2020 MyNorth Wedding

wedding FOR COUPLES WHO LOVE NORTHERN MICHIGAN » 2020

UP NORTH WEDDINGS WE LOVE THE HOMESTEAD GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT & SPA WILLOWBROOK MILL DRUMMOND ISLAND RESORT & CONFERENCE CENTER CASTLE FARMS KIRKBRIDE HALL MISSION POINT RESORT

UP NORTH WEDDING FAVORS

REHEARSAL DINNERS WITH A VIEW

DREAMY SETTINGS FOR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS

THE BEST PROPOSAL STORIES

MYNORTH.COM/WEDDING

A supplement to $3.95

Everything was perfect. It just felt so right.

This was exactly how it was supposed to be.

The beginning of our happily-ever-after.

Design a celebration that is as unique as you are, with the help of your own personal on-site wedding coordinator and full-service staff. Schedule a tour with Carmen, our wedding expert at 844.277.0193.

MAKE IT YOUR MOMENT. 84 4 .277.0193 | C RYSTA L M O U N TA I N .CO M

Caedy Convis Photography

WORDS CAN’T EXPLAIN.

Your Romantic Setting Up North

weddings • special events • private parties We can accommodate 150 for a sit down dinner in the barn. The deck can seat an additional 90 guests. Unlimited tent space is also available. We are located in Williamsburg, Michigan, close to Lake Michigan and 10 minutes from beautiful Downtown Traverse City.

(810) 523.3873 • Bobgarvey@me.com • traversecityweddingbarn.com

wedding FOR COUPLES WHO LOVE NORTHERN MICHIGAN » 2020

A MyNorth Media Publication PRESIDENT/EDITOR IN CHIEF

Deborah Wyatt Fellows

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

Michael Wnek

EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR DIGITAL AND CONTENT EDITOR PROOFREADERS REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS

ART DIRECTOR PRODUCTION DIRECTOR ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR, SPECIAL SECTIONS

Emily Tyra Elizabeth Edwards Carly Simpson Elizabeth Aseritis, Caroline Dahlquist Kim Schneider, Tim Tebeau, Andrew VanDrie Gail Snable Theresa Burau-Baehr Rachel Watson

WEB DIRECTOR

Jen Berigan

DIRECTOR OF SALES

Julie Parker

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Darren Bergquist Ann Gatrell Jill Hayes Meg Lau Cyndi Ludka Lori Niemer

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Erin Lutke

MARKETING COORDINATOR MYNORTH TICKETS CUSTOMER SUCCESS SPECIALIST OFFICE MANAGER BOOKKEEPER

Kara Jarvis

Emily Oakes Libby Stallman Kim Stewart

contents

7

UP NORTH PROPOSAL STORIES

9

They will take your breath away!

A Supplement to

GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT AND SPA Bri and Michael gave their 180 guests the best vacation ever— and got married at the same time!

Editorial & Advertising Offices 125 Park Street, Suite 155 Traverse City, MI 49684 Phone: 231.941.8174 | Fax: 231.941.8391 Subscriber Services Visit MyNorth.com/sub to change your address or to review your account.

Reprints Reprints available. Please call 231.941.8174.

Please e-mail other subscription inquiries to info@ mynorth.com or call 800.785.8632 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST.

17

WILLOWBROOK MILL A happily-ever-after wedding for a Michigan-raised woman and her East Coast husband in a fairytale setting.

25

THE HOMESTEAD From the rehearsal dinner to the rustically elegant wedding and the finale that lasted late into the night, Liz and Mark’s Big Day all took place on this resort’s memorable grounds.

33

DRUMMOND ISLAND RESORT AND CONFERENCE CENTER A Great Lakes island, miles of dirt-bike trails and a kicked back event all spelled wedding bliss for Kat and Mike.

41

CASTLE FARMS This couple planned their 150-guest wedding from Boston, 931 miles away!

Let’s just say the Castle Farms staff treated them like royalty.

2020 MyNorth Wedding

3

Elizabeth Blair

FinePearls

Bridal Pearls 115 W. Main Street | Harbor Springs, MI | 231.526.7500 westmainpearls.com | elizabethblair.com Member Cultured Pearl Association of America

Northern rental management Specializing in beachfront vacation rental cottages and Crystal Mountain resort homes for your out of town guests or romantic honeymoon.

1-888-326-2352 www.northernrental.net

Menus for all Occasions We welcome small groups and large groups - including 1,000 or more!

Pig Roast • Grilling • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner Upscale • Southern Style • Appetizers • Desserts

Grill & Roaster Rentals - No Distance Too Far

420 E. Prosper Road, Falmouth, Mi 49632 - 231.826.3333

Check out our menus online at www.ebelsgeneralstore.com ➡ Dawn Fresh Catering

4

mynorth.com/wedding

contents

49

67

74

57

70

83

MISSION POINT RESORT A Florida couple staged a dreamy wedding on Mackinac Island (carriages and all!) that feels like it came right out of a Hallmark movie.

KIRKBRIDE HALL The storybook-like spires and bric-abrac gables of the Victorian-Italianate buildings at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons were enough to convince Elle and Chris this was their dream venue.

REHEARSAL DINNERS WITH A VIEW When it’s time to welcome your friends and fam to town, set the tone for your wedding weekend with an unforgettable Up North dinner.

TRUE NORTH WEDDING FAVOR INSPIRATION Share the love, Northern-Michigan style, with these local snacks, sippers and souvenirs. Plus, a welcome gift your guests will love!

A WILDLY STUNNING U.P. ELOPEMENT An insider's look at Marquette's venues, lodging and photo ops that make a wedding in this laid-back town truly magical.

THE BEST SPOTS FOR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS A beloved Northern Michigan photographer has a few gorgeous and unexpected locales in his pocket… and he’s sharing them with us!

On the cover: Ashley and Brent got married in August 2019 in the heart of Leelanau County.

See their beautiful celebration at MyNorth.com/BonusWedding. COVER PHOTO BY SHANELL PHOTOGRAPHY

2020 MyNorth Wedding

5

6

mynorth.com/wedding

it starts with a proposal Over the course of the ten years that I have been editor of this publication, I’ve heard plenty of wedding proposal stories and have loved them all. But then there was Joseph and Kierstin, one of the the couples we featured several years ago. Joe planned to surprise her with his proposal on a Caribbean cruise the couple was taking.

Mishap 1: Once onboard, Kierstin came down with an extremely unromantic case of food sickness. Eventually she felt better enough to go wading in the crystalline water where Joe tuned in a Tim McGraw love song on his phone.

Mishap 2: Not noticing a lurking shark and stingray, he pulled out the diamond ring—fumbled it—and into the ocean it tumbled.

Showing her undying love for Joseph and her new bling, Kierstin dove in to get it. Only to find out it was a fake ring (hardy har-har) and Joe had the other one stashed carefully away in a pocket.

Mishap 3: Kierstin tried to kill him. Kidding. She and Joe had a huge, teary laugh as she said, “YES!” And then he snapped a photo of her posing with the real ring on her finger—and the stingray floating in the background.

Here are some other proposal stories we’ve rounded up with the hope of getting you to tell us about yours—be it humorous or sentimental. Share a photo of your one-of-a-kind proposal on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #MyNorthProposals for a chance to be featured on MyNorth.com! Subscribe to our Weddings Newsletter at MyNorth.com/newsletter and check out the proposal stories.

ELIZABETH EDWARDS, MANAGING EDITOR, MYNORTH WEDDINGS

Expecting to enjoy a few quiet moments together on the beach before dinner, Nicole was escorted to the beach by a cool, (seemingly) calm Jon. But it didn’t take long for her to realize that something was up. After rounding the corner and spotting a circle of lit sparklers, a huge suspicious smile stretched across Nicole’s face as pieces started to fall in place. And then it happened. Jon was down on one knee, Nicole was beaming, family was hiding, and the question was popped.

“We had plans to go up north and hike Tahquamenon Falls with our good friends.

Justin and I have gone there a few times together so I didn’t think anything of it. We got to the end of the hike and went down so many steps to this area that showed the falls.

We all took a picture together, and then Justin asked to take a picture with just me. So when our friend was taking that picture, Justin turned around and started to get on his knee. I started freaking out, and she mistakenly took a video of it happening.”

“Steve’s family has a cottage in Charlevoix that we spend a lot of time at throughout the summer and go skiing up at Boyne in the winter. They have a large property and there is an area that they nicknamed ‘The Church’ where all of the pine trees were planted in long rows and are very tall with a walkway down the center. We walk this path every time we are up there. Steve told me that his dad wanted us to go up for a weekend to check on his boat launch … We got up to his cottage and it was pouring rain, but he still insisted on taking our usual walk through ‘The Church.’ He proposed in the middle of the woods there, and it was the perfect spot, even with all of the rain.”

PHOTOS AND STORIES CAPTURED BY ANNA, AN ASSOCIATE OF DAN STEWART PHOTOGRAPHY

2020 MyNorth Wedding

7

W e d d i n g s | R e h e a R s a l s | s h oW e R s

Creating food as as the bride (well, almost).

beautiful

© Rayan Anastor Photography

Full service wedding reception services to go along with the most beautiful Crystal Lake views and value in Benzie County.

We have openings for 2020

Crystal Lake Golf Course

8493 Fairway Dr. • Beulah, MI

clgolfbeulah.com • clg.beulah@gmail.com 231.360.8453 or 231.882.4061

dream Make your

ring a reality

Specializing in custom design & designer collections.

www.wexfordjewelers.com

8

mynorth.com/wedding

231.347.0101 | wineguysCatering.com

wedding WEDDINGS WE LOVE

STORY BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAMANTHA RICE PHOTOGRAPHY

2020 MyNorth Wedding

9

10

mynorth.com/wedding

BRI CHIPMAN & MICHAEL PARKER | AUGUST 10, 2019

Thankfully Bri and Michael’s wedding went a bit smoother than the proposal itself.

That happened on a blustery day on the South Haven Pier. “The waves were ginormous,” Bri recalls. “When he asked me to walk out on it, I was like, ‘This is how people die.’”

