mynorth wedding 2016: frog pond

Pond VillagePond VillageFrog

STORY BY CARLY SIMPSON

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARA BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY

2016_WED_FROGPOND.indd 49 11/28/15 1:04 PM

50 MYNORTH.COM/WEDDING

MEGAN MARTINEZ ANDY HOPPE

AUGUST 29, 2015

Once classmates, this pair lost touch with each other when Megan moved from their Sterling Heights neighborhood in high school. In college, they found each other on Facebook —and love soon followed. Six years later, Andy proposed on December 24, in front of their Christmas tree.

With a romantic sendoff like that, Megan allowed herself to dream of a fai-rytale wedding complete with white lights, beautiful gardens and a ball gown. When she saw Frog Pond Village in Interlochen, she knew it was the perfect spot to become Mrs. Hoppe. “I grew up going Up North every summer with my family, and when Andy and I started dating we took our own weekend trips,” Megan says. “We love how beautiful it is in Northern Michigan. It’s a hidden gem, and we knew we wanted to get married here.”

Their special day began in the Bullfrog Chapel with the wedding ceremony. The rustic charm of the rough-hewn cedar walls and elegant chandelier lighting gave Megan the magical, woodsy atmosphere she was looking for. “I wanted something outdoors and rustic, and I loved how Frog Pond Village had both the indoor option and the outdoor gardens for all of our guests to enjoy.”

After the ceremony, guests were treated to an elegant dinner from Grandview Catering. The menu included chicken

stuffed with basil mousse and garlic-Brie braised beef with a red wine mushroom sauce. Ann Barraclough of Aunt B’s Cake and Dessert made two, four-tier master-piece cakes—a lemon poppy cake with raspberry fi ling and buttercream frosting and a white cake with cherry fi ling and almond frosting.

“I wish I could explain how convenient this venue was,” Megan says. “They have certain vendors they work with and every-thing went together so well. We don’t live Up North, so it was nice to have someone to give us good referrals.”

After dinner, guests enjoyed the beauti-ful August evening in the gardens outside. Grandview Catering set up a s’mores bar by the bonfi e, and guests competed in the classic Up North vacation game corn hole. “We always play that game when we go Up North with friends and family,” Megan says. Inside, guests danced under a pergola of ivy and party lights, a breath-taking ending to a beautiful day.

Surrounded by Northern Michigan woods and a heart-shaped Ellis Lake, Frog Pond Village gave Megan the fai-rytale wedding she had always imagined.

PHOTOGRAPHER: SARAH BROWN PHOTOGRA-

PHY, SARAHBROWN-PHOTOGRAPHY.COM

VENUE: FROG POND VILLAGE, A FAIRYTALE

GARDEN WEDDING VENUE, INTERLOCHEN,

FROGPONDVILLAGE.COM

Megan Andy&


wedding 2016 51

Opposite: Ellis Lake makes an enchanting backdrop for wedding photos. This page, clockwise: The ceremony was held in the rustically elegant Bullfrog Chapel. In honor of her father, who passed away when she was young, Megan received a coin before walking down the aisle offering his love. The log cake stand was carved with Megan and Andy’s names and wedding date. The bridal bouquet included pink garden roses, lisianthus, and baby’s breath. A picture of Megan’s father, Michael Martinez, was attached to it. Megan fashioned the programs into fans for her guests.

wedding 2016 51


52 MYNORTH.COM/WEDDING

This page, clockwise: Pretty in pink—and white with a sparkling tiara. The cornhole board was made with chalkboard paint so guests could sign their names. Cheers!


wedding 2016 53

This page, clockwise: Megan and Andy’s wedding cakes were topped with a flag banner reading, “Love is Sweet.” The seating arrangements were displayed in greens for a woodsy feel. The couple shared their first dance to Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.” Each guest received sunglasses with the couple’s names and wedding date on the temple. The ballroom is set up for dinner.

wedding 2016 53


FROG POND VILLAGE

event facilities

three choice locationsWedding Notebook

One unforgettable day—countless ways to make it yours.

Welcome to Frog Pond Village, where you will fi nd ten acres of private landscape

groomed for your special day. We offer a woodsy, yet elegant setting among towering trees,

charming frog ponds, meandering walkways and beautiful gardens. Our quaint romantic

wedding chapels and ballrooms are open to the outdoors. And we’ve added to the magic,

twinkle lights, party lights, sparkling chandeliers and enchanting water fountains.

We help our brides and grooms make a unique and memorable statement with fl owers and décor. We coordinate your ceremony to perfection with our recommended offi ciants, making it meaningful and personable. Our caterer is the best in food display, taste, quality and service for a worry free evening! Our D.J. is wonderful and will help you coordinate your reception and for sure will “make” the party. We also put you in touch with accommodations, pho-tographers, videographers and cake designers.

services

We are proud to hold titles as Voted #1 Best Wedding Venue in Northern Michigan

by City Voter and #5 Best Outdoor Wedding Venue in Michigan by The Knot. Also

Voted #1 Best Wedding Venue in Northern Michigan by Traverse City Record-Eagle.

