Tag: castle wedding

Must-Do’s the Morning of Your Wedding

Written by Karrie Mueller on February 4, 2020. Posted in Blog, Wedding Tips & Trends. No Comments on Must-Do’s the Morning of Your Wedding

Many couples say that their wedding goes by in the blink of an eye. That’s why the morning is a great time to prep yourself for the day you’ve spent so long preparing for. Here’s a list of things that may help you out the morning of your wedding and keep you from scrambling later in the day.

Eat

Believe it or not, eating is one thing that slips the minds of many couples on their big day. Make sure that you and your bridal party are well-energized before the day’s events kick off with a full breakfast and maybe a coffee or two.

Get dressed and ready!

You can choose to get your hair and makeup done at a salon or hire a stylist to travel to your place of lodging. The dressing room at Castle Farms is included 2 hours before your ceremony start time until the end of the evening. It’s a space best designed to get your dresses on after your hair and makeup is complete. If you’d like to rent it for an earlier arrival time to spend the morning getting ready at your venue, there is most often an option to do so; just check with a Castle Coordinator! Make sure you have a solid transportation plan from your place of lodging to the salon or venue.

wedding in Michigan — Always Photographic

Check in with your vendors.

The coordinators at Castle Farms are excellent about being detail-oriented and on top of the tasks at hand. Be sure to touch base with them to see if everyone has arrived, all arrangements have been dropped off, etc.

Take pictures with your wedding party.

Whether you’re with your group of gals, guys, or both, you’ll want to remember the time you spent surrounded by the people you love most. Have the photographer come into your dressing room and take photos of your party popping champagne, getting ready, or giving words of encouragement.

Give gifts to your wedding party.

Leading up to this point, odds are your party has gone above and beyond when it comes to being there for you on your big day. Be sure to recognize this by giving them a gift, whether it be a personalized trinket or something that they can wear. Give them something to remember the time they spent leading up to your big day.

Make sure you have an emergency kit.

An emergency kit is something you’ll want to be easily accessible to all members of your bridal party the day of your wedding. These can include bandages, to lash glue. Read every essential you’ll need in your emergency kit here.

Take time for yourself.

Since you are likely to have a busy day ahead, don’t forget to do what you need to do in order to prep yourself. This may include doing a face mask before you get your makeup done, going for a quick jog, or even sneaking in a drink. It’s amazing what a mimosa or a Bloody Mary can do to kickstart the morning of your wedding.

castle wedding in Michigan — Lauren Elaine Photography

The day of your wedding can be hectic, but if you consider incorporating these tips into your morning, it can be much more relaxed and stress free!

End of the Night Cleanup Tips

Written by Karrie Mueller on January 16, 2020. Posted in Ask the Coordinators, Blog, Wedding Tips & Trends, Weddings. No Comments on End of the Night Cleanup Tips

Though you may not want to think about it while you are planning, clean up at the end of your wedding is just as important as your decorating! It is imperative to know exactly what is expected of you and all your guests otherwise additional charges could occur and/or you may end up with some unhappy guests recruited to help clean last minute. To help work out these end-of-the-night kinks, we have put together a list of the Top 10 things to keep in mind!

1. Most importantly – Have a plan determined well before the day of your event.

2. Know what time you are expected to be finished cleaning up.

3. Pack an extra pair of shoes and a change of clothes.

4. Know ahead of time if your caterer provides take out containers – if they don’t, bring your own!

5. Have a diagram or photos of how the room is supposed to look at the end of the night if you are required to move furniture back.

6. Delegate people to help clean up and pack up at the end of the night (and let these people know in advance!)

Pro Tip: to help make packing up items a breeze, label your totes with what is to go inside and store them close to wherever their contents were placed in the room. You can have different people in charge of different tables/items so everyone knows clearly how they are to help.

7. Give one trusted person the responsibility of collecting and transporting gifts and cards (especially if most people are taking a shuttle!).

8. Know whether you can leave cars overnight and pick them up the next day.

9. Know if you are able to leave décor items overnight to pick up the next day and if there is a charge for this.

10. Make sure to do a final sweep of the room once everyone is out in case of guest items left behind. Then you can head out and enjoy your after party (or a good night’s rest)!

Hopefully these tips help the end of the night go more smoothly for everyone involved!

Winter Wedding Tips

Written by Karrie Mueller on December 17, 2019. Posted in Blog, Wedding Tips & Trends. No Comments on Winter Wedding Tips

Winter weddings are absolutely stunning!

The crisp white background of snow, the deep royal colors associated with the holidays, and making sure that everyone feels the warmth of love in the colder temperatures (especially in Northern Michigan) really make for a great time to tie the knot. Here are a few tips on how to keep cozy for a cold, blustery day!

