Elopements

Presque Isle Beach Wedding and Waterfall Adventure, MI

Sarah and Brett planned a two-day wedding adventure in MI. They included their close family during their Presque Isle beach wedding ceremony and then hiked to see some epic falls in the area together. Are you trying to plan an elopement wedding at Presque Isle? Check out this elopement story to get all the tips from the couple and photographer.

Ready to elope? Thinking about planning a micro wedding? Use our elopement vendor directory to start planning your wedding adventure today!

Planning a Presque Isle Wedding

Photography by Catchfly Photography

If you’re planning a micro wedding near Presque Isle and want to reserve a pavilion, then you’ll want to make sure to obtain a permit. Even if you’re planning to elope just the two of you, you’ll want to call the park office for the most up-to-date information on permits and regulations.

There are, for example, some limitations on signage and decor when it comes to your wedding day. You can’t have a sign that hints at a “private ceremony” because Presque Isle is a public area. You are also limited to what type of furniture you can bring. While arches are allowed, you’ll want to make sure with the office of any updates.

Julie tells us that even if you’re eloping, you should still have a rehearsal. It’s important to scout the area(s) you’re planning on visiting and exploring during your adventure so you’re prepared for all the things.

Here are Julie’s top tips when eloping near Presque Isle:

If you’re choosing a spot by the lake, it’s likely to be loud (windy, crashing waves), so keep this in mind for the ceremony and guests being able to hear.
Bring a few clear umbrellas. It can get a little misty.
Depending on the season, bring a few blankets to warm up in between photos.
During certain times of the day, Presque Isle is “walking hours only”. During the summer, the drive is open for park hours 7 AM to 11 PM daily. For winter, the drive is open from 7 AM to 8 PM daily.
Below are the days and times the seasonal portion of Peter White Drive will be open to foot traffic. All motor vehicles are prohibited from traveling around the back portion of the Island at the following times: Monday and Wednesday 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Tuesday and Thursday 7:00 am to 1:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday 7:00 am to 10:00 am
Remember to check with the park website for the most up-to-date information.
Wear proper SHOES! It’s super rocky, slick, and wet! (So this means NO heels, 100%)

Looking for more places to elope in Michigan? Check out our Michigan elopement packages.

Details From This Beach Elopement in Presque Isle

Sarah and Brett planned an intimate wedding day that mixed a little bit of tradition with adventure.

“We did a first look with our Groom and the Bride’s father at the Ore Dock in Marquette, Michigan. Then made our way to our ceremony spot in Presque Isle where they did a hand tying ceremony with ribbons symbolizing different things like wealth, good luck, happiness, etc. Then they stopped to grab some ice cream on the way to hike Dead River Falls.” [Julie, the photographer]

They explore Presque Isle, Dead River Falls, and Minor Falls during their adventure together, and we love how much detail went into making sure their day represented exactly who they are as a couple.

This couple even planned a post elopement celebration to include all of their family and friends, Sarah tells us. “I displayed a couple of photos from the ceremony as people walked onto our property to give them a glimpse of our I do’s. It was a very relaxed and fun day with no pressure other than to party and have a great time.”

Inspiration and Planning Your Elopement

Planning your wedding day, in general, can be overwhelming. What should your decorations look like? Where should you elope? Do you need a wedding planner? Are you including any family and friends?

“I spent a lot of time combing through Wandering Weddings blog and Instagram. I knew what I wanted, but I hadn’t seen it before, so I kept trying to find an image of what I had in my heart to show my fiancé and better explain my vision.” [Sarah, the bride]

She also knew booking a photographer was one of the most important aspects of her wedding day. Julie also doubled as her day-of coordinator, which helped her navigate planning such an intimate event. A lot of times, elopement vendors play more than one role on your wedding day. It’s important to discuss what’s included in their packages when you chat with one.

Search our elopement directory to team up with a professional vendor today.

Memorable Moments During This Elopement

What’s not to love about a wedding day where the couple makes time to eat ice cream?! From their getting-ready moments together in the Airbnb they rented in downtown Marquette to their handfasting ceremony by the beach, this elopement is one to remember.

Photographer Favorite Moment:

“After ice cream, we all followed Brett to Dead River Falls where we hiked back up, over and through tree roots. Sarah was seriously such a trooper to be in such a poofy dress climbing over AND under tree roots along the trails…” [Julie, the photographer]

Bride’s Favorite Moment:

“We and our immediate families raved about our ceremony weekend and even months later still are raving about it. It was unique and intimate and full of love. I wouldn’t do it any other way. My favorite part was that our families got to know each other and bond over the ceremony weekend. Had we done a traditional wedding, our parents would have been entertaining their side of the family instead of getting to know each other, and the same with our siblings.” [Sarah, the bride]

To Elope or Plan a Wedding

Julie specializes in both traditional weddings and elopements. Although they both can be quite different, Julie points out how each wedding is unique in its own way. Elopements allow her to be more hands-on with couples and work more closely together in the planning process involving permits, fees, Airbnb, and location suggestions.

“I love being a part of a big vision for the day, thinking of fun activities to do throughout the day where they don’t feel rushed. They can relax, and enjoy the whole day. Take every single second in without being pulled in different directions. I love how unique it is to each and every couple, how brave they are to do exactly what they want and what it means to them…For the most part, I love the feeling of NOT feeling rushed.” [Julie, the photographer]

How did this couple decide?

“As Harry, from When Harry Met Sally, put it ‘When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible’. We didn’t want to spend 2 years engaged planning a big affair. We wanted to have fun, and spend the day in a way that made us happy.” [The couple]

So when trying to decide which direction you both should go when wedding planning, think about what’s important to the both of you. If you are leaning towards eloping, then check out our guide on how to elope.