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West Bay Beach, A Holiday Inn Resort
STORY BY ADRIENNE ROBERTS PHOTOGRAPHY BY COLLEEN WARREN
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KRISTI TORRETTI DEREK LUKE JUNE 27, 2014
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WEST BAY BEACH, A HOLIDAY INN RESORT TRAVERSE CITY
risti Torretti and Derek Luke both grew up in Iron Mountain, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. They lived a mere 2.5 miles away from each other, but it wasn’t until she was a senior in college and he was a freshman that they fina ly met at a party. After dating on and off for 11 years, they decided to get married at West Bay Beach, A Holiday Inn Resort. “We love Traverse City,” says Kristi. “It has a great culture, and there are so many things to do.” West Bay Beach promised the all-inclusive destination wedding the couple had dreamed of. The guests and bridal party could all stay at the hotel together, the ceremony would be on the sandy, Lake Michigan waterfront just steps from the hotel, and the ballroom is just a couple steps from the beach and past the pool. Making it sweeter yet, the resort just completed a 7 million dollar renovation including restaurants, banquet spaces and hotel rooms. To top it all off, when the reception ended, the devoted revelers could keep dancing in View, the resort’s onsite nightclub. As for theme, Kristi and Derek knew they wanted to give their beach wedding a sense of the nautical, without going overboard—as Kristi says, a “not a not nautical theme.” That sentiment played out in a lively mix of navy blue and orange—as in the groom’s orange pants and the fl wer girls’ striped navy and white dresses. The couple’s Traverse City–based friend, Richard Harrison, served as their de facto wedding planner and was an immense help to
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Kristi and Derek as they planned their wedding from Lake Orion, Michigan. Richard, who had lived in the Hamptons, brought an East Coast–resort touch to the wedding. He did everything from arranging the flowers to deciding on the decorations. Kristi bought three wedding dresses before she was fina ly happy with her decision—a full gown with spaghetti straps, vintage buttons, a big bow in the back and, her favorite part, pockets. The gown is fun, elegant and totally Kristi. The morning of the wedding, the couple watched the bold sun rise over the bay from their water-view room. As the morning progressed, sailboats and paddle boarders drifted by their window. Later in the day, about 115 guests watched as Kristi and Derek took their vows at the water’s edge in an intimate ceremony offi iated by Kristi’s uncle Tommy, a pastor. The couple’s daughter was one of the fl wer girls. “There was not a dry eye there that day,” says Kristi. “[My uncle] knows Derek and me well and described who we are as a couple in just a few words.” Guests sipped cocktails waterside before they were led into the ballroom. West Bay Beach, A Holiday Inn Resort catered the elegant dinner. Guests had their choice of grilled sirloin topped with forest mushrooms and red wine au jus or lemon caper chicken with basil white wine sauce. The
raspberry and almond salad was made with locally grown bib lettuce. The one thing Kristi was very specific about was the cake—she wanted it from her favorite bakery in Iron Mountain, Andrea’s Sweet Design. Kristi’s mom made the six and a half hour trek down from Iron Mountain to Traverse City with the cherryfi led chocolate forest cake safely stowed. Thankfully, the cake made it safely—there was no back-up plan. Kristi and Derek’s first dance was to Kip Moore’s quietly romantic song “Hey Pretty Girl.” They spent the rest of the evening dancing and mingling with their guests. The time was elegant and intimate and perfect. And yes, there were still revelers ready to head to View for more partying when the reception wound down. Oh what a night! PHOTOGRAPHY: COLLEEN WARREN, CMWARREN10@GMAIL.COM VENUE: WEST BAY BEACH RESORT, A HOLIDAY INN
MYNORTH.COM/WEDDING
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Opposite: Kristi wore a Vera Wang A-line silhouette gown called simply, White. Lydia Kutten of Salon Stage in Traverse City did her hair. This page, clockwise: The bride and groom went barefoot for the beachside wedding, although Kristi wore decorative barefoot sandals made for her by a family friend, Cathy Nobert. The couple exchanged traditional vows mixed with personalized touches in front of Pastor Tom Porta. Wedding guests whiled away time before the late afternoon wedding playing on rented jet skis and visiting nearby wineries. Richard Harrison of Traverse City did the flowers. The bridal bouquet was white hydrangea with ivory roses and hosta leaves. The rehearsal dinner was at North Peak Brewery in Traverse City.
wedding 2014
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This page, clockwise: The bridal party: Best Man Corey Luke, Matron of Honor Kristen Chapman, Kelli Nobert, Casey Luke and Kristi and Derek Luke. Children: Flower girl Maddi Nobert, Mara Luke, daughter of Kristi and Derek, Andrew Nobert and Nicholas Hernandez. Following the wedding the newlyweds honeymooned in Playa Mujeres, Mexico. Vases of blue delphinium add to the blues of the day. Mother and daughter.
