Mackinac Island destination Wedding Photography

Can you ever get enough of Mackinac Island? I sure can’t and my Brides and Grooms love it too!

Here is another beautiful, intimate, wedding on Mackinac Island with Wedding planning by For the Love of Mackinac.

The day started out on Sheplers Mackinac Island Ferry in the early AM hours. I met Amanda at the Lilac Tree Hotel where she was getting her hair done by her Aunt. The Lilac Tree Hotel is in central downtown and makes for a nice location to stay if you want to be right in the action. As you can see from the first image, the view is wonderful too!

James was at the Lilac Tree Hotel too, and we met up for some images before he was to head to Ste Anne’s Church with a horse drawn carriage by Mackinac Island Carriage Tours.

Weddings at Ste. Anne’s Catholic Church are always beautiful. The inside of St. Anne’s is magical and makes for beautiful backdrops for Wedding images. Since this was a Fall wedding, the church was nice and cool with a pleasant breeze blowing through the open windows.

Following the Wedding ceremony at St. Anne’s Church we captured all of the family images. Amanda and James 18 month old boy slept through the entire Wedding and family images. They just held him in their arms asleep to get images with him.

The Wedding carriage was waiting for us outside St. Anne’s Church when were finished. We had an hour horse drawn carriage ride with Mackinac Island Carriage Tours around part of Mackinac Island. We took advantage of the beautiful views and weather around the island on a perfect Fall Northern Michigan day.

Amanda and James wanted to meet in the cocktail hour with their family and friends so we made that happen for them. The cocktail hour was in the Audubon room at the Grand Hotel just inside the front entrance. It is a beautiful room filled with lots of antiques and rustic chic furniture.

Following the relaxed cocktail hour everyone moved to the Pontiac Room for the Wedding diner. There were three round tables and one small table for Amanda and James set up in the intimate Pontiac Room venue. The Pontiac Room sits at the end of the main dining hall overlooking the east end of the Grand Hotel by the Jockey Club and Sadie’s Ice Cream Parlor. There is a beautiful porch/deck where you can view the golf course and the route coming up to the Grand Hotel.

Amanda’s father offered a nice toast to get the evening dinner started and everyone relaxed. If you haven’t been to the Grand Hotel, you have to picture at least 5 waiters serving this group of 25 people. Everything is very efficient.

Dinner is always amazing at the Grand Hotel!

Following dinner Amanda and James cut their small cake and then they had cake and individual pies available for all of the guests. I enjoyed a cherry pie that was delicious.

The clouds had moved in for sunset but we made some beautiful evening overcast images on the Grand porch during dessert. I love to use off camera lighting and make images that are truly unique to their Wedding day.

The entire group moved to the Dancing with Alex Graham and the Grand Hotel Orchestra in the Terrace Room at 9:30 for Amanda and James first dance with the live Quartet at the Grand Hotel. It was a beautiful way to end a perfect day on Mackinac Island.

Wedding Vendors for Amanda and James Mackinac Island Wedding include:

Wedding Planning by Carole Erbel from For the Love of Mackinac

Wedding Flowers by Margaret’s Garden at the Grand Hotel

Wedding Ceremony at Ste Anne’s Church

Wedding Reception at the Pontiac Room at the Grand Hotel

Wedding Carriages by Mackinac Island Carriage Tours

Wedding Music and Dancing with Alex Graham and the Grand Hotel Orchestra

Wedding Photography by Paul Retherford Wedding Photography

Congratulations to Amanda and James! If you would like to see all of their Wedding images you can at http://www.printsbypaul.com/Wedding-Photography/Mackinac-Island-Wedding-photo/Ste-Annes-Church-Grand-Hotel