CHAPELSInclude 200 of your closest fam-

ily and friends to celebrate your day! Frog Pond Village offers two larger chapels to choose from. Both allow secluded gardens and lush greens for you and your guests to enjoy. This is a WOW experience and you’ll fi nd your photo ops right here!

INTIMATE ELOPEMENTSElope Up North Style; just the two

of you. We have elopement packages for up to 10 guests with choice locations on property from our Lake front to our tiny chapel! You may choose from a basic elopement to a private, intimate surf-n turf luncheon or dinner to include your offi ciant, fl owers and photographer!

UNDER THE GALA TENT FOR 50 GUESTS OR LESS How fun is this! Our Road Toad Gala Tent is a relaxed

party spot! It is offered for small weddings, rehearsal din-ners, morning after brunches and other special events.

FROG POND VILLAGE1950 Ellis Lake Rd., Grawn, MI 49637

P.O. Box 383, Interlochen, MI 49643

231-357-9128

[email protected]

frogpondvillage.com

And yes! We have frogs!

fl owersYou will love having your own fl orist on site! Karen, the

owner, has over 25 year’s of experience, specializing in wed-ding fl owers, creating the exact look that you want from your personal bouquets to elegant centerpieces to fl oating arrange-ments for the ponds! We have the latest trends in fl owers, vases, fl oral lights, river rock, moss, incredible twigs, lanterns and more! Pick it from Pinterest and I bet we have it!

BALLROOMSOur two ballrooms offer you rustic elegance and are

open to the patio and grounds so your guests may wan-der in and out all evening! Party lights spill overhead into the lush green lawn and the bar area which is out-doors as well! You will feel quite at home here! Comfy bistro chairs will be waiting for you. Our ballrooms are climate controlled for your comfort as well!

Sara

h Br

own

Phot

ogra

phy


FROG POND VILLAGE

event facilities

three choice locationsWedding Notebook

One unforgettable day—countless ways to make it yours.

Welcome to Frog Pond Village, where you will fi nd ten acres of private landscape

groomed for your special day. We offer a woodsy, yet elegant setting among towering trees,

charming frog ponds, meandering walkways and beautiful gardens. Our quaint romantic

wedding chapels and ballrooms are open to the outdoors. And we’ve added to the magic,

twinkle lights, party lights, sparkling chandeliers and enchanting water fountains.

We help our brides and grooms make a unique and memorable statement with fl owers and décor. We coordinate your ceremony to perfection with our recommended offi ciants, making it meaningful and personable. Our caterer is the best in food display, taste, quality and service for a worry free evening! Our D.J. is wonderful and will help you coordinate your reception and for sure will “make” the party. We also put you in touch with accommodations, pho-tographers, videographers and cake designers.

services

We are proud to hold titles as Voted #1 Best Wedding Venue in Northern Michigan

by City Voter and #5 Best Outdoor Wedding Venue in Michigan by The Knot. Also

Voted #1 Best Wedding Venue in Northern Michigan by Traverse City Record-Eagle.

CHAPELSInclude 200 of your closest fam-

ily and friends to celebrate your day! Frog Pond Village offers two larger chapels to choose from. Both allow secluded gardens and lush greens for you and your guests to enjoy. This is a WOW experience and you’ll fi nd your photo ops right here!

INTIMATE ELOPEMENTSElope Up North Style; just the two

of you. We have elopement packages for up to 10 guests with choice loca-tions on property from our Lake front to our tiny chapel! You may choose from a basic elopement to a private, intimate surf-n turf luncheon or dinner to include your offi ciant, fl owers and photographer!

UNDER THE GALA TENT FOR 50 GUESTS OR LESS How fun is this! Our Road Toad Gala Tent is a relaxed

party spot! It is offered for small weddings, rehearsal din-ners, morning after brunches and other special events.

FROG POND VILLAGE1950 Ellis Lake Rd., Grawn, MI 49637

P.O. Box 383, Interlochen, MI 49643

231-357-9128

[email protected]

frogpondvillage.com

And yes! We have frogs!

fl owersYou will love having your own fl orist on site! Karen, the

owner, has over 25 year’s of experience, specializing in wed-ding fl owers, creating the exact look that you want from your personal bouquets to elegant centerpieces to fl oating arrange-ments for the ponds! We have the latest trends in fl owers, vases, fl oral lights, river rock, moss, incredible twigs, lanterns and more! Pick it from Pinterest and I bet we have it!

BALLROOMSOur two ballrooms offer you rustic elegance and are

open to the patio and grounds so your guests may wan-der in and out all evening! Party lights spill overhead into the lush green lawn and the bar area which is out-doors as well! You will feel quite at home here! Comfy bistro chairs will be waiting for you. Our ballrooms are climate controlled for your comfort as well!


w w w . f r o gp o nd v i l l a ge . c om

Karen YoukerPhotography

“Capture the moments

of your life”

www.karenyouker.com

231-269-3458

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Ten acres of private naturescape ... A rustic, yet elegant setting among woods, fr og ponds, and gardens!


mynorth wedding 2016: frog pond

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