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MYNORTH.COM/WEDDING
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This Page: The Lukes share a quiet moment together. The reception centerpieces were vases of baby’s breathe en masse and vases of white hydrangea and blue delphinium. For the reception she slipped into a pair of white satin peep toe flats by David’s Bridal. Music was by Mister Music DJ & Event Service. The Cinematographer was Future Focus Media of Traverse City. Drawing in the sand is just one of many natural perks of a beachside wedding.
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Wedding Notebook WEST BAY BEACH, A HOLIDAY INN RESORT
event facilities
Look what you will find in the heart of Traverse City The only full service resort in downtown Traverse City is nestled on the pristine sugar-sand beaches of West Grand Traverse Bay. West Bay Beach, a Holiday Inn Resort offers the perfect combination of area attractions and amenities. Shopping,
With over 6,000 square feet of newly renovated private event space, you'll see why our resort is a popular location for many destination weddings. In addition, all of our restaurants and private venues are available for your rehearsal dinner, bridal party luncheon, or a farewell brunch. West Bay Beach Resort specializes in unique outdoor wedding ceremonies. Bring a sense of grace and leisure to your wedding experience. Imagine your ceremony near the sparkling waters of Lake Michigan, vineyard-covered peninsulas, and the ambiance of downtown Traverse City. Whether you choose to host your ceremony on our beach, lawn or under our beautifully aged, historic willow tree, our picturesque landscape is sure to exceed your wedding dreams! As a four season resort we would be happy to host your special day during any of the Up North Michigan seasons.
nightlife, art galleries, the State Theatre, several restaurants, parks and public beaches are just a short walk away, making our location the best in town! Take advantage of our stylish modern decor, panoramic views of the bay and the magnificent Northern Michigan sunsets over the water, as the perfect backdrops for your special day. At West Bay Beach Resort, we understand your wedding day is an event you've dreamed of your whole life. Our entire staff is dedicated to being true leaders of hospitality, and are committed to creating positive memories for all of our guests. We encourage you to contact our wedding sales manager for more information, or to schedule a complementary site visit to tour our beautiful property. Make sure to request a wedding folio complete with photos, menus, package details, vendors, and more to make your wedding planning a breeze!
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accommodations
Guest Services You and your guests will enjoy unrivaled amenities when you book your wedding at West Bay Beach Resort! Take advantage of our knowledgeable concierge, who can help you book a wine tour on Old Mission Peninsula, a charter fishing excursion on Grand Traverse Bay, or a shuttle service to local attractions. Or simply stay on-site and enjoy our indoor and outdoor pools, hot tub, fitness room, children's activities center, beachfront cabanas and lounge furniture, boat and bike rentals, and more! For a real taste of Traverse City, you'll want to join us at our seasonal outdoor patio bar featuring live entertainment, or in our
Our 179 well-appointed guest rooms feature floor-toceiling windows with inspiring views of West Grand Traverse Bay. Newly renovated and decorated with a contemporary look, all guest rooms are designed to provide maximum comfort for our guests with multiple in-room luxuries. You can even personalize your guests' experience by working with our concierge to distrubute welcome bags upon check-in. Need a room block for your loved ones? Our wedding sales manager will be able to assist you with booking a room block for your guests at competitive seasonal rates.
breakfast bistro serving Starbucks coffee. If it's the night life you seek, our award-winning nightclub hosts DJ's every weekend to keep the fun going after your wedding reception!
catering
WEST BAY BEACH, A HOLIDAY INN RESORT 615 East Front Street Traverse City, MI 49686 The culinary team at West Bay Beach Resort has developed menus that feature comfort food with a contemporary twist and a strong emphasis on locally grown ingredients. Whether it's s'mores around a bonfire on the beach, a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception, or a six-course plated dinner, we will assist you with selecting the perfect menu for your reception. Enhance the ambiance of your special day with our list of highly recommended local vendors for ice sculptures, flowers, linens, and centerpieces!
800-888-8020 www.tcwestbay.com
Sales Manager Rachelle Grockau 231.421.2126 rgrockau@innisfree.com
Event Rooms 3 Indoor and 2 Outdoor Guest Rooms 179
Reception Capacity 200 guests wedding 2014
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Beautiful Downtown Traverse City Weddings
The dedicated staff at West Bay Beach, a Holiday Inn Resort understands your wedding day is an event you’ve dreamed of your whole life. We would like nothing better than to help your vision become a reality.
Contact our Sales Manager: Rachelle Grockau to set up a Site Visit Today! Direct: 231.421.2126 Email: rgrockau@innisfree.com
Photo by: Siri Salonen Photography
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