Crystal Mountain

Crystal Mountain
STORY BY ARIANA HENDRIX • PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATHAN ENGLISH
Rachelle
&
Tyler
Rachelle McKown
and Tyler Wilton
July 13, 2013
Crystal Mountain
Thompsonville
f
rom the glow of the bonfire where
they met as love-struck teenagers,
to their magical wedding day more
than 11 years later, Rachelle and Tyler’s love
story—and their carnival-themed Crystal
Mountain wedding—is a real-life fairy tale.
Rachelle, a massage therapist, and Tyler,
who works in finance, live together in
Chicago, but are both from Rochester Hills,
Michigan, and spent summers Up North as
children. In planning their wedding, Rachelle
and Tyler looked for a venue that offered natural beauty, but also one where each of their
155 guests could stay, play, and experience
a summer weekend in Northern Michigan.
Crystal Mountain seemed tailored to their
dream event.
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It was important to the couple that they
spend time with each of their friends and
family, so on the day before the wedding,
they hosted all of their wedding guests at
Crystal Mountain for a day of spa treatments, golf, a pool party, and an evening
of socializing in the resort’s main lodge.
Some guests also made the short trip from
Thompsonville to the beaches along Lake
Michigan’s shore.
The ceremony at the Michigan Legacy
Art Park, an outdoor art gallery at Crystal
Mountain Resort, was perfect for the couple’s
love of nature. “It felt like a fairyland—or
like Robin Hood was going to come galloping out of the woods,” says Rachelle. “It
was the most intimate moment of our lives.”
For the reception, the couple wanted
nothing but fun, upbeat energy. Crystal
Mountain catered a buffet dinner, with Bell’s
Two Hearted Ale as the couple’s specialty
drink, a nod to their love of Michigan microbrews. Vibrant colors of blue, yellow, and red
created a playful atmosphere of being Under
the Big Top, as did a game of cornhole, a
Polaroid camera “photo booth,” music, and
dancing. “The whole day was just magical,”
says Rachelle.
PHOTOGRAPHY: NATHAN ENGLISH,
NATHAN ENGLISH PHOTOGRAPHY,
NATHANENGLISHPHOTOGRAPHY.COM.
VENUE: CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, THOMPSONVILLE, 231.378.2000, CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM.
This page: The woodsy ambiance of Crystal Mountain’s Legacy Art Park amphitheater creates a perfect rustic setting for the ceremony. Colorful homemade decor
added vibrancy to the forest scene and included ribbon streamers and pinwheel
boutonnières for the men. The bridesmaids chose their own dresses in various
shades of blue, and posed with vintage pagoda umbrellas from Bella Umbrella
(bellaumbrella.com). Opposite page: Snapdragons, gardenias, and black-eyed
Susans made up wildflower arrangements in Mason jars, which adorned the
ceremony site. Rachelle stayed comfortable and casual in beaded sandal flats
from TopShop (topshop.com). Her flowing Junko Yoshioka gown from Glamour
Closet (glamourcloset.com) in Chicago exudes fairy-tale elegance.
wedding 2014
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This page: Balloons and streamers add playful bursts of color to the outdoor
reception at Crystal Mountain’s Pavilion Tent. Dylan Hyde Castle, a k a DJ Gun
Love played “Two,” by Ryan Adams for the couple’s first dance, and Rachelle
and Tyler took an intimate chairlift ride during the reception. A popcorn maker
provided a carnival-esque snack for guests, and the couple served bite-sized
cupcakes from Baked by Melissa (bakedbymelissa.com) in New York. The
centerpieces were made from handmade walnut wood pieces, candles, and
pinwheels, with rainbow lollypops as wedding favors.
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Rachelle did her own makeup; her hair
was done by her personal stylist from
The Hue Salon, in Shelby Township.
Rachelle and her sister made her jeweltoned hairpiece. Her sleeveless gown
showed off the tattoo of a poetry quote
from her beloved Uncle Tony, who officiated the wedding. Rachelle’s sister created the bouquet, which, with burdock,
eucalyptus, thistle, and extra lace from
Rachelle’s gown, matched the wedding’s
rustic beauty. The newlyweds smile for
photographer Nathan English, and then
get silly at the top of the mountain with
the best man and maid of honor.
