CRYSTAL MOUNTA INSTORY BY EMILY BETZ TYRA • PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGEL WALSH

34 MYNORTH.COM/WEDDING wedding 2009 35

Lindsay saw her Jim Hjelm wedding

dress in the window of Traverse City’s

To Have and to Hold Bridal Boutique—

it was in town for a trunk show. While

waiting for all to arrive by chairlift to

the ceremony on this 85-degree day,

guests enjoyed lemonade with tea

cookies from Potter’s Bakery in

Traverse City.

Friends of this Traverse City couple were

thrilled when the invitations arrived with

Crystal Mountain listed as the wedding venue;

many guests booked extra days at the resort to

make it a long getaway weekend Up North.

A rolling forest-scape made the backdrop for

the ceremony at the top of the ski hill. For her

walk down the aisle, Lindsay rode up the chair-

lift with her parents. All the guests rode the chair-

lift to an intimate lantern-lit reception at the bot-

tom of the hill.

As a tweak to the traditional head table,

Lindsay and Mike sat at the end of a table set

on both sides so they could see everyone, and

the entire wedding party and their dates could

easily talk and toast. The bride made a special

toast with the family—a happy birthday song

for her grandfather’s 90th birthday. The Jelly

Roll Blues Band, a favorite of the couple’s,

kept all the generations dancing into the sum-

mer night.W

Lindsay Walton& Mike Annelin

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT,THOMPSONVILLE

36 MYNORTH.COM/WEDDING wedding 2009 37

for couples who love up north

for couples who love up north

The reception room was aglow with

white lanterns Lindsay found at chinese-

lanterns.com; the multicolored lanterns

were above the head table. Lindsay is

an elementary school teacher, and the

mom of one of her students created the

raspberry almond wedding cake with

buttercream frosting.

At the bottom of the ski hill, wedding

coordinator Sarah Wild strung clothes-

line between two antique wooden skis

and clothes-pinned on the guests’

place cards. Interlochen’s Marla

Courtney Wood created the bouquets.

Crystal Mountain’s onsite caterer pre-

pared a mixed grill with filet mignon

and salmon with dill sauce.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ANGEL WALSH, ANGEL

EYE PHOTOGRAPHY, 866-436-0001,

ANGELEYEPHOTOS.COM

VENUE: CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT,

800-968-7686, CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM

38 MYNORTH.COM/WEDDING wedding 2009 39

for couples who love up north

for couples who love up north

eddingNotebookCRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT & SPA

Weddings shine at Crystal.From showers and rehearsal dinners to ceremonies, receptionsand even honeymoons, Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa has along, glowing history of exceptional wedding events. From top tobottom, indoors and out, Crystal is a complete and wondrouswedding experience.

With award-winning wintertime skiing and splendid summergolf, your Crystal Mountain wedding can be held here any timeof year, secure in the knowledge that everything will be in placefor a truly memorable event. Some of the Midwest’s finest resortlodging. Versatile dining options. Complete full-service spa andfitness center. Spacious outdoor heated pool, water playgroundand year round hot tub. Wedding parties and guests never needleave the grounds because it’s all right here.

PROPRIETORJim and Chris MacInnes

CATERING MANAGERSarah Wild

SPA MANAGERDawn Pater

RECREATION MANAGERJanice Davidson

RECEPTION CAPACITYUp to 350 guests

EVENT ROOMS5 indoor, tents and outsideoptions available

GUEST ROOMS265

Simply gorgeous. Choose from among many splendid ceremony and receptionlocations at Crystal, indoors or out.…right at the top of our mountain, in theRose Garden, under our beautiful gazebo or at one of our elegant CrystalCenter banquet rooms. Reception rooms feature a dance floor, PA system,table linens, skirted head table as well as gift, cake and DJ tables. Dinnersinclude fresh floral centerpieces and votive candles on all guest tables.Dinners of 100 or more entitle the bride and groom to a complimentaryovernight hotel room stay, with whirlpool bath, on the night of the reception.

This is some of the finest resort lodging in the entireMidwest. Stay at a Celtic “castle,” a mountain topcondo, 1900s-style cottage, a townhome set into densehardwood forests or a cozy hotel room right at theheart of Crystal Mountain. Some can sleep up to 10guests and almost every one has a fireplace and in-room whirlpool tub. Even complete year-round resi-dences are available. Magnificent!

W

Cooked and prepared on-site, Crystal’scatering is second to none. Choosefrom a wide variety of dining options,specially designed around your needsand desires. Whether your tastes leantoward opulent full-course presentationsor a delightfully simple outdoor bar-beque, Crystal pulls it off with styleand flair. Even going-away breakfastscan be arranged.

Spectacular! Summer weddingsmean guests can partake of Crystal’stwo championship caliber golfcourses, 10-acre practice facility, thePark At Water’s Edge pool andwater playground area, miles of hiking and biking trails, Michigan’sonly alpine slide, plus the amazingLake Michigan shoreline just a shortdrive away.

Winter guests can ski 45 beautifully groomed downhill runs,45 kms of scenic cross-countrytrails, take a horse-drawn surrey ride,go ice skating and snowshoeing.Award-winning kids’, family andgroup activities are also available.

Event Facilities

Crystal offers a comprehensive slate of services sure toplease wedding parties and guests alike. The brandnew Crystal Spa offers massage, body wraps, facial,manicures, pedicures and a full range of men’s spaservices as well. We can provide a welcome bonfire,gift basket delivery, free on-site shuttle service andmore. And we encourage all wedding parties to joinus in lessening the environmental impact of their eventby purchasing renewable energy offsets.

CRYSTAL MOUNTAINRESORT & SPA

12500 Crystal Mountain DriveThompsonville, MI 49683PHONE 800-968-7686, ext. 6502FAX 231-378-4603crystalmountain.comsarahwild@crystalmountain.com

accommodations

guest services

catering

recreation

resort is the perfect place sayresort is the perfect place to say, “I do!”

Our staff of planning perfectionists can make

recommendations for music, food, photography,

flowers, decorations and more. Stay in some of

the finest resort lodging in the Midwest. When

you choose Crystal Mountain® for your wedding

plans, count on everything being picture perfect.

Just 28 miles SW of Traverse City.Photo courtesy of Kari Douma Photography

Wedding on the horizon?

800-YOUR-MTN crystalmountain.com

STEV

ENS