RESORT AND SPA

Wedding Notebook

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa

Michigan’s Premier Resort Experience

People often remark that the most appealing thing about the 900-acre Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is its sense of the genuine. So when couples choose to exchange their vows here, it feels especially romantic. Sincerity resonates among the trees, and love sparkles on the water. Simply put, it just feels right.

Our wedding staff is practiced at transforming the banquet room or ballroom of your choice into a truly unforgettable environment. You’ll appreciate the smooth, detail-oriented leadership of our event professionals, as they execute your vision to perfection. Pre-event parties and rehearsal dinners are easily arranged. From our convenient, centrally located Midwest location, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is easily accessible to all of your guests – just ten minutes by Resort shuttle from Traverse City’s Cherry Capital Airport (TVC).

Event Facilities

86,500 square feet of versatile indoor and outdoor function space gives you ultimate flexibility in selecting the venues for your special day. Our wedding staff is practiced at transforming the ballroom or outdoor venue of your choice into a truly unforgettable environment. You’ll appreciate the smooth, detail-oriented leadership of our event professionals, as they execute your vision to perfection.

Bridal parties delight in our spa and salon, while groomsmen typically prefer golf and our nearby Turtle Creek Casino. And with multiple wedding and reception venues, our planners create a brand of seamless perfection, regardless of scale. From intimate unions to grand affairs, your guests will feel every bit as loved, cherished and honored as the bride and groom.

From 2 people to 2,000 people, our Catering department can make an unforgettable experience for your wedding. Our experienced staff can work with any budget and is committed to great guest service. Weddings are a time for celebration, and our catering staff can work with you on any specialty menu to suit your attendees and their finer tastes! And special meals are no problem for guests with special food needs, and dietary considerations.

Catering

Guest Services

Whether you stay in the Hotel, the Tower or a Condominium, you’ll revel in the natural splendor of the outdoors, and the luxurious amenities and outstanding accommodations within.

• The Hotel - Our six-story hotel offers 238 spacious guest rooms, many with gorgeous views and wireless high-speed Internet access. Conveniences include: color cable television, bathroom television speakers, hair dryers, and much more. • The Tower - Our newly renovated 17-story glass structure offers 186 large, luxuriously appointed rooms and suites each with wireless high-speed Internet access. You’ll relax amid breathtaking views of sumptuous forests and the rolling hills and orchards of the surrounding golf courses. Deluxe amenities include: wet bars, Jacuzzi whirlpool tubs, bathroom phones, cable TV, refrigerators, and more. • Condominiums - Sample fairway or beachfront living when you get away to one of our 161 condominiums. Studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom accommodations are available in a variety of locations.

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is renowned for many things, but the golf experience is among the best anywhere. For each of our three signature courses, we sought out the finest designers the industry has to offer. • The Bear by Jack Nicklaus. • The Wolverine by Gary Player. • Spruce Run by William Newcomb.

Our 100,000-square-foot Health Club offers something for everyone. Features include: • Fully equipped Cardio and Weight Room • Fitness Classes • 15,000-square-foot Indoor Water Playground • Recreation Pool • 5 Indoor and 4 Outdoor Tennis Courts

At Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, you’ll find nearly 600 rooms, suites, and condominiums plus a combination of services and amenities unmatched elsewhere. The expert hands of our spa professionals relax bride and attendants with luxurious treatments and massages, and can create perfectly styled hair and makeup for the bridal party. Groomsmen and guests will enjoy a pre-wedding round of golf on one of our three premier courses, a tension-releasing game of tennis, or a relaxing whirlpool. Pristine beaches and exciting water sports are additional options that will make your wedding a memorable mini-getaway for each and every guest. Winter weddings have a special allure with our crackling fireplaces, snow-covered views, and elegant lodge atmosphere. Your guests can also enjoy cross-country skiing, sleigh rides, and other winter activities. 100 Grand Traverse Village Blvd. Acme, MI 49610-0404 231-534-6000 800-748-0303 weddings@gtresort.com GrandTraverseResort.com

Special Events Manager Steve Baehr

Spa Director Dawn Olsen

Spa/Golf Sales Managers Cara Goss Joann Hanafi Reception Capacity 2,500

Event Rooms 35

Guest Rooms 585

GOLF SPA SHOP DINE CASINO

GET UP AND GO

Breathtaking scenery and unforgettable moments. The paradise of a Northern Michigan wedding is more than inspirational views, a flowerlined path, or sunset stroll on the beach. More than tee times with the guys or endless pampering for the girls. It’s having all of those things at your fingertips. You won’t believe it if you haven’t seen it. Get up and go at grandtraverseresort.com/weddings.

