Mynorth Wedding: Boyne Mountain 2021

wedding WEDDINGS WE LOVE

STORY BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANELLE ELISE PHOTOGRAPHY

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ANNIE WEIDNER & MATT MURTHA | OCTOBER 10, 2020

Three weeks after their first date on March 28, 2017, Matt wrote a letter to Annie in a leather-bound notebook. Among other things it said, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I hope it holds you.” Both were attending Miami University (Ohio) at the time. He had just five weeks until graduation. She had a year and five weeks. In the three weeks he’d been dating Annie, he’d morphed from a guy who couldn’t wait to get out of school and start an independent life at a new job in Chicago, to a committed man.

The couple made it through that next year—Matt traveling whenever he could to Miami University, and Annie heading to Chicago when she had a break in her schedule.

After she graduated, Annie took a job in Chicago. As they continued their relationship, Matt kept writing letters in that notebook. The letters documented what they did together, what they did with their friends and the progression of their relationship. When he was ready to propose, he got her friends at work to ask her out for a girls’ happy hour. She drove with a girlfriend and when they pulled up, there was Matt, dressed in a suit—holding the notebook. He asked her to walk with him and as they did, he read her the letters. When they arrived at the Lily Pond in Lincoln Park, he got down on his knee. She could hardly see or speak through her tears, but she made her “yes” clear.

How to top the romance of that engagement? With the perfect wedding, of course.

But as it turned out, pulling it off would be complicated. Their initial plan was a destination wedding in California’s wine country. So, a year ago this fall, they planned a scouting trip to Sonoma and Napa to work out the details for a wedding on their chosen date, October 10, 2020. As they were waiting for their plane at Chicago O’Hare Airport, a friend texted and said, “Be safe.” They didn’t know what she meant until they walked over to a television and watched the news: Napa and Sonoma were on fire. They called their hotel and were told the hotel was only open to evacuees.

They decided they could easily pivot and drive south to look for venues in the Monterey/Carmel area. They did, and found a beautiful vineyard to be married in, and lined up many of the vendors that they needed to make a wedding happen. By March of 2020, they were busy buttoning-down plans when COVID-19 hit. Certainly, this will be OK by October, they thought. But by July, California was a COVID hotspot, and they could see the writing on the wall. It was time for another pivot: it would need to be a very small wedding, completely outside, in a region that was closer to Chicago and that wasn’t on the COVID hot list. Northern Michigan—a place where Annie’s family had vacationed and loved, might just be the answer.

The couple reached out to friends who’d been to weddings in the area, and the wedding venues at Boyne Mountain moved to the top of the list. And yes, Boyne Mountain had October 10, 2020, free. More exciting yet, theirs would be one of the first weddings at the new EK Preserve—a rustically elegant wooded setting on the Boyne River with a lodge for the bridal party to get ready in.

The temps were in the 70s and it was peak color season in Northern Michigan the week of the wedding. “It looked like fall, but felt like summer,” Annie says. The bridal party arrived on Wednesday and moved into the resort’s well-appointed Mountain Cabins. Over the next several days they hiked and visited nearby Boyne Valley Vineyards.

When the other guests began arriving on Friday, they hosted a golf competition on The Alpine course at Boyne Mountain. 4

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With so many gorgeous outdoor venues at Boyne Mountain, all the event functions could be held safely outside. First, a bridesmaids’ luncheon on the Beach House Lawn beside sweet Deer Lake. The rehearsal dinner was held on Stein Eriksen’s patio, at the base of a ski hill and in front of a charming Alpine-style building. When the dinner was finished, the patio became the site of the welcome party, complete with a bonfire and s’mores.

The sky was just as blue the day of the wedding, but the temperature had fallen into the 50s. Annie had purchased her wedding gown for a California wedding, but she never felt cold. “I must have had so much adrenaline that I felt like I had a coat on,” she says. The ceremony at the edge of the Boyne River was intimate and simple. The only decor was a large wooden cross that a family friend had made. The pastor, also an old family friend, included the guests in the service. Annie and Matt exchanged their own vows. “Later, friends told us that it felt like they’d been at a spiritual retreat—everything was centered on peace and love,” Annie says.