He persisted and finally she put it in gear and went—not stopping to notice that twice he’d gotten down on one knee. When she finally did turn around she assumed he was tying his shoe. Well, until she saw the box …

Flash forward to the wedding for 180 people at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Although the couple (she is a nurse, he is a firefighter) live in Kalamazoo, they both have roots in Northern Michigan. Michael grew up spending summers in Charlevoix while Bri visited her grandparents’ home in Northport. When they looked at the map, Grand Traverse Resort was pretty much smack in the middle of the two locations. Beyond that, the resort willingly blocked off almost 50 rooms for their guests who were coming from all over the country—something most venues simply can’t do.

The couple was looking to make their destination wedding seamless—as well as a mini vacay for their guests. With the help of Liz Kondik and Molly Schroderus at Grand Traverse Resort, their wish was granted. “I literally can’t say enough great things about them,” Bri says. The couple felt the love from the GTR staffers as early as the January before the wedding, when they had their one and only chance until spring to get north for their dinner tasting. “I work nights and Michael’s schedule is erratic,” Bri explains.

The couple had tried to come twice, but each time was stopped by snowstorms. Seeing a break in their hectic schedule, Bri emailed Liz with only days’ notice. Liz said no problem about the short notice—and even comped them a room.

Eventually, of course, the big weekend finally came. The festivities kicked off Friday when Michael, an avid golfer, hit the Grand Traverse Resort’s golf course, The Bear, with his groomsmen and all of their fathers.

At the rehearsal dinner that evening, the wedding party dined on an Italian buffet at the Grand Traverse Resort’s stunning 17th-floor restaurant. “It was perfect because the sun was just setting,” Bri says. A meet and greet cocktail hour followed the dinner—an affair that guests left as friends.

The ceremony was held at the resort’s Shores Beach Club that sits on Lake Michigan’s East Grand Traverse Bay. The resort provided a shuttle service to transport them the short drive to the beach where cocktails awaited them, prior to the ceremony. The sun shone and a soft bay breeze blew across the wedding party as the 10-year-old flower girl, Casey, the couple’s golden retriever, walked down the aisle greeting guests. Under Casey’s loving gaze (and in front of their 180 guests) Bri and Michael exchanged vows. And then it was off to the reception at the resort’s tented-outdoor venue, The Plaza. After a sit-down dinner of the GTR’s famous root beer/vanilla braised short ribs and cherry chicken, the Bluewater Kings Band got the evening rocking—until midnight when the young folks headed down to the bar in the resort’s lobby and met up with another wedding party where they turned out to have mutual friends.

A send-off brunch back up on the Tower’s 17th floor sealed the perfect weekend. “Just talking about it makes me want to do it all over again,” Bri says.

2020 MyNorth Wedding

11

12

mynorth.com/wedding

resources

Venue and Catering | Grand Traverse Resort and Spa Photography | Samantha Rice Photography Flowers | Dorothy’s Floral Studio Cake | Aunt B’s Cakes & Desserts Music | Bluewater Kings Band

See more photos at MyNorth.com/GrandTraverseResort20 Friend getting married? Get them a copy at ShopMyNorth.com/Wedding20

2020 MyNorth Wedding

13

Wedding Notebook Grand Traverse Resort and Spa

Event Facilities

86,500 square feet of versatile indoor and outdoor function space gives you ultimate flexibility in selecting the venues for your special day. Our wedding staff is practiced at transforming the ballroom or outdoor venue of your choice into a truly unforgettable environment. You’ll appreciate the smooth, detail-oriented leadership of our event professionals, as they execute your vision to perfection.

Bridal parties delight in our spa and salon, while groomsmen typically prefer golf and our nearby Turtle Creek Casino. And with multiple wedding and reception venues, our planners create a brand of seamless perfection, regardless of scale. From intimate unions to grand affairs, your guests will feel every bit as loved, cherished and honored as the bride and groom.

Michigan’s Premier Resort Experience People often remark that the most appealing thing about the 900-acre Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is its sense of the genuine. So when couples choose to exchange their vows here, it feels especially romantic. Sincerity resonates among the trees, and love sparkles on the water. Simply put, it just feels right.

Our wedding staff is practiced at transforming the banquet room or ballroom of your choice into a truly unforgettable environment.

You’ll appreciate the smooth, detail-oriented leadership of our event professionals, as they execute your vision to perfection. Pre-event parties and rehearsal dinners are easily arranged.

From our convenient, centrally located Midwest location, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is easily accessible to all of your guests – just ten minutes by Resort shuttle from Traverse City’s Cherry Capital Airport (TVC).

Catering From 2 people to 2,000 people, our Catering department can make an unforgettable experience for your wedding. Our experienced staff can work with any budget and is committed to great guest service.

Weddings are a time for celebration, and our catering staff can work with you on any specialty menu to suit your attendees and their finer tastes! And special meals are no problem for guests with special food needs, and dietary considerations.

Accommodations

Recreation Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is renowned for many things, but the golf experience is among the best anywhere.

For each of our three signature courses, we sought out the finest designers the industry has to offer.

•

The Bear by Jack Nicklaus.

•

The Wolverine by Gary Player.

•

Spruce Run by William Newcomb.

Our 100,000-square-foot Health Club offers something for everyone. Features include:

Whether you stay in the Hotel, the Tower or a Condominium, you’ll revel in the natural splendor of the outdoors, and the luxurious amenities and outstanding accommodations within.

•

Fully equipped Cardio and Weight Room

•

Fitness Classes

•

15,000-square-foot Indoor Water Playground

•

Recreation Pool

The Hotel - Our six-story hotel offers 238 spacious guest rooms, many with gorgeous views and wireless high-speed Internet access. Conveniences include: color cable television, bathroom television speakers, hair dryers, and much more.

• The Tower - Our newly renovated 17-story glass structure offers 186 large, luxuriously appointed rooms and suites each with wireless high-speed Internet access. You’ll relax amid breathtaking views of sumptuous forests and the rolling hills and orchards of the surrounding golf courses.

Deluxe amenities include: wet bars, Jacuzzi whirlpool tubs, bathroom phones, cable TV, refrigerators, and more.

• Condominiums - Sample fairway or beachfront living when you get away to one of our 161 condominiums.

Studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom accommodations are available in a variety of locations.

•

5 Indoor and 4 Outdoor Tennis Courts

•

Guest Services At Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, you’ll find nearly 600 rooms, suites, and condominiums plus a combination of services and amenities unmatched elsewhere. The expert hands of our spa professionals relax bride and attendants with luxurious treatments and massages, and can create perfectly styled hair and makeup for the bridal party. Groomsmen and guests will enjoy a pre-wedding round of golf on one of our three premier courses, a tension-releasing game of tennis, or a relaxing whirlpool. Pristine beaches and exciting water sports are additional options that will make your wedding a memorable mini-getaway for each and every guest. Winter weddings have a special allure with our crackling fireplaces, snow-covered views, and elegant lodge atmosphere. Your guests can also enjoy cross-country skiing, sleigh rides, and other winter activities.

100 Grand Traverse Village Blvd.

Acme, MI 49610-0404 231-534-6000 800-748-0303 weddings@gtresort.com GrandTraverseResort.com

Special Events Manager Molly Schroderus

Reception Capacity 2,500

Spa Director Dawn Olsen

Event Rooms 35

Spa/Golf Sales Managers Cara Goss Joann Hanafi

Guest Rooms 585

GOLF SPA SHOP DINE CASINO

GET UP AND GO Breathtaking scenery and unforgettable moments. The paradise of a Northern Michigan wedding is more than inspirational views, a flowerlined path, or sunset stroll on the beach. More than tee times with the guys or endless pampering for the girls. It’s having all of those things at your fingertips. You won’t believe it if you haven’t seen it. Get up and go at grandtraverseresort.com/weddings.

Owned and Operated by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians

wedding WEDDINGS WE LOVE

STORY BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY NERIPHOTO

2020 MyNorth Wedding

17

18

mynorth.com/wedding

EMILY BEST & BILL CAVALIERE | AUGUST 3, 2019

Emily resettled from Michigan to New York, for work, where she met and fell in love with her fiancé, Bill, and his family. When it came time to plan their wedding, Emily saw an opportunity to show them Northern Michigan—and especially Leelanau County where she’d spent many childhood summers.

What better way than on their wedding weekend? So, Emily started inquiring around about how to plan a wedding from afar, and a friend from college referred her to Melissa Conradie, of Conradie Event Design. Emily and Melissa hit it off immediately and together, they began the process of building on Emily’s vision. Melissa's first move was urging Emily and Bill to book Willowbrook Mill in Northport, sight unseen, for their 80-guest wedding.

After all, one of the key things the couple had asked for when they hired Melissa was that the event be, “Heartfelt and meaningful and make guests feel a connection to the personalized nature of the event.” Melissa was confident in her team’s ability to create the elegant atmosphere Emily dreamed of in the charming, intimate venue, nestled as it is in the picture-perfect Lake Michigan harbor town of Northport.

Even as the guests began arriving, the beginning of a Happily Ever After denouement to the event was unfolding. Cue the rehearsal dinner at the nearby romantic, Old Worldstyle Aurora Vineyards; move on to the ceremony on a bluebird morning the next day at the historic white-clapboard Trinity Church—located close enough to Willowbrook Mill for those guests who chose to, to stroll to the reception.

And then, the reception itself. Built in the 19th century, Willowbrook Mill is a rusticelegant gem set on the edge of a creek in the heart of Northport. Inside, the contrasts of the exposed-beam ceiling with lovely chandeliers and massive stone fireplaces with the dark polished-wood floor serves up an irresistibly romantic leather-and-lace ambience. Add to that, the adornments by the teams from Conradie Event Design and Amy Kate Designs and the site took guests’ breath away.

The event team had more than executed Emily’s vision of a comfortable, tasteful decortheme based on shades of lavender and grey (a color she nicknamed griege).

White linen tablecloths were the backdrop for vintage smokey glassware, plum taper candles in gold candleholders and gold-rimmed china dishware. Mercury glass vases in the center of each table held lavish bouquets of peonies, lavender, succulents, decorative cabbage, garden roses, jasmine vines and clematis.

As Emily works for Diageo, the London-based international beverage company, the bar was especially important to her. The boutique bartending service, Tonic & Lime, provided first-class cocktails, including three cocktails specifically created by Emily for the occasion: His Bill-tini; Her Spicy Slinkydrink; Their Cavaliere Cocktail.

