10 things to see and do in and around Boyne City

1. Eat at Red Mesa (rut highly recommends the chicken wings!)
2. Hike the stairs to the top of Avalanche Mountain to experience a beautiful view of Lake Charlevoix
3. Enjoy ice cream at Kilwins (try the Banana Fudge Ice Cream in a freshly made waffle cone...mmmm)
5. Feeling adventurous? Check out the Zipline or Twin Zipline at Boyne Mountain
6. Catch some rays at Young State Park,  swim, play a game of beach volleyball, or just relax.
7. Wine and Dine at Cafe Sante while enjoying the views of Lake Charlevoix
8. Go for a drive and visit the surrounding charming towns of Petoskey, Charlevoix and Harbor Springs
9. Take a stroll down Water Street and stop in at the Water Street Cafe for coffee and a pastry
10. Relax at the end of the day in the large Clock Tower hot tub at Boyne Mountain.

Invitations!

Our invitations are in the mail! If you haven't already received it, then it should be arriving this week:) Please use the RSVP tab at the top of the page to let us know if you are going to be able to celebrate with us on June 18! Can't wait!

83 days until the Big Day!

With each day that passes Rut and I get more and more excited for our wedding.  In the beginning of March Rut and I took at trip to Michigan (through the rain, snow, and wintry mix) to have my dress fitted, and to meet with some of our vendors. I plan to share a little bit about each vendor this week, the cater, the florist, the pastry chef, the photographer, and more. Hopefully this will get you as excited as we are!


First off the cater, Blackbird Gardens. Rut and I have had the pleasure of working with Mike Everts, owner, chef and farmer of Blackbird Gardens to create a menu that highlights local, seasonal food of Northern Michigan. (all I continue to think about is strawberries!) We are excited that the majority of the food will be sourced directly from Mike's farm in Petoskey or other local vendors that practice sustainable, organic farming. Mike is very passionate about his work and we know it will show in the dishes he creates for our wedding. If you are interested in learning more about Blackbird Gardens, their farm, and commitment to sustainability check out their website, or visit them at the Farmers Market in Boyne City on Saturday morning! We look forward to sharing our first meal as Husband and Wife with you!

"THE" dress!

I just got the call last week, my wedding dress is in! I found it over Thanksgiving with the help of Laura (my sister), Melissa (my amazing cousin...who basically described what she imagined me wearing and ended up being exactly what I fell in love with), my grandma, aunt nancy, and aunt sue ellen. It was such a fun special day! Since Rut doesn't want to know what my dress looks like (as if I would let him know anyway) I can't post a picture :(. I will give you a hint though...it's modern and feminine with a few unique asymmetrical details! I am excited  for the trip back to Michigan for my first fitting in March; before which, I must find my shoes. The hunt is on! Maybe blue, like the pair on the wedding style inspiration board???

Wedding style

Taking inspiration from the reception venue I put together an inspiration board to give you a sense of what is to come on June 18 in Boyne City!

I would describe the style as nautical chic. The color scheme will incorporate varying shades of blue with accents of yellow, white and tan. Likely to make an appearance will be my favorite flower the hydrangea, some antique vases, and lots of candle light!

Happy New Year!

Well the first week of 2011 is off to a good start. Rut and I have been working on a lot of the major details...the caterer, the photographer, accommodations...the list could go on and on. Thanks to the expert advice from my sister, Laura (who just celebrated her 5th Anniversary with Josue on NYE, congratulations!) and our newlywed friends Ashley and Kristi; we think we have made some great decisions! I can't wait to fill you in on more, but you will have to wait until the contracts are signed and deposits are made:)

Until then a bit more on our venue choice. Was the wedding going to be in Washington DC or MI? In the end Michigan won out as I really want Rut's family (who is traveling all the way from Thailand) to get to see where I grew up. Now this was to be the tricky part, by choosing Boyne we were also choosing to select our venue without an initial walk through. So, I immediately began to scour the Internet for locations that I was familiar with in the area, and believe me there are some beautiful locations, but nothing really fit all our requirements. Feeling a little discouraged, Rut made a phone call to our favorite local restaurant and just by chance the manager had just been to a beautiful wedding at a new yacht club on Lake Charlevoix. One recommendation, a phone call and a few emails later we had found our dream location!

Here are some pictures of our visit to Sommerset Point Yacht Club over Thanksgiving. I can't wait I think it will be beautiful in June!

domed ceiling with nautical compass design and chandelier

wall of windows that opens onto the deck overlooking
Lake Charlevoix

nautical themed bar

view of the docks from the deck