Grand Traverse Resort and Spa

every step of the way. The ceremony and reception was beautiful and the food was excellent. I would recommend Liz and Janelle and the GT resort to anyone. The barn was a perfect venue!!

a detail that was missed and that made for such an incredible experience for our closest family and friends. Our wedding was a true celebration of our love and we didn't spend a single second worrying about anything because they had it taken care of. GTR is now a special place for our family and we cannot wait to go back to visit!

ll of the staff was overly catering to our guests. Everyone had a grand time!!! Most of our guests were not from the area and could not stop talking about the resort, the food, the golf and the Traverse City area in general. A very big thanks to the wedding coordinator Liz Kondik. She is extremely organized, knowledgeable and always willing to go above and beyond to make sure our wedding was perfect! She made this entire process so much easier than i thought it would be. I cannot stress enough, if GTRS and Mrs. Kondik are on your list, choose them and you will have the perfect wedding day you deserve!!

for the wedding, the couple selected GTR for all of the following: - several places inside and out where everyone could gather and socialize - close to an airport with easy transportation to and from the airport - no one had to drive after celebrating - lots of activities for guests - on a gorgeous piece of property - location: close to Traverse City, easy drive to several lakes, Sleeping Bear Dunes, several vineyards and stunning views - had to easily accommodate minimum 180 guests. Other things we loved about GTR: Having everyone at the same hotel - advantages of the room block and so many places to meet and hang out. Our guests used pools, hot tubs, indoor tennis courts, golf courses and driving range, shops, fitness center, spa and of course we used the bars and restaurants. Easy shuttle to the Casino - we had a group take advantage of this. Welcome Party on 17th floor - the views and the sunset were spectacular. Bridal/Hospitality Suite - it's huge, beautiful, fully equipped with microwave, 2 beverage refrigerators, tons of counter space, large flat-screen TV, the furnishings, the enormous bathroom, THE VIEWS, it's beyond perfect. It's the perfect place for your bridal party to get ready. We booked 1 for bride and 1 for groom. You need to book the Hospitality Suite the day before the wedding - why not use it for family/friend gatherings the day before for a Welcome-party or an After-party - breakfast the day after the wedding etc? We also booked our own guest rooms on either side of the suite - and you could connect to even more guest rooms. I can't imagine any resort has a better set up than GTR. It is worth EVERY penny to have these suites! Decisions we are glad we made: Ceremony in the Pavilion was beautiful. The Plaza tent - the draping and lighting were stunning - draping behind sweetheart table. Lighted Trees for the tent poles made the atmosphere magical. Heaters - we would have been very cold without the heaters. They heated the entire tent. Dance Floor made the tent floor look much better. Cafe lighting on patio. Lighting the path to the restrooms. Lounge furniture - inside and out - both were used all night High Cocktail tables inside and out - including around the dance floor. Having condos and a house for the entire bridal party AND their plus 1's! This made the experience affordable and very special for all of them. The groomsmen had a 5 bedroom home that had a pool table. The bridesmaids had a very short walk to the resort. And finally, working with Liz Brooks and Jenelle Whipple was wonderful. Liz is excellent at everything she does. She's professional, patient, reassuring, and makes certain your event goes without a hitch. Liz will also accommodate any budget. Jenelle is very creative and talented. She came up with beautiful decor for the reception tables, sweetheart table, and other ideas. Jenelle also secured an amazing DJ who made certain the dance floor was never empty. So many of our guests said it was the best wedding weekend they have ever been to. It was for us too.

ision for our wedding and gave us such great ideas! She even suggested an ice sculptor to help with the secret groom's surprise - a surfboard and wave ice sculpture! Everything was so wonderful!

She made us feel like family. I would highly recommend working with the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.

Grand Traverse Resort for any event, everyone goes above and beyond! They made our wedding weekend absolutely amazing and memorable for our us and for our guests!

d my wedding at the beach club and the reception at the resort, and everything was amazing. I would highly recommend Liz and Grand Traverse Resort if you are planning your wedding.

ter brunch! I wouldn't change a thing about my wedding day and that is thanks to the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa! Thank you!

views and the reception in the tower ballroom where Liz ensured everything was set up perfectly! I am more than happy with the venue, hotel rooms, staff, activities, and just overall experience. If we could do it again, we would!

g! My husband and I couldn't have imagined a better place to get married :)

very responsive. The bell staff at the resort bent over backward to make sure we (bride and groom), and our guests were happy. They truly know the concept of customer service. All of the accommodations were great. It really felt like you were out of town and on a resort. I highly recommend checking them out for your wedding. The food turned our AWESOME. Although you spend a little more than usual for it, it is TOTALLY worth it. I suggest the wings, and prime rib when choosing your food! We also had an afterparty in one of the ballrooms. We got the Nacho Bar and the guests were RAVING about it. Do that over the pizza and be creative. We golfed at the Spruce course and it was very well managed. We never had to wait at a hole once and it was beautiful.