Abundance Catering provided the fabulous feast (prime rib with rosemary au jus, seared chicken with cherry ginger glaze, roasted portabella mushrooms and tilapia with sautéed green beans with fresh garlic and olive oil) and awesome cocktails at hand, Bill and Emily kicked off a night of dancing with “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS. By all accounts, it was an unforgettable event. “The week before I thought, ‘I hope I didn’t make everyone come all the way out here and then find out they didn’t like it,’” Emily says. “But everyone said it was the most beautiful place ... they all loved Leelanau.

They can’t wait to come back.”

2020 MyNorth Wedding

19

20

mynorth.com/wedding

resources

Venue | Willowbrook Mill Photography | NeriPhoto Event Planning and Design | Conradie Event Design Floral Design and Tabletop Decor | Amy Kate Designs Videographer | White Owl Wedding Films Catering | Abundance Catering Boutique Bartending | Tonic & Lime Linens and Rentals | 307 Events & Tents Paper Goods | Holly Thomas Design Cake | Aunt B’s Cakes & Dessert Dishware | Gigi & LaClede

See more photos at MyNorth.com/Willowbrook20 Friend getting married? Get them a copy at ShopMyNorth.com/Wedding20

2020 MyNorth Wedding

21

Wedding Notebook Willowbrook Mill

“Willowbrook Mill is so…you!”

We hear that a lot as family and friends take in the wonder of a reception at the venue. Maybe it’s the way the elegant chandeliers shine in the exposed rafter ceiling. Maybe it’s the rustic stone fireplace laden with lush flowers. Maybe it’s the hard wood floors and the charming stone patio that waits beside the creek.

Whatever the magical combination of elements is that takes a venue from good enough to beyond your wildest expectations, we’ve got it. We are the sweet spot between casual and elegant. Like a legend in the making, whether your wedding party is in denim shirts or tuxedoed splendor; or if your eclectic style includes your Naeem Khan gown with a pair of well-worn Ariat boots peeking out from the lace, you’ll fit right in. We’re so…you! Congratulations, again, to

Amy Kate Designs

Gigi & LaClede

From intimate gatherings to grand celebrations, each creation is truly scrumptious! “We take great pride knowing our passion for detail is what shapes us. We believe that each festivity should reflect the style, personality and character of the people celebrating it”.

A curated collection of tabletop loveliness Holly and her team at Gigi & LaClede are always setting a new table. Expertly cultivated collections of dishes, flatware, glassware and more will take your event from nice to fabulous!

Amy Hendrickson Boutique Floral & Event Decor Stylist 231.883.6170 amykatedesigns.com info@amykatedesign.com

Photos by Josh Hartman Photography + Captured by Grace Photography

Photos by Josh Hartman Photography + Captured by Grace Photography

our 2019 couples. We look forward to all those 2020 weddings coming up and to the new clients that grace our venue! All the best from Willowbrook Mill

Holly DeBoer Gigi & LaClede 616-719-7627 @gigiandlaclede gigiandlaclede@gmail.com

Blue Moon Cottage

Providing exceptional and professional catering to Leelanau & Traverse County at a valuable price. Their friendly and professional staff offers a wide array of elegant faire to casual cuisine created during your collaboration with Chef George. Contact them to begin creating your customized menu.

Chef George Twine & Daniel Nedow, Co-Owners 231-432-0586 Abundance.catering Abundancecatering.mi@ gmail.com

A vintage rental with original architecture, period correct furnishings and an artful dash of French country charm walking distance from the amenities of the village of Northport. Beautiful garden and porch.

Two units. Four bedrooms in each unit.

Yvonne Nordstrand 231-386-5465 nordstrandy@att.net

photo by Yvonne Nordstrand

Photo by Jessie Zevalkink

Abundance Catering & Bartending

Trinity United Church of Christ

5 Ton Tours

Serving Northport since 1863 Trinity UCC welcomes all people, whoever you are, wherever you are on life’s journey, to be married here.

Leelanau Peninsula Jeep & Helicopter tours. 2 to 14 people. Book you Wine tours & custom tours today!

Phil Garrison phil.garrison14@gmail.com 218-269-4466 trinityuccnorthport.org

Conradie Event Design

“How can your event be unique if what you’re using to decorate it, isn’t?” Kelly has over 400 sq. feet of rental wonders that will make you feel like you just walked into Pinterest. Fantastic furniture, gorgeous rental chairs, benches and more, and a skilled professional that will help you pull it all together!

A boutique event planning and design company located in Traverse City, Michigan. We embrace the concept of bringing our clients a well-designed and thoughtfully organized event experience. We are passionate about providing our clients with the best planning experience that the event industry has to offer.

•

serradellastyle.com

Photos by Josh Hartman Photography + Captured by Grace Photography

Serradella Style

Kelly Newell Serradella Style 810-599-1899 • kelly@serradellastyle.com Photos by Josh Hartman Photography + Captured by Grace Photography

Patrick & Judy Durrenmatt 231-668-1129 info@5ton-tours.com

Melissa Conradie Event Curator & Designer 231-645.8910 melissa@conradieeventdesign.info conradieeventdesign.com

wedding WEDDINGS WE LOVE

STORY BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN D. SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

2020 MyNorth Wedding

25

26

mynorth.com/wedding

ELIZABETH JENSEN & MARK BONAVENTURA | AUGUST 3, 2019

The day Mark proposed to Liz at The Homestead began with a massage at the resort’s Spa Amira, then moved to wine on the beach and wound up with the Big Ask under a tree that will always be their special tree. After all of which led the couple to ask each other: How could we get married anywhere else?

The next summer, 70 of the couple’s closest family and friends from all over the country gathered at The Homestead for the event. “Many of them had never been to The Homestead so this was our chance to show them our little slice of heaven,” Liz says.

The newlyweds-to-be kicked their wedding weekend off early, checking into the resort on Wednesday to spend a couple days chilling around the pool and browsing the sweet town of Glen Arbor just down the road from the resort.

It turns out that was as far from their slice of heaven as they needed to go for the next five days, because the staff at The Homestead took care of everything. The rehearsal dinner was at The Homestead’s petite and intimate Cafe Manitou—a glass-fronted venue tucked between the mouth of the Crystal River and the gorgeous Sleeping Bear Bay waterfront. A splendid sunset over the Manitou Islands came with the meal. After dinner, all the guests were invited to a meet and greet at the waterfront bar.

On the wedding morning, the bride and her party gathered at The Homestead’s small and luxurious Lillyjade Salon for hair and makeup, beginning a day that Liz says could not have gone more smoothly, thanks to The Homestead staff, including event coordinators Sandy and Taylor.

There are First Looks, and then there are First Looks at the The Homestead’s romantic footbridge across the Crystal River—with its deep blue peek-a-boos of Lake Michigan through the dunes. Add a beautiful bride in a beaded, princess-style gown, and a handsome groom in a dashing blue suit and well, call it storybook perfect.

From that First Look it was up the hill to The Homestead’s Firefly Lodge where the outdoor ceremony was on the edge of a waterfall-fed pond on the beautiful grounds.

Inside the lodge, Liz and Mark’s delicate color theme of an abundance of greenery and white, cream and blush pink roses contrasted with the knotty-pine paneled room in rustic elegance.

The sit-down dinner featuring salmon and chicken was, Liz and Mark agree, some of the best wedding food they had ever had. “Credit goes to The Homestead’s chef, John Piombo,” Liz says. “He is amazing.”

The newlyweds led off the dancing with “God Only Knows,” by the Beach Boys.

Then it was everyone out on the floor—and in the conga line! After the reception, the wedding party headed to The Homestead’s outside bar in the village, where, says Liz, the staff was unbelievable, staying open several hours past closing just for them. "It was the best day of our lives,” she says.

2020 MyNorth Wedding

27

28

mynorth.com/wedding

resources

Venue and Catering | The Homestead Photography | Brian D. Smith Photography Flowers | 307 Events Cake | Sweet Tartlette Hair & Makeup | Lillyjade Salon, The Homestead

See more photos at MyNorth.com/TheHomestead20 Friend getting married? Get them a copy at ShopMyNorth.com/Wedding20

2020 MyNorth Wedding

29

Wedding Notebook The Homestead

Accommodations You’ll feel at home in one of our resort hotels or in the spaciousness of a privately-owned condominium or a home. Rates span a wide range but all are available on attractively priced wedding specials. So you can choose a level of luxury that suits your mood and your means.

Bay Mountain Ceremony

We invite you to visit a special place where generations of lovers have shared whispered promises, their faces caressed by Lake Michigan breezes, hearts touched by the vision of shimmering

A Suite at Little Belle

islands, souls stirred by watercolor sunsets over a vast bay and towering dunes. Here, at The Homestead, you’ll feel waves of emotion wash over you, as you discover the most wonderfully romantic setting in the place chosen by Good Morning America as the "Most Beautiful Place in America". You'll choose one of three wedding venues with unmatched style and beauty. Each promises a succession of memorable moments you’ll treasure forever.

To learn more, please call us. We will send you information filled with wonderful photos and warm reviews from recent brides. And, we will invite you to come for a visit. When you do, you’ll see that your perfect wedding, like Memories

your love, can begin with a look and a touch.

Catering

We’ve carefully paired our menus with our community. They include seasonally fresh food from local farms and awardwinning wines from nearby vintners. To that we add sparkling table settings and seemless service for fabulous dining on the most important day of your lives.

Event Facilities

Destination Services

Mountain Flowers Lodge

Almost touching the sky, and fresh as the flowers that scent its terraces, Bay Mountain offers panoramic views of Lake Michigan and Glen Lake. Your ceremony and cocktail reception can be there, dinner in the valley below at Mountain Flowers Lodge where you'll find the warmth of stone and pine logs with country gardens and a sparkling waterfall. Accommodates 170.

Camp Firefly captures the charm of the north woods with welcoming ponds, a pine-paneled great hall, covered porch with an outdoor fireplace and wildflower-lined patio overlooking a waterfall and pond. Accommodates 80.

A bouquet’s throw from the beach, Café Manitou inspires Thoreau-like vows in an intimate, shoreside setting with endless blue views of lake and sky from outdoor brick terraces a cozy café. Accommodates 40.

NEW! "Mountain Village" featuring an all new grocerant, restaurant, outdoor grill and bar, stage, dance floor and fire pits. And, a massive stone fireplace and curvilinear celebration table that's perfect for your rehearsal or brunch.

