Venue Spotlight: Prairie Shores Resort in Madison, South Dakota

Prairie Shores Resort and Events is one of the most unique venues to host your wedding in eastern South Dakota. They have stunning spaces and gorgeous lakeside views from Lake Herman in Madison, SD. With multiple options on where to host your big day, all of that fades in comparison when you consider who can stay here with you in the cabins and camping spaces on site, and the opportunities that you have to make memories. Walks on the beach with your love, a card game with grandma, bonfires with cousins, and watching a sunset drop over the lake with mom and dad before your big day, these are the things you will truly remember forever and a unique aspect of what Prairie Shores can offer. On the one occasion where you will invite the most family and friends to be around you, you should get to have the time and space needed to make memories with and enjoy them.

What an honor is was to meet Kimberly and Doug Erickson, owners of Prairie Shores Resort, and do a styled shoot at Lake Herman with them last fall! When Kimberly says they renovated Prairie Shores to be like a “family reunion” before, during and/or after your wedding, she’s not lying. It feels like home with all the personal and thoughtful touches they’ve added. When you book your wedding here, it’s not just a wedding. It will be a WEEKEND full of memories! If a wedding weekend and family reunion are two ideas that fill your heart, then book this venue! Here we go. A little more about Prairie Shores:

The venue to see if you’re planning a wedding near Madison, South Dakota:

Location: Prairie Shores is located on the shores of Lake Herman at 45156 235th St, Madison, South Dakota 57042.

History: Prairie Shores started as a 4H camp in 1942 called Camp Lakodia. Several buildings like Prairie Sage are original to that time and have been lovingly brought back to life. The current owners bought the property in June of 2022 and have been in the process of remodeling ever since. Every space is getting touched with updates in multiple phases. Indoor and out you will find that nature is the true star of the show. In the Bluestem venue, floor-to-ceiling windows and the outdoor patio allow you to enjoy the beauty of the lake all around while you dance the night away. The Grand Oak Lodge also boasts panoramic views of the lake and has a gazebo out on the peninsula. Perfect for spotting a bald eagle while you do your first look. The property’s 14 acres are filled with picture-perfect opportunities and multiple choices to fit your style (beach areas, open areas, tall pines, prairie grasses, etc.). Your golden hour and sunset pictures here are a photographer’s dream! Nature provides everything you could hope for in a destination, and Prairie Shores provides the spaces for the celebration!

Capacity: There are multiple options for where to have your wedding ceremony and reception at Prairie Shores. With various outdoor ceremony locations on the property, you have great views to choose from. Prairie Sage is the dedicated indoor ceremony option with its white-washed walls, sparkling chandeliers, and is a climate-controlled space that makes a great ceremony choice or backup option in case of inclement weather. The Bluestem Venue the largest space and will be perfect for your wedding reception and dinner. It can seat up to 225 people. For smaller weddings, elopements, or your rehearsal dinner, Prairie Rose is the newest remodeled venue and is perfect for 50 people and under. There is a small kitchenette area with a fridge, microwave, and sink. The Grand Oak Lodge which sleeps up to 20 people is also able to be used for elopements. For some great photos of their social spaces, click here and for some great photos of their lodging spaces, see them here.

Cost: The cost of Prairie Shores depends on the wedding package you choose. There are options for micro weddings, elopements, intimate ceremonies, and larger weddings. Please reach out to Prairie Shores for more details on their pricing and what is included in each package.

Rentals Included: Farmhouse tables and crossback chairs are available in the indoor venues. Prairie Shores also has white ceremony chairs that can be used indoors or outdoors for your ceremony and will be set up for you.

Flexibility on Setup/Take Down Times: What truly sets Prairie Shores apart is the amount of time that you get to spend together with family and friends while utilizing the spaces on your wedding weekend. When you settle in here for the weekend, you will have everything you expect for an amazing wedding. You can decorate, rehearse, and have a rehearsal dinner on the property on Friday. If you are overwhelmed with planning your wedding or want a stress-free wedding day with the decorating taken care of, contact Hitch Studio. Hitch specializes in wedding planning and decorating and will set up AND take down all your wedding decor so you get to focus on the more important things, like getting married!

Catering/Alcohol Policy: At Prairie Shores, you are able to choose your own licensed and insured caterer. Prairie Shores has a full-service bar on site with bartenders to be used. They can customize your bar experience whether it is champagne walls, kegs, or a signature drink. (Have you heard of having a surprise signature drink?! Read about that and more in our 2024 Wedding Trends blog!)

Parking: The venue has a large parking lot in front of the Bluestem venue (the largest space) that includes handicap-marked spaces as well as overflow parking. All cabins have parking available to them and Prairie Rose venue has gravel parking.

Lodging: Prairie Shores has multiple options for your guests to stay on site for the event. The Grand Oak Lodge sleeps 20 people. Six additional cabins sleep 6-8 people and have full amenities. Three rustic cabins sleep up to 6 people each and have heat, air, and electricity, with the bathhouse right next door. Prairie Shores also has 10 camping spots with electricity. This allows the option for some of your guests to stay right on the property.

Amenities: The amenities Prairie Shores offers are plentiful and are listed below:

There are multiple indoor or outdoor spaces to hold your ceremony and reception
Separate bride and groom getting ready spaces
Farmhouse tables and x-backed chairs for your reception
White ceremony chairs set up for you
A bar on site with the ability to customize your bar experience
Ability to have your rehearsal and host your rehearsal dinner on the property
Indoor and outdoor restrooms that are wheelchair accessible
Parking on site
14 beautiful acres (beach areas, open areas, tall pines, prairie grasses, etc.) with numerous photo opportunities
Indoor ceremony options in case of bad weather
Prairie Shores staff on site
Multiple lodging options for 80+ guests to stay on the property
Use of outdoor patio and games area
Watersport and golf rentals are available

Handicap Accessibility: Prairie Shores has handicapped parking, building spaces, some cabin choices, and restrooms.

Contact Information: You can contact Prairie Shores by emailing info@prairieshoresresort.com. More information can be found here on their website.

Overwhelmed with wedding planning? Reach out to Hitch Studio and we can help book your venue, other important pieces of your day, and plan your decorations. When you book with Hitch Studio, you get access to our decor collection for FREE! If you don’t need as much help as a wedding planner, then start here with our wedding planning guide book, the Wedding Day Designer!

Here are some photos of Prairie Shores with wedding decorating and styling done by Hitch Studio: