For wedding ideas the blog is the place to be, but if your interesered in looking at our beautiful gardens, soaring towers, stone archways and our enchanted forest then be sure to check out our flickr page!
Along with seeing photos of all the grounds and gardens at Castle Farms there are photos of all the unique reception rooms and the breathtaking ceremony courtyards
Our courtyards here at Castle Farms not only make picturesque locations for a wedding ceremony, but they are also all set up almost perfectly for the bride to make a grand entrance before walking down the aisle in front of her friends and family, and not to mention her groom! Here are some of the grand entrances we’ve seen in our weddings, each making the ceremony a bit more romantic and fun!
These brides made their entrances to the ceremony in a horse drawn carriage, which is always romantic no matter where you have your wedding and gives a Castle ceremony that extra touch more of a fairy-tale feeling. A trusted local company that we have here often is Abrahams Carriage Service, whose horse drawn carriages make the perfect vehicle for a grand entrance!
For her entrance into her Queen’s Courtyard ceremony, Tracey was driven up by her father in his classic Chevrolet!
This bride rode into her ceremony on horseback! Definitely fun and personal, and something guests will always rememeber!
Looking for another way to make your reception a little more fun, personal, and unique? How about getting a little creative with your assigned seating! Many people overlook the way they designate seats for guests, as it is often so much work just to assign the seats in the first place, but with just a little more you can make it so fun and cute that your guests will always remember your reception because however you decide to design your assigned seating, it will always feel personal and creative!
In their West Garden Room reception this past weekend, Amber and Kyle put a single, different flower on every table and then gave each guest their name cards attached to a vase with a flower in it. The guests then matched the flower in their vase with the flowers on the tables. This not only doubled as a wedding favor for guests, but it also decorated the room and gave each table a unique arrangement!
Ditching the traditional seating cards and table, this couple made their own fountain in our West Courtyard and filled the bottom with polished rocks, each with the name and table assignment of each guest.
This couple chose to name each table in their Queen’s Tavern reception by a common northern Michigan tree, including a picture and a description of each tree on the tables, and assigned guests’ seating cards by the different trees.
Another great, personal idea for assigned seating is to mark tables with your own pictures, either from trips, parties, or just a variety of pictures of you and your groom, then assigning seating cards by the different pictures. We’ve seen this many times at the Castle, but it is still always unique and fun!
For their winter wedding in the Knight’s Castle, this couple took pictures of them holding giant numbers and used those as table numbers.
In their Queen’s Tent reception, this couple named each table by a location they had been to together, then had fake plane tickets printed for each guest with the destination being their table’s location.
A unique way to say thank you to your wedding party is to treat them with something special that they can use the night of and many years to come. Being part of a wedding party means a strict timeline, lots of smiling for continuous pictures, and meeting lots of old relatives. Suprising them with wedding party gifts is a great way to say thank you for being there on this special day and reminding them that you care.
Dan & Amanda were married at the Castle this weekend in the Queens Courtyard with a reception to follow in the Queens Royal Tent
As all the Brides Maids were announced and made it up to the head table they were greeted with personalized wine glasses!
Each glass was a little different and unique for each of them
At Kendra and Joey’s wedding in the Knights Courtyard and reception in the Knights Castle they had beer mugs and wine glasses engraved with each persons name in the wedding party. This became helpful when people lost track of their drinks they always knew whos was whos!
Even the Bride and Groom had them!
And the specialty glasses dont stop there! Extend the personalized treats to ALL your guests as a party favor to take home!
Meet our new Castle Couple Mike and Alissa, married on August 29th. While working at Castle Farms as an Inquiry Coordinator Alissa fell in love with the West Garden Room, so when these Charlevoix natives decided to tie the knot Castle Farms was the perfect location! They planned on having thier ceremony outdoors in the West Courtyard with a reception to follow in the West Garden Room but the weather wasn’t working in their favor. Although there was rain, that did not stop this amazing couple from an intimate wedding ceremony in the Queens Tavern with a beautiful reception to follow in the West Garden Room. Alissa was accompanied down the aisle by her 3 uncles each walking her down 1/3 of the way until they reached their officiate Robert Ford. The bouquets for the ceremony and flowers in the reception were done by another castle gal Janelle Langmaack. At the reception to follow guests enjoyed multiple food stations and a unigue cake by Sayre’s Catering, photos by Lauren Pethers, entertainment by Ed’s DJ Service and bartending by Kelly’s Wait staff. Even though there was rain, Mike and Alissa had an amazing evening celebrating this special day with the people they love.
Above photos provided by: Lauren Pethers
Here at the Castle we have chess sets everywhere. Scattered all over the Castle there are regular sized chess sets, Life size chess sets, display cabnets filled with our favorite themed chess sets, and a few checkers boards for beginners.
