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STORY BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS PHOTOGRAPHY BY WILLOW NOAVI PHOTOGRAPHY, WILLOWNOAVIPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
$$7kirstyn & erik==7 KIRSTYN WADE & ERIK LOVE DECEMBER 17, 2016
Perhaps it stands to reason that a musician with the last name of Love would be a romantic. Erik Love and Kirstyn Wade had been living together for several years when Erik, a music teacher, broached the subject of marriage. Kirstyn, a nurse, demonstrated her practical side. “What’s the point? I know I love you and am committed to you,” she recalls saying with a laugh. When Erik didn’t give up, she finally told him, “Okay, if you can move the stars I’ll marry you.” So he did. On an October day in 2015 Erik and Kirstyn set out for the local park with their dog, Juno, whom they loveingly refer to as their 50-pound mystery mutt. The ruse? That Erik’s friend, a videographer, was interviewing Kirstyn for a spot about adopting rescue dogs (a thoughtful touch by Erik, as it meant Kirstyn dressed up a bit more than usual to walk their dog). Unbeknownst to Kirstyn, as the interview proceeded, their friends were busy mounting a sign nearby. Made by Erik, it read I Love You—in cutout stars lit by tealights. When all was ready, the videographer turned his camera to catch the proposal. Erik had brought Kirstyn the stars. Now to plan the wedding! The couple knew they wanted to be married Up North—where her parents and grandparents live and where they vacation often. They also knew that October was late to be planning a wedding for the summer. Some calls later, they realized they could have their pick of just about any venue—in the winter! Kirstyn loves the coziness of the holidays and the time leading up to it, so a December wedding sounded perfect. After Kirstyn’s grandparents told them about the Leland Lodge, tucked into the picture-perfect Lake Michigan harbor town of Leland, their plans fell into place. The couple booked the entire lodge for the weekend of their December wedding,— planning to hold both the ceremony and the reception at the lodge. With 18 lodge rooms there was plenty of room for the bridal party and many of the 85 guests who attended. (Most of the others stayed at the nearby Lodge at Leelanau Sands Casino and were shuttled back and forth.) From beginning to end the staff at the Leland Lodge went out of their way to assure that the bridal party and guests felt completely comfortable. The festivities began Friday night with a relaxed rehearsal dinner at the Bluebird Restaurant and Tavern a couple of blocks away from The Leland Lodge. Afterward, the bridal party returned to the lodge for a meet-and-greet with drinks and appetizers. Guests woke up on the wedding day to find complimentary coffee and muffins waiting for them in the lobby. Since the wedding attendees were the only guests at the lodge, “We all hung out on the lobby couches in our pjs and ate and had our coffee,” Kirstyn says. After the lovely ceremony, the newlyweds went down to the Lake Michigan beach for photos—a chilly but stunningly beautiful experience given the falling snow. Meanwhile, guests were enjoying cocktails at the lodge as the staff prepared the reception area for a plated dinner of roast chicken, white fish and veggie lasagna. As the crazy-fun evening of dancing to the music of UpNorth DJs wound down, the couple and their friends and family who were still awake hung out together in the lobby and guest rooms. In the morning it was more coffee and muffins in the lobby where the goodbyes were warmed by the intimate bonding experience, courtesy of the Leland Lodge. “It was like the largest cabin ever—with a staff,” Erik says.
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Clockwise from top: The lodge’s holiday decorations were a perfect fit for the wedding. Kirstyn with her dad, Tim Wade. The flowers in the bouquet are Sola wood flowers, meaning Kirstyn can keep them forever; Husband, wife and rescue-dog Juno leave the relaxed, intimate ceremony. Kirstyn’s mom, Karen Wade, did the decorations. The wedding party, left to right: Michael Woodward, Megan Pashnik, Adam Love, Allie Harris, Erik Love (groom), Kirstyn Wade (bride), Nate Wade and Carmen Wade.
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Opposite page clockwise: Cedar sprigs and pinecones play up the winter in the Northwoods theme. The couple chose a brownie bar in lieu of a wedding cake. Baby’s breath and a single rose in a ball jar kept the centerpieces crisp and fresh looking. This page clockwise: The Leland Lodge provided local wine and beer for the reception. Guests signed the birchtree picture that Kirstyn found on Etsy. The lodge’s beautiful grounds provided magical photo ops.
resources
Venue | The Leland Lodge Photography | Willow Noavi Photography, Grand Rapids Brownie Bar | Brownies by Sisson’s Main Street Specialties, Leland Rehearsal Dinner | Bluebird Restaurant and Tavern Music | UpNorth DJs, Traverse City Bridal Gown | Natalie Bridal, Traverse City
See more photos at MyNorth.com/LelandLodgeWedding
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Wedding Notebook
Ben Law Photography
The Leland Lodge
Exceptional Events Whether your plans are casual or a little more formal, The Leland Lodge offers the perfect venue to create unforgettable memories! With our spacious banquet room and exceptional staff, we make any meeting, cocktail party, or reception full of lasting memories. Accommodating up to 200+ people, our banquet venue offers space for black tie affairs to casual BBQ’s. Our exquisitely landscaped
Lemon Moon Photography
Lemon Moon Photography
courtyard is a great setting for a reception, cocktail hour, or ceremony.
Accomodations
Catering
Dan Stewart Photography
Nestled on the beautiful Leelanau peninsula, The Leland Lodge offers an uncompromising standard of hospitality. Upon your arrival you will find an irresistible blend of Northern Michigan lodge with the tranquility of a small historical town that is only blocks away from Fishtown and Lake Michigan.
Exposures By Rah
Dan Stewart Photography
Exposures By Rah
The Leland Lodge is the number one wedding venue on the peninsula boasting an unsurpassed setting and amazing food fare. Bogey’s 19th hole is an on-site upscale casual restaurant, and “The Wine Cellar”, is a private event space, for rehearsal dinner’s. Our culinary team can produce diverse selections of food to meet your every desire.
565 Pearl St. Leland , MI 49654 231-256-9848
Ben Law Photography
lelandlodge.com
Event Planning Manager Katelyn VanVreede
Accomodations 18 rooms, 3 cottages
Reception Capacity 200
Venue Spaces 4
Make Your Wedding Uniquely Leland Whether your wedding dreams are formal or a little more casual, the Leland Lodge offers the perfect venue to begin your life together.
Lemon Moon Photography
Meg Simpson
565 E. Pearl St.,Leland 231.256.9848 Lelandlodge.com
Meg Simpson