Lakeside Occasions

Lakeside Occasions is a family-owned barn wedding venue set on the edge of Emma Lake in Topeka, Indiana, in the heart of northern Indiana's Amish countryside. The property has been in the same family for five generations, originally operating as Merleta Farms — a Guernsey dairy farm that held its last milking in 1988. In 2013, the family opened the fully restored 1880s dairy barn as a wedding and event venue, preserving its rustic agricultural character while adding modern heat and air conditioning, wheelchair-accessible restrooms, and changing rooms. The venue's main reception space, the Guernsey Barn, accommodates up to 250 seated guests and opens to a lakeside ceremony area with a gazebo. The property also includes a 50s-style diner, an outdoor grain bin bar, a recreation space called The Coop, and a historic silo — making it a self-contained destination across 63 acres. Tables and chairs for up to 250 guests are included with the rental, and the venue handles all bar service in-house.