For Brittany Rademaker and Jason Kingsley, having a Northern Michigan wedding just made sense. As avid skiers, the fun-loving couple chose to get married at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville. Here’s an inside look at the beautiful outdoor wedding.
This article was originally published in the 2016 issue of MyNorth Wedding.
All photography: Sisters Studio
As avid downhill skiers, Brittany Rademaker and Jason Kingsley have enjoyed traveling from their home in Norton Shores, near Muskegon, to Crystal Mountain, in Thompsonville, for a number of years. So when the time came to decide on their destination wedding location, they opted for the Northern Michigan resort. “It’s a special place for us because we have our condo there,” says Brittany. “We go there and ski a lot in the winter. My husband’s sister and brother-in-law and friends of ours all have condos there, too.”
Of course, the couple witnessed an entirely new and exciting side to Crystal Mountain as planning for their special day unfolded. The couple chose to hold their ceremony, which included 250 guests, at the top of the ski slopes. “I was looking for something that was classic and romantic and elegant and simple,” Brittany says.
The mountain-top ceremony site proved to be just that. Guests could opt to get up and down from the mountain via a shuttle or a chairlift. “I thought [the chairlift rides] were kind of corny at first, but people ended up loving it,” Brittany says.
Afterward, as guests enjoyed cocktails at the base of the ski hill, the bridal party traveled the short distance to the Lake Michigan village of Frankfort for beach photos.
Crystal Mountain catered the reception, which featured the resort’s “roaming stations dinner.” Moving among food stations that included sautéed seafood and bananas foster kept guests engaged. The dessert bar was a hit, and the perfect send-off for an evening of dancing and music.
And then came the grand finale: Brittany’s mom and step-dad surprised the couple with a fireworks display to celebrate their day. “We kept saying we just wanted it to be fun,” Brittany says. And fun it was.
Find more inspiration in the MyNorth wedding directory.
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