MyNorth Wedding, Aurora Cellars 2022

wedding WEDDINGS WE LOVE

STORY BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS PHOTOGRAPHY BY TAYLOR J. PHOTOGRAPHY

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HALEY CRIBBS & KANE SARKISIAN | JULY 17, 2021

A law student went into a bar. And fell in love with the gorgeous bartender. A month or so later that law student, Kane, who was attending Valparaiso University in Indiana, asked that bartender, Haley, also then a student at Valparaiso, out on a date. Six years later, on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, Haley followed Kane into the bar where they had first met. She thought they were simply meeting some family and friends who were in town for the holiday weekend.

When she walked in, she was surprised to find a lot more family and friends there than she’d expected. And even more surprised when Kane got down on one knee and proposed to her. Oh, yeah!

When the planning began, their love of the breweries and wineries up and down the West Michigan coast prompted the couple to imagine a vineyard wedding. “I wanted an outdoor wedding with plenty of greenery,” Haley says. A bit of internet surfing landed Haley on the Aurora Cellars website, where she found she and Kane could be married surrounded by vineyards—and in front of a massive half-century old willow tree. “The willow was the selling point,” Haley says.

Haley and Kane told both sets of parents to get ready for a road trip to Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula, where Aurora Cellars is located.

They traveled North in December when the landscape was more white and brown than green, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of the happy families who met with Aurora’s event manager, Kristi Brown. Haley and Kane had no trouble imagining how romantic the setting would be.

The willow weeps beside a vintage white farmhouse—a perfect place for the bridal party to get ready. Aurora’s Tuscan-style winery sits across from the vineyard, where a 40-by-80-foot tent could accommodate the 150-person wedding they dreamed of.

Event coordinator Stacy Horn of Juniper and Lace Events teamed up with Kristi to make the event magical. The Aurora team “bent over backward,” Haley says. And as for Stacy, Haley wishes she could hire Stacy to run her entire life.

Kane and Haley kicked off their destination wedding with a meet and greet the evening before the wedding at The Parlor, an intimate cocktail bar in Traverse City. The day of the wedding, some guests golfed while others toured area wineries.

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Meanwhile, Haley and her bridal party sipped mimosas made with Aurora Cellar’s own blanc de blanc bubbly in the picturesque farmhouse while they had their hair and makeup done. That was just a prelude to the rich wine experience that the bridal party and guests were treated to during the course of the event. “Couples are able to select from a variety of our wines for their events and we also keep wine stewards on the property during the event to answer wine and estate questions,” Kristi says.

Beyond the blanc de blanc, Haley and Kane chose sparkling brut rosé for their toasts and paired their dinner entrées—local trout, ribs and lemon pepper chicken, all served family-style—with blaufränkisch and pinot grigio, each made with estate-grown grapes. Additionally, brut rosé, pinot grigio, Luminous (a medium-sweet white), rosé and full-bodied reds blaufränkisch and cabernet franc were all served at an open bar.

Fine wine, delicious food and fabulous music provided by the Collision 6 Band (who came horns and all!) kept the reception swinging. “No one left the dance floor all night,” Haley says. When they finally did depart, Kane made sure they were all given personalized cans of Diet Coke and their own PB&J’s. “It was his idea,” Haley says. The fun touch was just one of so many details that made Kane and Haley’s wedding memorable.

resources

Venue | Aurora Cellars, auroracellars.com Photography | Taylor J. Photography, taylorjphotography.com Event Planner | Juniper & Lace Events, juniperandlaceevents.com Bar | Tonic & Lime, tonicandlimemi.com Cake & Dessert | Sweets by Jessica, simplysweetbyjessica.com Catering | Island Thyme Catering, islandthymecatering.com Cinematography / Videography | Xavier Nicole, xaviernicole.com Florals | Sweetwater Floral, sweetwaternorth.com Invitations, Custom Signage & Menus | Jes Married, jesmarried.com Hair & Makeup | Girl on the Glow, girlontheglowmakeup.com Lodging & Travel | Park Place Hotel, park-place-hotel.com Music & Entertainment | Detroit Event Company, Collision 6 Band, detroiteventcompany.com Rehearsal Dinner Shuttle / VW Bus | The Magic Shuttle Bus, magicshuttlebus.com Rentals & Decor | 307 Events & Tents, 307events.com; Events by I. Candy, eventsbyicandy.com; Event Theory, eventtheory.com; BBJ La Tavola Linens, bbjlinen.com

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See more Up North weddings and find ideas at MyNorth.com.

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Wedding Notebook

©Weber Photographers

Aurora Cellars Estate

Northern Michigan’s Premier Vineyard Wedding Venue Located in the heart of Northern Michigan wine country, Aurora Cellars Estate offers a romantic, tranquil, and serene atmosphere for your wedding. This family-owned venue has a five-star staff to help deliver the day of your dreams. The property is set on 12 beautifully landscaped acres with majestic weeping willows, manicured gardens, vineyards, and an open lawn area for your guests to spread out and enjoy the space and beauty that Northern Michigan offers.

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Customize Your Day

Estate Vineyards with Award Winning Wine

Aurora Cellars allows you to hire vendors that can fulfill your custom needs for food, music, photography, décor, and more. We offer one-of-a-kind hand-crafted farm tables, chairs, a covered tent over a lovely stamped concrete floor, and restrooms, in addition to our five-star staff to help make your day perfect. Paint your own picture for the wedding you have always dreamed of.

©Dan Stewart Photography

©Weber Photographers

©Weber Photographers

Highlight your day with an assortment of delicious award-winning wines grown and produced on the property. The picturesque backdrop of the vineyards provides stunning photos and memories for years to come. The high-quality wine from Aurora Cellars will not only excite your guests but will also pair with and enhance the food at your reception or after-hours bonfire. The wines will offer your guests a wedding experience that cannot be replicated elsewhere.

Accommodations

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Aurora Cellars Estate 7788 E Horn Road ©Shanell Photography

©Amanda Lalama Photography

Aurora Cellars Estate offers weekend accommodations in the Victorian Farmhouse on the estate, giving you the opportunity to relax and enjoy the property. Primp and pamper yourself and your bridal party on site without the need to travel on your big day. Sip on mimosas, relax in the barrel sauna, and enjoy spending time with your wedding party in the Farmhouse knowing you are just steps away from walking down the aisle to say your I-dos.

Lake Leelanau, MI 49653 231-994-3290 auroracellars.com events@auroracellars.com

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Aurora urora Cellars ellars Weddings... eddings...

Old ld World orld Charm harm in Leelanau eelanau Aurora Cellars Estate Wedding Package

Auror Aurora a Cellars Cellars Elopements on the Terrace

Farm tables, vineyard vistas and award winning wine for up to 300 guests. The estate rests gently near the vineyard on two level acres consisting of a charming three bedroom, two-bath Victorian farmhouse with a spacious patio.

Enjoy our beautiful, private Terrace Garden with a stunning vineyard backdrop for your “I Do’s”. Packages range from couple only to couple plus 20 guests.

Reservations & Information 231.994.3290 Reservations & Information 231.994.3290

7788 E Horn Road • Lake Leelanau, MI 49653 • events@auroracellars.com 2022_WED_AURORA CELLARS.indd 40

7788 E Horn Road • Lake Leelanau, MI 49653

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