Northern Michigan Weddings 2025: Hotel Walloon

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Wedding Walloon on

With

an unhurried vacation--on-the-lake--feel,

a couple

gathers friends and family from afar to celebrate their love in their new favorite place.

TEXT BY MEAGAN FRANCIS

PHOTOS BY JENNA GREENAWALT PHOTOGRAPHY

Before 2019, columbus, ohio, natives cassidy and chris had never been to Northern Michigan. “Growing up, most people went south for vacations, to North Carolina or Florida,” explains Cassidy. But after moving to Detroit for Chris’s job in 2019, the couple finally visited the area on the recommendation of a client. “We were like, oh my gosh—how did we not know this existed?” says Cassidy. So when Chris came home from work one day and asked if Cassidy would consider moving to Petoskey, it didn’t take long for her to give a hearty “yes.”

The next “yes” was still a couple of years away, after they’d had a chance to establish some Northern Michigan memories of their own. For his proposal, Chris re-created a trip the two had taken when they were initially exploring the area: a winery tour, a kayak trip, a dune hike, with the engagement ring stashed under Chris’s baseball cap the whole day. >

And soon after Cassidy said “yes,” Chris posed a third question: “Why don’t we just get married up here?” Cassidy resisted the idea at first, thinking the travel would be inconvenient for their guests, most of whom still lived in Ohio. But Chris persisted. “What’s more romantic and cool than bringing all the people we love to this place that we’ve completely fallen in love with?” he argued.

Cassidy was convinced, and their next decision—to hold the wedding at Hotel Walloon—was an easy one. The couple loved kayaking the lake, and Chris’s parents had stayed at Hotel Walloon a few times, “so we knew how amazing it was,” says Chris. Since they wanted a smaller wedding, Hotel Walloon’s intimate size, with just 32 guest rooms, suited the couple perfectly. “We imagined it would be like summer camp.”

As family and friends gathered in the week leading up to the wedding, Cassidy and Chris basked in the shared appreciation of their new home. “Our friends and family were amazed,” says Chris. Guests fished, boated, and just relaxed in the Northern Michigan atmosphere: “They really treated it like a vacation, and that was our dream come true,” says Chris.

On the wedding day itself, the festivities began with a lateafternoon ceremony on Hotel Walloon’s brick waterfront patio. After they were pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Kurek, the couple walked down the hotel’s dock and climbed into a vintage Chris

Craft and took a private ride around the lake while their guests enjoyed cocktail hour on the hotel patio. “Our guests just watched us sailing away while we waved back at them,” Chris says with a smile. “That was a really epic moment.”

Throughout the wedding week, the couple’s 100 guests were able to stay mostly in one place, lending the festivities an unhurried, relaxed feeling and allowing Cassidy and Chris to achieve another dream: that of being together for the majority of the wedding day. Since no time had been lost in traveling from one venue to another, they’d had plenty of opportunity to connect with loved ones and were able to relax and enjoy one another’s company during the reception. “Chris and I really made a point to not leave each other’s side the whole day and evening,” Cassidy says. “There were just so many moments where we got to look at each other and feel like, ‘This is the best day ever!’”

LAKE VACATION VIBES

“We wanted the vibe to be really laid-back, like a family lake vacation, but elevated,” says Cassidy. The garden-party theme was supported by “cheerful, joyful touches,” like a colorful sailcloth tent. The hotel lobby was decorated with old family photos: loved ones who had passed away, but also childhood vacations of the couple and their families. “It almost felt like

we were hosting everyone in our own home.” Keeping with the relaxed, beachside feel, Vernales catered four courses, including a fresh whitefish and shrimp ceviche that was waiting for guests when they were initially seated at the reception. “I can’t believe how much food we had. Nobody went hungry, that’s for sure,” laughs Cassidy. The seated dinner was followed by a raucous rave-like party right in the lobby, complete with strobe lights and lasers, “that completely transformed the space,” says Chris. In addition to a traditional wedding cake, the couple offered another beachside nod: treats from Jeni’s Ice Cream. “A highlight of the night was pushing the ice cream cart around the dance floor and serving our friends!” Cassidy says.

