Mynorth Wedding 2015: The Inn at Bay Harbor

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The Inn at Bay Harbor

STORY BY ADRIENNE ROBERTS  PHOTOGRAPHY BY NERI PHOTO

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Melissa & Jeff m&j

MELISSA MOLINE JEFF MILLER SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

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THE INN AT BAY HARBOR, BAY HARBOR

eff Miller and Melissa Moline had recently become engaged when Melissa got another big question popped to her—this one from Brie Kear, sales manager at the The Inn at Bay Harbor: Could Melissa plan her wedding by the end of September, in just three months?

The back-story: After Jeff proposed to Melissa (at the Waldorf Astoria in Chicago, where a surprise of fl wers, champagne and ring were waiting!) The Inn at Bay Harbor was the couple’s first choice for a wedding venue. The classically beautiful venue set on Lake Michigan could fulfi l their wish to be married beside the water. Moreover, it was an ideal destination wedding location for Jeff’s family in Kansas City, Missouri, and Melissa’s in Alma, Michigan.

The couple was broken-hearted to find however, that The Inn was booked out much further than they wanted to wait. Then at zero-hour, a cancellation rescued their dream.

Thrilled and a bit nervous, Melissa and Jeff shifted into wedding prep overdrive.

Job 1: Melissa quickly made an appointment at BHLDN, Anthropologie’s sister brand, which carries vintage-inspired wedding dresses.

In her hourlong appointment, Melissa bought three dresses, and ended up choosing a strapless Nicole Miller lace gown with scalloped edges.

Her cousin and maid-of-honor, Michon Moline, also wore a Nicole Miller strapless dress—this one tea-length and champagne.

On the day of the wedding, Melissa and her friends hit the one-of-a-kind boutiques of Bay Harbor and Petoskey, and Jeff and his guys

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visited local breweries. When the curtain fina ly went up on this wedding, every elegant detail was in place: it looked anything but rushed.

The event opened in the early evening with cocktails under a tent set up on The Inn’s wide green lawn and in sight of the simply elegant lakeside wedding altar. Guests mingled to the soft sound of the Bayshore Strings, a trio who put a classic twist on music as diverse as Jason Mraz and the Black Eyed Peas.

As the big moment approached, guests moved casually, some still with drinks in hand, to be seated in the en plein air ceremony venue.

It was a fairytale setting: Powder blue sky, deep blue Lake Michigan, and an altar of white chiffon curtains embellished with matching bouquets of white and coral roses.

Melissa’s grandmother walked her down the grassy aisle decorated in luxurious swirls of white roses. And so began a ceremony that was a unique hybrid of two religions—Melissa is Catholic, and Jeff is Jewish.

Cocktails and appetizers followed, and then guests were seated in The Inn’s elegant dining room with its black-and-white tiled floor and row of glossy white ornamental columns. The plated dinner included salmon, beef tenderloin and garlic rustic potatoes. Before the dinner had ended the much-heralded Bluewater Kings Band from Detroit had the guests dancing to everything from Motown to old-school rock— and Jack Johnson’s “Better Together”—which

Melissa and Jeff had spent two months practicing for their first dance as man and wife.

While no doubt the couple is better together, they “messed up at the end of the dance,” Melissa says, with a laugh.

When guests weren’t dancing, they could toast marshmallows and build s’mores at an outdoor lounge equipped with fi e rings. Guests also loved the Motion Booth—an updated version of a photo booth that puts live-action videos onto a screen. “We wanted to make our wedding a great time for the guests who stay at [places like] the Ritz Carlton, but we also wanted the people who love camping to enjoy themselves, too,” Melissa says.

After the reception, the party continued with pizza and drinks in The Inn’s South American Grille & Wine Bar—a fitti g ending for an event that blended an upscale resort vacation with the casual ambiance of a gettogether with friends and family.

PHOTOGRAPHY: NERI RIDGES, NERIPHOTO, NERIPHOTO.COM VENUE: THE INN AT BAY HARBOR, 231.439.4000, INNATBAYHARBOR.COM

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Clockwise: The orchid-petal monogram was a gift from Jeff’s parents, Jerry and Lauren Miller. It was a decoration at both the wedding breakfast and later at the reception. The bride wore Badgley Mischkas, style Kassidy II Platform Pump. Junior bridesmaids Isabella and Anna Miller. Photo ops abound at The Inn at Bay Harbor. The framed bar menu. Jennifer Haf of BLOOM floral design created the lush aisle petal art. The combination Jewish and Catholic ceremony was officiated by both Rabbi Scott Segal and Father Tom Page.

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Clockwise: The bride with her maid of honor, Michon Moline. The bouquets and reception floral arrangements (by BLOOM floral design) were made of succulents, dahlias, roses, lisianthus, hydrangea, baby’s breath and dusty green. Champagne linens by Tableau Events set an elegant tone at the reception. Guests received potted succulents. Desserts were by Simply Sweet by Jessica. Plein air cocktail tables dressed for the event.

