the LOv E BOAT
STORY BY
NICOLE LANE // PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE PARSHALL PHOTOGRAPHY
Forget the ballroom. This couple turned a Traverse City tall ship into the wedding venue of their dreams.
Cassandra bonner never dreamed about her wedding dress or the perfect first dance song. She didn't dream of the cake, the bouquet, the ring or the typical wedding details. Instead, one image stayed with her: “I wanted to get married on Lake Michigan,” she says.
On a sunny August day with sails billowing, family aboard and her closest friend behind the camera, a Great Lakes tall ship transformed into an intimate wedding venue, turning a childhood wish into a one-of-a-kind nautical celebration.
The Jackson-based couple wanted their ceremony to feel intimate and—most of all—fun. Their biggest challenge? Finding a vessel large enough for their 42 guests and a few chairs for parents to sit comfortably.
They found the perfect fit in Manitou, a 114-foot replica of an 1800s schooner from the Traverse City Tall Ship Co. As the dramatic vessel left the dock, guests joined the crew to hoist the sails. Laughter rippled through the decks as Larry grabbed a line himself, helping to lift the sheets that would carry them into a promise.
The ceremony was short—15 minutes—but sweet. Personalized vows included plenty of tears, with Larry's wet cheeks setting off a beautiful chain reaction as guests joined him, laughter and sniffles echoing in the lake breeze. The wind carried their vows; the sunlight sealed them in a shimmer.
After the kiss, guests mingled, chatted and posed for photos in the open lake air. The boat carried the newlyweds and their guests across the sparkling bay for two hours.
Cassandra’s close friend, and Grand Rapids-based wedding photographer, Stephanie Parshall, played a starring role, capturing the full sweep of the day. To photograph the schooner from above, Parshall earned her drone license to film and photograph some of the ceremony from above the glinting water.
On board, Parshall took intimate photos of guests, snapping candids as well as posed portraits of each guest and couple.
“Stephanie really drove the day,” Cassandra says. “The captain even moved the schooner into the best light for her.” W ith an eye to capturing every aspect, her friend kept the couple on schedule and directed guests where they needed to go. “Stephanie also wore blue to match our colors, as I would have chosen to have her and my sister standing next to me,” Cassandra explains.
Cassandra décollaged shells collected by friends and family for decor and sweet party favors, and a friend helped create cheerful bouquets from a local flower farm.
The couple searched for a boat that could accommodate all their guests while also providing sufficient seating space. They found that with the Manitou.
Guests indulged in cupcakes, cookies and a lavender cake with lemon custard and lavender icing swirled in a watercolor design by Crystal City Confectionery in Beulah. A close friend gifted the couple a custom cake topper depicting Cassandra holding a fish while wearing Converse—a whimsical tribute to the couple’s shared love of fishing and Cassandra's casual wedding shoes.
The rest of the details of the wedding came together effortlessly. Cassandra collaborated with Jackson-based artist Amy Guerriero who painted the ship for their invitations and gifted the couple an original painting of Manitou. Cassandra DIY’d her envelopes, lining them with nautical prints and sealing each with a wax stamp of a ship or compass.
She filled her bouquet with pastel blooms from White Fence Cut Flowers in Onstead, arranged by a friend and coworker from Autumn Brooke Farms. Cassandra painted her nails blue—not for the lake, but because it’s Larry’s favorite color.
One of her favorite moments of the day was sharing Northern Michigan with Larry’s family. “His parents and sisters had never been to Traverse City,” she says. “They couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.” Although Larry had originally imagined a simple courthouse ceremony to spare guests the travel Up North, he now calls their Lake Michigan wedding the perfect choice.
Once Manitou arrived back at the dock, the reception unfolded at the Park Place Hotel, where the Grand Traverse Bay stretches endlessly. Cassandra leaned into her nautical theme with Michigan-inspired favors—hand-decorated shells, driftwood and Petoskey stones she’d collected with friends.
As twilight deepened, Larry's hand-picked playlist filled the top floor with music, and when the final song faded, the night stilled into the same quiet beauty that surrounded them on the water hours earlier.
