Leelanau School

Wedding Day

Wedding

Willowbrook Mill

Reception

Our Wedding

We are so excited to be getting married in an area that was voted one of the most beautiful places in America - Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes in Northern Michigan! This picturesque area is where Kristina has vacationed every year since she was very small. Kristina told Jordan about this amazing spot when they first started dating and he was very skeptical. ("We're going where?" "I'm an ocean person -- not a lake person.") His attitude quickly changed the second he saw beautiful Lake Michigan and spent the rest of the vacation repeating: "I can't even put into words how beautiful this is!" "It's like an ocean!" "There is no place like it on earth!"The area is so special to the couple that they actually got engaged there! In fact, the ceremony will be held on the exact same beach the couple was engaged.We hope that you will consider coming earlier and/or staying longer to really enjoy all of the amazing experiences that the area has to offer - from hiking to swimming and, most importantly, watching the sunset over Lake Michigan! PLEASE BOOK ACCOMMODATIONS VERY, VERY EARLY AS WE WILL BE GETTING MARRIED IN PEAK SEASON AND RENTALS/HOTELS ARE BOOKED TO CAPACITY MONTHS IN ADVANCE!

We're Getting Married Upnorth!

Our Story

Details

Wedding Party

Photos

Registry

Q + A

Northport is the site of our reception and is a picturesque, waterfront community. Visitors will enjoy the newly renovated marina, and public beaches designed for bathing, picnics and special events including a Friday farmer's market. Downtown Northport has many shops, resturants and local breweries. NORTHPORT INNRight in the heart of downtown Northport near the marina. Only a one minute walk to our Reception site in Northport, but fills up quick as it only has nine (9) rooms!Address: 109 East Nagonaba Street, Northport, MI 49670Phone: 2313861600Website: <a href="http://www.northportinn.com/">www.northportinn.com</a>SUNRISE LANDING HOTELSituated on West Grand Traverse Bay with private Lake Michigan beachfront. Located about four miles south of our Reception site.Address: 6530 N West Bay Shore DrivePhone Number: 8004885762Website: <a href="http://www.sunriselanding.com/">www.sunriselanding.com</a>

Northport, MI, United States

Leland is located about halfway between the ceremony and reception sites. A favorite spot for the bride and groom to visit historic Fishtown (Carltons!) and do a little shopping.LELAND LODGELocated right in downtown Leland. Walking distance to historic Fishtown, shopping, restaurants, fishing and Lake Michigan!Address: 565 E. Pearl St, Leland, MI, USPhone Number: (231) 256-9848 Website: <a href="http://www.lelandlodge.com">www.lelandlodge.com</a>FALLING WATERS LODGE Located right in the heart of historic Fishtown. Walking distance to shopping, restaurants, fishing and Lake Michigan!Address: 200 A Ave, Leland, MI 49654 Phone Number: (231) 256-9832 Website: <a href="http://www.fallingwaterslodge.com">www.fallingwaterslodge.com</a>THE WHALEBACK INN The Inn is situated on a hill overlooking Lake Leelanau and sits at the base of the Whaleback Sand Dune. The Whaleback Inn is situated on five wooded acres with 14 lakeview rooms, a free standing cottage, and three cottage suites. Address: 1757 N Manitou Trl. W # M-22, Leland, MI 49654Phone Number: (231) 256-9090 Website: <a href="http://whalebackinn.com/">http://whalebackinn.com/</a>THE RIVERSIDE INN Bed and breakfast with four rooms. Located right in downtown Leland. Address: 302 E River St, Leland, MI 49654Phone Number: (231) 256-9971 Website: <a href="http://www.theriverside-inn.com/">http://www.theriverside-inn.com/</a>

Leland, MI, United States

Detroit (DTW) will likely be the most cost friendly airport to fly into. However, it is about a four (4) hour drive from DTW to the Ceremony Site. Guests looking to fly into Detroit will have to rent a car.

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)

TVC is located in Traverse City, which is the largest city in Northern Michigan. It is the closet airport to the Ceremony and Reception sites; about a forty (40) minute drive. Since it is a regional airport, tickets can be more expensive than flying to Detroit. However, there are often pretty good deals online via travel sites like Kayak. Check frequently for the prices to drop. Traverse City is located on the Grand Traverse Bag, and there is a ton of lodging and accommodations choices available. Since it is a little far from our wedding venues, we did not list any places on the "accommodations" portion of our site. Please feel free to contact us directly if you would like information about staying in Traverse City.

Cherry Capital Airport (TVC)

THE HOMESTEAD The Homestead is a full-service resort nestled right on the coast of Lake Michigan with miles of Lake Michigan beachfront. It offers hotel rooms, condos or houses to rent. (Please note that private owners and condos do rent their condos and/or houses that are on the Homestead property outside of the Homestead for a lower price via VBRO and Leelanau Vacation Rentals but you will not have access to resort amenities like swimming pools, bar, etc.) Address: 1 Woodridge Road, Glen Arbor, MI 49637Phone Number: 231-334-5000Website: <a href="http://www.thehomesteadresort.com">www.thehomesteadresort.com</a>LEBEARLakefront resort providing elegant suites with kitchens, valet services, a spa &amp; restaurant. Please note that during the summer months, rentals are by the week, Friday-Friday. Address: 5705 Lake St. Glen Arbor, MI 49636Phone Number: 231-242-0730Website: <a href="http://www.holidayvacationrental.com/rentals/lebear-resort-vacation-rental/">www.holidayvacationrental.com/rentals/lebear-resor...</a>GLEN ARBOR BED AND BREAKFASTBed and breakfast located in the heart of Glen Arbor. Walking distance to restaurants, shops, and galleriesAddress: 6548 Western Ave, Glen Arbor, MI 49636Phone Number: 231-334-6789Website: <a href="http://www.glenarborlodging.com/">www.glenarborlodging.com/</a>SYLVAN INN BED AND BREAKFASTBed and breakfast located in the heart of Glen Arbor. Walking distance to restaurants, shops, and galleriesAddress: 6680 W Western Ave, Glen Arbor, MI 49636Phone: <a href="tel:231-334-4333">(231) 334-4333</a>Website: <a href="http://www.sylvaninn.com/the-sylvan-inn/accommodations/">www.sylvaninn.com/the-sylvan-inn/accommodations/</a>