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Clockwise: “I chose a simple vanilla wedding cake since we went a little crazy with the rest of the dessert bar,” Melissa says. The reception area at The Inn at Bay Harbor includes a tented veranda that doubles as a dance floor. The bride’s hair was done by Talulu Beauty Lounge in Petoskey. The newlyweds’ first dance was “Better Together,” by Jack Johnson.

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Wedding Notebook THE INN AT BAY HARBOR - A RENAISSANCE GOLF RESORT

Event Facilities

The Inn’s shoreline setting offers a multitude of indoor and outdoor options for wedding ceremonies and receptions, as well as rehearsal dinners, showers and anniversary parties. The event’s locale holds so many nuptial memories and The Inn’s certified wedding planners have every detail in mind—including coordination of floral and photography services and the creation of unique menus, to ensure each of those memories lasts a lifetime. From a ceremony on the lakeside lawn and dinner reception in an exclusive country club setting to a sunset reception on the outdoor terrace or intimate celebration in a spacious suite overlooking Little Traverse Bay, couples select The Inn knowing the perfect day begins with the perfect location.

Say I Do in Style The Inn at Bay Harbor takes you back to a time when elegance reigned supreme, service was an art form, and serene surroundings were all that was needed to make each a very special day. A place of extraordinary connection. The perfect place for an exchange of vows. A luxurious Victorian-style resort located on the shores of Lake Michigan, The Inn at Bay Harbor delights guests with spectacular lake views, stirring breezes and glorious sunsets. Its stunning setting and ambiance of romance complement fresh and inspired presentations to make yours a remarkably unforgettable wedding.

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Three incredible northern Michigan resorts and award-winning spas, each an achievement of grace and style.

Activities/Recreation Your outdoor surroundings are breathtaking. Your choices of inspired recreation are endless. Award-winning golf awaits just minutes from your doorstep. The prestigious Bay Harbor Golf Club offers three unique courses to delight the novice and scratch player alike while the views from Crooked Tree Golf Club will leave guests almost as breathless as your wedding dress. Beyond the greens, spend the day searching for Petoskey Stones and relaxing in a cabana on The Inn’s private beach or soak up the sun in a lounge chair around the pool while sipping refreshing beverages and noshing on tasty tidbits from the Cabana Bar. Nearby resort towns Petoskey, Harbor Springs and Charlevoix offer culture, adventure and shopping, while the Village at Bay Harbor—a short walk from The Inn—offers fine dining and fun, unique shopping for the quint-

accommodations

essential “Up North” experience. Biking paths, casino gaming, performing arts and more await your discovery.

From the moment of arrival when warmly welcomed by The Inn at Bay Harbor’s dedicated team, you, along with everyone in your wedding party, can expect a level of gracious hospitality not soon forgotten. Listed among the Best Hotels in the World by Travel + Leisure, The Inn offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites and cottages, designed with lakeside charm and elegance, many with a fireplace and stunning views of Lake Michigan. The resort’s accommodations are conveniently accessed from any location you select for your momentous celebration of love.

catering Our catering team can make an unforgettable experience for your wedding. Our experienced associates can work with any budget and are committed to great guest service.

Weddings are a time for celebration, and our catering team can work with you on any specialty menu to suit your attendees and their finer tastes! And special needs for guests with special food needs and dietary considerations can easily be accommodated.

Whether you are seeking the destination for your special day, for an unforgettab honeymoon, or for a setting to relax and have fun with girlfriends, BOYNE’s reso are the perfect choice. And with three spectacular spas, our experienced staff ca delight you from head to toe...feeling refreshed and beautiful for your wedding d

800.862.6 BOYNEWEDDINGS.C 800-862-6963 • boyneweddings.com Wedding Sales Manager Brie Kear 231.439.4078 bkear@innatbayharbor.com

Reception Capacity 175

Event Managers Lindsay Kaler Tracy Thomson

Event Space Lake Lawn (ceremony), Sagamore’s Dining Room, Lakeside Terrace, and Bay Harbor Golf Club (reception)

Spa Manager Fallon Lejeune

Rooms and Suites 129

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A Spectacular Setting. A Perfect Day. Three incredible northern Michigan resorts and award-winning spas, each an achievement of grace and style.

Whether you are seeking the destination for your special day, for an unforgettable honeymoon, or for a setting to relax and have fun with girlfriends, BOYNE’s resorts are the perfect choice. And with three spectacular spas, our experienced staff can delight you from head to toe...feeling refreshed and beautiful for your wedding day.

Boyne Highlands | Boyne Mountain The Inn At Bay Harbor – A Renaissance Golf Resort

BOYNEWEDDINGS.COM | 800.862.6963 2015 MN WEDDINGS_BAY HARBOR.indd 56

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