ess emails very promptly and made the whole booking a breeze!! Great place to stay for single or large groups!

stination wedding and reception (we live in Texas!), this mother of the bride began to panic. So many things to decide and contractors to hire! Yikes. When I met Liz, all the panic melted away, and I began to believe that I could actually attend this important event as a Celebrant and not as a Guardian of the Plan and Enforcers of all things that should be happening! Liz was so professional in all of our coordination, even when the Bride request some last minute changes! The Resort was the perfect location for the Welcome Dinner hosted by the Groom's parents, which allowed all of our guests to enjoy an evening on the beach with a beautiful Michigan Sunset as a bonus. The food was delicious and the entire weekend was delightful. Free transport provided by the Resort made the wedding events easy. The Boys enjoyed golf, the Girls enjoyed the luxurious accommodations and Young Folks enjoyed easy access to the Casino for later night entertainment:) Overall a weekend that exceeded our expectations, starting with the warm and capable care provided by Liz and her staff. I highly recommend this Northern Michigan location AND The Grand Traverse Resort!!

goodness for the rain plan that was in place for us at the GTR. We found out with just hours to spare that there was no way we were going to be married outside, so Liz and her team arranged the 17th floor atrium for our ceremony and while it wasn't the bright, sunny glistening Lake Michigan wedding we had imagined for a year, the room overlooked the bay and it was so intimate.. we were able to see all 130 of our guests' faces without squinting, and they could see us and most importantly, we were able to hear each others' vows and our guests heard them as well.. it was as if everyone of our guests had a front row seat and the feedback we received from our guests corroborated that sentiment. It was perfect and dare I say more perfect than the beach may have been, as the beach isn't quite as private. We had to take our photos indoors, but the resort has some fun elements in the building that made it ok (including the cool staircase in the restaurant upstairs) and with the right photographer, anything will be ok! During all of the last minute changes to the perfect wedding we had dreamed about for a year, Liz was there every step of the way making sure we were OK and making sure she could do whatever it took to make us happy within whatever she was able to control. The rain lifted just in time for our reception.. and as we walked in, it was everything we ever hoped for. The draping/lighting provided by the Resort was gorgeous. We used a lot of outside vendors and our own manpower for a lot of the decor, but as far as the Resort's part- everyone raved about the food and Stephanie made our cake exactly as we had pictured it.. which was a little off the wall, so we weren't able to tast test it.. as we chose a funfetti naked cake.. and it ended up being absolutely delicious. The Resort staff during our reception were fantastic and extremely polite and made sure everyone was happy at all times. During the planning process, (which already had an added level of difficulty since we live in Dallas, Texas) Liz answered all of our questions promptly, gracefully handled my changing my mind on large elements more than once, and made us feel like our wedding was the only one she was working on... even though it definitely was not. I considered making this a 4 star review only due to some of the Resort's practices but that wouldn't be fair to Liz because she is definitely worthy of 5 stars. I will say that as others mentioned, the Resort itself is kind of in the business of nickel and diming you and can be pretty pricey in regards to rooms, hospitality suites, guest bag delivery, etc. However as long as you make sure to read your contracts before signing them (as far as room blocks go, etc) and make the effort to negotiate certain terms and fees, you will have more control of those things and know what you're getting yourself into at the end of the day with no surprises. Overall, I would definitely suggest Liz and the GTR for your wedding. We wish we could do it again and again because our day was so fantastic!

taff & beauitful location (on the East Bay) it was the right choice for our wedding. I could go on & on about how amazing the resort was , but I need to give credit where it's deserved. Our wedding planner Liz Brooks went above & beyond to make sure our special day went absolutely perfect. We worked with Liz for 2 years on this wedding & I can honestly say not once did she ever drop the ball on anything. When we felt something wasn't right, or was perhaps out of budget, she worked with us to make sure we were in a good place & that we were happy with everything. Her communications skills were to a tee, & her eye for detail & the small things you'd over look were amazing. She was organized & up to date with where we were with things as the big day grew closer. We hit a few bumps in the road with different vendors of ours & when we didn't know what to do, Liz was there to save us. The day of the wedding she stayed with us till dinner time at the ceremony to make sure things were up to our liking. That in itself speaks volumes. To make things short, our wedding wouldn't of happened without Liz. If you're looking for someone who truly has your best interest & desires to make sure your wedding day is everything & more, I would highly, highly recommend Liz Brooks & The Grand Traverse Resort for your wedding day.

ade my daughter's wedding a day/weekend to remember for our guest, and everyone involved. It was so perfect and I am willing to refer Liz Brooks in person. Just ask the "I do" office at the resort. She out performed her responsibilities and truly went above and beyond for us. I would be glad to discuss the perfect wedding to anyone interested. I can only hope the Resort knows the value of Liz Brooks...

ase. The entire resort staff was wonderful. As far as the resort itself, it could accommodate all of our guests and has beautiful views. We got married in the white tent, and it was stunning after we decorated it. But it is very expensive. Before booking, make sure to read the fine print on the food menu and contract. That being said, all of our guests had a wonderful time. During the day, people went to the beach, downtown TC, or the resort gym. And after our wedding, we went to Jacks Sports Bar. It really was a perfect day. If you are looking for a northern Michigan wedding, you should check this place out.

