Weddings in the Mackinac Island, MI Area

Decided to take the plunge in the Mackinaw Island area? You'll find romance in the air, as well as plenty of ideas on finding that perfect chapel location to say your "I dos." Machinac State Historic Parks offers several lovely, history-rich settings for a picture-perfect wedding day to remember.

If you have always dreamed of marrying in an old-fashioned Colonial style church, you can fulfill this dream at Mission Church on Main (Huron) Street, which just happens to be Michigan's oldest surviving church. This church was built in 1829 by local residents and marks the Calvinist religion which the young missionaries brought back from the new frontier. The church interior is simple, unadorned with secluded pews and spare furnishings, restored to its 1830 appearance, and open throughout the summer months. The Mission Church is a Michigan registered historic site.

It doesn't get and more romantic than the Somewhere in Time Gazebo, constructed for and used in many scenes of the 1980 motion picture Somewhere In Time, starring Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve. After being used in the movie, it  was placed in the back yard of the Michigan Governor's Summer Home until 2005. It has now been restored, and moved to a wooded bluff overlooking Marquette Park, the village of Mackinac Island and the harbor  where adoring couples can say their vows right where the characters of the epic movie discovered love.

New among wedding sites is Fort Mackinac, an original 1780 Revolutionary war-era fort, which served as a sentinel in the Straits of Mackinac for 115 years. For couples longing to marry on a site combined with rich history, panoramic views, and the fragrant beauty of the lilac fields, Fort Mackinac is the place for you. Re-enactments, a museum, and hourly cannon salutes can be a part of your wedded bliss, if you so desire!

Lighthouses often bring to mind peace and tranquility with their beautiful beacons and towers. Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse was built in 1892 to help ships navigate the dangerous narrows between Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas known as the Straits of Mackinac. It is known as "The Castle at the Straits" because of its gothic, castle-like charm. In 1957, the lighthouse was rendered obsolete upon completion of the Mackinac City Bridge, which provided navigation lights on its high bridge towers. But the beautiful setting and lush grounds is a location of choice for nuptials, and also is on the National Register of Historic Places.

There are traditional weddings, and there are traditional weddings. Learn the true meaning of a traditional 1715 French fur-trading village at Colonial Michilimackinac, a reconstructed military outpost and village, reminiscent of those days long ago. After saying your vows, you can witness a re-enactment from British 1770s occupation and the American Revolution era.

History is alive and kicking at the Historic Mill Creek, which provided Mackinac Island with its supply of sawn lumber for the first settlers here in 1790. Today, the beautiful 625-acre park offers breath-taking waterfall scenery and craft demonstrations. Go on a romantic walk together after your special ceremony on one of the many scenic trails here.

Mackinac State Historic Parks gives many opportunities in a variety of settings to step back in the past on that very special day. All of the parks mentioned above are pet-friendly, and close to the historic downtown area. When choosing any of the parks for a wedding destination, keep in mind each one have different hours of operation, and some require deposits, and requests to be made in writing. For more information on weddings in the Mackinac State Parks, log on to www.mackinackparks.com.