Lillyjade

You and your guests will enjoy the resort’s many amenities - beach, pools, tennis, golf, kayaks, stand up paddle boards, fitness center, skiing, and snowboarding. Your man and his groomsmen might enjoy golf at Manitou Passage Golf Club or Mountain Flowers Par 3.

You and your bridesmaids are sure to enjoy Spa Amira which overlooks Lake Michigan and offers lighthearted fun around a pool. Then, bathed in natural light beside Lillyjade Salon's reflecting pool, you and your bridemaids locks will be coiffed and colored, your nails and toenails buffed for the Big Day. You can welcome your guests with a beachfront bonfire–S’mores and sunsets are included! Your rehearsal reception, and brunch can feature sophisticated soirees or picnics to go.

Wood Ridge Road Camp Firefly

Glen Arbor, MI 49636 231-334-5000 231-334-5300 Events Phone thehomesteadresort.com Event Sales Tony Farragh Sandy Luthardt

Café Manitou

Reception Capacity Up to 170

Event Rooms 3 Guest Rooms 225

Choose One. You won’t be wrong.

Shhh…

We’ve quietly created unique new sites for weddings and sites receptions that are spectacular in any season of the year.

We’ve quietly created stylish new for weddings and receptions.

They meld the majesty of Lake Michigan with the beauty of Leelanau.

They blossom in the spring, shine in the summer, color in the fall, and sparkle in the winter. And, Choose one…flavors will swirl, wines will sparkle and your day, they meld the majesty of Lake Michigan with the beauty of Leelanau. your perfect day, will be made.

ptions. eelanau. r day, weddings Choose weddingsand andreceptions. receptions. h the beauty ith the beautyof ofLeelanau.

Leelanau. llillsparkle sparkleand andyour yourday, day, made. made.

st sight. rst sight.

your season ... wines will flow, flavors will swirl, and your day, your perfect day, will be made.

Come see. It’ll be love at first sight.

Shhh…

We’ve quietly created stylish new sites for weddings and receptions.

They meld the majesty of Lake Michigan with the beauty of Leelanau.

Choose one…flavors will swirl, wines will sparkle and your day, your perfect day, will be made.

Come see. It’ll be love at first sight.

4.5000

sort.com 231.334.5000 ort.com || 231.334.5000

Glen Arbor, MI 49636 | thehomesteadresort.com | 231.334.5000 Glen49636 Arbor, MI|49636 | thehomesteadresort.com | 231.334.5000 Glen Arbor, MI thehomesteadresort.com | 231.334.5000

8 PICK 201

wedding WEDDINGS WE LOVE

STORY BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROCKHILL STUDIO

2020 MyNorth Wedding

33

34

mynorth.com/wedding

KAT POTHOOF & MIKE THOMPSON | AUGUST 16, 2019

Kat and Mike were on a dirt biking mini-vacay on Drummond Island, the stunning Lake Huron island that sits just off the Upper Peninsula coast, when they looked at each other and said: “Why don’t we get married here?”

So they did.

As far as the couple was concerned, the choice for an Up North destination wedding was a no-brainer. The island, with its 150 miles of shoreline is rustic romance incarnate.

Well, and then there’s those miles of ATV and ORV trails that made Mike’s heart flutter …

They chose as their wedding venue the Drummond Island Resort and Conference Center. The four-season gem on this island is made up of a northwoods log lodge outfitted with 40 hotel-style rooms, 15 stand-alone cabins and 2,000 acres of forest and shoreline. That all added up to plenty of accommodations for a destination wedding of 85 guests—all of whom were thrilled to head to tiny DeTour, Michigan, and take the shortbut-sweet car ferry ride to the island to combine their celebration of the couple with a true Up North adventure.

Kat can’t say enough about the resort’s sales and catering staff who helped the couple plan every step of their wedding weekend. Since the wedding was on a Friday (Kat says that she and Mike figured it would be best to get the wedding out of the way so everyone could let their hair down and play for the rest of the weekend!), festivities began Thursday evening with a cookout at a cabin Mike’s parents had rented—anyone who’d made it to the island by then was invited.

The ceremony the next evening was held on the Martini Deck, an outdoor venue located on the beach that seats 200+ and faces west (sunsets!). The Brooder House, also owned by the resort, just steps away housed the reception that was as relaxed and oneof-a-kind as this couple. While Kat and Mike posed for pictures, guests played cornhole, washers and other yard games. For dinner they all dined on a strolling buffet that included pulled pork sliders—and no one could resist the mashed potato bar that, as Kat describes, “had every condiment you could ever think of.”

2Bays DJs from Traverse City got the reception hopping right from the couple’s jazzyrock first dance, “Fool in the Rain,” by Led Zeppelin. Dance timeouts were around the bonfire behind the house (and under the Milky Way) where a s’more bar was waiting. As the evening wound down, the resort staff set up a mini taco bar. Tired but ecstatic, the newlyweds retired to their own cabin—while their wedding party partied it up (safely, no driving!) at another cabin.

Saturday? Kat golfed with some of the couple’s friends and family at the resort’s 18hole championship golf course, The Rock, while Mike and his buddies took to those dirt bike trails. The rest of the weekend was happily-ever-after for the couple and their guests!

2020 MyNorth Wedding

35

36

mynorth.com/wedding

resources

Venue and Catering | Drummond Island Resort & Conference Center Photographer | Rockhill Studio Wedding Planner | A Lovely Day Events Flowers | Sweetwater Floral Music | 2Bays DJs

See more photos at MyNorth.com/DrummondIsland20 Friend getting married? Get them a copy at ShopMyNorth.com/Wedding20

2020 MyNorth Wedding

37

Wedding Notebook Drummond Island Resort

Experience the Romance of our Island combined with the rustic charm of the north woods Guaranteed natural beauty to compliment your special day. Situated

taurants, cottages or on the waterfront. Whether it's an intimate affair

on 2,000 beautiful acres of woods, water and wildlife, our four-season

or a gala event, we can help to make your wedding fantasy come true.

resort is located on the north shore of Drummond Island , positioned

We can also set up a golf outing at our championship 18-hole golf

one scenic mile off the eastern tip of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

course, The Rock, arrange for a bonfire on the beach or other activity

We’re a quaint car ferry ride from DeTour Village, 60 miles from the

for you and your guests. We pride ourselves on having outstanding

Mackinac Bridge. Did we mention that your furry friends are welcome?

service, breathtaking views, unique rustic elegance and numerous

Allow us to take care of your rehearsal dinner, morning after brunch or other wedding related parties in one of our banquet facilities, res-

amenities and activities.

Wedding Venues

Accommodations

Experience the romantic and charming ambiance of our outdoor wedding chapel surrounded by nature. The outdoor chapel featuring a natural wooden cross is available to host your ceremony throughout the day. Exchange vows during a matinee ceremony or sunset glow, or add tea lights or lanterns for added ambiance.

The Martini Deck overlooks Lake Huron if water is what you are looking for. We offer three indoor locations for ceremonies/receptions: The Annex, Brooder House, and Bayside Waterfront. The possibilities are endless at our resort. Share your vision with your wedding coordinator and we will help bring it to life. Our talented food and beverage team will create a delicious menu that will be sure to satisfy. Our wedding venue options can comfortably host up to 300 guests.

At the Drummond Island Resort we offer both indoor and outdoor venues for your Ceremony and Reception - your wedding options are endless!

The Lodge: 40 spacious, lodge style guestrooms, some with lofts. All rooms include complimentary WiFi, in-room coffee, mini fridge, microwave and quick access parking.

Some units are pet friendly.

Our Cabins: 13 log cabins in various sizes and décor. Most offer full kitchens that are complete with the essentials, washer/dryer, patio/deck, Weber grill and fire pit. Some overlook Lake Huron or local ponds and others have peaceful wooded scenery. Cabins range from 2-5 bedrooms, 1-2 bathrooms and one can sleep up to 18 people.

Amenities & Recreation

Drummond Island

The Drummond Island Resort offers a multitude of amenities that would make for a “not the norm” bachelor or bachelorette destination. Four seasons of fun and entertainment await you. Golf our 18-hole championship course, bring your ORV and traverse our park, rent a pontoon and tour the Island, shoot clay pigeons, sit around a bonfire, relax in our sauna or bask in the sun at the pool or beach. The Resort offers a variety of complimentary amenities including: kayaks, bikes, tennis courts, volley ball courts, sleds, tubes, cross country skis and snowshoes. Plus, there are always the miles and miles of wooded trails to explore. The possibilities are endless!

Stop by Pins Bar & Grill for fun and food. Play a game of darts, shoot billiards, cornhole or check out your skills on our golf simulator. Our menu includes house-smoked meats, hand tossed pizza and a full bar.

Our Island, the “Gem of the Huron”, has so many things to do and see, you might need to stay a while. Explore shipwrecks, the 100 miles of ORV and ATV trails, or kayak the Heritage Water Trail around the Island. Birdwatching is a must during migration season. Fishing is bountiful. The Island offers many restaurants, a coffee shop, an ice cream shop and a fully stocked grocery store. Our Island even has its own fudge!

When you host your Wedding at The Drummond Island Resort you will fall in love all over again!

33494 S. Maxton Rd., Drummond Island, MI 49726 patty@drummondisland.com 906-493-1026 (Patty Drew) drummondisland.com Wedding Sales Manager: Patty Drew

Event rooms: Multiple-indoor/outdoor spaces

Reception Capacity 300

Hotel guest rooms: 40 Lodge Rooms, 13 Log Cabins

Get Married at The Drummond Island Resort

At Drummond Island Resort...

We d o C h e r i s h e d M e m o r i e s .

We d o N a t u r a l B e a u t y.

We d o U n f o r g e t t a b l e .

We d o U n i q u e l y Yo u !

We invite you (and 100 or so of your favorite people) to come create an island memory. Our unique natural setting offers: • beautiful wooded or waterside ceremony locations • three charming indoor reception options plus a romantic outdoor tent • endless breathtaking photo settings • rustic hotel rooms and cozy, multi-room cabins • fun year-round activiites for your guests to enjoy

Call or email today to schedule your tour!