: - The "discounted" room rate was still outrageous and I really felt bad that my guests had to pay SO much. - The Resort only cares about $$ and will nickel and dime you for every little thing. NOTHING is included (except working with Liz who is a true gem and probably the best thing they have going for them in regards to their wedding services.) - Blocking rooms = TOTAL nightmare. What they don't tell you upfront is that basically any rooms from your block that doesn't get booked- YOU have to pay for them!!! INSANE! (They will cover like 10% of the unbooked rooms, but YOU pay for the rest.) I have never heard of this!! So my groom & I were forced to call our wedding guests (which basically everyone was from out of town) to see if they would be wanting to stay there- SO inconvenient & rude! And even when we did block rooms, it kept getting messed up, we lost some rooms, then had some added again, it was a fiasco. The policy of having to pay for rooms not booked- give me a break! -Reserving the venue: even though we paid the Resort tens of thousands of dollars to have our wedding there, that only got us our venue for JUST the day OF the wedding. So our space was not automatically reserved the day before, for our rehearsal. They actually booked another wedding Friday night, in our ceremony space, the day before our wedding! So we had to have our rehearsal at 2pm!! Which really sucked! Who has ever heard of a 2pm rehearsal time?! It was super inconvenient because almost the whole wedding party was getting in on Friday so most of them had to get up and leave at like 5am to make it to the rehearsal. Plus there were all these tables & chairs set up in the space for the reception that was taking place that night, so it made our rehearsal confusing & hard for my bridal party to envision where to walk & what to do. When you pay big bucks like that, you should get the space the day before. Every other venue in TC allows you to have the space for the entire weekend! - Impossible for early-check in times- even for the bridal party?!! Another reason the early rehearsal time sucked was because, even though we gave the resort SO much $$, not to mention the 30 rooms that were booked there solely because of our wedding- no early check in times! SO inconvenient & stressful for our guests. I had to deal with all my family members complaining about not getting into their rooms until 4pm when my wedding started at 3pm! Another horrible policy! The wedding should get priority. I'm sure there's a way they can make it happen since other hotels do it! - Other little details to review with their staff working the reception: we spent over a GRAND on beautiful plate chargers! Well, that was pretty stupid of us because the staff removed them immediately- they cleared them from the tables along with the salad plates!! WHY would they take them away SO early on?! We got them for a reason- to use them & have people see them! They should have left them at the tables for the main dinner course & only removed them after DESSERT! I tried to tell a busser to stop but by that time, it was too late & they had already been removed from too many tables. I'm really mad I wasted my money on them now thanks to the staff who did that.

so much more easier. I truly felt lucky to have her help and am grateful for all of her hard work! I couldn't have done it without her!! Liz is simply the best and the GT Resort is very lucky to have her on their team! The Resort was beautiful but I would say the main reason I would recommend it to future bride and grooms would be because of *LIZ* specifically.

ay! We had a welcome party under the Pavillion and in the Manitou room on Friday, had our wedding at their beach property, reception at the Garvey Barn and breakfast on the 17th floor on Sunday. All events and locations were perfect! The hospitality room connected to our suite also made a great spot for me and my girls to get ready as well as a spot for us to visit with guests! Liz made sure everything was just how we wanted it and Kelly, our bartender, was awesome! Beautiful scenery, wonderful staff, great resort and an amazing wedding weekend at Grand Traverse Resort! -The Janik's-

ble for some beautiful pictures since it is on a very pristine golf course. There Pavilion tent really didn't need any decoration - the yellow glow does it all . We chose this venue because it was affordable, it came with a guaranteed backup space if weather was bad, and we got Liz as a wedding coordinator. It was a one stop shop kind of wedding and it was perfect. Liz worked with us every step of the way and was a joy to work with - she helped me feel at ease during the wedding weekend and is very trustworthy. I can't tell you how impressed i was with the staff who worked our wedding - everyone was friendly and amazing. The night was seamless. The rooms were also amazing. This resort is well oiled machine for weddings and it showed. If you choose this as your venue - you won't be disappointed!