WEDDINGS WE LOVE

STORY BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAMANTHA NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

ANNA ALDRICH & MICHAEL SHAW | JANUARY 12, 2019

Michael Shaw laughs when he tells the story of meeting Anna Aldrich—the future Anna Shaw. He was sitting with a group of his buddies at a bar in Ypsilanti, near where he was finishing up at Eastern Michigan University. They were a rowdy bunch that included his fellow members of the EMU wrestling team. He spotted Anna across the room, did a double take and told his friends, “I’m going to marry that girl.”

Michael crossed the room to introduce himself and offered to buy her a tequila shot, but she was the designated driver for her girlfriends and turned down the drink. He did, however, manage to get her number. A short time later, Michael was planning a party for his sister’s 21st birthday. He’d invited all his buddies, but when his sister asked what girls were coming, he realized he had forgotten to invite girls. He called on Anna, who rounded up her friends—and a tiara and sash for Mike’s sister. Yep, she was the one.

A year and a half later, Michael was a state trooper and Anna was a nurse and they were ready for the forever commitment. Michael proposed to Anna in front of their families at Anna’s family’s Italian restaurant, Caruso’s in Angola, Indiana. She said, “Yes! Yes!” almost before he’d gotten down on one knee.

One of the many things this couple has in common is a love of snow sports—Anna is a boarder and Michael skis. With that in mind, they envisioned a winter wedding. Once they’d decided that much, they knew it would be at Otsego Resort in Gaylord. As Anna explains, the resort has been “near and dear to [her] heart [her] entire life.” She began skiing there when she was 3 years old and has since spent every Christmas there with her family.

Indeed, the resort seemed tailored to their 180-guest destination wedding. Most of the guests stayed on site in one of the resort’s four lodges, while others stayed at hotels nearby. The best part was that the entire bridal party could stay together in the resort’s Hilltop Lodge, which is divided into two wings of four rooms each, connected by a common room and kitchen.

Many guests and members of the bridal party arrived a couple of days early to ski and hang out at the River Cabin—a bar with an outdoor fire pit at the base of the back slopes and next to the Sturgeon River. By the rehearsal dinner, memories were already being made. Anna’s family brought the food from Caruso’s for the casual dinner (handmade calzones, Italian meatballs, Caprese skewers and more), held in the Hilltop Lodge’s common room. 4

The following afternoon, the couple was married at St. Mary Cathedral in Gaylord by Father Bernie, the same priest who married Anna’s parents (and he also skis at Otsego Resort!). Michael’s first look at his bride in her gown was as she came down the aisle. “I melted, then I cried my eyes out,” he says, adding that his groomsmen, who included fellow wrestlers, state troopers and a couple football players, will probably never let him live it down.

The reception was held in the resort’s Duck Blind Grille—a knotty pine-paneled room with an expansive view of the ski slopes—a winter wonderland that lit up when the sun went down and the slope lights went on. After what the couple describes as a “phenomenal dinner” of stuffed chicken breast and pecan-crusted walleye, prepared by the Duck Blind Grille staff, the newlyweds impressed their wedding guests with their choreographed dance (yes, they took lessons) to “Home” by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros.

After that, it was everyone on the dance floor for the rest of the evening, the couple says, crediting their DJ Adam Freeman for meeting with them prior to the wedding to make sure their playlist was personalized. “I remember looking at the clock at 8:30 and telling Michael, ‘I’m getting tired. I don’t know if I can make it,’” Anna says. “And the next thing I knew, it was midnight.”