1. Matching Scarves

This is a great way to create cohesion in your outdoor winter wedding photos, especially if the bridesmaid dresses are different colors! Not only does it look great, it is also very functional and will keep your ladies warm on your special day!

2. All About Socks!

This is a great and easy favor for the groomsmen standing up for your big day! Whether it is a traditional pattern like the argyle ones shown, or something more out of the ordinary like different superhero logos. Socks are sure to keep anyone from getting cold feet!

3. Winter Wear Favors

Winter hats and mittens are a great idea if you are having a winter wedding as it gives your guests something they can use the day of and for many years to come! Personalization is a nice added touch to make sure everyone remembers how much fun they had dancing the night away.

4. Winter Attire Wedding Photos

Whether it is winter boots, hidden leggings, or scarves for your main ladies, it has become a major trend to show these aspects in your outdoor winter wedding photos. It can be used in a fun way, a very elegant way, or even give the bride an opportunity to break up her white dress against a white snow background!

5. Flannel Bridal Party Favors

There is nothing more fun than getting ready for your big day while all in matching outfits! A creative spin on this for a winter wedding, is to get matching flannel ‘fits for all of your girls! Not only will you get adorable photos of everyone before they’re in their dresses, but it also gives them a great PJ set to use for many more winter nights.

Fall Wedding Ideas!

Written by Karrie Mueller on October 31, 2019. Posted in Blog, Favor Ideas, Wedding Decor, Wedding Tips & Trends, Weddings. No Comments on Fall Wedding Ideas!

Back to school, fall leaves, pumpkins, Halloween, and weddings!

Fall weddings are becoming more and more popular. We have definitely noticed the trend here at Castle Farms and welcome the warm fall colors, fall party favors, and cool fall weather. Along with the fall popularity is the touches of fall that our couples are adding to their weddings. We love their creatively and want to share it with you! If you are looking at having a fall wedding here are some great ideas, you can incorporate to your own wedding!

Blankets for Guests

Having your ceremony or cocktail outdoors? Have guests wrap up in blankets to keep warm in cozy. This is also a great idea for bridal party pictures!

Fun Drinks

Throw in some pumpkin spice or apple flavors to go with your fall theme wedding. You can have Chardonnay, Cinnamon Cider, Apple Cider Mimosa, or Pumpkin Spice White Russian. Make them your His and Her signature drinks of the night.

Fall Party Favors

Candy apples, caramel apples, or anything to do with apples is always a great idea for the fall. We have also had couples bring donuts and cider and a take-home hot chocolate kit. You can definitely get creative.

S’mores!

A great late-night snack idea is to set up a smores bar. Marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate, Reese’s, over a fire, delicious!

Pumpkin Decorations

Add to the fall glam by adding pumpkins to your décor, either as centerpieces or accents. There are plenty of ideas for chic, stylish, or DIY ideas that you can find on our Pinterest page.

Harvest Themed Dinner

Incorporate the fall flavors into your wedding dinner menu. Having nut flavors, pumpkin, squash, cinnamon, sweet potatoes, and apples are just a few. Talk to your caterer to see how they can integrate these flavors in the menu for you!

Long Sleeved Wedding Gown

Not only do you want to stay warm on the cool fall days, but also fashionable and beautiful on your big day! Wearing a long-sleeved wedding dress can give you both of those. Long sleeved dresses are growing in popularity. They can be very romantic, elegant, and sophisticated, additionally there are plenty of different styles and silhouettes to find one to fit your style.

Grand Wedding Expo Tips

Written by Karrie Mueller on October 3, 2019. Posted in Blog, Wedding Tips & Trends, Wedding Vendors, Weddings. No Comments on Grand Wedding Expo Tips

We are kicking it off with our 15th Annual Grand Wedding Expo in 2019!

This is a great event to attend for anyone creating their wedding vision, whether you are in your first stages of planning or just need to finish up some final touches. The Grand Wedding Expo (GWE) has everything you need in order to plan your big day. We have vendors available to offer their expertise and help you gather all the information you need. There are also prizes, swag, food, and even a fashion show; not to mention our Grand Wedding Giveaway where one lucky couple will win a wedding of their dreams!

Here are a few quick tips to think about when attending the Expo:

- Bring pre-made address labels– Have your name, email address, and phone numbers on them. There will be lots of forms to fill out and this will speed up the process.
- Prepare Questions and to Book! – Some vendors offer special discounts the day of the GWE! So be prepared with some questions you may want to ask to see who is the right fit for you.