Michigan Ballroom and was COMPLETELY transformed into the most beautiful, enchanting room we have ever seen! It was gorgeous! The food was EXCELLENT! The service at the reception couldn't have been any better. We also utilized the "Parlor Room" for girls to get ready, WOW is all I can say!! We had numerous people tell us it was the most beautiful and best food they have ever seen/had at a wedding. Worth every penny! Great job Liz!!! Keep up the good work!!

ger at the golf course were a pleasure to work with. Our wedding was small (60) but we planned it in two months, and trying to pull something like that together for even 60 people over that time period took a lot of coordination. Everything went flawlessly, we had our ceremony outside in the pavillion which was nice, and our reception on the 17th floor of the tower at sunset which was beautiful. I did this all "site unseen" but never stressed about it as Liz was able to paint a good picture of what we were going to get. The price was right for sure, and all our guests enjoyed themselves. They delivered exactly what we envisioned. I have no complaints and would recommend this as a wedding location to anyone I know.

t how fantastic our food and cake were, and what an amazing beautiful place GTR is. We will be back every year to see our beloved Liz and reminisce on a magical weekend.

pliment Liz -- she helped so much. She was great with communications, suggestions, and answering questions,.. I had not seen the room until the day of the dinner (not living nearby), yet everything was perfect. They were even very accommodating about food allergies. Our guests all loved the food from appetizers to dessert, VERY delicious! Wonderful memories were made that evening looking over the red sky as the sun set over Grand Traverse Bay. Thank you Liz and Thank you Grand Traverse Resort!

knowledgeable. I had a destination wedding (I live in California), so I was a little nervous at first not being physically there to plan everything. With all the help from the staff and their recommended vendors, my wedding was absolutely perfect. I can honestly say everything went off without a hitch! I would recommend GTRS to anyone and have not one bad thing to say about them.

he Pavilion on the grounds, which was perfectly shaded, as it was the hottest day on record.Our reception was outdoors in the Plaza Tent, which was also walking distance from the ceremony. There were 3 other weddings there that weekend but Liz Brooks, the wedding/special events coordinator always made me feel like I was the only bride. She was always available by phone and returned all my emails very promptly. The weekend of the wedding she and Alex (event design coordinator) made themselves available in person to meet. The Friday before our wedding we had a large welcome party/dinner for all our guests and Liz and Alex made sure to stop by at the end to check in and make sure I was happy with everything. The night of the wedding Liz stopped by my husband and I during dinner to check in with us and make sure we were pleased with everything. Alex also did a great job coordinating all the décor. We were able to decorate the plaza tent form scratch and get the feel we wanted. All our guests had an amazing time and for a lot of them it was their first time up to Grand Traverse Resort/Traverse City and they couldn't stop talking about the beauty of it up there. The staff was awesome, even the bell hop guys and driving the shuttles around to where we all needed to be. Everyone was happy to help and truly made our wedding a memorable experience. Many guest said it was the best wedding they had ever been too. We were blessed to find such an amazing place at Grand Traverse!

the wedding/special events coordinator always made me feel like I was the only bride. She was always available by phone and returned all my emails very promptly. The weekend of the wedding she and Alex (event design coordinator) made themselves available in person to meet. The day before our wedding we had a large cocktail party/dinner for all our guests and Liz and Alex made sure to stop by at the end to check in and make sure I was happy with everything. The night of the wedding Liz stopped by my husband and I during dinner to check in with us and make sure we were pleased with everything. Alex also did a great job coordinating all the décor. I had the ceiling and all the walls draped for the reception, which really gave the room a softer, romantic feel to it. I also wanted to rent some nice furniture and arrange it next to the dance floor and Alex was able to do that. All our guests had an amazing time and for a lot of them it was their first time up to Grand Traverse Resort/Traverse City and they couldn't stop talking about the beauty of it up there. The staff was awesome, even the bell hop guys and driving the shuttles around to where we all needed to be. Everyone was happy to help and truly made our wedding a memorable experience. Thank you to everyone at Grand Traverse!!

ssible and so easy to work with! I live 4 hours from Traverse City so I didn't see any of the decor or details until we walked in for our reception and I was totally blown away with how beautiful everything was! They definitely exceeded our expectations and we couldn't have been happier! Liz was absolutely amazing! She was so helpful and knew exactly what she was doing. She helped make decisions to keep us in our budget and made sure that our wedding day went as smooth as possible. I am so happy we chose Grand Traverse Resort for our wedding!