But there was more … the next morning, the staff at the Duck Blind Grille prepared a fabulous brunch, complete with an omelet station. After the leisurely meal, it was time for goodbyes—mixed with gushes of gratitude for such a perfect occasion. “The best part about it is that we never felt pressed for time,” Michael says. “We got to spend so much time with the people we love. Otsego Resort made that happen. It’s like having your own city for the weekend.”

resources

Venue | Otsego Resort, otsegoresort.com

Photographer | Samantha Nicole Photography, samanthanicolephoto.com

Videography | Lindsey Leigh Media, lindseyleighmedia.com

Dinner & Brunch | Otsego Resort, otsegoresort.com

Cake & Rehearsal Dinner | Caruso's Italian Restaurant, carusos-restaurant.com

Gown | Laura Jacob's Bridal, laurajacobsbridal.com

Handmade Tuxedo | Elevated Citizen, elevatedcitizen.com

Music at Wedding and Cocktail Hour | Higher Plain

Flowers | Flowers by Evelyn, 989.732.6227

DJ | Adam Freeman, djadamfreeman.com

Guest Favors | Alpine Chocolat Haus, alpine-chocolat-haus.com

See more photos at MyNorth.com/OtsegoResort21 Know an engaged couple? Send them MyNorth Wedding magazine at ShopMyNorth.com/Wedding21

Wedding Notebook

Otsego Resort

Up North Wedding with a View

Historical Otsego Resort offers a beautiful and charming rustic feel for your perfect destination wedding. Breathtaking outdoor wedding ceremony sites with a 25-mile vista view along with several banquet room options from a small intimate wedding reception or an evening to share with 300 of your closest friends. The Sitzmark Terrace is our most popular ceremony site where the Sturgeon River Valley's rolling hills serve as the backdrop to your vows on your wedding day.

Whether you need a special place to bond with your bridesmaids or a lodge for both families to come together, Otsego Resort offers a variety of overnight accommodations. Otsego Resort has something for everyone from the Hilltop Lodge to individual chalets, townhomes, and standard rooms. Being an all-season resort there is always something to explore. Winter Wonderland - get lost in the river valley wilderness trails, ski through natural terrain and wooded ski runs, warm up with après ski cocoa (or wine!) at the River Cabin, enjoy a heartwarming feast at the Duck Blind Grille and settle in by the fi re at Logmark Bar. Summer Retreat - play two PGA championship-style golf courses, explore miles of wooded hiking trails that wind around the Otsego Resort property, offering stunning riverside, forest, and hilltop views. Our seasonal outdoor pool is a welcoming spot to sit back and relax or settle in and watch the golfers pass by from an Adirondack chair-perch. No matter what you choose Otsego Resort does not disappoint. Otsego Resort has 80 years of experience helping families create lifelong memories. Start creating yours today!

Cuisine

Cheers to the newlyweds! It doesn’t matter if you want a pasta bar or surf and turf, we have something for everyone. From champagne toasts and hors d’oeuvres to personalized buffets or elegant plated dinners, we make it easy for the bride and groom to select a custom menu that pleases all palettes.

Weddings as Unique as You

Otsego Resort is honored to assist you in planning a fully customizable wedding. From the linens to the food, we are here to ensure each detail is covered. 696 M32 E Gaylord, MI 49735 989-732-5181 otsegoresort.com

Wedding Sales Manager Contact the resort directly at 989.732.5181 or email info@otsegoresort.com Wedding Locations 9 Ceremony Sites 9 Reception Areas Reception Capacity From 2 guests to 275+ guests On Site Lodging 78 Guests Hotel Rooms 2 Chalets 2 Townhomes

WEDDINGS WE LOVE

STORY BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN STEWART PHOTOGRAPHY

KAREY SEWARD & ANDREW MACDONALD | SEPTEMBER 7, 2019

Andrew and Karey met on Match.com. They were two singles living in Chicago—along with 2.7 million other people. Their first date was at a bar in Lincoln Park. It went well enough that he walked her home. That was when they realized they lived on the same block.

Of course, it takes more than geography to make a lifelong commitment, and Andrew and Karey soon realized they had all of that. They both love to laugh, love to party, love their families and friends. She is an over-planner; he balances that out with spontaneity. They share a love of the outdoors, water and boats. And it didn’t take more than one visit for Andrew to feel as passionate as Karey about the Glen Lake area where her family has summered for generations.

By the time they’d been together four years, marriage was a sure thing. But Karey had one request: To be surprised when he asked her. (Not an easy thing to do for a woman who plans everything!) But using her birthday as an excuse, Andrew pulled it off on the rooftop of their apartment complex in Chicago. The guy who hates scrapbooking (Karey loves it) surprised her with a photo book of the 10 reasons he loves her and wants to spend the rest of his life with her. She cried as she read it. He’d made the background on the last page green. “Green meant go,” he says. Before she closed the book, he was down on one knee pulling out the ring.

