MyNorth Wedding, The Homestead 2022

wedding WEDDINGS WE LOVE

STORY BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAYAN ANASTOR PHOTOGRAPHY

2022 MyNorth Wedding

2022_WED_HOMESTEAD.indd 25

25

12/7/21 12:16 AM

ASHLEY GILLIES & AMEEL TRABELSY | JULY 31, 2021

When their story began, Ashley (now a librarian) was a clerk at one of the courts that Ameel (an attorney) pleaded cases in. Their relationship began casually, going to lunch together when their schedules allowed. Those lunches often included discussions about life—and how neither ever wanted to be married. And then one day they found themselves agreeing that well, maybe they could be “married to someone like you.” Not long after, they spent a weekend at Ashley’s family’s cabin in Oscoda where Ameel built a fire, popped a bottle of champagne and then the question.

Ameel and Ashley are both avid campers, so given their shared love of the outdoors, they wanted an outdoor wedding. Their venue search ended when they arrived at The Homestead resort in Glen Arbor and discovered the outdoor chapel at Bay Mountain. Come winter, the chapel turns into the top of the resort’s ski hill, so it is accessed by a chairlift year-round. When Ashley and Ameel stepped from the lift and saw the sweeping view of Lake Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Bay with North and South Manitou islands on the horizon, they knew they’d found their place.

Working with The Homestead’s wedding planner Sandy Luthardt, they booked both Bay Mountain and the rustically elegant Mountain Flowers Lodge, located at the base of the mountain, for the summer of 2020. Then came the pandemic, and their wedding had to be rescheduled for the summer of 2021. Call that the first test of their relationship.

At long last their wedding weekend arrived and their 120 guests gathered in Glen Arbor for the occasion, some of them camping at campgrounds close to The Homestead, but most staying on the resort property. “Our guests told us that this was the most beautiful wedding destination they’d ever been to,” Ashley says.

Their wedding day dawned and everything seemed perfect, from the antique lace tablecloths that a friend of Ashley’s mother provided for the tables, to the birch log centerpiece-stands made by Ameel’s brother.

Everything seemed perfect … but the weather. Sandy was carefully monitoring the radar, and amid the splendor of a perfect July day, a rain storm coming across Lake Michigan appeared to land bull’s-eye at The Homestead, just as the ceremony was to take place.

First the pandemic, now the weather. Call it the second test of their

26

mynorth.com/wedding

2022_WED_HOMESTEAD.indd 26

12/7/21 12:16 AM

2022 MyNorth Wedding

2022_WED_HOMESTEAD.indd 27

27

12/7/21 12:17 AM

relationship. Sandy told Ashley if they moved the ceremony up 45 minutes, it looked like they could avoid the rain. She agreed and, with Ameel’s help, started a phone tree to their guests. “It would have been so much easier for the staff to just tell us we needed to have the ceremony indoors at Mountain Flowers,” Ashley says. “But instead, they worked with us because they knew how much it meant to us to have it on Bay Mountain.”

The impending rain created a haze over the lake that only served to make the setting more romantic. The bridal party, including three flower girls, two ring bearers and Zoey, the couple’s black lab, performed like stars. By the time Ashley’s 15-year-old niece brought out her ukulele and sang “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” there wasn’t a dry eye on the mountain.

When the rain did come, the guests were tucked into Mountain Flowers Lodge enjoying cocktails. After it passed, the newlyweds snuck out to the beach to take photos against a stunning sunset amplified by storm clouds rolling out over the lake.

The dinner, prepared by The Homestead’s chef, John Piombo, and his staff was memorable, including mushroom-stuffed ravioli served in honor of Ashley, who is a vegetarian. Al Uryga of Lakeside DJs got the dance floor rocking, energy that climaxed when the couple called out all family members of all ages of their extended families to join them in dancing to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

Before we get to the happily-ever-after ending, let’s backtrack to the morning of the wedding—and the third test of the couple’s relationship. Ameel was brunching with his groomsmen when he got a text alerting him that his law office had burned down during the night.

“It could have been incredibly distracting, but I was so happy to be marrying Ashley, I brushed it aside,” he says. “It showed me that if we could get through that, we can get through anything together.”

And we are happy to report that Ameel and Ashley are living happily ever after.

resources

Venue | The Homestead, thehomesteadresort.com Photography | Rayan Anastor, rayananastorphotography.com Music | Lakeside DJs, lakesidedjs.com Florist | Viviano Flower Shop, viviano.com Antique Lace Tablecloths | Kate Kerlin, White Swan Linens, 248.651.4028 Hair & Makeup | Vickie’s Colour Loft, exxelsys.com/TheColourLoft/TCL.html

28

mynorth.com/wedding

2022_WED_HOMESTEAD.indd 28

12/7/21 12:17 AM

See more Up North weddings and find ideas at MyNorth.com.

Click Live Here > Getting Married Up North.

Know an engaged couple? Get them a copy of MyNorth Wedding magazine at ShopMyNorth.com

2022 MyNorth Wedding

2022_WED_HOMESTEAD.indd 29

29

12/7/21 12:17 AM

Wedding Notebook The Homestead

Accommodations You’ll feel at home in one of our resort hotels or in the spaciousness of a privately-owned condominium or a home. Rates span a wide range but all are available on attractively priced wedding specials. So you can choose a level of luxury that suits your mood and your means.