o stick to my budget; and on the day of the ceremony, she stepped up to make sure everything went smoothly. Most importantly, she never made me feel like my anxieties were unwarranted. Level 17 was amazing, beautiful, and perfect. We were worried about having an outdoor wedding in the fall (given the unpredictable weather conditions) but really wanted the "outdoor" feel -- Level 17 was perfect for that with the ceiling high windows, glass roofing, and open air architecture. It was clean, modern, and just right for us. The GTRS tower suite was stunning with recently upgraded modern décor and great views. I was also really impressed with the great prices of the condominiums and ALL of our family and friends stayed in the condominiums and shared accommodations without a problem... All condos had multiple beds and bathrooms. We all loved it and we will be going back for our wedding anniversaries for sure!

eautiful. They also were able to add lights above the cocktail area which looked awesome at night, too. We loved working with Liz and Alex throughout the whole process. Liz, especially, was my go-to girl and was there to help me at every step of the way. She's a great person to have as the resort's coordinator. The only complaint we had about our whole experience was working with the lady in charge of room blocks. She was impossible to get ahold of and took over a week to respond back to e-mails and never answered her phone. I ended up going through Liz each time instead of dealing with that lady. But other than that, we were very very pleased with everything and had an amazing wedding weekend at the Grand Traverse Resort.

g and the reception could not have been more perfect. The event planner, Liz Brooks, and event design planner, Alex Schauer, were both amazing and pulled everything together seamlessly, even coordinating transportation for our guests to our off-site ceremony. My entire bridal party had their hair done at the resort's spa the morning of the wedding and we were more than happy with the results (and for a very reasonable price.) We also had a complimentary Tower room for our honeymoon suite, which was absolutely stunning. As an added courtesy Liz had arranged for all of our gifts & cards to be taken up to the room just before we arrived at the reception. As long as you have room in your budget I highly recommend this venue!

I cannot thank them enough for all of their talent and hard work. We were even allowed to have our dog walk down the aisle, which meant so much to us! The food was amazing and the decor, set-up, and transportation from the beach to the reception were beyond anything we could have imagined. Everything was so well organized. We had so many guests tell us that this was the best wedding they have ever been to and that it was very "Paul and Dani". We did have a few issues with blocking rooms for our guests early on and some of our guests never received the "welcome bags" that we paid to have delivered, but other than that everything was pretty stress-free. Along with recommending the Resort, we also recommend Mac Daddy for a band, Premier Floral Designs for flowers, Melissa Wilson and Epiphany East for hair, Kristyn Taylor for makeup, and Lindsay Wolff Photography for flawless pictures. Everyone who contributed to our wedding helped make 7.11.15 the best day of our lives!

om. The ballroom was breathtaking and everyone raved about the food including our gorgeous wedding cake. At the end of the reception when the bar was about to close, the bartender brought my husband and I two fresh drinks and bid us good night-a small gesture but a perfect example of the attention we received. Our accommodations were luxurious and the view spectacular. We especially loved the personalized Mr. & Mrs. pillowcases, champagne and toasting glasses they left as a gift. All we can say is WOW!! We can't say enough nice things and would highly recommend GTR to all!!!!

also wouldn't accommodate handing out welcome bags and wanted to charge $5/bag to distribute. For how much the guests were paying, and the business we were providing, we expected a lot more out of the Resort. Many of the guests said they will not come back.

beyond to make you happy. We are so glad we got married at this amazing resort. We will be returning every year!

out better than we imagined! Between the ceremony and reception the resort shuttled the wedding party and photographers and videographers to the beach for more photos!! Like I said. The best of both worlds. Beach photos without the humidity! The staff was so helpful and worked with us! Even last minute changes were no problem. The Spa was great for hair, makeup and nails!! My daughter had a trial updo and makeup on Friday! They took the hair down and she was ready for rehearsal! The food stations we choose were fantastic! Did I mention the bacon bar!! Ask Liz! It was the Best Day Ever!! Thank You!!

o easy and Liz was there the day of to coordinate EVERYTHING. We went to the resort in February for our tasting and were not satisfied with the food, so Liz helped us come up with a new plan. We ended up doing 3 tasting stations instead of a plated dinner and it was fantastic. Stephanie, the pastry chef at the resort, made our cake and it was incredible. She made a gluten free cake for me and was so easy to work with. Alex coordinated the decorations and helped make my vision a reality. The resort is really a one stop shop and the only things that I did on my own were flowers, the DJ, and hair/makeup. My husband and I had the perfect wedding and the Grand Traverse Resort staff had a huge part in making that happen.

