Certain dates tend to become popular times for couples to get married. Perhaps the most popular wedding date of all time was July 7, 2007 – or 07/07/07 – when tens of thousands of couples got hitched, hoping triple sevens would bless their marriage with a triple dose of good luck.
The year 2020 was another popular time for weddings. For starters, 2020 has a nice ring to it (see what we did there?). And since October is the most popular month of the year to get married, how cute is it to say your wedding date was 10/10/2020?
Those kinds of dates with some numerical significance are common times for weddings on Mackinac Island, too. But here, the experience has more to do with the place than the date. Mackinac Island has a timeless appeal that gives weddings a special feeling you can’t quite match anywhere else – no matter when you get married.
Because Mackinac Island is car free, for example, couples that get married here often take a horse-drawn carriage ride after the ceremony. In a world where everything moves at a slower pace, everyone notices the happy couple as they clip-clop around the island. It’s straight out of a fairy tale!
“As they’re riding through town, people are cheering,” says Carole Erbel, a veteran wedding planner on Mackinac Island. “It makes them feel like royalty.
“Because Mackinac Island is such a historic place, it’s kind of set back in time. It’s a whole different feel.”
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Horse-drawn carriage rides for the happy couple are just one of many unique things that make weddings on Mackinac Island extra special. Here are four more:
Extraordinary Mackinac Island wedding venues
Ste. Anne’s Church is a beautiful historic place, and the inside of the Little Stone Church on Mackinac Island is just magical. In addition to indoor settings, there also are many gorgeous outdoor spots for a glorious Mackinac Island wedding ceremony:
- The Inn at Stonecliffe hosts outdoor wedding ceremonies on their Terraced Lawn overlooking the Straits of Mackinac or in the unique and hidden Woodland Grotto. Plus, there’s a brand new Sunset Pavilion available for spectacular wedding receptions.
- Grand Hotel features the delightful Tea Garden and the world’s longest porch, lined with red geraniums
- Island House Hotel presents multiple ceremony settings including a veranda overlooking the Straits of Mackinac, a garden terrace with the harbor in the background and a private gazebo in Mackinac Island State Park
- Harbour View Inn hosts ceremonies in their garden gazebo and the second story veranda overlooking the harbor. Or use the chateau as the backdrop and host a ceremony on the front lawn
- Mission Point Resort has an expansive Great Lawn along the waterfront to accommodate large weddings, a charming gazebo overlooking Lake Huron and a more intimate outdoor spot for smaller ceremonies, plus a variety of on-site spaces for receptions
- Mackinac Island State Park offers several outdoor spaces with stunning views, including Marquette Park at the foot of Fort Mackinac, British Landing right on the beach, inside Fort Mackinac or Fort Holmes, and the “Somewhere in Time” gazebo named after the 1980 movie starring Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve.
About half of the wedding ceremonies on Mackinac Island are conducted inside church buildings, with half at outdoor locations. Explore your Mackinac Island wedding ceremony options here.
- 6 historic wedding venues inside Mackinac Island State Park
- Churches of Mackinac Island: 350 years of historic beauty
Incredible Mackinac Island wedding photos
With the Straits of Mackinac as a backdrop and beautiful gardens throughout – not to mention features such as the Mackinac Bridge, Round Island Lighthouse, and Grand Hotel – there are lovely spots for wedding photos all over Mackinac Island.
Charming Mackinac Island wedding details
Erbel and other Mackinac Island wedding planners are available to help couples navigate the unique logistics of getting married in a place without cars – and surrounded by water. Their experience is essential to making any Mackinac Island wedding go smoothly, from big details including how to transport guests from the ceremony to the reception to little details such as how to get the wedding cake safely to the island.
“It can be a little bit daunting, but in the end, it all turns out beautifully,” Erbel says. “Relying on local knowledge is a huge thing, as is dealing with local Mackinac Island wedding vendors. We have florists in the area who are used to transporting flowers (via ferry and horse-drawn carriage).”
Entertaining Mackinac Island wedding experience for guests
Many couples might not think of heading north for a destination wedding. But you can have a one-of-a-kind destination wedding on Mackinac Island without leaving the country or flying your entire bridal party to Hawaii.
With more than 70 million people living within 500 miles, Mackinac Island is a close-to-home destination for many couples. And it’s a great experience for guests who will be more than happy to spend a few days enjoying the charm of Mackinac Island and exploring the natural beauty of what was once America’s second national park.
And don’t forget destination bachelorette and bachelor parties. There’s a lot to do on Mackinac Island, including private boat cruises that take you out on the water into the Straits of Mackinac.
A couple of other things to keep in mind about weddings on Mackinac Island: world-famous Mackinac Island fudge makes the perfect gift for wedding favors, and you don’t have to worry about guests drinking and driving because there are no cars on the island!
Mackinac Island is a great choice for weddings of all sizes and budgets whether you’re getting married in front of everyone you know, celebrating with just your closest family and friends, or even eloping just the two of you.
Whatever day you get married – special numbers or not – Mackinac Island will be a memorable place for your wedding. And remember, the most special part of your wedding is you!
“This might sound a little corny, but one of my favorite things is how different the bride and groom look after the ceremony,” Erbel says. “They just have this glow about them. The joy that comes off of them makes everything worthwhile.”
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