Nature (a Michigan Retreat)

nctuary, which is absolutely stunning, then shuttling us down for our reception. We also loved that we had it for the whole weekend so we were able to use the bonfire pits whenever we wanted which ended up being some of our favorite moments. Overall the venue and our wedding couldn’t have been more perfect.

came and hung out with me the rest of the time! He is a very kind, interesting guy and he runs an incredible business. I could not have been happier with the beautiful venue for our elopement and the attentiveness of Bryan and his wife.

f, I appreciate their attention to every detail and the importance of making their guests happy.

iple ceremony site options along with reception spaces! Even through the ebb and flow of COVID-19 changes leading up to our wedding, we felt assured knowing we had outdoor options paired with their help to truly make our big day not just happen, but but make it special, too! Being outdoor enthusiasts, we especially loved their dedication to zero waste. Our guests were very impressed with the gorgeous scenery, fun firepit for s’mores and the beautiful interior (although we had to move most everything outside due to COVID-19- but Bryan and Emma went above and beyond with extra cleaning and help to ensure this went smoothly). Definitely would recommend Nature- be sure to visit in person to appreciate all this venue has to offer!

mping cabins. Well, due to COVID, the production of the cabins were stalled (understandable, there is a pandemic), however we had been in contact with him throughout the whole pandemic about the status of the cabins. Knowing the status of the cabins was important to us, because if they were not going to be ready in time for our wedding we would want to relocate our guests that had pre reserved cabins for our wedding. (JUST TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE). I have emails from Bryan in May saying that he is on schedule for the cabins to be ready for our wedding. A month later we go up there to check things out and ask Bryan about the cabins. He told us they were most likely not going to be ready. So, we told him since the cabins aren't ready and all of our guests will be off the property there is no reason for us to be paying for the weekend rental package $7500 opposed to single day $5500. He told us he would think about letting us switch and "make things right". We told him he had a week to give us a final status on the cabins as well as his "making it right offer". WE HEARD NOTHING FROM HIM. A month before our wedding, our wedding planner spoke to him about the pandemic rules. We did not feel comfortable with the excessive rules he put in place, more so than what the law required. He told us and our wedding planner he would kick anyone out who was not 6 feet apart from one another (which is very subjective). We came to the conclusion that this venue was not for us. We shouldn't have to fear our guests being kicked out of our wedding. We had a phone meeting a month and 2 days before our wedding on Monday July 20th, with Bryan and our 2 wedding planners to come to a conclusion. Unfortunately, we were not able to come to an agreement on any sort of refund and mutually decided it was best to part ways. As a bride, it felt like our event was not valued or important. It was clear he had a lot of other issues and things going on. From the beginning of COVID, we told him we did not want to reschedule. We would elope, cut our guest list, etc. Multiple times he confused us with other couples, and he would talk about our event to us as if it were a different date and we'd have to remind him "no that's not our date". The best decision, though difficult, was to part ways with Bryan. Take your money to other venues in the Traverse City region who will treat you with respect, go above and beyond for you, and value your event, even during a Pandemic.

ost magical weekend in one of the most magical places. Thank you so much for helping making this such a special weekend.

often and you can’t go wrong no matter the season. Will definitely return anytime we can for camping and relaxation.

tion and implementation of our dreams was turned into something even better than we imagined. The building on the property was designed with a true aesthetic intent and shapes any vision incredibly well. The owner adds a personal touch and is by your side every second that you need him, whether it is to light up the bonfire pit in the middle of a thunderstorm, to help as a bartender, to help with transportation, or anything that you may need at any time. This 80 acre property is one of a kind, especially in Michigan. We truly cannot wait to go back for our many anniversaries and to see how the Nature team continues to make the proper a land of dreams.