y at our reception in the Plaza Tent. The food was outstanding, the staff was professional and courteous, and the venues were perfectly detailed. My wife and I did not have to worry about a thing. All of our guests enjoyed their rooms and the services the resort had to offer. I would highly recommend the resort for your wedding celebration

ecial. She is in constant contact through email/phone call, and any concern is addressed in a more than timely fashion. She is a HUGE asset to the resort, and they are very lucky to have her. The next positive was Stephanie, the pastry chef. I don't have words to describe what this girl can do with cake flavor. You just have to try it for yourself, and you will not be disappointed! Something as plan as vanilla still excites your taste buds, she is just that good. She even made the accommodation, less than a week before our wedding, to make the cake bigger than originally ordered so it fit our stand better. She also took care with allergies. My mom has severe nut allergies, and she was able to make our cupcakes/cake allergen free so all could enjoy! Duke made room blocking easy and guest affordable. The venues were breath taking- our Beach ceremony site was beautiful and the Plaza tent was the reception venue I had always dreamed of! Downfall areas come in regards to treatment of our guests by hotel employees and several hiccups in planning. A manager personally came out to berate a family member of mine publically, which was not ok. Then the day after our wedding at 4pm, I was called and asked why we had not vacated the "suite," to which I had email confirmations that we were in this room for two nights. In the planning process, I had been in contact with Meg, since January (we booked in Sept. '13 for Sept. '14, and I had to wait until Jan. '14 to start design planning). After several emails/phone conversations, I found out in June nothing had been taken care of and done. The poor girl that was put as an interim replacement conveyed how overwhelmed she was, and when we were put in touch, details from what had been discussed prior with Meg did not match. It was very frustrating, and I did everything from my own centerpieces to linens; which meant I also had to decorate and clean up after the reception. When we booked, we were told transportation shuttles would be provided to the bridal party for pictures, and were told it was, quote "one less vendor to deal with." We still had to pay for a resort shuttle for pictures, and ended up not going off property. Our tasting was supposed to be for 6 people; and was planned for 4, so we ended up splitting and sharing. The food the day of the wedding was underwhelming for the price. Our bar, however, was BEYOND phenomenal. I had a hair and makeup trial while visiting for our tasting; and am so thankful I did. I ended up doing my own makeup and had a friend do my hair. Three of my six bridesmaids had their hair done at the resort spa, then the girl who did my hair ended up fixing their hair as well. Ending on a positive note, everything turned out stunning in the end. The venues were gorgeous, and everyone had a blast. The entire atmosphere itself is where the cost becomes worth it. The resort truly is a gorgeous location. I was underwhelmed with some services, while others exceeded expectations. We left with amazing memories, and a lot of our guests labeled our wedding "epic!" My husband and I are overall very happy with how our big day turned out and are grateful to those who helped make it special!

eal quick. We ran into countless issues that no amount of words would be able to explain the headache we had. The wedding coordinator, decor lady, and cake decorator each quit after we had signed with the resort. So, we had to re-explain everything and basically start from scratch 6 months before our wedding date. We live out of state, so you can imagine the headache of having to go over plans again and again and again; and still have the new coordinator (Liz) and decor lady (Alex) not have a clue what was going on. For instance: we had a seated dinner and supplied beer and wine (no liquor offered) for our wedding. The day before our wedding Liz was speaking about how each pour of liquor would cost this much, each glass of beer this much, when we had told her probably 5 times and already signed contracts that we didn't want liquor served and that we are supplying the beer and wine. Liz apologized for forgetting that we were having a seated dinner and supplying the beer and wine by saying that her and her husband just moved into a new house and are super stressed so her minds been frazzled! Well how do you think we felt, it being 3 days before the wedding?! We also had our rehearsal dinner at The Sands condos, a lake front property owned by the beach. We had a great, relaxed dinner on the beach and a few of our guests even stayed at the condos. We supplied one keg of beer and were told that since some of the guests were staying at the beach condos that we could also bring our own liquor. This turned out not to be the case. We brought some of our own alcohol only to be told by the bartender that we weren't allowed to and that we had to purchase the alcohol from the resort. We went back and forth, he wasn't budging, and ended up having to spend another $500 to have more alcohol brought from the resort. The hotel reservations were also a nightmare. I finally had to have my husband deal with that or else I was going to lose my mind. They constantly kept getting the reservations wrong, were missing reservations of our family/wedding party, and the worst part was that they didn't let anyone check in early. Our wedding was at 4pm (the same time as check-in) and we thought that with all the money we had spent, plus the fact that we had over 20 rooms booked for the wedding, that we all could get early check-in. WRONG. My husband had to book 2 rooms for the night before the wedding just so our wedding party would have a room to get dressed in the day of. We asked Liz if she had a bill ready for us 4 days prior to the wedding, it was in the contract that we had to pay most everything 3 days in advance, and she said she didn't know how much the bill would be (food, alcohol, remainder of venue cost, etc.). Well the bill was over $18k, so we essentially had to show up with a blank check and hope the calculations we did at home were close to what we would be paying. For the amount of money we spent, well over $25k, we were expecting so much more than what the resort offered. Rude staff, constant confusion and chaos, and just a general lack of interest/care about our wedding is the last thing a bride wants. Spend your money elsewhere, ANY WHERE ELSE, because you will be disappointed if you have your wedding here

anner Liz and the decor manager Alex were amazing, incredibly helpful and easy to get a hold of! The staff at the resort on the day of our wedding went above and beyond for us. This is a fantastic venue to have your wedding at, especially if you have many out of town guests. Many commented how seamless and worry-free it was to stay at the resort and attend our wedding. Can't say enough about this venue!