906-493-1026 patty@drummondisland.com drummondisland.com 33494 S. Maxton Rd., Drummond Island, MI 49726

wedding WEDDINGS WE LOVE

STORY BY CARLY SIMPSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETH JOY PHOTOGRAPHY

2020 MyNorth Wedding

41

42

mynorth.com/wedding

CORINNE BOYD & PRESTON SANFORD | JULY 13, 2019

Corinne and Preston have known each other since middle school, both attending Traverse City East. They were close friends throughout high school but didn’t become a couple until their freshman year of college, dating long-distance while Corinne studied at Central Michigan University and Preston was at Michigan Technological University. (Corinne confides she knew Preston was the one in high school ... but she was patient.)

In July 2018 the couple had moved to Boston so that Corinne could do her general surgery rotation. Preston suggested getting drinks with friends on a Friday night, meeting up first on a popular pier overlooking downtown. When they got there, Preston grabbed Corinne’s hand and got down on one knee. (Their friends were waiting nearby to capture photos!) The yes came easily and Preston surprised Corinne with a flight to Traverse City the next morning to celebrate with their families. Preston told both of their dads and siblings ahead of time, but their moms were greeted with the happy news during dinner at The Franklin!

Finding a venue was easy; they toured only one. The Knight’s Castle at Castle Farms had always been a dream of Corinne’s, with its cathedral ceiling and chandelier centerpiece.

A large sliding door opens to beautiful gardens and a dramatic stone arch in the Knight’s Courtyard, big enough for the couple’s wish for an outdoor ceremony.

“Since Preston and I currently live in the Boston area, we asked our mothers if they would tour the venue together,” Corinne says. “During the tour, one of the venue coordinators was kind enough to FaceTime us and provide a virtual tour. Afterward, we asked our mothers if there was anything they didn’t like about the venue. They didn’t even pause for a moment and both replied, ‘Nothing, it’s perfect.’ We put down our deposit within the hour.”

Also perfect for the out-of-state couple: an on-site venue coordinator. Alexandria Witulski made planning a 150-guest wedding from 931 miles away worry-free, Corinne says. “Alexandria went above and beyond for us and helped with every detail, big or small, the day of and beforehand. Having the Castle Farms’ team by our side was hands down the biggest benefit.”

The wedding day arrived with overcast skies, but Corinne just knew the sun was going to come out as she headed to Salon Beautiful You in Charlevoix with her bridesmaids for their hair appointments. In the meantime, the groomsmen and close family and friends met at the Charlevoix Country Club for a morning round of golf.

The wedding party met at Castle Farms at 1 p.m. so Corinne and Preston could have a first look before the outdoor ceremony. “I was facing out into one of the gardens waiting for Corinne. I told our photographer I had never been so nervous to see her in my life. When I turned around, I was in complete amazement,” Preston says.

Preston’s Uncle Scott and Aunt Terri performed Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” during the ceremony, one of the couple’s favorite songs. Afterward, guests enjoyed cocktails outside in the courtyard, a cool breeze blowing on the warm summer evening.

The plated dinner provided by Catering by Kelly’s featured garlic and herb crusted grilled beef tenderloin served with demi-glace, chicken Forestiere with fire-roasted leeks, smoked gouda redskin mashed potatoes and fresh asparagus. The couple offered Michigan-made wines from 1918 Cellars, Castle Farms’ tasting room.

“During dinner, the bride’s mother leaned over to me and said, ‘This is just perfect.’

The sun was shining through a large window and our friends and family were chatting and having a wonderful meal. I looked over at my wife, who gave me this slight grin she sometimes makes. I replied, ‘It truly is.’”

2020 MyNorth Wedding

43

44

mynorth.com/wedding

resources

Venue | Castle Farms Photography | Beth Joy Photography Flowers | Thyme Hill Design (Sidnee Barrett) Caterer | Catering by Kelly’s Cakes and Desserts | Simply Sweet by Jessica Wine | 1918 Cellars, Castle Farms Music | Rusch Entertainment Makeup | ALH Beauty Aubrey Huyck Bridal Gown | Designed by Viero (dress name is Corinne!)

See more photos at MyNorth.com/CastleFarms20 Friend getting married? Get them a copy at ShopMyNorth.com/Wedding20

2020 MyNorth Wedding

45

Wedding Notebook Castle Farms

Wedding Venues

Historical Elegance & Unmatched Service

Jesse David Green Photography

Beth Joy Photography

Rockhill Studio

The Castle offers a reception room for every style and size of wedding. From garden rooms filled with light to regal stone walls and arched cathedral windows, each room presents a myriad of opportunities to create your own unique style.

All your basics are taken care of, including tables, chairs, white linens, as well as set up of your locations according to your specifications. Many couples rent colored linens or other dĂŠcor to help transform the spaces, but courtyards and arches look just as sweet with a minimal touch.

memorable. The century-old stonework provides a dramatic backdrop for ceremonies and receptions. Arches found around every corner offer endless opportunities for photographs while acres of manicured gardens attract butterflies and couples looking for a secluded kiss. Our goal is to help your wedding live up to your dreams, and our expertise means we can make that dream a reality.

E.C. Campbell Photography

Weddings at Castle Farms are often exquisite, frequently stunning, and always

Charlevoix the Beautiful

With over a decade of expertise, our primary focus is hosting weddings that create a one of a kind experience for you and your guests. Our Venue Coordinators, plus a dedicated team of set up staff, gardeners, housekeepers, and maintenance, ensure you will have a stress-free wedding.

Nestled in the resort community of Charlevoix, there are accommodation options to suit everyone. You will find your guests well taken care of in any of the local Bed & Breakfasts, Hotels & Inns, Motels or Rental Homes.

Wedding guests will be happy to explore our beautiful town. A scenic harbor, welcoming shops, manicured parks, enticing restaurants, wood chipped nature trails, and the perfect sunset view at the lighthouse are just some of the sights you’ll see in our area.

Lux Light Photography

Services

1918 Cellars Wine Label

A13 Studios

Always Photographic

New in 2018, Castle Farms has transformed a stone chamber into a wine tasting room serving 1918 Cellars wine, crafted specifically for the Castle. Couples and visitors alike will enjoy the ambiance of relaxing under the wood beamed ceilings while sipping Michigan-produced wine.

Wedding couples can enjoy a private tasting to select their specific combination that is pleasing to the palette and leaves a smile on the lips.

5052 M-66 North • Charlevoix, MI 49720 231-237-0884 • CastleFarms.com

Vendors We allow you the flexibility to choose your own vendors, including your caterer, as well as purchase the beer and liquor for your event. It’s a significant advantage for any couple interested in saving money, and allows you even more opportunities for creativity. Wine service is provided by Castle Farms and features our own brand, 1918 Cellars.

Venue Specialists Rebekah Moser Kayla Eggers Reception Capacity Up to 350 guests Varies by venue

Ceremony Locations 3 Reception Rooms 5 Unique Photo Opps 12 Courtyards & Gardens with countless backdrops

wedding WEDDINGS WE LOVE

STORY BY COURTNEY JEROME | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE MAGEE PHOTOGRAPHY

2020 MyNorth Wedding

49

50

mynorth.com/wedding

BRITTANY GARCIA & ANDREW ROMERO | JULY 12, 2019

When Brittany and Andrew stepped off the ferry on to Mackinac Island on their first vacation together ever, Brittany exclaimed, “Oh my gosh! We are not in Kansas anymore!”

(Catch her Wizard of Oz reference?!)

“It was the coolest thing I think I’ve ever seen in my whole life,” she recalls.

That said, it’s understandable why this Florida couple wanted to have their wedding there. On that first trip to the island, the couple missed visiting Mission Point Resort—the idyllic spot that would become their wedding venue. The truth is, Brittany and Andrew didn’t see the venue until two days before exchanging their vows. Talk about trust.

Trust that led to what the couple and their friends ended up referring to as a Hallmark movie-style wedding.

“Ninety percent of our guests flew in from Florida,” Brittany says. “They equated it to stepping out of time and into a Hallmark movie. We had horse-drawn carriages. I mean, seriously!” Brittany laughs, saying she still has to remind herself, “Yes, that really did happen, you rode down Main Street and waved at all the little girls who thought you were a princess.”

It’s true. Her dress was fit for a princess. The monogrammed bridal party pajamas: storybook worthy. The three-tiered cake adorned with local peonies and even an exact edible replica of the couple’s pup, Rory: perfect. Then there was the meticulous menu planned by Andrew, based on his past-life in the culinary world. Add the countless sentimental moments between family members, and there are more than just a few reasons why the Romero wedding seemed made for a movie set.

As an accountant, naturally Brittany debated the dollars. To get married on the island, Brittany assumed it would cost them “a million dollars.” She considered it a pipe dream.

But after some investigating by her parents and their family friend, Chelie (whose family has a house on Mackinac’s Main Street), they discovered that “to have our dream wedding here was less expensive than to have our wedding in Florida,” Brittany says. “It was the best of both worlds.”

So how did she choose her wedding vendors from a distance? “The biggest thing in our planning was to find out who knew the island the best? That was most important to me.” And in a very Mackinac Island-fashion, the vendors they hired called each other to work through the details of the Big Day themselves—while Brittany and Andrew relaxed hundreds of miles away.

On July 12, just over 60 guests joined the couple for their vow exchange at the gazebo on Mission Point’s front lawn, followed by a crisp-white reception complemented with blush pink accents and horse-drawn carriage designs throughout the room. Later, they danced the night away as the sunset was in full view through the Summit Room’s 180-degree windows looking out at the Lake Huron lakeshore.

“Mission Point was amazing,” gushes Brittany, which is a compliment that doesn’t come lightly from the bride, as she and Andrew first met while working at the acclaimed Breakers Palm Beach Resort in Florida—which is known for its hospitality. “Everybody we worked with at the property blew our expectations out of the water,” Brittany says. “If we had to say how incredibly easy this all was, it still baffles my mind. It was just incredible.”

2020 MyNorth Wedding

51

52

mynorth.com/wedding

resources

Venue | Mission Point Resort Photography | Christine Magee Photography Videographer | Love Stories Productions Flowers | St. Ignace in Bloom Food | Mission Point Resort & Doud's Market Cake | Bella e Dolce Favors | Joann's Fudge on Mackinac Island Music | Northern Entertainment, Michael Williford Bridal Gown | Mariolka's Bridal Boutique Horse-Drawn Carriage | Mackinac Island Carriage Tours

See more photos at MyNorth.com/MissionPointResort20 Friend getting married? Get them a copy at ShopMyNorth.com/Wedding20

2020 MyNorth Wedding

53

Wedding Notebook

Alisha Tova Photography

Mission Point Resort

Mackinac Island’s Premier Lakefront Wedding Venue Located on the sunrise side of historic Mackinac Island, family-owned, award-winning Mission Point Resort has been a premier site for wedding ceremonies and receptions for generations. Spectacular views, lush lawns and gardens, refreshing lake breezes and a deep sense of historic character all distinguish our resort as the ideal desitination for your special day. The atmosphere of genuine hospitality, relaxed elegance and inviting comfort provides the perfect setting for rest, inspiration and meaningful connections.