Serenity turned to jubilation as the guests and bridal party made the short walk to a huge tent—big enough to make sure all tables were spaced six feet from each other. The plated dinner offered three elegant choices: filet mignon, halibut with truffle butter and chicken piccata. Between speeches, the newlyweds snuck away with the photographer, Janelle Elise, for sunset photos. “As we were going back up the hill, the sun was filtering through these really tall trees,” Matt says. “Janelle said, ‘We have 30 seconds to capture the light, we have to run.’ So, we chased the sunset—and those are some of our favorite shots.”

The six-piece Brena Band from Grand Rapids got the tent rocking. “They played everything from ‘Come On Eileen’ to Justin Bieber,” Annie says. “I’ve never seen a wedding with the guests so involved with the music—my grandparents were dancing to songs they’d never heard of in their lives!”

The couple had planned a sparkler sendoff, but they took Janelle’s suggestion for a better fairytale ending: Dancing alone under the market lights hung in the trees. And that is how Annie and Matt ended their perfect wedding. The wedding that neither fire, nor COVID, could stop.

Read more about what Annie learned about wedding planning (by planning her own wedding three times!) on her lifestyle blog, annieweidner.com.

resources

Venue | Boyne Mountain, boynemountain.com Photographer | Janelle Elise Photography, janelleelise.com Wedding Planner | MerryMakers, merrymkr.com

Videographer | Flom Films, flomfilms.com Florist | Sweetwater Floral, sweetwaternorth.com Catering | Boyne Mountain, boynemountain.com Cake | Simply Sweet by Jessica, simplysweetbyjessica.com Live Music | Brena Band, brenaband.com Bridal Gown | Lovely Bride, lovelybride.com Hair & Makeup | Vogue Salon & Spa, vogue-salons.com Rentals | Rental Express, rentaltime.com

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See more photos at MyNorth.com/Boyne21 Know an engaged couple? Send them MyNorth Wedding magazine at ShopMyNorth.com/Wedding21

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Wedding Notebook

Janelle Elise Photography

Boyne Mountain Resort

Experience a rustically elegant private estate in the perfect Northern Michigan setting The eloquent 30-acre private estate owned by Boyne Resorts, is the original home of Midwestern ski pioneer, Everett Kircher. With white pine trees scattered throughout the property and Boyne River flowing through the backyard, this venue is nothing short of magical. Tucked away from the world and surrounded by nature.

Just minutes away from various must-see Northern Michigan destinations, The Lodge at EK Preserve is in the center of it all. With numerous breathtaking beaches, world-renowned golf courses, wine and beer trails, the amenities for your wedding weekend are endless.

Your wedding at The Lodge at EK Preserve will be filled with unforgettable memories and experiences.

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Accommodations

Here, you will find yourself connected with nature. Imagine the sounds of the river flowing, birds singing in rejoice and the rustle of wind blowing through the trees. Offering both outdoor ceremony and reception space, you can choose to dance the night away under a starry night or under a glowing tent provided by one of Northern Michigan’s well respected vendors. Let us take some of the stress away by offering an on-site Event Coordinator who will help you with the details of your wedding every step of the way up to the wedding day! Catering and beverage, linens, glassware, flatware, china – don’t sweat it. We’ve got you covered!

As an extension of our Boyne Mountain location, your guests will be provided with lodging accommodations for all needs. With over 426 guest rooms and five different condo styles to choose from, your guests will receive discounted rates for lodging and get to experience all the amenities Boyne Mountain has to offer. Better yet, your guests can take a complimentary shuttle ride to and from The Lodge at EK Preserve.