always prompt, kind, and service focused. Liz, the special events manager, met and exceeded my expectations from our first phone call, review of the facility, to the food tasting, and especially on my wedding day! Nothing went wrong on my wedding day and it was gorgeous. A month later, everyone is still talking about how delicious the food was! The level of customer service was superb! Liz treated my wedding like it were her own and provided us with white glove service from the beginning to the end. The site is beautiful and has amenities for everyone (great restaurants, sushi, golf, indoor and outdoor pools, spa, tennis courts, gym) ! If you are looking for a nice place for your destination wedding, look no further! The Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is your location!

always answered all my emails in a timely manner. Liz never told me no and made sure everything I wanted came true! She was there until dinner was served, making sure everyone was in the right place and knew what to do. Took all the stress off me and allowed me to sit back and enjoy my big day. Meg helped me with all my decor and gave me ideas to help my vision come true! All I had to do was tell her what I wanted and it was done! This made my wedding planning easy and fun! My guest are still talking about how amazing my wedding was! I would encourage anyone to have their wedding at the Grand Traverse Resort!

wedding and she had another rehearsal to be at exactly 30 minutes after ours. We felt very rushed to get through the rehearsal and this ultimately led to not realizing our aisle would be very narrow and as I walked down the aisle with my dad and stepdad on the day of our wedding we did not fit 3 across. She also had another wedding that day at the exact same time which also made us feel rushed. We felt as though she did a great job considering the circumstances but that maybe the resort is over booking her. Our reception was absolutely amazing! Fran, the head caterer was so great and made sure we had everything we needed at all times. The decor was done beautifully. The decor coordinator left the resort days before our wedding. However, Alex, the assistant took over and did an amazing job. The only problem we had was our last name was spelled wrong throughout the signs guiding our guests where to go as well as on the grooms cake. Generally we wouldn't care much about this but to us it was a bit disappointing considering it was our wedding day and we felt as though with the amount of many we were paying them that was one thing that should not have been wrong. We also had our hair and makeup done at the resort. Becki did my hair and makeup. She was fabulous. She really listened to what I wanted and I was extremely happy with my wedding day look. The salon was about a half hour late getting us in. They had a wedding party ahead of us and ran late with that party which ultimately made us a half hour late in our day (a bit stressful!). Reserving rooms for ourselves and our guests was VERY easy. Duke helped us get our room block all set and he was so friendly and helpful. We were amazed with his costumer service! We were very happy with our wedding day at the Grand Traverse Resort overall. The staff was extremely friendly from the bell boys, to the front desk staff, to the group reservation staff, to the wedding staff. We had an amazing day!

ore my wedding at a cheap nail saloon.

ty was staying in the hotel. I had a hair and make-up trial in March ( which I HIGHLY recommend) which gave me a good idea of how things would go on the BIG day. While my hair did not turn out as well as I hoped and I was kinda in a panic Becki took a TON of pictures and when I came back for a second trial a few days before my wedding not only did she remember me but purchased a hair piece to make my bun more full and told me she had been practicing my hairstyle to make sure it would be perfect. I cannot tell you how amazing she made me look that day. She took her time on my hair to make sure every piece was where I wanted it and really paid attention to detail like how to place the hair so my higlights showed through. She was absolutely AMAZING and this is coming from a picky New Yorker who is super critical when people do my hair. I LOVE Becki and could not imagine having anyone else do my hair and make-up including the salon I go to in the city. She mde me look like I walked about of a magazine shoot and the make-up was flawless. I have never felt so beautiful in my whole life which is how every bride hopes to feel on her wedding day. I CANNOT say enough good things about her. She made my make-up look natural and not too much like many make-up artists which was very important to me. My mother and my bridal party all got their hair done at the salon that morning and everyone looked amazing which is also think can be rare when big groups arrive for bridal updos. Everyone looked amazing which added to the fun party mood and made the day even more special. If you are looking for a place to get hair and make-up done this is your place and you HAVE to ask for Becki! It will be the best decision you make. Becki MADE my wedding day! =)

wound up loving my hair and makeup the day of the wedding. I don't typically wear a ton of makeup, and Sandra was able to provide me with a natural look that stayed fresh all day. I'm happy to say that I looked beautiful in my photos throughout the whole evening. Also, I have very fine hair, but she was able to provide me with a great updo that was just what I was seeking. My hair stayed up all night and looked perfect even after the after-party had ended :) In addition, my bridal party had their hair done at the spa the day of the wedding. All of them loved their hair, and again, everyone's hair stayed up all night. In addition, as I don't live in the area, Sandra was able to provide me with some great local suggestions for a post-wedding treat. I had a great experience and would recommend her for any bride. My only complaint is that it was a little difficult to get in contact with someone at the spa. I had to call a few times before I was able to book my appointment. However, after that, my experience was great. I had to reschedule my trial due to a personal conflict and had no problems doing so.