Looking back, Cassandra feels grateful that she was able to bring her lifelong vision to life. "The boat was my favorite part—besides actually getting married," she says with a laugh. "It was everything I dreamed of."
Nicole Lane is senior editor of Traverse Northern Michigan magazine.
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Why Turnkey Weddings are Having a Moment
A do-it-all venue means more flexibility, ease and togetherness, and way less stress for couples. Here’s how.
by MEAGAN FRANCIS
From tracking down vendors and coordinating schedules to managing countless details, even the most organized couples can feel overwhelmed by the stress of planning their big day. That’s why couples across Northern Michigan are looking to turnkey wedding experiences—venues where every piece of the process and element of your big day is thoughtfully managed by a single team.
“We’re seeing a lot of couples looking for a personalized, all-inclusive,” says Merrie Corbett who, with her husband, Chris, owns The Overlook at The Chief in Bellaire. While The Overlook is new to the Northern Michigan wedding scene, its team, including Events Coordinator Trisha Marr, brings a long history of hospitality and events in the region, through Chris and Merrie’s deep ties to the region and a history of hospitality via their other properties including the beloved historic Blue Pelican Inn.
Here are a few of the reasons a turnkey wedding experience can be one of the smartest ways to say “I do.”
STRESS-FREE PLANNING FROM DAY ONE
Wedding planning can be overwhelming, from selecting a caterer and a florist to coordinating DJs and décor. With a turnkey option, couples have one dedicated point person who manages every detail, from the initial tour to the last dance. “We guide couples through everything,” says Marr. “Tables, chairs, linens, glassware—it’s all handled. They can walk in knowing everything is taken care of.” This level of guidance allows couples to focus on the joy of the day, not the logistics.
CULINARY VISION MADE SIMPLE
Finding a caterer who can accommodate your tastes while staying on budget and ensuring guest safety is one of the trickiest parts of wedding planning. A turnkey venue simplifies this by offering in-house catering, streamlining everything from menu creation to meal service. “Couples don’t have to juggle multiple vendors,” Marr notes. “We handle everything and ensure that the food experience matches their vision. That makes the day feel truly effortless.” At The Overlook, all food is prepared under strict allergy and safety protocols, giving couples peace of mind while keeping costs predictable.
SPACES THAT ADAPT TO EVERY CELEBRATION
Turnkey venues are designed for versatility, Marr explains, allowing couples to create the wedding they’ve always imagined, whether it’s an intimate gathering of 100 or a larger celebration for 350. The Overlook’s flexible floor plans and thoughtfully designed layouts can be customized for ceremonies, receptions or combined events. “We can make a space feel cozy and intimate or open it up for a grand celebration,” Marr says. “It’s about making the venue fit the couple, not the other way around.” This flexibility ensures that every guest feels included and every detail flows seamlessly, without the headaches of coordinating multiple spaces.
BRINGING EVERYONE TOGETHER
A turnkey approach also simplifies accommodations, and it’s an even easier call when the property has a variety of options— from hotel-style rooms to suites or condos. Onsite lodging also helps couples keep their guests close, creating opportunities for informal get-togethers and family bonding. “Having everyone under one roof—or just a few steps away—changes the weekend,” Marr says. She adds that lodging flexibility makes this easier on out-of-town guests and families with longer stays, or can allow for entire bridal parties to bunk together, making catching up and getting ready so much more enjoyable.
“Having a range of options on property keeps families connected, and everyone can relax, celebrate and enjoy the moment without worrying about transportation or logistics,” Marr says.
After all, the best part of the wedding is coming together, not melting down trying to make everything work. Choosing a spot that can host the entire crew—from arrival barbecue all the way through farewell brunch—turns a wedding weekend into a true shared experience.
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The private event space accommodates up to 100 guests, while a full restaurant buyout can host up to 175 guests, providing flexibility for celebrations of various sizes. Known for elevated Northern Michigan cuisine, your guests will enjoy thoughtfully crafted menus that highlight fresh, local flavors. With attentive service, adaptable event setups, and a dedicated team, every detail of your celebration will flow effortlessly.