And that ring? “Buying it was the scariest thing I’d ever done,” he says. But Andrew got it right.

“He’d listened to everything I ever said I wanted in a ring and found the perfect one,” Karey says. “I’m still obsessed with my ring.”

Thankfully for Andrew’s sake, choosing their wedding venue was easier. They both knew they wanted a destination wedding in the Glen Lake area. “I love out-of-town weddings because guests are invested for the whole weekend and you have more time to spend with everyone,” Karey says. That made choosing The Homestead, set on Lake Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Bay, the spectacularly obvious choice. The amenityfilled resort could easily accommodate their 185 guests—and provide a weekend full of scenic activities, beach time and water sports. Beyond that, The Homestead offers Bay Mountain for wedding ceremonies, an inspirational perch overlooking Lake Michigan, the Manitou Islands and even Glen Lake.

The “weekend” began on Thursday when the bride and a few bridesmaids moved into one big, beautiful house on the resort property, and the groom and his groomsmen moved into another house nearby. That gave plenty of time for hanging out on the beach, a hike along Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, golf and browsing the quaint shops in Glen Arbor. The rehearsal dinner was held at the resort’s casual, Northwoods rustic venue, Camp Firefly. Like all the food at The Homestead, the 4

Italian buffet was overseen by the resort’s renowned chef, John Piombo. As the couple would find out, Piombo was just beginning to show off his culinary skills.

With the help of Sandy Luthardt, The Homestead’s event manager, and wedding coordinator Stacy Horn of Juniper & Lace Events, the wedding day, says Karey, was absolutely seamless. “They were both so wonderful to work with,” she says. “Stacy went above and beyond what we paid for.” Karey often joked with Stacy that, “You have turned into my best friend, you should be standing up at my wedding!”

Karey’s brother-in-law, Dr. David Duke, officiated at the intimate Bay Mountain ceremony. As he spoke, the sun came out and two hawks circled each other in the sky. Then it was back down the mountain on the chairlift for the reception at the resort’s Mountain Flowers Lodge for a plated dinner that included steak and salmon. Once again, Chef John Piombo’s skills were on display: “The steak was just unreal,” Andrew says. “Everyone said it was one of the best steaks they’d ever had—and we had a bunch of Chicago foodies there.”

In lieu of a wedding cake, the couple ordered up donuts from Peace, Love & Little Donuts. Karey also surprised Andrew with a groom's cake, decorated with bagpipes complete with the Scottish MacDonald tartan and family crest.

Andrew and Karey chose Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” for their first dance. The couple had taken dance lessons, “so we didn’t look like idiots,” as Karey says. But guests didn’t see the full extent of Andrew’s new moves until the end of the evening when the newlyweds found themselves encircled by their loved ones as they danced to Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.” Near the end of the song, Andrew picked Karey up and artfully swung her around. When she hit the ground she caught sight of her father tearing up with happiness.

No doubt, this couple knows how to entertain: They’d ordered up sliders to be brought in as the evening wore down. “Everyone cheered from the dance floor as they brought the platters in,” Karey says. Refueled, the bridal party kept the night going back at the groom’s house and hung out together until the wee hours of the morning. However, everyone was up in time for the farewell brunch the next morning. Once again, the couple says, The Homestead staff outdid themselves with the beautiful spread. “I was so energized I didn’t eat,” Karey remembers. “But everyone couldn’t stop saying how great it was.” Words they also used to sum up the entire, wonderful weekend and the start of their lives together.

resources

Venue | The Homestead, thehomesteadresort.com

Photographer | Dan Stewart Photography, danstewartphotography.com

Wedding Planner | Stacy Horn, juniperandlaceevents.com

Videographer | LM Visuals LLC, lmvisuals.com

Florist | Premier Floral Design, facebook.com/premierfloraldesign

Rehearsal Dinner | The Homestead, thehomesteadresort.com

Reception Dinner | The Homestead, thehomesteadresort.com

DJ | Mr. Music DJ, mrmusicdjs.com

Dessert Donuts | Peace Love & Little Donuts, peaceloveandlittledonuts.com

Scottish Family Crest Cake | Aunt B’s Cakes & Desserts, find them on Facebook

See more photos at MyNorth.com/TheHomestead21 Know an engaged couple? Send them MyNorth Wedding magazine at ShopMyNorth.com/Wedding21