- Need a Snack? – We are featuring two food trucks, Alley Mac & Melts and Cheese & Company, during the GWE where you will be able to grab a bite to eat. We will also have our 1918 Cellars Wine Tasting Room open for glass pours of wine and cider.

- We have bags for you – There will be plenty of items and information you will be receiving from vendors. This way you will have a spot to put them!

- Schedule your meeting with our Coordinators in advance! – Our Coordinators are busy working the Grand Wedding Expo the day of, so they cannot offer meetings that Sunday, October 27, 2019. If you would like to schedule a meeting with a Coordinator to go over more details of your wedding, they are offering meetings on Friday and Saturday, if you are in town the days prior to the Expo. Just be sure to contact us well in advance to reserve a meeting time as they book up quickly! If you are unable to come the day prior to the Expo, stop by our booth and we will try our best to answer a few quick questions!

Take notes of your favorite vendors – write notes on their business card or brochure to remind you about their personality and what you liked. That makes it easier when you get ready to contact them after the event if you aren’t quite ready to book on-the-spot.

We want your wedding day to be special, not stressful. So come enjoy the people, the prizes, the food, and the atmosphere. We look forward to seeing you here at Castle Farms on October 27, 2019! Purchase tickets here!

Things to do in Charlevoix for Grooms & Groomsmen

Written by Karrie Mueller on August 29, 2019. Posted in Blog, Wedding Tips & Trends, Weddings. No Comments on Things to do in Charlevoix for Grooms & Groomsmen

Looking for things to do in the Charlevoix area for the groom and his groomsmen?

While Charlevoix may be a small town, there is plenty to do for the guys to partake in year round.

Golfing

There are lots of golf courses in the Charlevoix area. If you have time before rehearsal the day prior, why not spend some time with the guys at the Charlevoix Country Club? A couple of other local options are Dunmaglas and A-Ga-Ming Antrim Dells. These are great courses to hit 9 or 18 holes. The Charlevoix City Golf Club is another affordable option located just on the north side of Charlevoix.

If you prefer to go disc golfing, Mt. McSauba has a great challenging course in their wooded trails along Lake Michigan.

Beach

In the summer months, there’s nothing quite like hanging out at the beach. Swim and play volleyball at Lake Michigan Beach or Ferry Beach. If you’re on the north side of town, cook out at Depot Beach. For a more rustic atmosphere, hike out to McSauba Beach.

For an extra fun activity on the water, you can rent paddle boards or kayaks from Schulman Paddleworks located downtown Charlevoix.

Camping

Fisherman’s Island State Park is a rustic campground for tents and RVs. If you choose one of the popular campsites along the water, you can have quick access to swim and enjoy an evening bonfire right near the shore.

Fishing

Whitecaps Fishing Charters will provide you with all the gear needed to fish for walleye, trout, or salmon out on the lake. It’s a true up north experience!

Skiing & Snowboarding

Once the snow falls, take an afternoon to hit the slopes at Mt. McSauba. You can also go snowshoeing or cross country skiing in their wooded trails. For a larger scale ski resort, travel about 35 minutes to Boyne Mountain Resort. You can ski, snowboard, snowshoe and even zipline at this fun snowy wonderland.

Barber Shop

For pictures that will last forever, you’ll want to look your best. Groomsmen could make going to the Charlevoix Barber Shop a group activity, ensuring that everyone is groomed to perfection.

Food & Drink

Start your morning off with coffee and a breakfast Aussie pie at Harwood Gold Cafe. Or pick up a latte and a crepe from That French Place. Morning Dew Cafe offers delicious breakfast bagels and donuts with a cup of joe. For a quick outdoor stop in the summer, locate the Long Day Coffee Truck in the Van Pelt Alley to enjoy a pastry with your cappuccino. All of these great coffee shops are located downtown Charlevoix.

Check out Bridge Street Tap Room or Lake Charlevoix Brewing for a large selection of craft beer. 1918 Cellars at a Castle Farms has a selection of locally made wine and hard ciders. Bier’s Inwood Brewery is another neat location for pizza, games, beer, and hard cider. You could also set up a brewery tour to visit other breweries in surrounding towns.

Gifts & Extras

Gift the groom or groomsmen with cigars from Wild West Tobacco, only 1 mile from Castle Farms.

Buy everyone a bottle of wine from 1918 Cellars or Esperance to enjoy over the weekend. If your group prefers beer, then pick up a growler at Bridge Street Tap Room.

While your wedding day will certainly be one to remember, why not make the rest of your weekend with your closest friends and family a fun and memorable time!? Enjoy what Charlevoix has to offer and set aside some time to create memories with your best pals!