Bre Thomas Photography

Memorable Weddings For weddings of 2 to weddings of over 300, Mission Point is home to a variety of ceremony and reception spaces, all of which reflect the unparalleled beauty and tranquility of Mackinac Island. Set on 18 acres of expansive lawns and beautiful shoreline overlooking Lake Huron, Mission Point has limitless possibilities for taking gorgeous wedding photos and creating a lifetime of memories. Our wedding sales team is ready to assist you in every way possible, including coordinating catering and location needs and connecting you with the area's best photographers, florists and other wedding resources.

Mackinac Island

Our culinary team is committed to high quality, sustainably sourced and innovative dishes and the culinary experience at Mission Point is second to none in northern Michigan.

Ingredients featured on our menus are sourced from the farms, forests and waters of the Straits of Mackinac area and state of Michigan; regional influences help to transform each meal into a memorable and delicious culinary experience.

Beautifully situated at the intersection of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, Mackinac Island is a storybook location filled with historic character and unparalleled beauty. From horse-drawn carriages and tandem bicycles to famous fudge and flowers galore, Mackinac is the perfect destination for weddings large and small, second weddings or for couples wanting to renew their vows. Consistently voted one of the top islands in the United States, Mackinac’s romantic charm can be found all around the island – century old churches, garden gazebos, turquoise blue water, refreshing lake breezes and gorgeous flowers.

Wendy Thibodeau Photography

Weber Photographers

Delicious Food

Bridal Beauty

Wendy Thibodeau Photography

Mission Point is also home to Lakeside Spa & Salon, a full-service Aveda salon with a variety of bridal services and packages available for your perfect day. Lakeside Spa & Salon is the largest and most modern salon on Mackinac Island and boasts a complete menu of services for bridal parties and individuals including spa treatments, massages, facials, aromatherapy, manicures, pedicures, hair styling, eyelash enhancements and makeup application.

We also invite you to reserve our intimate bridal-ready room, which is a great private wedding headquarters for the day.

One Lakeshore Drive Mackinac Island, MI 49757 906-430-8137 weddings@missionpoint.com missionpoint.com Wedding Sales Manager: Michaelena Vassallo Reception Capacity up to 350

Hotel guest rooms: 241

Recent reviews from

“

Our wedding ceremony took place at the Mission Point Gazebo and the reception on the Promenade Deck. Everything was so beautiful and went off without a hitch! The food was amazing and all of our guests enjoyed themselves. Mission Point could not have done a better job!

”

Marcy C.

The individuals at Mission Point were wonderful to work with. As a destination location for the “wedding, they were highly responsive to emails through the planning process and they were highly accommodating when dates and times to go up there were a challenge to plan on our part. I received numerous compliments about how well their team coordinated the events of the day, along with the quality of the food served at the reception, and the friendliness of the wait staff and bartenders at the reception. We had our wedding ceremony at the waterfront Gazebo, and the reception in the Colonial room. I would highly recommend looking into Mission Point as a wedding venue - my husband and I have no regrets and only happy memories.

Taylor M.

”

Michaelena Vassallo, Wedding Sales Manager | 906.430.8137 | weddings@missionpoint.com

wedding WEDDINGS WE LOVE

STORY BY CARA MCDONALD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HALLIE KOHLER

2020 MyNorth Wedding

57

58

mynorth.com/wedding

ELLE BODNAR & CHRIS BURGESS | DECEMBER 22, 2018

When Elle and Chris Burgess started dating, she was fresh out of Traverse City Central High School and heading to college in Kalamazoo. While most long-distance relationships at this age end up college casualties, the two made it work. Elle graduated and moved back up to Traverse City for awhile, then moved away again as her career as a high school counselor evolved, and the two commuted faithfully, as they had for years.

On a snowy December night, Chris proposed.

One year to the day later, on December 22, 2018, Elle and Chris gathered with friends and family at Kirkbride Hall to exchange vows.

“I’ve always wanted a wedding around Christmas, I just think it’s so romantic,” Elle says. “One of my cousins had a winter wedding and it was beautiful—the lights, the fresh snow. Just the spirit of Christmas, it’s such an exciting time.”

The pair wanted an elegant but relaxed celebration. At first, Elle considered other options, but eventually they landed on Kirkbride Hall at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons.

“A friend had been married there in the summer,” Elle says. “I’d seen her photos and thought, oh my gosh, it’s architecturally just really beautiful.” The pair worked with Meg Gutowski, event manager at Kirkbride Hall. “Right off the bat her personality was so soothing and organized. Once we found the dates were available, it was a no-brainer.”

Kirkbride Hall, formerly known as the Chapel, once hosted services, socials, dances and concerts for state hospital patients. Its soaring ceilings and stained glass windows were part of the philosophy of mental health treatment pioneered by Joseph Kirkbride in the 19th century, who believed architecture and design that facilitated beauty, fresh air and sunlight were healing forces.

Now an events space, Kirkbride Hall is once again a gathering place for celebrations, and to the Burgesses it was perfect, offering a blank slate for their Christmas vision. Elle found ruby red (“Christmas red,” she says) dresses for her bridesmaids to illuminate the space, and hints of red from potted poinsettias lined the aisle. Friend and florist Lindsey Kukla of Cherryland Floral and Gifts added bouquets of red and white roses with pepperberry and eucalyptus. Sheer curtains framed the ceremony space, while white pillar candles and a fairy-lit Christmas tree provided warmth and sparkle.

After the ceremony, while the guests mingled in the lobby over cocktails and Shorts Local Light and Bellaire Brown beers (a gift from a friend who worked at the brewery) the crew flipped the space for the reception, catered by Grandview Catering.

For dessert, the vanilla cake and a slew of cupcakes were ordered from Sam’s Club— the bride loves their buttercream—and gussied up by Kukla with floral elements inspired by the bouquets. Elle used a favorite cake stand for the cake, and borrowed cupcake stands from a friend’s wedding.

“That’s just us—simple and not too crazy,” Elle says. “It ended up being the perfect day and it set a good tone for our marriage.” She adds: “Our family did a lot for us and they helped us keep perspective: what truly matters are the vows.”

2020 MyNorth Wedding

59

60

mynorth.com/wedding

resources

Venue | Kirkbride Hall Photography | Hallie Kohler Flowers | Cherryland Floral & Gifts Caterer | Grandview Catering Bridal Gown | Becker’s Bridal

See more photos at MyNorth.com/KirkbrideHall20 Friend getting married? Get them a copy at ShopMyNorth.com/Wedding20

2020 MyNorth Wedding

61

Wedding Notebook

Weddings by Cheyenne

Kirkbride Hall

History Transformed Located at the heart of Building 50 at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, the recently restored Kirkbride Hall was the original Chapel of the Traverse City State Hospital built in 1885. The historic ballroom with cathedral like ceilings and stained glass windows create the perfect background for your reception and ceremony. Kirkbride Hall is an ideally intimate Northern Michigan wedding venue with accommodations for wedding ceremonies and receptions up to 160 guests. Our ceremony venues range from our stunning cathedral-like historic chapel to natural and serene outdoor ceremonies.

Wedding Venue We provide tables and chairs with ivory or white linens for up to 160 guests, access to our private bridal suite starting at 10:00 am until the conclusion of your event, dance floor (up to 18'x18') and day of venue manager on-site for the duration of your event.

Accommodations

Catering James Perry Catering – With nearly twenty years in the profession, Chef Kaylee Davenport --co-owner of James Perry Catering-- and her team of experienced chefs are continuously challenging the boundaries of culinary imagination and breaking new ground as one of Northern Michigan's extraordinary catering companies. As the premier caterer of Kirkbride Hall, in the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, James Perry Catering is privy to hosting a wide range of upscale events that is sure to make any moment in life unforgettable.

Est. 2019 - Call now to receive a complimentary quote for your upcoming event. 231.590.4938

The Historic Front Lawn at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons KIRKBRIDE SUITE: Just above Kirkbride Hall the suite sleeps up to 10 guests. A private-stop elevator delivers you to a fully furnished condominium with 3 king bedrooms on the main level, each with a private bathroom and a large loft with a queen-sized sleeper sofa and queen bed, also with a full bath and a jet tub. All beds feature luxury linens and covers. Historic bricks and beams and dramatic open-ceiling angles combined with new flooring and an abundance of wood finishes create a space that is stunning and remarkably comfortable. The perfect place to rest and relax.

THE LOFTS AT 58: Recently completed the lofts at 58 are part of the adaptive re-use of the former kitchens and dry goods storage building (designated as “Building 58”) of the former Traverse City State Hospital. It is located just west of Building 50. Building 58 was one of the key service and support buildings for the operations of the sprawling state hospital campus.

Our 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom condos in building 58 are available for short term rental and are located just steps from Kirkbride Hall.

Our front lawn is the largest Arboretum in Northern Michigan, home to over 30 different varieties of trees from around the world and a key part of Dr. Munson’s theory that “Beauty is Therapy”. Our special ceremony spot at the center of two big beautiful maple trees is the ideal spot to say “I do”.

The Village at Grand Traverse Commons The former Traverse City State Hospital is immersed in over 100 years of history. The evolution from a state run asylum to a thriving and bustling community is the foundation of what makes The Village what it is today. The Village is the perfect space to host your next event. Aside from the beautiful charm of the historic buildings and the scenic landscape, The Village provides endless excitement for each of your guests to enjoy. With various retail shops, eateries and wineries, hiking trails, events and historic tours, The Village of Grand Traverse Commons will leave your guests in awe!

700 Cottageview Dr. Traverse City, MI 49684 231.941.1961 kirkbridehall.com Kate@kirkbridehall.com Meeting and Event Sales Manager Kate Angove

Capacities: Ceremony 160 guests Dinner Reception 160 guests Cocktail Reception 220 guests

­ ­

­ ­

Weathervane Terrace Inn & Suites

A castle for your overnight stay Our Conference Room seats 25-30 and is a great place to have your catered rehearsal dinner or after wedding brunch.

3 miles from Castle Farms Only rated hotel in downtown Charlevoix Free continental breakfast and high speed fiber internet Largest seasonal outdoor heated pool • Indoor hot tubs and fireplaces 32" Flat screen TVs in all rooms Group discounts available

www.weathervane-chx.com • info@weathervane-chx.com 111 Pine River Ln., Charlevoix • 231.547.9955

Newest Luxury Mobile Restroom Fleet in the Midwest

16 Years Event Experience bestmobilerestrooms.com • scott@bestmobilerestrooms.com 231.709.3462 • 810.577.2944 2020 MyNorth Wedding

65

BIG CIT Y EXPERIENCE SMALL TOWN CHARM 231.347.1840 - 1888 E Mitchell - petoskey

taylorrentalpetoskey.com

Breathtaking BreathtakingDestination Destination

.

.

Dan DanStewart StewartPhotography Photography

Schedule a venue tour today. | (231) 645-2732 | Located in Traverse City, Michigan | www.bayviewweddings.com Schedule a venue tour today. | (231) 645-2732 | Located in Traverse City, Michigan | www.bayviewweddings.com 66

mynorth.com/wedding

Set the tone for your wedding weekend with an unforgettable Up North dinner at one of these stunning venues in Northern Michigan. Call ahead for the precise services to meet your needs.

BY EMILY TYRA | PHOTO BY MICHAEL MURPHY IV PHOTOGRAPHY

GREAT LAKES CENTER FOR THE ARTS

GREAT LAKES CENTER FOR THE ARTS

STAFFORD’S WEATHERVANE RESTAURANT

LANDMARK INN

800 BAY HARBOR DR., BAY HARBOR

106 PINE RIVER LN., CHARLEVOIX

230 N. FRONT ST., MARQUETTE

231.439.2600 | GREATLAKESCFA.ORG

231.547.4311 | STAFFORDSWEATHERVANE.COM

906.228.2580 | THELANDMARKINN.COM

This world-class venue’s thoughtful design makes the most of picturesque Northern Michigan. The donor lounge has 800 square feet of intimate space ideal for private dining.

Or welcome family and close friends to soak up beautiful views and Lake Michigan breezes on the rooftop terrace.

Treat your group to a signature cocktail: The Michigan Mojito, with New Holland rum, Traverse City cherries, fresh mint, and classic Vernors. Pair with smoked whitefish spread, chilled cherry soup, Stafford’s perch and a scenic view of the winding Pine River.

Talk about a Michigan moment.

This stunning hotel has been Marquette’s social hub since 1930, and is just steps from the Lake Superior shore. The gracious staff welcomes rehearsal dinner gatherings both big and small. For an intimate cocktail hour, take the elevator up to the sixth floor lounge, where you are face-to-face with Marquette’s skyline, Lake Superior and the Marquette Mountain range.

2020 MyNorth Wedding

67

Advertisement

Getting Married Up North: Stephanie + Paul

Choosing to marry at Stafford’s Perry Hotel in Petoskey was an easy decision for Stephanie and Paul.

“As a couple, we love spending time on the water and Stafford’s Perry Hotel incorporated that perfectly!” Stephanie said.

The couple aimed to give off a formal yet whimsical, garden party vibe and they did just that. Details of artificial boxwood on the bar, tent draping, crystal chandeliers and an escort wall of mismatched gold mirrors.

“Our S+P wedding crest was one of my favorite details from our wedding,” Stephanie notes. “We incorporated that into many elements of our wedding including our invitations and ceremony signage. I also loved our welcome bags for our guests! We included mitten shaped cookies and Kilwin’s caramel corn as a way to pay homage to the city of Petoskey.”

Paul and Stephanie adore the charm and hospitality Stafford’s provides.

“The charming location, the warm welcome, the stunning views... getting married at the Perry was an absolutely dream! The team truly lives up to their motto on hospitality, professionalism, kindness and level of detail. By the time we left, we felt like part of the family!”

Wedding Dream Team Ceremony & Venue: Stafford’s Perry Hotel Photographer: Jennifer Boris Photography Tent Decor: Tableau Events, Nuage Linens

Music: Chateau Band

Florist: Bloom Floral Design

Videographer: Wedding Tales Videography

Cake + Sweets: Simply Sweet by Jessica

Officiant: Reverend Jonathan Mays

O

R

IN

T H IS

IN G

Stafford’s Wedding Team IC

LO

DG

I N G & WA T E R F

RO

N

T

D

100 Lewis Street | Petoskey, MI 49770 231-348-6017 | angiew@staffords.com staffordsweddings.com

Advertisement

1. SWEET TREAT CHERRY REPUBLIC | CHERRYREPUBLIC.COM 2. SALTY & CRUNCHY GREAT LAKES POTATO CHIPS | GREATLAKESPOTATOCHIPS.COM 3. HANDCRAFTED SOAP LAKE SOAP CO. | LAKESOAP.COM

Bundle up the best NoMi travel guide around, plus local soap, sips and snacks for a post-dance party pick-me-up!

4. LOCAL COFFEE STRONGBREW | DRINKSTRONGBREW.COM 5. SOMETHING TO READ TRAVERSE MAGAZINE + MYNORTH VACATION GUIDE | MYNORTH.COM

PHOTO BY DAVE WEIDNER

1

3

2

5

4

70

mynorth.com/wedding

up north wedding favors!

WHISKEY BARREL AGED HONEY IRON FISH DISTILLERY | IRONFISHDISTILLERY.COM

PHOTO COURTESY OF IRON FISH DISTILLERY

PETOSKEY STONE KEEPSAKE GRANDPA SHORTER'S | GRANDPASHORTERS.COM

PHOTO COURTESY OF GRANDPA SHORTER'S

HANDMADE LIP BALM SISTER BEES | SISTERBEES.COM

PHOTO BY LAKEFX MEDIA

NORTHERN MICHGAN MAPLE SYRUP HARWOOD GOLD | HARWOODGOLD.COM

PHOTO BY JENN ANIBAL

MICHIGAN MADE FUDGE MURDICK'S FUDGE | ORIGINALMURDICKSFUDGE.COM PHOTO BY ROCKHILL STUDIO

2020 MyNorth Wedding

71

#LETSTAKEAWALKDOWNTHEAISLE in Downtown Traverse City

Downtown Chili Cook-Off January 18

Traverse City Restaurant Week February 23-29

Downtown Street Sale August 7

Serving high-end, seasonal pastries and confections using local ingredients

Northern Michigan Wedding Expo

Record Eagle TRAVERSE CITY

3 | 18 | 20

KirKbride Hall • Traverse CiTy

Justin Hankins Photography

Join us on March 18th 4 - 7 pm • Kirkbride Hall in Grand Traverse Commons!

Win our Ultimate Wedding Package Giveaway! You'll also have chances to get raffle prizes, door prizes and vendor prizes!

Record Eagle TRAVERSE CITY

72

445 E FRONT ST � TRAVERSE CITY 231.642.5333 � sweettartlette.com

mynorth.com/wedding

Facebook “f ” Logo

CMYK / .eps

Facebook “f ” Logo

Find us on Facebook: Northern MI Wedding Expo www.nmiweddingexpo.com

(231) 922-2050 downtowntc.com

Upscale • Downtown • One of a Kind

The Corner Loft is an exquisite event venue nestled in the heart of Traverse City. This historic venue is a stately, neoclassical-style building with high ceilings, large windows, beautiful exposed brick and an industrial - urban chic vibe.

201 E FRONT ST • TRAVERSE CITY 231.715.6543 • CORNERLOFTTC.COM

227 E. State Street, Traverse City, MI 49684 231-360-3620 • cindyhardy29@yahoo.com liliesofthealley.com 2020 MyNorth Wedding

73

An insider’s look (quite truly…our marketing director eloped in Marquette last September!) at Marquette wedding venues, places to stay, provisions and photo ops that make a Northern Michigan wedding in this stunning and laid-back place truly magical.

BY ERIN LUTKE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATHERINE JARVI PHOTOGRAPHY

74

mynorth.com/wedding

2020 MyNorth Wedding

75

ERIN AND HER HUSBAND, DREW, OUTSIDE THE MARQUETTE COURTHOUSE

76

mynorth.com/wedding

hen we first started talking about our low-key wedding, we had a few requirements. A Michigan destination we could visit annually on our anniversary, a place we could hike and explore, and finally, it must have a darn good brewery (we are beer lovers and my husband owns a brewery in Suttons Bay, Michigan).

Marquette was always at the top of our list because neither of us had been there and we were big fans of Blackrocks Brewery. Once I did some research and stumbled upon the stunning historical courthouse in downtown Marquette, I knew we had found the place to elope.

Without having ever stepped foot in the Upper Peninsula (though we had both been to Mackinac Island as kids) we planned our entire wedding from our Traverse City home.

Honestly, it was pretty easy as the attendee list was small … as in just the two of us! Before you ask: our parents had already given us their blessings to elope; they were just happy we were FINALLY tying the knot.

We arrived in Marquette on the evening before our wedding, a Wednesday. We decided to get married on Thursday, September 20, because it was cheaper and it worked out great for our schedule (this marriage thing is already off to a great start, eh?). On the five-ish hour drive from Traverse City to Marquette, we listened to my husband’s old collection of CDs, which included an eclectic mix of Dave Matthews Band, DMX and Garth Brooks.

Our first stop in town was, of course, Blackrocks Brewery.

Neither of us had pre-wedding jitters (I’m sure this is because we didn’t have 200 people ready to watch us tie the knot), so we shared a few beers and watched a band from the cozy space. Beer recommendation: Nordskye, a Session IPA. Delicious and one of the most beautiful cans I’ve ever seen.

The next day was our wedding day! Our courthouse appointment to get, you know, married wasn’t until 1 p.m. and we had some time to kill. First things first, bagel sandwiches from Third Street Bagel. No wedding diet here! We devoured the Tex Mex and Sante Fe Breakfast Bagels and sipped our Contrast Coffee.

Breakfast was solid fuel for hiking Sugarloaf Mountain, which was the next item on the agenda. Nothing relaxes you before you take the most important vows of your life like a good hike through the forests of Northern Michigan.