It was very convenient that one of our grooms from this weekend LOVES chess and they cover the grounds of the castle! Michael and Amanda had a small wedding in the Queens Courtyard with a reception to follow in the Queens Tavern and chess pieces were EVERYWHERE!
We had chess pieces lining the aisle and scattered around the courtyard
Once at the reception the chess theme didnt end! The pieces were a perfect accent to the gorgeous room. In Michael and Amanda’s chess game of love they both won by finding eachother.
The Knight chess piece was almost as big as the flower girl!
Sonja and Ben didnt incorporate the chess into their entire wedding, but they made sure to get a photo as the King and Queen of the chess board
These ladies couldnt wait to take photos with the life size chess pieces, all playing the roll of the Queens pawns 
Wedding favors may seem like one of the least significant details of your wedding reception, but the truth is they are one of the only material things that show guests how appreciated their attendance is to you on your wedding day. The great thing about wedding favors is that they can be as budget-friendly as you need them to be, and the options as to what they can be are endless! Guests enjoy even the simplest of gifts to take home as a reminder of the fun they had on your special day, so be creative! Don’t be afraid to show your personality or be completely original, these little gifts are meant to share with everyone who attended your wedding party a part of you, your new spouse, and your special day.
Some other contemporary favor ideas include tree saplings or seed packets, local treats or candies, or even christmas ornaments if you’re having a winter wedding. Again, your wedding favors are completely up to you and can be as personal and creative as you want, so have fun with them and share your excitement with your guests!
Scrapbooks have become a staple memory to every childhood. Not only will you always have the memories of constructing this work of art with family and friends or buying the newest accessories, but you will have something for the rest of your life to look at.
Scrapbooks act as a creative reference to any big moment in your life, so why not have one at your wedding; I think that qualifies as a BIG mement!
Tara & Mark will have quite the memory from their wedding at Castle Farms
The asked people to please share a short message that they can take with them as they embarke on this new journey of marriage, and will always have this book to hold close to their hearts.
The table had all different premade sheets to choose from, stickers, and colored markers. Along with signing they got their picture taken to put in as well!
Here’s one of the sheets decorated with wedding cake and ready for a photo of the guests.
This page complete with sweet words of wisdom and signature from guests waiting for a photo
Lynn & Scott didnt make a scrapbook at their wedding, but they included their childhood book and other photos to make their wedding more personal.
We applaud all the Newlyweds who have the courage to get out on that dance floor in front of a ton of people and share one of their first moments as man and wife.
photo by: Elizabeth Conley
Your wedding dance is a meaningful moment for 2 newlyweds so take the time to think about your song choice and go for one that really means something to the two of you. Some couples even go as far as to take dance lessons or have an instructor help you choreograph a totally unique first dance.
Lisa & Jordan shared a romantic dance in theQueens Royal Tent
Holly & James couldnt keep their eyes off eachother during their first dance
Bart made sure Cheryl knew his dance moves were top notch at their wedding in the Queens Royal Tent
Kerri & Eric shared and intimate dance that took everyones breath away in the Knight Castle
Sand Ceremony VS Unity Candle
Marriage is the idea of 2 becoming 1. To express this bonding partnership there are many ceremonies that help make your commitiment to each other special.
The Unity Candle has typically held the the spotlight for an expression of commitment and bonding, but The Sand Ceremony has become very popular as well. Two great additions to your special day how to decide on just one? Heres a little information to help make your decision!
Candle Ceremony
At the beginning of the ceremony both the bride and the grooms family light the tapered candles on each side to symbolize the love and allegiance to family. Then the Bride and Groom use the side candles to light the larger candle representing all the love and unity of one.
Photo by E. C. Campbell Photography
Sand Ceremony
Each individual has a separate container of colored sand that represents who they are as a person taht they combine in one large vase. Once poured together you can still see the separate colors representing the individuals in the relationship, but they can never be separated, they are forever intertwined.
Pros of Unity Candle
The unity Candle and use of light hold more of the religious ties adding a spirtual richness to the union. The flame representing the light within and without has been used for hundreds of years symbolizing the strength and brightness love can bring to two people.
Pros of Sand Ceremony
Every unity vase is different just like every couple is different while still capturing the meaning of two lives becoming one. Once the wedding day is over and the candle has burnt out you will have nothing to show, where as the unity vase will be forever a part of your lives, and especially for outdoor weddings you dont have to worry about your flame blowing out!
If you hold tight to tradition and you want your marriage to display the same hundreds of years of wisdom then the Unity Candle is perfect for you!
If you want to combine the old tradition with the new fresh idea the Sand Ceremony is the way to go!
