Northern Michigan Weddings: Frog Pond Village in Interlochen
Northern Michigan Weddings: Liza Bowen and Neil Friske celebrated a Victorian Autumn Wedding at Interlochen's Frog Pond Village on October 13, 2012
Northern Michigan Weddings: A city girl from Chicago, a farm boy from Northern Michigan, the tale is a classic one, but as far as Liza Bowen and Neil Friske are concerned, theirs is a one-of-a-kind Up North romance.
Neil, who is from Charlevoix and whose family owns the well-known Friske Orchards in Ellsworth, met Liza one summer when they were both working at her family’s restaurant, Bud’s of Interlochen. Though Liza’s family is from the Chicago area, where the couple now lives, they have summered Up North at their Interlochen cottage on Green Lake for the past 45 years; when the opportunity presented itself to purchase and revamp Bud’s in 2008, Liza’s mother, Sue Bowen, leapt at the chance. Fate seemed to transpire again a few years later when the couple discovered Frog Pond Village, an intimate wedding venue in Interlochen surrounded by Northern Michigan’s natural beauty.
Fall colors, harvest touches and vintage elegance helped transform Neil and Liza’s wedding day at Frog Pond Village into a truly romantic Northern Michigan spectacle.
Alight in autumnal reds, oranges and yellows, the trees in Frog Pond Village provided a vibrant backdrop for the wedding day. Centerpiece vases filled with fresh fall apples from Friske Orchards paid tribute to the season and to Neil’s family. Dipped in chocolate and caramel by Kilwin’s in Charlevoix, the apples also made delicious parting gifts for guests.
To complement the rustically elegant setting, Karen at Frog Pond Village helped create a vintage romance theme for the reception. Chandeliers hanging from open-beamed ceilings and twinkling lights draped around the room cast an intimate glow on the wedding’s color palette of blush pink and metallics. Pink lanterns flirted overhead, blush roses graced tables clothed in deep bronze and an antique, brushed gold frame proved the perfect rest for the wedding cake. Antique white vases and woven wicker chairs reminiscent of a Victorian garden also tied into the vintage theme.
Guests dined on distinctly Northern Michigan treats. Grandview Catering set up various dinner stations, of which the biggest hit was the Traverse City Favorites, featuring whitefish pâté among other dishes. Neil and Liza surprised guests with their Northern Michigan must-have, Grand Traverse Pie Co.’s Lakeshore Berry Crumb Pie, and everyone took delight in a s’mores bar on Frog Pond Village’s heated outdoor porch.
Guests left romanced by Frog Pond Village’s magical beauty, overwhelming Neil and Liza with love and the feeling that their wedding, in all of its Northern Michigan splendor, was absolutely perfect.
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Fall colors, harvest touches and vintage elegance helped transform Neil and Liza's wedding day at Frog Pond Village into a truly romantic Northern Michigan spectacle. (Photography by Scarlett)
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In keeping with the vintage theme of the wedding, Liza had lace sleeves fashioned to her gown. (Photography by Scarlett)
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Kilwin's in Charlevoix covered Friske's apples in caramel and chocolate for wedding gifts. (Photography by Scarlett)
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Liza wore an antique-styled keepsake necklace. (Photography by Scarlett)
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Liza's two younger sisters, the self-designated co-maids of honor, gave a hilarious yet heartwarming speech that paid tribute to their older sister who taught them everything they know. (Photography by Scarlett)
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Lush grounds and Northern Michigan's renowned fall colors at Frog Pond Village provided Photography by Scarlett endless photo options. (Photography by Scarlett)
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Resplendant beneath chandeliers and soft lighting, elegant table settings rich with deep bronze tones mirrored the reception's beamed ceiling and hardwood floors. (Photography by Scarlett)
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Resting on an antique, brushed gold frame and organza, the vintage designed three-tiered wedding cake made by Robin Smith's One-of-a-Kind Edible Art. (Photography by Scarlett)
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Short arrangements of blush roses and hypericum berries offset the taller centerpieces. (Photography by Scarlett)
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The bride and bridesmaids embodied Victorian elegance in lace wraps— a gift from the mother of the bride, Sue Bowen. (Photography by Scarlett)
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White umbrellas carried by the wedding party inspired memorable, Victorian-esque photos. (Photography by Scarlett)
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