2020 Willowbrook Mill

wedding WEDDINGS WE LOVE

STORY BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY NERIPHOTO

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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.”

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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

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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.

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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