Moments That Matter
A Traverse City wedding photographer on how to turn the smallest instant into timeless images.
STORY BY NICOLE LANE
PHOTOS BY JESSIE ZEVALKINK
Apatch of afternoon light reflects through tulle, two lovers’ hands hover over gold bands in anticipation, glimmering leafshaped earrings brush against auburn hair. Jessie Zevalkink’s wedding photographs capture these fleeting intersections—where emotion meets memory. Her lens finds the ephemera: the afterglow of a laugh, the blur of a passing glance, the quietness that emerges. Amid the flurry of a wedding day, she spots what others might miss and whispers to the viewer, hey, look over there.
Zevalkink’s images aren’t your standard wedding photographs. They focus, blur and push the viewer into rethinking what a wedding shoot can look like. What the present moment feels like.
Typically, and not surprisingly, wedding photographers tend to focus on people. But Zevalkink sees beyond this framework. She pays attention to the clouds, the trees, the wind moving throughout the landscape, the hum of the moment that transcends the vows. She says that she thinks in terms of five senses: What can you see, smell, taste, hear and feel in each image?
Zelvalkink didn’t expect to become a wedding photographer. She was the artsy kid in high school, doodling noses, eyes and lips on her homework assignments. But in her sophomore year she picked up a camera, walked into the darkroom and never looked back, leading eventually to a career in photography. She had found a new way to study faces.
Her curiosity and focus start long before the wedding day. She’ll book an engagement shoot or meet clients for a cup of coffee to get them comfortable with the process. Zevalkink explains that it’s important for clients to protect their peace and positivity and to find someone who is looking out for them and is on their side.
“You need to feel good with the photographer, be excited about them. They should feel like a friend,” she says.
Sheldon Nichole Photography
Being photographed, even for the most confident of people, can feel intimidating. “The word ‘posing’ freaks people out,” Zevalkink says with a laugh. Instead of stiff direction, she offers gentle guidance while having a conversation. She describes herself as a naturally curious person, so she asks questions to keep the couple’s anxiety at bay. Within minutes, clients unclench their jaws, their shoulders drop and the camera is forgotten. That’s when Zevalkink’s magic happens. “Let’s just have a nice conversation,” she says. “And somewhere in that conversation, I always find my little peek of sunshine.”
On the day of a wedding, Zevalkink helps couples design a time map that honors photography without making the entire day about the camera. “Let’s not get ready earlier than we need to,” she suggests. “Instead of an hour of photos at 3 p.m. in bright sun, let’s take half that time and then add a session at 9 p.m., when it’s cooler, the sun’s lower and everyone’s relaxed.”
Your Dream Wedding DESTINATION
Mackinac Island is a national wedding destination. It’s roots are based on the classic fairy tale weddings featuring the horse-drawn carriage, sweeping panoramic views, and the peacefulness of Island time.
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Photo by: Sara Lynn Macy
Throughout the day, she finds her detailed shots as an observer, standing back to watch the joy unfold. “There are also moments when I need to step in and help move things forward. I love both roles,” she says.
Zevalkink knows that a photograph can’t capture everything, but it can gesture toward the texture of light, the pulse of the nerves, the rhythm of the day. For her, wedding photography lives in the pauses, not the perfect poses. She observes rather than directs, letting the moments find her behind the lens. It’s an act of noticing and never a pursuit of perfection. Zevalkink’s images are a quiet proof that beauty doesn’t need to be staged—it only needs to be seen.
Nicole Lane is senior editor of Traverse Northern Michigan magazine.
LIGHT AT THE LAST NOTE
Laughter rises into the last warm notes of the wedding weekend. The shadows stretching on the wall hint that the weekend is coming to a close; a final signature on a story freshly written. The vows, the toasts, the dance are savored with one last look and one fresh reminder that love, when held lightly, glows brightest. – N.L.
by Jessie
photo
Zevalnik