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Wedding Notebook
CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN
accommodations
Weddings shine at Crystal.
Photo by: Mindy Leigh Photography
From showers and rehearsal dinners to ceremonies, receptions
and even honeymoons, Crystal Mountain has a long, glowing history
of exceptional wedding events. From top to bottom, indoors and
out, Crystal is a complete and wondrous wedding experience.
With award-winning wintertime skiing and splendid summer
golf, your Crystal Mountain wedding can be held here any time
of year, secure in the knowledge
that everything will be in place
for a truly memorable event.
Some of the Midwest’s finest
resort lodging. Versatile dining
options. Complete full-service
spa and fitness center. Spacious
outdoor heated pool, water
playground and year round hot
tub. Wedding parties and guests
never need to leave the grounds
because it’s all right here.
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guest services
Photo by: Alissa Saylor Photography
Photo by: Kyle Bultman Photography
Beautiful accommodations and a wide range
of lodging options at Crystal Mountain
will be sure to fill every guest's needs. Stay
at a Celtic “castle,” a mountain top condo,
1900s-style cottage, a slopeside bungalow, a
townhome set into dense hardwood forests
or a cozy hotel room right at the heart of
Crystal Mountain. Some can sleep up to 10
guests and almost every one has a fireplace
and in-room whirlpool tub. Magnificent!
Crystal offers a comprehensive slate of services
sure to please wedding parties and guests
alike. Crystal Spa offers bridal party make-up
services, massage, body wraps, facials, manicures, pedicures and a full range of men’s spa
services as well. We can provide a welcome
bonfire, gift basket delivery, free on-site shuttle
service and more. And we encourage all wedding parties to join us in lessening the environmental impact of their event by purchasing
renewable energy offsets.
event facilities
recreation
Simply gorgeous. Choose from among many splendid ceremony
and reception locations at Crystal, indoors or out.…right at the
top of our mountain, under the Pavilion Tent, nestled in the
woods at the Michigan Legacy Art Park, under our beautiful
gazebo or at one of our elegant Crystal Center banquet rooms.
Reception rooms feature a dance floor, PA system, table linens,
skirted head table as well as gift, cake and DJ tables. Dinners
include fresh floral centerpieces and votive candles on all guest
tables. Dinners of 100 or more entitle the bride and groom to a
complimentary overnight hotel room stay, with whirlpool bath,
on the night of the reception.
Spectacular! Summer weddings mean guests can partake of
Crystal’s two championship caliber golf courses, 10-acre practice
facility, the Park At Water’s
Edge pool and water playground
area, miles of hiking and biking
trails, Michigan’s only Alpine
Slide, plus the amazing Lake
Michigan shoreline and Sleeping
Bear Dunes just a short drive
away. Winter guests can ski 45
beautifully groomed downhill
runs, 40k of scenic cross-country
trails, take a horse-drawn surrey
ride, go ice skating, dog sledding
and snowshoeing. Awardwinning kids’, family and group
activities are also available.
catering
Cooked and prepared on-site, Crystal’s catering is second to none.
Choose from a wide variety of dining options, offering fresh entrees
using ingredients from local farms, specially designed around
your needs and desires. Whether your tastes lean toward opulent
full-course presentations or a delightfully simple outdoor barbeque,
Crystal pulls it off with style and flair. Even going-away breakfasts
can be arranged.
CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN
12500 Crystal Mountain Drive
Thompsonville, MI 49683
800-968-7686, ext. 6605
Fax: 231-378-4603
chelseachapin@crystalmountain.com
crystalmountain.com
Proprietors
Jim and Chris MacInnes
Reception Capacity
Up to 350 guests
Catering & Events
Sales Manager
Chelsea Chapin
Event Rooms
5 indoor, tent and outside
options available
Spa Manager
Stephanie Scott
Guest Rooms
265
Recreation Manager
Janice Davidson
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This was iT.
The moment I had dreamt about since I was a little girl.
And things couldn’t have been more perfect.
Design a celebration that is as unique as you are, with the help of
your own personal on-site wedding coordinator and full-service
staff. Schedule a tour with Chelsea, our wedding expert
at 855.296.6643.
Make iT your MoMenT.
crystalmountain.com
Photo by nicole Martin Photography