Real Weddings

Kendra & Andy August 25th, 2012

Posted by Liz Mahlich on June 5, 2014

Growing up, Andy Horton spent many summers in Northern Michigan at his family’s cottage on Crystal Lake. As soon as he met Kendra, he knew he had to share this gorgeous getaway with the girl of his dreams.  Once Kendra laid eyes on Crystal Lake, she fell in love. She could immediately picture her wedding day with this pristine lake as the backdrop.

Both amateur golfers, the couple spent a great deal of time at Crystal Lake Golf Club. Once they were engaged, Crystal Lake Weddings quickly came to mind while envisioning their wedding day. Surrounded by vast lush greens, the classic white wedding tent with sunset views over Crystal Lake, was the perfect setting for their Northern Michigan wedding.  After spending their summers as a couple in Benzie County, Kendra and Andy wanted to share the beauty of this area with their closest friends and family.

Blue and Guac colored hydrangeas were arranged on each table by Victoria’s Floral Design team. Instead of the traditional wedding cake, the couple chose wedding cupcakes from Crescent Bakery in Frankfort.  Good Harbor and Shady Lane wines were featured on the menu. Each of these well thought out details gave the event a local feel.

During cocktail hour, the couple, along with wedding party and photographers, took golf carts for a spin, to capture breathtaking photos in various areas of the course. One of our favorite photo backdrops are the white birch trees.

“ We had a very positive experience with CLGC!! Since we had to plan from ‘afar’, we really appreciated Liz ‘ helpfulness and responsiveness to our various phone calls, e-mails, etc. The venue is absolutely beautiful and very clean. The rehearsal night, as well as wedding/reception, went without a hitch. Everything was absolutely perfect!!!” Jan, Mother of the Bride

“ When I walked into the tent before getting married I was speechless, it was picture perfect! We had an absolute blast at our wedding and were truly able to enjoy ourselves without worrying about anything. Everything went so smoothly and everyone had a great time.” Kendra

The couple now resides downstate and continues to visit the lake every summer. They’ve been known to play a round of golf or two. I’ve caught Kendra over at the tent reminiscing about her wedding day, while gazing at the spectacular view. Kendra and Andy are expecting their first baby in October! A bouncing baby boy. We couldn’t be more happy for them. I can picture them bringing their new baby to the tent and explaining the love story that took place in this beautiful location.

Thank you Sara Winkler Photography, for taking all these amazing photos. For more pictures of Kendra and Andy’s beautiful Northern Michigan wedding, follow the link below.

http://www.sarawinklerphotography.com/andrew-kendra

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Alysia Boynton-Fisher

I am not a romantic.  In fact, I am quite the opposite.  Growing up, I never wanted to be a princess. I wanted to be a detective and solve crimes or an attorney so I could argue with people and make them pay for their wrongdoings. I didn’t want to wear dresses and ribbons in my hair, much to my mother’s dismay.  I wanted to be one of the boys.  I could run as fast, kick as far, and climb as high.  I just couldn’t pee outside as easily!!  For us girls, it gets tricky.  I have never been a girly girl.  It wasn’t until college that I finally learned how to apply make-up.  I didn’t daydream about the kinds of things lots of girls do, like engagements, giant weddings, big white princess dresses, until everything changed, and then I did!!!!

During college I worked at a golf course in San Diego as a beverage cart girl.  I could make a mean bloody mary! I worked there for several years. After receiving my degree in public relations and marketing, I was offered a big girl job at that very golf course and became the Director of Marketing and Weddings.  I learned the in’s and out’s of wedding planning, wedding etiquette, and spent countless hours planning and setting up weddings. I helped brides envision and create their perfect day that they had been dreaming about all their lives and it was easy because we had a big blank canvas to work with, a big beautiful white tent.

Over the years while working at this golf course, I became very fond of a certain pro-shop boy.  We were friends from the start, never more, until I realized he was exactly what I was looking for.  The kind of boy you want to be with forever.  It all started with harmless flirting, a look here, a smile there, and then a dinner invitation.  Things blossomed. However, he was born and raised in Northern Michigan and was ready to return home.  After just a few fun months together, with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart,  I had to say goodbye.

Let’s just say that distance makes the heart grow fonder.  After two weeks of him being home, we decided that we just had to be together.  I can’t speak for him, but after thinking I had lost him forever, I knew that I never wanted to let him go.  We would see each other for a week and then go three months without and it was hard, so hard!!! I found myself working weddings late at night, watching the bride in her beautiful white dress, dance her first dance with the boy of her dreams, under the twinkle lights, and all of a sudden I wanted that too.

