Atop a Trend
Something as special as a wedding day deserves a backdrop that complements the beauty of the moment. Over the last decade, Crystal Mountain has been the backdrop of more than 400 weddings. The arch at Petritz Pond and amphitheater at Art Park elegantly frame a ceremony among family and friends while the property's more panoramic scenery is unlike anywhere. It's also the focus of a burgeoning trend in which the resort's vistas are being chosen for more than just the exchange of vows.
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The wedding of Sarah Power and Travis Linderman received national recognition in The Knot's Summer 2018 article entitled "Fantastical Forest." The ceremony and reception held at Crystal's Stone Road venue is among the most elaborate ever held at the resort. Their choice for a rehearsal dinner was just as distinctive. A wedding party of over 50 people gathered at the top of the mountain for a family-style dinner, emphasis on the word style . The long days for which the region is known provide ample time for dinner, capped off with a brilliant sunset into the Betsie Valley.
An equally inspiring reception was held at mountain top last July. Laura Barnett and David Gardner said their "I-dos" under the amphitheater at the Michigan Legacy Art Park before riding the Crystal Clipper chairlift to the top of the mountain for an evening reception. Dinner sat wedding guests across from one another on a long, exquisitely decorated table under bluebird skies. Among the signatures of this reception was an open-air tepee structure donned in bistro lights and provided a space for guests to socialize and admire the stars as dusk gave way to night.
"The top of the mountain has always been a popular choice for ceremonies but this was the first reception we've hosted," said Carmen Kott, wedding and special events manager. "Laura and David gave us a new vision of what is possible in that space."
The completion of Crystal Mountain's most recent expansion, the Inn Residences, provides its own set of possibilities. The hotel's rooftop terrace offers yet another option for more intimate wedding ceremonies and receptions. Already fashioned with its own bar, the space can accommodate a reception of around 70 people and a dinner for approximately 40. To the west there is an expansive view of the green slopes and in all other directions the quaint village, each even more vibrantly decorated by the changing colors in late September and throughout October.
Whether atop the Inn or slopes themselves, Crystal's elevation certainly plays a part in heightening one of life's most treasured moments. If you would like more information about weddings at the mountain please contact Carmen Kott at 231-378-2038 .