SMALL TOUCHES, BIG IMPACT

“Our planners loved working with the Hotel Walloon staff— they’re super responsive, really helpful, just truly willing to do whatever and go above and beyond any idea that we pitched to them,” says Cassidy, citing extra surprises, like the door key cards printed with Cassidy and Chris’s engagement photo and the wedding date, handwritten letters from hotel staff in the honeymoon suite, and even a special present from the gift shop that a staff member had overheard Cassidy admiring during a visit weeks earlier. “Nothing felt like it was asking too much, and from the moment we walked in the door, Chris and I felt like royalty.”

Meagan Francis is a writer whose work has appeared in Parenting, Good Housekeeping, Parents, Midwest Living, The Washington Post, NBCNews.com, NYTimes.com, and is the author of the forthcoming The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read.

Wedding Notebook

Hotel Walloon

LAKESIDE VENUES: Hotel Walloon and the Village of Walloon Lake o er four di erent wedding venues to pair together for your wedding weekend. With over 11,000 square feet of venue space, we can host intimate to large celebrations, based on your vision for your perfect wedding.

Your Dream Wedding

In Northern Michigan’s Hidden Oasis

Nestled on the east shores of Walloon Lake, Hotel Walloon is an iconic setting for elegant lakeside weddings. Choose from an array of sophisticated venues with a unique history, including stunning, customizable indoor and outdoor spaces overlooking Walloon’s crystal-clear waters. Our waterfront venues also provide an exquisite space for rehearsal dinners, welcome receptions, and fond farewell brunches. Experienced wedding specialists are there to assist with all of your planning needs from local vendor selection and catering to luxurious overnight accommodations for you and your guests. Walloon Lake Village o ers a range of options, designed to create an experience and celebration just for you.

Travel + Leisure’s Number One Resort in the Midwest, 2023

Hotel Walloon o ers an unparalleled experience. e hotel combines the charm and hospitality of the early twentieth century with the comforts of every modern amenity. e privately owned boutique hotel features spacious guest rooms, elegant design, rich history, and worldclass service. An exclusive and unforgettable wedding day awaits in Walloon.

WEDDING

WEEKEND EXPERIENCE:

Friday Rehearsal Dinner at Walloon Lake Inn. Welcome Party on Hotel Walloon’s Patio.

Saturday Ceremony on Hotel Walloon’s Patio and Reception at the Village Green Park.

Sunday Fond Farewell Brunch on Hotel Walloon’s Patio.

LOCATION:

Explore the beauty of Michigan from our central location. Travel from Walloon Lake village to Petoskey, Boyne City, Harbor Springs, Mackinac Island, and Traverse City.

HOTEL WALLOON AMENITIES

Hotel Walloon o ers various types of guest rooms. Each guest room has the below array of amenities included in the room rate:

• A relaxing Hearth Room that o ers (4) food presentations throughout the day including a continental breakfast, fruit, cookies, and snacks through the afternoon, a hors d’oeuvres display from Walloon Lake Inn in the evening, followed by a dessert presentation.

• Semi-private porch and/or balcony for each guest room

• Complimentary valet and concierge services

• Private beach and patio area with heaters and a re pit

• An outdoor heated whirlpool spa, with a heated patio for year-round use

• Billiards room

• 24-hour tness center

• An exclusive bar in the Hearth room for Hotel guests only. Charges may be routed to a guest room or paid separately.

• Our guest rooms o er a mini fridge, heated bathroom oors, plush bath robes, slippers, an Amazon Echo acting as an in-room concierge to assist with requests during your visit, and other state-of-the-art electronics for your guests to enjoy. ADVERTISEMENT

4127 N M-75

Walloon Lake, MI 49796

231-535-5000 hotelwalloon.com

Event Rooms: 4

Guest Rooms: 32 Reception Capacity: Up to 210

Event Sales

Emily Jensen (231) 489-1012

ejensen@hotelwalloon.com