The main house and carriage house at The Lodge at EK Preserve accommodate up to 16 guests total so you and your wedding party can enjoy a fun-filled weekend quietly tucked away in nature.

Janelle Elise Photography

Janelle Elise Photography

Wedding Venues

Catering & Beverage Services Not only will the venue sweep you off your feet, but the exquisite catering. Crafted and served by our own Boyne Mountain catering team, we will do nothing but serve you and your wedding party with the utmost high-quality food and beverage service. Boyne offers a full selection of spirits, wine, beer and an exceptional cuisine to satisfy every palette.

Amenities Bring yourself and your sense of adventure! Boyne Mountain offers activities for guests of all ages. Experience the thrill of zooming through the trees on our Zipline Adventure Tour, race your friends on the Twin Zip Ride, or explore the ambiance of Northern Michigan by mountain bike or saddle!

Golf enthusiasts are welcomed! Choose from the open fairways of The Alpine or enjoy a round on The Monument. Regardless of which course you play, enjoy excellent dining and an epic sunset across the street at the Beach House on Deer Lake.

Plan an afternoon at Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark.

88,000 square feet of fun, seven waterslides and four pools.

You don’t want to miss out on the splashy experience!

Relax and recharge. The Spa at Boyne Mountain is designed to rejuvenate active adventurers – a refuge where friends can reconnect while lounging in soft robes with mimosas by the fire. The perfect complement to an exciting wedding weekend!

The Lodge at EK Preserve 1188 Addis Road Boyne Falls, MI 49713 231-549-6834 weddings@boynemountain.com Wedding Sales Manager Kate Worland

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Reception Capacity 300+

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A SPECTACULAR A SPECTACULAR SETTING FOR A SPECTACULAR SETTING FOR THE PERFECT SETTING FOR THE PERFECT DAY. THE PERFECT DAY. THE RIGHT PEOPLE. THE RIGHT DAY. SETTING. AND THE IDEAL THE RIGHT PEOPLE. THE RIGHT PARTNERS TO MAKE THE SURE THE RIGHT PEOPLE. SETTING. AND THE IDEAL RIGHT EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER SETTING. AND THE IDEAL PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE PERFECTLY. PARTNERS TOCOMES MAKE SURE EVERYTHING TOGETHER BRING YOUR VISION AND WE EVERYTHING COMES -TOGETHER PERFECTLY. WILL BRING IT TO LIFE. PERFECTLY. BRING YOUR VISION - AND WE BRING YOURITVISION - AND WE WILL BRING TO LIFE. WILL BRING IT TO LIFE.

PROPERTY FEATURES SIX DIFFERENT VENUE SPACES PROPERTY FEATURES

PROPERTY INDOOR AND FEATURES OUTDOOR. OVER SIX DIFFERENT VENUE SPACES 400 GUESTROOMS AND SPACES SIX DIFFERENT VENUE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR. OVER CONDOS. INDOOR WATERPARK. INDOOR AND OUTDOOR. 400 GUESTROOMS AND OVER TWO 18-HOLE GOLFAND COURSES. 400 GUESTROOMS CONDOS. INDOOR WATERPARK. COUNTLESS ACTIVITIES. CONDOS. INDOOR TWO 18-HOLE GOLFWATERPARK. COURSES. TWO 18-HOLE GOLF COURSES. COUNTLESS ACTIVITIES. 2021_WED_BOYNE.indd 40 COUNTLESS ACTIVITIES.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO START PLANNING YOUR SPECIAL FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO DAY, CONTACT: FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO START PLANNING YOUR SPECIAL START PLANNING YOUR SPECIAL DAY, W E D DCONTACT: INGS@BOYNEMOUNTAIN.COM 2DAY, 3 1 - 5 4CONTACT: 9-6834 WEDDINGS@BOYNEMOUNTAIN.COM IN 2W 3E 1 -D 5D 49 - 6G8S3@ 4B O Y N E M O U N T A I N . C O M 231-549-6834 12/15/20 11:27 AM