The venues are exceedingly gorgeous. The photo ops exceptionally stunning. The food exquisitely prepared.
Mackinac Island weddings are special in so many ways. Yet, in some ways, they’re just like weddings everywhere else. Take the musical entertainment, for example. Like the typical wedding, receptions on Mackinac Island often feature classic songs earlier in the night that are enjoyable for guests of all ages. Then later, as some of the oldest and youngest members of the crowd retire for the night, the party progresses into more of a club vibe. Just like the wedding receptions in your hometown.
But that doesn’t mean any wedding vendor can do a good job with a Mackinac Island wedding. Whether you’re looking to hire a DJ – or a photographer, florist or clergyman – working with Mackinac Island wedding vendors who are experienced in the unique logistics of a car-free destination can make a big difference on your special day.
“The more you can deal with people that know the ins and outs of Mackinac Island weddings, the easier it’s going to be on you,” says ‘DJ Brevin’ Cawthorne, owner of A-List Event Group, which deejays about 300 weddings and other events on Mackinac Island each year. “It just makes for a much more stress-free experience for you and your guests.”
Mackinac Island Wedding Vendor: DJ Brevin and A-List Event Group
DJ Brevin spent his childhood summers on Mackinac Island. About 25 years ago, he started DJ’ing events at bars and restaurants on Mackinac Island. Then, he added wedding entertainment to his services.
It didn’t take DJ Brevin long to understand the unique logistics of weddings on Mackinac Island. Because Mackinac Island is car free, it can be a challenge getting audio, video and lighting equipment to the outdoor ceremony, then from the outdoor ceremony indoors to the reception.
“In the old days, I had a bike and a cart, and we were hauling around speakers and turntables one load at a time,” he said. “After three or four years of that, I said ‘We’re going to bite the bullet and invest in multiple systems.’”
Now, A-List Event Group stores equipment at a half-dozen of Mackinac Island’s leading wedding venues including the Inn at Stonecliffe, which offers a beautiful, secluded outdoor setting on the west side of Mackinac Island with a view of the Mackinac Bridge, Mission Point Resort, which offers several unique wedding venues with indoor/outdoor capabilities, Grand Hotel, which offers the opportunity for a cocktail hour on the world’s largest porch, and Island House Hotel, where he married his bride, Maria, on the front lawn in September 2019.
“It’s a destination wedding on Mackinac Island, so people are more likely to let their hair down and party a little harder,” DJ Brevin says.
Other Mackinac Island Wedding Professionals
Hundreds of weddings take place each year on Mackinac Island. DJ Brevin and dozens of other Mackinac Island wedding vendors are ready to make your wedding run as smoothly as possible.
Then, when you come back to Mackinac Island for future anniversaries, you can say hello to the vendors who helped make your wedding an amazing experience.
“There are times when I’ll be out grabbing a drink or having dinner, and someone will recognize me,” DJ Brevin says. “A lot of couples who get married on Mackinac Island do come back, so you do get to see them again and keep those relationships.”
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