elow. There were obvious signs of disorganization and poor management from our initial meeting and tour of the venue. We were constantly over promised and under delivered. Don't count on the cabins he advertises to be completed, we had 25 cabins reserved with his approval and when we went up to check 7 weeks before the wedding, only half a single cabin was completed. With no answers or follow up on when they would be completed, we had to relocate around 90 of our closest guests weeks before the wedding. Because the cabins were not completed there was no need to use the entire weekend package, so we wanted to change to the one day rental for $2000 less, which Bryan would not agree to change. Then, 4 weeks from our wedding, we get an email from our wedding planner stating all the pandemic rules that Nature would put in place. Never reaching out to us or updating us on his latest policy, keep in mind Leelanau county is allowed outdoor events of up to 250 people at the time. The overly strict rules made it essentially impossible to hold our wedding of 230 at Nature. We were so fed up with the constant battles and short comings of Nature we decided to part ways with nature and cancel our wedding at the venue. We still have not received any form of refund and Nature has now become unresponsive to our communications. We are now taking legal action to settle this mess a recoup some of our losses. Please do yourself a favor and find a wedding venue that will make your wedding easier not harder. Bryan acts all lackadaisical about his contract and not to worry, but he will hold tight to his contract every chance he gets. If you don't have something official in writing I can guarantee you he won't keep his end of the deal and you will get burned. The best decision we made was to cancel nature and end the non stop charade of over promises, lack of communication, and poor business management. Also, their full deposit 9 months in advance, is one of the only venues in the industry that makes you pay in full that early. Our experience with Nature was so terrible we walked away from our $7500 deposit, hopefully you can learn from this and spare yourself the money and headaches. Good Luck!

ional space that gave us Northern Michigan vibes. Nature was everything we wanted plus more! The space is designed and decorated beautifully. All the windows allowed for the most incredible nature light. Our cocktail hour was outside by the pond, and diner/dancer floor was set inside. The fire pit and outdoor space were great areas for guests to hang out after diner! The space accounted for our 165 guests wonderfully. Bryon and his wife are extremely easy to work with and put so much thought into the space itself. THANK YOU!

ing and every little detail has been thought of. Our wedding was a weekend event and we had every comfort and need met. I cannot recommend Nature more to any couple who is considering northern Michigan. It's a one of kind place. It truly felt like a fairytale. I had so many people tell me it was the best wedding they'd ever been to!

glamping tents, where the wood stoves and comfy beds kept us warm even through Michigan winter nights. We found a beautiful spot for the ceremony off one of the many trails on the property, and got married in a gentle snowfall in the woods - just perfect. From Nature it's an easy drive to the excellent restaurants in Traverse City and Glen Arbor, as well as breathtaking sites like Sleeping Bear Dunes - all stops on our elopement weekend itinerary. And the Great Nest is a gorgeous, airy space that we loved spending time in; we mostly used it for getting ready and a small post-ceremony luncheon afterwards, but we hope to come back for a bigger anniversary celebration soon. Bryan was wonderful to work with, super responsive and friendly - and very accommodating of our crazy plan to elope at Nature while it was still under construction! Finding an eco-friendly venue was really important to us (we're sustainability professionals), and we were gratified to find that Nature goes way beyond the basics. From ecologically restorative site planning, to the tasteful use of locally salvaged wood and energy-efficient design in the Great Nest, Bryan & team have a deep and sophisticated commitment to being good stewards of this land and its many living systems. (And they plant a commemorative tree for each couple that gets married here - yet another reason to return year after year.) We're honored to have been early guests at Nature and look forward to returning!

eciate the thought that has gone into creating this retreat property, a space that has a breathtaking setting, is ecologically mindful, offers a rich, unique, and diverse guest experience for both the wedding event and the weekend stay in glamping tents, and is designed to accommodate vendors so that we can provide the best possible service. Incredibly well done. Bryan is also very responsive via phone (so important during the planning process) and well-connected in the community (he has partnered with area creatives in a styled shoot as well as an upcoming wedding planning giveaway retreat featured on mynorth.com). For the couple seeking a remote experience that's still close to some of Michigan's favorite natural attractions, for the couple looking for an adventurous relaxed vibe, for the couple who appreciates craftsmanship, family-owned businesses, and proprietors with a community minded approach, and for the couple who loves a great bonfire under the stars in summer or winter, this is a true winner! We can't wait to plan a wedding at this property.