Bay Mountain Ceremony

We invite you to visit a special place where generations of lovers have shared whispered promises, their faces caressed by Lake Michigan breezes, hearts touched by the vision of shimmering

A Suite at Little Belle

islands, souls stirred by watercolor sunsets over a vast bay and towering dunes. Here, at The Homestead, you’ll feel waves of emotion wash over you, as you discover the most wonderfully romantic setting in the place chosen by Good Morning America as the "Most Beautiful Place in America". You'll choose one of three wedding venues with unmatched style and beauty. Each promises a succession of memorable moments you’ll treasure forever.

To learn more, please call us. We will send you information filled with wonderful photos and warm reviews from recent brides. And, we will invite you to come for a visit. When you do, you’ll see that your perfect wedding, like Memories

2022_WED_HOMESTEAD.indd 30

your love, can begin with a look and a touch.

Catering

We’ve carefully paired our menus with our community. They include seasonally fresh food from local farms and awardwinning wines from nearby vintners. To that we add sparkling table settings and seemless service for fabulous dining on the most important day of your lives.

12/7/21 12:17 AM

Event Facilities

Destination Services

Mountain Flowers Lodge

Almost touching the sky, and fresh as the flowers that scent its terraces, Bay Mountain offers panoramic views of Lake Michigan and Glen Lake. Your ceremony and cocktail reception can be there, dinner in the valley below at Mountain Flowers Lodge where you'll find the warmth of stone and pine logs with country gardens and a sparkling waterfall. Accommodates 170.

Camp Firefly captures the charm of the north woods with welcoming ponds, a pine-paneled great hall, covered porch with an outdoor fireplace and wildflower-lined patio overlooking a waterfall and pond. Accommodates 80.

A bouquet’s throw from the beach, Café Manitou inspires Thoreau-like vows in an intimate, shoreside setting with endless blue views of lake and sky from outdoor brick terraces a cozy café. Accommodates 40.

NEW! "Mountain Village" featuring an all new grocerant, restaurant, outdoor grill and bar, stage, dance floor and fire pits. And, a massive stone fireplace and curvilinear celebration table that's perfect for your rehearsal or brunch.

Lillyjade

You and your guests will enjoy the resort’s many amenities - beach, pools, tennis, golf, kayaks, stand up paddle boards, fitness center, skiing, and snowboarding. Your man and his groomsmen might enjoy golf at Manitou Passage Golf Club or Mountain Flowers Par 3.

You and your bridesmaids are sure to enjoy Spa Amira which overlooks Lake Michigan and offers lighthearted fun around a pool. Then, bathed in natural light beside Lillyjade Salon's reflecting pool, you and your bridemaids locks will be coiffed and colored, your nails and toenails buffed for the Big Day. You can welcome your guests with a beachfront bonfire–S’mores and sunsets are included! Your rehearsal reception, and brunch can feature sophisticated soirees or picnics to go.

Wood Ridge Road Camp Firefly

Glen Arbor, MI 49636 231-334-5000 231-334-5300 Events Phone thehomesteadresort.com Event Sales Tony Farragh Sandy Luthardt

Café Manitou

2022_WED_HOMESTEAD.indd 31

Reception Capacity Up to 170

Event Rooms 3 Guest Rooms 225

12/7/21 12:17 AM

Choose One. You won’t be wrong.

Shhh…

We’ve quietly created unique new sites for weddings and sites receptions that are spectacular in any season of the year.

We’ve quietly created stylish new for weddings and receptions.

They meld the majesty of Lake Michigan with the beauty of Leelanau.

They blossom in the spring, shine in the summer, color in the fall, and sparkle in the winter. And, Choose one…flavors will swirl, wines will sparkle and your day, they meld the majesty of Lake Michigan with the beauty of Leelanau. your perfect day, will be made.

and receptions. auty h… of Leelanau. hh… and your day, sites Choose sitesfor forweddings weddingsand andreceptions. receptions. higan with chigan withthe thebeauty beautyof ofLeelanau.

Leelanau. wines wineswill willsparkle sparkleand andyour yourday, day, y, will ay, willbe bemade. made.

your season ... wines will flow, flavors will swirl, and your day, your perfect day, will be made.

love loveatatfirst firstsight. sight.

Come see. It’ll be love at first sight.

Shhh…

We’ve quietly created stylish new sites for weddings and receptions.

They meld the majesty of Lake Michigan with the beauty of Leelanau.

Choose one…flavors will swirl, wines will sparkle and your day, your perfect day, will be made.

Come see. It’ll be love at first sight.

8 PICK 201

| 231.334.5000

mesteadresort.com 231.334.5000 esteadresort.com || 231.334.5000

Glen Arbor, MI 49636 | thehomesteadresort.com | 231.334.5000 Glen49636 Arbor, MI|49636 | thehomesteadresort.com | 231.334.5000 Glen Arbor, MI thehomesteadresort.com | 231.334.5000

2022_WED_HOMESTEAD.indd 32

12/7/21 12:17 AM