specifics and the day-of coordination help.

l our dream. The staff at GTR & S surpassed all of our quality and service expectations! Everything was truly amazing and we have Amanda and GTR & S to thank. Do yourself a favor and let them take care of the details - nothing will be overlooked or forgotten! This is your day to remember for the rest of your life and GTR & S will make it the most unforgettable and amazing day!

ey were there for every last detail, but they were not overbearing- which is what a bride needs! I had a huge wedding party, and Rachelle was still organized and on time for the entire day! The food was amazing- all my guests are STILL raving about it. I would do my wedding here again in a heart beat because they make sure everything runs smoothly and my day was perfect thanks to them!

the wedding and staying late to clean up. The resort was an incredible choice. We got tables, chairs, linens, lighting, food, alcohol, place settings, and even the cake through the Resort. Their on site wedding staff is the best with Rachelle at the helm. We told them our vendors and they connected, gave them our small items and how we wanted them, and they set everything up. The food was great, the cake was beautiful, and we didn't have any stress on the wedding day. A huge thanks to the Resort, we would definitely recommend them to anyone!

e and always give her honest opinion. Through the whole process, you feel like you are planning your wedding with your close friend. I could not have asked for a more amazing experience. It was so much fun planning and it was overall a stress free wedding. Most of the guests stayed at the resort and they said the resort was the best place that they ever stayed. They also said the wedding was the best one they have ever been to in their life! My wedding was so amazing and I tell my husband everyday that I wish I could hit the rewind button. The resort made my wedding a day that I will truly never forget! I wish I could do it all again! If you want the wedding of a lifetime, get married at The Grand Traverse Resort & Spa! :)

Amanda on planning my wedding ceremony and reception and couldn't have asked for someone more helpful and on top of things. She is the kind of person you want to have looking out for every detail of your special day. I received nothing but compliments on every aspect of my wedding. The shuttle to Turtle Creek Casino was fantastic as well and gave guests something to do without having to drive. Everyone at the spa was fantastic and always made sure my guests and I were taken care of. I would absolutely recommend Grand Traverse Resort & Spa to anyone looking to get married in the Traverse City area!

inute costs, to rude staff, broken promises and lack of attention to detail... Oh, and the "free shuttle" charging my guets $10 per person to get to their condos after the wedding. I do events for a living, and this is not how the industry works. The one and only good thing I can say about the resort is the food was wonderful. I managed somehow to have a beautiful wedding and day in spite of the Grand Traverse Resort. Turst me, it's not worth the headache.

nd groom) didn't have a room to stay in. Then I found out through booking mistakes that my entire wedding party was going to be kicked out of the condos i had rented for them. When trying to fix these problems, one of the managers was not very helpful saying that they were at 100% occupancy. All of this was fixed, but such a horrible experience on my wedding day. Then towards the end of my reception I was asked by a resort employee if I wanted my gifts brought to my room. When I went to my room, my gifts weren't there!!! After waiting in the lobby for 1.5 hours for them to find my gifts, they were in another hotel room! I missed the end of my reception and I've never cried more then on that day. Oh, and now I'm getting a bill (we paid for everything the day before the wedding, as you usually do) but there is no receipt for what the bill is for...and I'm still waiting for an answer about all of this. The coordinator was wonderful throughout the whole process and she deserves a better place to work at. The spa was wonderful. The actual resort is horrible.

od choices; chicken, beef ribs, and vegetarian. All three were spectacular... We had our reception in their Pavilion which is outside. IT was beautiful! The resort sets everything up so you don't have to worry about a thing. I really trusted our coordinator (the one from the resort) and she was amazing through the whole process. She made it simple and stress free! Which is what we needed since we live in Arizona. The coordinator was out in Arizona a few months before the wedding for a conference and called me to see if we could meet while she was out here! You cannot beat that service and we really appreciated that! I would definitely recommend the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa if you are looking for a place around the Traverse City area!

esort. She pulled it all together for us and worked very hard to make it so special. Everyone there commented on how awesome it all was.

ve to order one from their bakery but if you bring one in from an outside one they will charge you 2 dollars extra per slice of cake for their staff to cut the cake. I avoided this by having a small cake for only the bride and groom and then cupcakes for the guests.