

Due to health regulations, any food or beverage not consumed is prohibited from leaving Five Lakes property.

No food or beverage of any kind is permitted to be brought into any contracted event space, by the patron or the patrons’ guests with the exceptions of wedding cakes.

Beverage Regulations

Corkage fees will be assessed to any outside wine brought in for your event. The corkage fee is $12.00 per 750 ml bottle. Larger bottles will be subject to an up-charge.

Last call will be 30 minutes before your event is contracted to end. No exceptions.

++Service Charge

++ means please add an 18% service charge, 6.875% MN sales tax and .5% Otter Tail County sales tax to rate. Alcohol is also subject to an additional 2.5% MN sales tax.

The service charge is not a gratuity or tip for employees, and it is not the property employees’. Rather, at the discretion of Fair

Hills Management, employees may receive a discretionary bonus at the end of the season from Fair Hills. The service charge is assessed on food, labor and beverage. Minnesota law requires that the service charge be taxable.