Molly and Nate’s love for summers in Northern Michigan and desire for a destination wedding that was within driving distance from Indiana led them to wed in Bay Harbor.

“We knew we would have a summer wedding and wanted someplace that wouldn’t be sweltering hot!” Molly says.

To easily narrow down their venue search, the couple came up with a list of prioritizations. “It was important to us to have an outdoor ceremony, and ideally we wanted a tented reception,” Nate says. After touring their venue, everything “just felt right” for Molly and Nate to host a destination wedding.

The next steps for the couple were booking hotel blocks at their host venue and two others nearby (all three at varying price points). “We also sent the Save-the-Dates out 10 months prior to the wedding,” the bride tells us, “so that all of our loved ones had ample notice to book lodging and figure out travel plans.”

With a combination of vendors local to Northern Michigan, others from Indianapolis (the couple’s hometown), and some loved ones who happened to be professional vendors, Molly and Nate’s wedding couldn’t have been in better hands.

Of course, no wedding day is without surprises, and for Molly and Nate, it was the weather that kept things interesting. “The weather was a little touch and go! We had a beautiful, sunny outdoor ceremony but about halfway through cocktail hour there was a torrential downpour!” Molly recalls. “Everyone moved under the tent a little earlier than planned, and I think the best thing we did was just embrace it! You can’t plan for that type of thing, and there is no sense in letting it ruin your day. It became a fun memory, and the less-than-stellar weather kept everyone packed on the dance floor for the entire night!”

When it came to budgeting for their wedding, the couple took a practical approach. “Budget in for unexpected expenses! As we all know, wedding budgets can get a little out of hand. I think it is important to add a budget for miscellaneous things you maybe weren’t thinking of at first. That way, if a surprise expense or fee comes up, you don’t need to panic,” Molly advises. “When budgeting, you definitely have to prioritize the things at your wedding that are most important to you, and then go from there. For us, we were prioritizing the experience of our guests – food, drinks, music, location. And then we cut back on some extras – wedding favors, extra decor and rentals, etc.”

The couple also infused their personal style into their wedding day. “We wrote our own vows and read them privately during our first look – we loved doing it this way! It took the pressure off of what we wanted to say and allowed us to have a moment to ourselves and just soak it all in. Then, during the ceremony, we did traditional vows in front of our loved ones,” Molly shares. “For wedding style, we love New England/coastal vibes, and we kind of created our own Northern Michigan version of this!” Most impressively, Molly hand-painted the couple’s save-the-datesto match the chosen color palette of their event!

Ensuring all their guests felt comfortable with one another come wedding day, Molly and Nate strayed from the traditional rehearsal dinner. Instead, the couple hosted a welcome party to kick off the weekend. “Everyone was invited to this, instead of a select few that are typically invited to a traditional rehearsal dinner,” Molly explains. “It was a great way to welcome everyone to Michigan and speak to all of our guests before the wedding day.” Molly and Nate took this chance to give out welcome bags that incorporated elements of the Northern Michigan experience. “In our welcome bags we had some local Michigan goodies from Cherry Republic and Great Lakes Potato Chips – we loved that touch!” the couple shares.

Regardless of the inclement weather, Molly and Nate’s northern Michigan lakeside destination wedding offered a perfect blend of meaningful traditions, local flair, and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.

Vendors: Photographer: Sydney Marie Photography; Wedding Planner: Lori Christy; Venue: Village Suites Bay Harbor; Florist: Elsies Flower Shoppe; Stationery: Oliver’s Twist Paper; Cake: Simply Sweet by Jessica; Hair: Emma Timpson; Makeup: Maggie Cumming; Gown Store: Blue House Bridal; Groom’s Attire: Generation Tux; Videography: Everwhere Films