Mynorth Wedding 2015: Frog Pond Village

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Frog Pond Village

STORY BY ADRIENNE ROBERTS  PHOTOGRAPHY BY MOLLY BEA PHOTOGRAPHY

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Jessica & Edward j&e

JESSICA THURBER EDWARD MARSHALL AUGUST 2, 2014 FROG POND VILLAGE, INTERLOCHEN

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hen Jessica was working at a restaurant in Livonia, Michigan, she unknowingly befriended her future husband’s sister. His sister would always say to her, “You’re the female version of my brother.” Sure enough they were a matched pair: eight years later, Jessica and Edward married at Frog Pond Village in Interlochen.

The Northwoods elegance of the wedding venue suited Jessica and Edward, who describe themselves as outdoorsy, romantic and old souls. “We love that it had a rustic feel but with modern conveniences,” Jessica says. “It wasn’t too over-the-top.”

Jessica and Edward, both full-time graduate students at Wayne State, planned the wedding while attending school. Jessica’s mother, Ann Marie Bourgoin, was an integral

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part of the process. Jessica wanted the wedding to have a vintage, almost fairy-tale feel, which took her all over the Midwest to fin dresses to match that mood, fina ly settling on a ball gown style wedding dress and pale pink bridesmaid dresses with ruffle details.

“I chose pale pink shades because I wanted it to look gentle against the lush green colors of Frog Pond Village,” says Jessica. “Lighter colors seemed soft and romantic.”

The wedding took place on a beautiful, clear day in August inside Frog Pond’s Bullfrog Chapel, where the fresh Northern Michigan breeze blew through open windows. After the ceremony, guests were treated to a cocktail hour complete with cheeses and fruit from Grandview Catering. The evening’s menu began with a salad dressed in lemon basil dressing

and continued on to herb-crusted pork, chicken stuffed with sundried tomatoes, and roasted redskin potatoes. The lemonfl vored cake was as light and sweet as the summer night.

Throughout the evening, guests took Polaroid pictures of each other, then pinned them to a clothesline so they could be admired and laughed over. Jessica, Edward, and their friends and family danced the night away under a wood-beamed ceiling that sparkled with twinkling lights. The party fina ly dwindled around midnight— quite fitti g for a fairy-tale wedding.

PHOTOGRAPHY: MOLLY BEA WICKES, MOLLY BEA PHOTOGRAPHY, MOLLYBEAPHOTOGRAPHYBLOG.COM VENUE: FROG POND VILLAGE, INTERLOCHEN, 231.357.9128, FROGPONDVILLAGE.COM

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Opposite: The bridesmaids wore romantic wrap dresses by Joanna August. The bride wore a ballroom style gown by Watters. She carried a bouquet of mythos garden roses, peach stock, champagne spray roses, pale pink hydrangea, white ranunculus and baby’s breath. This page, clockwise: The couple exchanged traditional vows in front of officiant Scot Gardner. Jes on her father’s arm. Flower girl Aubrey DelVecchio wore a dress by Us Angel.

The table centerpieces were mythos garden roses, peach stock, champagne spray roses, large pink hydrangea and baby’s breath. Amanda Craggs of Salon Moxie in Traverse City did the bride’s hair.

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Jes with her bridesmaids, Shannon Donovan, Katy Marshall and Sarah Carney. The bridesmaids carried bouquets of mythos garden roses, peach stock, large pink hydrangea and baby’s breath. A romantic photo op on the bridge in Frog Pond Village. Glass jars dressed up just a bit to hold baby’s breath for the outdoor decor. The couple’s rings nesting in a birdhouse on the Frog Pond grounds. The couple honeymooned in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Rustic elegance in Frog Pond’s reception hall, where the floral arrangements of Frog Pond's Karen Jackson Snyder took center stage. Snyder also did the bridal party bouquets.

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The groomsmen were Johnny Marshall, Matt Lynch, Jeff DelVecchio and Alec Thurber. The Mike Davis Trio performed at the cocktail hour and also during the ceremony. Northern DJ Connection rocked the reception. Guests swapped Polaroid photos of themselves for their escort cards—like the blackboard says.

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Wedding Notebook FROG POND VILLAGE

event facilities

CHAPELS Elope Vegas-style; just the two of you or invite 200 of your closest friends and family to share your ceremony.

Three different chapels allow the secluded gardens and lush green grounds to be part of your service, while our facilities protect your guests from weather if necessary. Invite your officiate, or our preferred officiants would be pleased to perform your ceremony.

One unforgettable day— countless ways to make it yours.

Welcome to Frog Pond Village, where you will find ten acres of private landscape groomed for your special day. We offer a woodsy, yet elegant setting among towering trees, charming frog ponds, meandering walkways and beautiful gardens.

Our quaint, romantic wedding chapels and ballrooms open to the outdoors. And we’ve added to the magic with twinkle lights, sparkling chandeliers and enchanting water fountains.

services

We help brides make a unique and memorable statement with flowers, photography, videography, cakes and decor. We coordinate your ceremony to perfection with our clergy making it all so meaningful and personable. Our caterers are the best in food, taste, quality and service for a worry free evening.

Our D.J. is wonderful and will help you coordinate your reception and for sure will "make" the party. We also put you in touch with accommodations from B & B’s to hotels. We have truly taken special efforts to secure the best of the best vendors in their fields for you. You may visit them all on our web site.

We are proud to hold 3 titles: Voted #1 Best Wedding Venue in Northern Michigan by City Voter and #5 Best Outdoor Wedding Venue in Michigan by The Knot. Also Voted #1 Best Wedding Venue in Northern Michigan by Traverse City Record-Eagle.

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BALLROOMS Frog Pond Village can accommodate events up to 350 guests (and of course anything smaller). Choose from grand ballrooms or a formal tent graced by 15-foot cantilevered lampposts and quaint romantic patios for rehearsal dinners, cocktail hours, receptions fit for royalty and even brunch the morning after. Our website offers you a virtual tour of our facilities and grounds.

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what’s new at frog pond village

catering

Having your rehearsal dinner, luncheon or brunch at Frog Pond gives couples unmatched flexibility. You may hire a caterer or simply bring in your family's favorite appetizers and salads and order our grill to grill your own entrée.

Even if you are having your wedding at another location other than Frog Pond Village, you can have your guests in for a totally unique rehearsal dinner or morning after brunch in our Gala Tent tucked into the Northern Michigan woods and gardens and designed especially for the "small gathering of friends and family." Not to worry about a chill in the air; we have heaters to keep you warm...not to worry about a rain; we have you covered there too, and not to worry about ambience; the nature of the woods and gardens and the twinkle lights take care of this for you...there is no decorating to do!

Our professional planners can help you plan your event whether you'd like an enchanting catered gala, sparkling cocktail party or a barbeque with all the amenities.

Five years ago…we planted our “little” vineyard in hopes that this project would be the start of another dream that we had…our “ART & GARDEN PARK”! Little did we know that it would grow into so much more! It has been inspired by the owners, Karen and Bill…from a special place where Karen grew to love as a child…Ligonier, Pennsylvania. There is a town square…an oversized gazebo where local bands came to play their instruments and families simply brought their blankets and gathered on the lawn just to pass a Sunday afternoon…just to listen and relax! It is also the same place where Karen and Bill fell in love 22 years ago!

We are anxious to gather some great local outdoor art for the “artist path” and some great local talented jazz and blues musicians as well for "Smooth Sunday’s” live entertainment! We are looking for a do-it-yourself local wine maker to call our little vineyard their own, to care for and to use the producing grapes to perfect a great “property wine”! The park has a small picnic area, an artist path, and a game area where you can come and play the most interesting game of croquet you’ve ever played!

The park surrounds a town-square gazebo where we hope to create many great future memories for YOUR families!

The park will be open to the public this Summer!

You will find a picture hanging in the welcome entry of a typical Ligonier Town- Square gathering back in the 60’s when life was so different! We invite you to come visit!

photography Karen Youker Photography Capturing memories for all your life. Karen has 17 years experience, but it's not only her business, it's her passion. Karen also specializes in senior portraits, families, parties and reunions. Contact Karen at 231-269-3458 karenyouker.com

flowers You will love having your own florist on site! Karen, the owner, has over 25 years experience, specializing in wedding flowers, creating the exact look that you want from your personal bouquets to elegant centerpieces to floating arrangements for the ponds! We have the latest trends in flowers, vases, floral lights, river rock, moss, incredible twigs, lanterns and more! Pick it from Pinterest and I bet we have it!

FROG POND VILLAGE 1950 Ellis Lake Rd., Grawn, MI 49637 P.O. Box 383, Interlochen, MI 49643 231-357-9128 frog@frogpondvillage.com frogpondvillage.com

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We bring the most important ingredient to well-tailored events.

FROG POND VILLAGE’S MOST RECOMMENDED CATERER FOR OVER ELEVEN YEARS

Wedding & Event Specialists

r o v a Fl Traverse City, MI | 231.932.9713 grandviewcateringtc.com

Grandview CateringRestaurant, Rental & Catering 1/2 Page horizontal Ad, 6.875 x 4.75, full color, full bleed My North Weddings November 2013 Jen Foltz, Jeff Wiltse

BJ’s has been providing superior service for over 44 years. With a line of mobile kitchens, licensed bartenders, uniformed professional staff, and a customizable menu, we are sure to make your dreams a reality.

Fire up your appetite because our BBQ division is out of this world!

Our in-house smoked brisket and pulled pork are all the rage!

www.bjscatering.com

990 N. Center Avenue Gaylord, MI •

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989.732.4010

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888.737.4010

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Weddings • Banquets • Parties • Rentals of Tents, Tables, Chairs & More

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www.frogpondvillage.com

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