Glen Arbor, MI, United States

GRR is another Regional Airport located on Michigan's west side. It is about a three (3) hour drive to the Ceremony Site, so guests looking to fly into Grand Rapids will need to rent a car.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)

Travel

Traverse City is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region and is about a forty (40) minute drive from Glen Arbor. It has a large number of hotels and motels to accommodate tourists who travel to the region to vacation. Some of the hotels have private beaches. In addition, there are four public beaches, West End Beach, Clinch Park, East Bay Park and Traverse City State Park Beach. Front Street, in the popular main commercial area of downtown, has numerous shops and restaurants and a movie theater. Typically, the bride makes the family stop and pull over to get her coveted Moomer's ice cream. (The father of the bride loves this!)

Traverse City, MI, United States

Glen Arbor is truly one of a kind. A tiny town with a lot of character nestled between Sleeping Bear Bay on Lake Michigan and the Glen Lakes. Stop at the infamous local dive bar, Arts, for a greasy burger and tots (cash only!), or walk on over to the original Cherry Republic and satisfy literally any cherry craving you may have. At the end of the day, catch an indescribable sunset on Lake Michigan and watch the sun disappear right on the tip of South Manitou Island

Our Ceremony Site also hosts several fun events!Beach Bard's Bonfire -- Every Friday night, the Leelanau School hosts a bonfire at a neat spot tucked in the woods right on the shore of Lake Michigan. For one $1, you can gather around the campfire to share stories, jokes, poems, etc. Participation is open to anyone, the only rule is that you have to have your story memorized! Children's hour begins at 8pm, and adults take it from there afterward. (Fun fact: this is also the spot for our cocktail hour!) Observatory -- We always marvel at how clearly we can see the night sky while in Glen Arbor. The Leelanau School actually hosts public stargazing sessions though its observatory's 14-inch telescope for just $3 a person! If you're lucky, you just might see the northern lights!Visitors may park in any Leelanau School lot and walk down the scenic boardwalk, across the Crystal River, to the Observatory and/or Beach Bard's Bonfire area. Adventurous types may walk in from the beach, as the Observatory is easily visible to passersby, being tucked just between the shore and the trees.

The Leelanau School

A must see!Northern Latitudes is open seven days a week and the tastings are totally FREE! Try the groom's favorite, Jack Pine Gin, made with local Leelanau botanicals like jack pine seed and lavender. Stay for the fully stocked bar and choose one of their delicious concoctions utilizing their homemade spirits. (Be warned, the drinks are anything but weak!) Don't forget to grab a bottle of the bride's favorite horseradish vodka to take back home. Your bloody mary's will never be the same!

Northern Latitudes Distillery

The bride and groom usually stop at Good Harbor for wine tasting on their way from Glen Arbor to Fishtown. Good Harbor has a variety of delicious Michigan made wines and ciders that you can sample for $5 (free glass included) and buy. Don't forget to bring the glass back for a free tasting!

Good Harbor Vineyards

The Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore was proclaimed by Good Morning America in 2011 as "The most beautiful place in America." If you have never seen Lake Michigan, or if your visits to Lake Michigan have been confined to the southern parts of the Lake, Sleeping Bear Dunes in the southwest corner of Leelanau County will amaze you. The views from a 400 foot sand dune out over the Lake are awe inspiring. (Or will give you a case of vertigo, according to the groom!)The National Park web site <a href="https://www.nps.gov/slbe/index.htm" target="_blank" data-content="https://www.nps.gov/slbe/index.htm" data-type="external">https://www.nps.gov/slbe/index.htm</a> will give you all the information you need to plan your trip. The Sleeping Bear Dunes are an easy drive from anywhere in Leelanau County. If you are staying in Traverse City, a drive west on M72 will take you directly there!

Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Lakshore

Like fishing? Food? Shopping?Leland is a picturesque little village on the west side of the county located on a sliver of land between Lake Michigan and Lake Leelanau. From Leland Harbor, boats take passengers out into Lake Michigan on day trips and overnight stays to South Manitou and North Manitou Islands, part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Sunset viewing from the harbor is so popular, that a special paved platform was built for the many camera tripods that are mounted every evening.Fishtown in Leland Harbor is a preserved village of fishing shanties that now house shops of various sorts. You can get fresh fish and jerky at Carlson's in Fishtown (a must!) And, you can arrange for a charter fishing trip out into Lake Michigan from the boardwalk behind that store. Grab a "Chubby Mary" (literally a bloody mary with a smoked chub smiling at you) from Rick's right on the water and enjoy the relaxing sound of the water falling from the dam. . <a href="http://www.lelandmi.com/fishtown/" target="_blank" data-content="http://www.lelandmi.com/fishtown/" data-type="external">http://www.lelandmi.com/fishtown/</a>

Kristina & Jordan

Kristina & Jordan

Photos

Photos coming soon!