We decided that I was going to move to Traverse City. Before this born and raised San Diego girl was going to move anywhere, I had to check it out.  During our long distance adventures, I had never made it to Northern Michigan.  I had met him in St. Louis and he had come to me, but I never had been to see where he grew up.  It’s probably a good thing too.  If I would have visited for the first time in the winter, I would have turned around and caught the next plane right out of this frozen tundra.   I arrived in July and was in awe of this place that I had never even heard of.  I was in love with the boy and what was to be my new home.  It was while I was here, that the boy asked me to spend forever with him and of course I said YES.  Nothing made more sense to me than to get married at that same golf course where we met, where it all started, where I spent wedding after wedding, dreaming of me and this boy, dancing the night away, wearing a big white princess dress, in a big beautiful white tent.

It was everything I had never dreamed of! We celebrated with over three hundred of our loved ones and everything was perfect.  The food was delicious, the drinks were flowing, and we all danced the night away. It was the kind of wedding where we were begging for just one more song and then just one more song after that. The kind of wedding where you get back to your hotel and you could just pass out in your clothes, but we all know that the boy wasn’t going to let that happen!!!

Obviously,  it wouldn’t be practical to get married in the tent I was married in, way out in San Diego, but you can get married in a tent just as beautiful at Crystal Lake Golf Club.  It can be your blank canvas.  It can be anything and everything you have ever or never dreamed of.  The beginning of your story and it can begin the same as mine, Once upon a time in a tent…

September 14th, 2013

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Liz Mahlich

Northern Michigan holds a special place in many of our hearts, especially to those of Sarah Miller and Joe Martin. The couple vacationed in the Benzie area for many years, so it was the perfect destination to start their lives together.

Sarah and Joe wanted their guests to experience the beauty of Benzie County, starting with the small beach town of Frankfort. Guest rooms were reserved at Harbor Lights Resort, located on the shore of Lake Michigan.  The Rehearsal dinner was conveniently located in downtown Frankfort, at the Asian inspired restaurant, Fusion. Close family and friends shared a lovely meal, while preparing for the big day.

The morning of September 14th, 2013, began with a beautiful sunrise and the promise of gorgeous weather.  The ceremony was to be held on the resort’s beach and the wedding party and guests had the convenience of getting ready right in their rooms. Massaggio Salon from Traverse City graciously sent their stylist to the resort to style the bridal parties’ hair. Preparations for the day went on without a hitch!

Sarah and Joe shared their vows, officiated by Weddings Your Way, on Harbor Lights Resort’s beautiful beach, overlooking Lake Michigan and the Frankfort Light House. The weather was picture perfect and the views were breathtaking. A magical ceremony, which was then proceeded by a lovely reception.

Another special place in Benzie County is the Village of Beulah, which held Sarah and Joe’s reception venue.  The beautiful Crystal Lake Golf Club, was the perfect setting for the couple’s Northern Michigan themed reception. The classic white wedding tent with the natural backdrop of Crystal Lake with breathtaking sunset views, was a fabulous way to finish the couples magical day.  Crystal Lake Weddings staff ensured that every table was in place and all guests felt welcomed at the reception. Having an event coordinator and staff available at the reception venue assured that the bride and groom could enjoy their beautiful ceremony, while knowing their reception would be coordinated seamlessly. “…I didn’t have to worry about a thing knowing that you (Liz) were there! You made my day happen and I couldn’t thank you enough for it. Everything was perfect and I wouldn’t change a thing!” -Sarah Martin, Bride

As guest entered the reception tent, they were greeted with flawless decorations, carefully thought out by the bride. Elegant purple flower arrangements, designed by Victoria’s Floral Design, which encased white lanterns with turquoise candles, were the perfect amount of color to set off each table. Highlighting their love for Northern Michigan, the favors were maple candies and honey bears, from a local farmers market. Purple and turquoise lanterns floated through the air as guest mingled, while enjoying Black Star Farms wine.

Once the wedding party arrived, the reception was in full swing, and the catering staff from Chef’s Pride laid out a beautiful buffet dinner. Following dinner, a multi flavored cake, designed by Kingsley Cakes, was shared among guest. Northern Michigan DJs  provided fabulous music and entertainment to keep the guest happy and on the dance floor all night long.

Two Rings Photography was kind enough to share their beautiful photos of the evening with us. Even though they reside downstate, they love to come work and vacation in Northern Michigan whenever they have a chance.

We feel so blessed to have shared the Martin’s special day with them. It truly was a memorable Northern Michigan Wedding.