We climbed to the mountain’s top and spent a few minutes surveying the city of Marquette and Presque Isle Park where we would start the wedding festivities in a few hours. We didn’t have much time, but we vowed to come back and climb it year after year.

Back in downtown Marquette, it was time to get down to business. We got into our wedding gear and picked up my bouquet from Northwoods Flora and headed to Presque Isle Park. This is where we met our photographer, Katherine Jarvi, and her husband (coincidentally also our wedding witnesses!).

Katherine was my first choice for a photographer since she’s a local and applauded our desire to elope. At this point, the early fall weather caught up with us and it began to pour. (If I had a dollar for every time I heard, “Rain on your wedding day is good luck.”) But my husband and I didn’t care. We posed for photos in the rain, scampered on the *actual* Black Rocks, chased each other through the forest and got completely soaking wet.

The Upper Harbor Ore Dock made a stunning backdrop with the grey skies and blue of Lake Superior.

We arrived at the Marquette County Courthouse before our appointment and were immediately floored by the beauty.

Wall-to-wall marble, solid oak and the nicest court workers I had ever met. We paid our $10 marriage ceremony fee(!) and headed into the courtroom. Again, our breath was taken away.

The stained-glass dome and high ceilings were incredible. You have to see it to believe it. Finally, we were married. Yay! Immediately after the ceremony, it was time to celebrate.

Just steps—as in 500 feet—from the courthouse gate sits Ore Dock Brewing Company. We headed in and ordered two “I Do PAs” and called our parents to let them know we were now OFFICIALLY husband and wife. We continued taking pictures against the floor-to-ceiling windows and around the dark bar.

Those are some of my favorite, most intimate photos.

We said goodbye to Katherine and her husband and quickly headed to The Marq for our post-wedding feast. We devoured bibimbap and homemade pasta and celebrated with a wonderful dessert prepped by the chef as congrats.

After our late lunch, the rain had finally let up so we strolled back to our room where we exchanged wedding gifts and shared a bottle of champagne.

We finished the night at the Steinhaus (still in our wedding attire!) where we slurped huge steins of German beer and dove into the Wurst Plate and Wiener Schnitzel. A magical end to our day!

The next day, before departing on our mini-moon to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, we strolled along Washington and Front streets and peeked into some shops for wedding souvenirs. We came away with a charming print of the Lower Harbor Ore Dock and also found a hand-painted ornament with the courthouse to remember our wedding day.

As we drove away from Marquette, we were filled with gratitude to the city that started the first day of the rest of our lives together. We can’t wait for our first-anniversary trip— we’re excited to explore some new Marquette restaurants and stay a few nights in one of the city’s unique hotels.

2020 MyNorth Wedding

77

Houdek’s Founder of Restroom Trailers for Outdoor Weddings & Special Events

Outdoor Weddings & Events Luxury Bathroom Trailers: Comfort choices for your Northern Michigan destination wedding or event.

A unique environment where people come to connect, grow,

Rent the “Party Tender” our exclusive traveling wet bar!

and celebrate life events WEDDINGS | EVENTS Three distinct environments to accommodate up to three hundred people bluebridgeevents.com | 231.668.6950

on the Edge of Perfection

• Daily and Weekend Rentals • Heat and A/C available

231-633-5081 • 231-256-7867 (PUMP) HOUDEKSTRAILERS.COM

Newly renovated Sunroom with panoramic views of our award winning course and Lake Michigan provide the perfect setting for your celebration.

Wedding Ceremonies • Receptions • Rehearsal Dinners Bridal Showers • Anniversary & Birthday Celebrations

Celebration Capacity: Up to 120 guests

Nantucket style Lodge with 15 comfortably appointed guest rooms provides an elegant atmosphere with all rooms pleasantly appointed for your comfort.

Four luxurious four bedroom, four bath cottages with panoramic views of our links-style course and Lake Michigan.

Spectacular sunsets

14710 Northwood Highway • Arcadia, Michigan 49613 arcadiabluffs.com • 800-494-8666 Photography by Lux Light Photography

78

mynorth.com/wedding

THE BLACK ROCKS ARE MAGICAL DURING ANY SEASON. JUMP OFF THEM INTO LAKE SUPERIOR IN THE SUMMER OR STROLL THEM DURING THE FALL COLORS.

2020 MyNorth Wedding

79

Your venue

Your venue should should beunique as unique as are. you be as as you

are.

Immerse your guests in luxury; dine and drink amidst curated antiques, crystal, candlelight, and chandeliers.

Immerse your guests in luxury; dine and drink amidst curated antiques, Contact our dedicated Events crystal, candlelight, and chandeliers.

Specialist to plan your perfect event.

Contact our dedicated Events Your venue should be asSpecialist uniqueto plan as you are. event. your perfect

Authentically Northern Michigan

Authentically 231.383.5156 CrystalLakeCatering.com Northern Michigan 231.383.5156 CrystalLakeCatering.com

your dream

Immerse your guests in luxury; dine and drink amidst curated antiques, crystal, candlelight, and chandeliers.

Contact our dedicated Events Specialist to plan your perfect event.

Hand-crafted cocktails • In-house catering Five-star service • A fully sustainable business Elegant and affordable in-house catering

Hand-crafted cocktails • In-house catering • Five-star service • A fully sustainable business wedding Hand-crafted cocktails • In-house catering • Five-star service • A fully sustainable business.

at Black Star Farms.

1 2 3 S P E A K E A S Y . C OM

123 W. Front Street Traverse City MI 231.753.8841 A N O RT H ER N M I C H I G A N D E S T I N AT I O N W ED D I N G events@123speakeasy.com R E H E Aestate RSAL DINNERS | CEREMONIES | RECEPTIONS | BACHELOR & BRIDAL PARTIES Book your dream wedding at our luxurious vineyard 123speakeasy.com 123 W. Front Street Traverse City, MI in Leelanau County. The unique settings, venues and Follow us on Facebook &usInstragram 231.753.8841 | events@123speakeasy.com | www.123speakeasy.com | Follow on Facebook & Instagram accommodations at Black Star Farms are a dream come true.

SUTTONS BAY, MICHIGAN

|

BlackStarFarms.com

REHEARSAL DINNERS l CEREMONIES RECEPTIONS l BACHELOR & BRIDAL PARTIES

REHEARSAL DINNERS | CEREMONIES | RECEPTIONS | BACHELOR & BRIDAL PARTIES 80

mynorth.com/wedding

123 W. Front Street Traverse City, MI 231.753.8841 | events@123speakeasy.com | www.123speakeasy.com | Follow us on Facebook & Instagram

ELOPEMENT TIP: DON'T STRESS ABOUT THE WEATHER. IT WAS POURING RAIN, BUT WE DIDN'T CARE! WE HAD NO GUESTS TO WORRY ABOUT AND NO OUTDOOR VENUE TO CHANGE.

2020 MyNorth Wedding

81

Aurora Cellars Weddings Old World Charm in Leelanau Reservations & Information

231.994.3290

events@auroracellars.com

7788 E Horn Road • Lake Leelanau, MI 49653

SPEND SOME TIME UP NORTH ...

W I T H O U T U S I N G VA C AT I O N D AY S .

Subscribe yourself or someone you love now for a full year of Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine for $24 and receive 6 issues of Northern Home & Cottage, the Vacation Guides and 10 other special sections.

MyNorth.com/Subscribe

82

mynorth.com/wedding

The proposal lit up your world. Now, where to take your engagement photos? Having photographed some 400 couples in the North’s most stunning places over the last decade, photographer Dan Stewart and his team know the way to the best romantic settings. Here’s a sneak peek at his favorite spots.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN STEWART PHOTOTGRAPHY

peterson park Be barefoot and lovely, in Lake Michigan.

PHOTO CAPTURED BY LUKE, AN ASSOCIATE OF DAN STEWART PHOTOGRAPHY

2020 MyNorth Wedding

83

blooming cherry orchards A veil of cherry blossoms symbolizes your new life together.

Orchards abound along the Lake Michigan coast—but remember to obtain permission from the orchard owner before your shoot.

PHOTO CAPTURED BY LUKE, ASSOCIATE OF DAN STEWART PHOTOGRAPHY

84

mynorth.com/wedding

brown bridge quiet area Turn a simple walk in the woods— rain or shine—into your journey metaphor.

PHOTO CAPTURED BY DAN STEWART

sleeping bear dunes national lakeshore Frame yourselves in the infinite inspiration of Sleeping Bear Point in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

PHOTO CAPTURED BY ANNA, AN ASSOCIATE OF DAN STEWART PHOTOGRAPHY

2020 MyNorth Wedding

85

ON THE BRANCH: Leland Blue & Petoskey Stone Unity Bead Necklace ShopMyNorth.com/KG

Wedding favors, bridal party gifts & welcome baskets.

Old, new & something Leland Blue.

Sweet as cherries, in season & out.

Unique Petoskey Stone gifts.

Local fare for your welcome baskets.

Meaningful gifts for your wedding party.

Jewelry with a sense of place.

vineyards Old World romance abounds in wine country. Find your perfect backdrop in vineyards around Petoskey, in Leelanau County, and on the Old Mission Peninsula.

PHOTO CAPTURED BY DAN STEWART

northport Pick a beach in your favorite coastal town and return every year.

PHOTO CAPTURED BY DAN STEWART

2020 MyNorth Wedding

87

winter woods Northern Michigan winters are knit with dreamy, snow-covered pine photo ops.

PHOTO CAPTURED BY LUKE, AN ASSOCIATE OF DAN STEWART PHOTOGRAPHY

88

mynorth.com/wedding

Total Package

The absolute best selection, quality and price, at the most competitive pricing available!

Peace of Mind

Our pleasant, knowledgeable staff will always be willing to take the time to assist you, and our on-site warehouse guarantees the best fit for every member of your group.

Trust

As an active member of the International Formalwear Association, we are a respected leader in the formal wear service industry since 1952.

-616.538.1760www.BunnyTuxedos.com 3956 - 30th Street SW, Grandville MI 49418

Mackinac Island’s Premiere Lakefront Wedding Venue Contact Wedding Sales Manager, Michaelena Vassallo weddings@missionpoint.com | 906-430-8137 One Lakeshore Drive, Mackinac Island, MI 49757 | missionpoint.com