Long Lake Outdoor Center Wedding | Dan & Elizabeth

Happy Fourth of July week friends! To celebrate my favorite holiday I wanted to share one of my favorite weddings of all time. Dan & Elizabeth will be celebrating their one year anniversary of their Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding in Middleville, Michigan in just a few days, so I felt it was perfect timing to share this awesome day!

When Dan & Elizabeth starting planning their wedding they knew they wanted a fun, laid back experience for all of their loved ones. And a Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding did just that! They were able to tie in their love for camping with a weekend long celebration they called #CampSmith.

They started with a big pig roast Friday night with all of their guests complete with a cocktails, yard games and a frozen treats cart. Moving into the wedding day, they started the day with a big camp breakfast before everyone started getting ready.

I’ll let the beautiful photos by Ryan Inman share the rest of the story of the day.

Cabin sign at Long Lake Outdoor Center

Welcome sign at a Long Lake Outdoor Center Wedding

Wedding stationary from a Long Lake Outdoor Center Wedding

Elizabeth owns a marketing company, Jam-tik Marketing, and through her experience was able to design all the stationary herself and killed it! It fit the overall vibe so well and the guests loved it.

Wedding rings laid on top of wedding stationary

Dress hanging from a tree at a Long Lake Outdoor Center WeddingBride getting her makeup done before her wedding day

Bride smiling in the mirror while she gets her hair done

Bride gets dressed in the craft cabin at Long Lake Outdoor Center WeddingBride holding her bouquet

Bride and bridesmaids smiling before a Long Lake Outdoor Center WeddingBride and bridesmaid laughing at a Long Lake Outdoor Center Wedding

Groom getting ready for his Long Lake Outdoor Center Wedding

Groom and groomsmen smiling before Long Lake Outdoor Center Wedding

 

Bride and groom sharing a kiss before their Long Lake Outdoor Center WeddingBride and groom chatting on the sofa before their ceremony

Bride and groom smiling on a sofa before their Long Lake Outdoor Center Wedding

Bridal party smiling before a Long Lake Outdoor Center Wedding

A bridesmaids petting a dog before a wedding ceremony

For the ceremony the guests made their way to the lake at the camp. When they arrived they were greeted with live quartet and a champagne station so they could enjoy a sip while the ceremony was taking place.

Musician playing before a Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

Groom walking towards the lake at his Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

Groom and groomsmen watching the bride walk down the aisle

Bride and her father walking down the aisle at a Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

A lakeside ceremony taking place during a Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

A ceremony in the woods during a Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

The Groom kisses the Bride during their wedding ceremony

Bride and Groom holding hands during their Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

Newlyweds smiling outside the Honeymoon Cabin at their Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

 

Bride smiling next to the lake at her Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

Bride and Groom smiling next to the lake at their Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

After the ceremony guests made their way to the main lodge where they enjoyed cocktail hour under bistro lighting in the open air. There were lots of soft seating vignettes and picnic tables for guests to sit at while they enjoyed a cocktail and some bites. I absolutely loved that Dan & Elizabeth incorporated a camper as their bar.

Dan & Elizabeth also chose a less conventional timeline, which I loved. They skipped the big introductions and started with casual speeches outside on the dance floor before moving inside the lodge for dinner. It made the reception feel so relaxed and you could tell the guests were comfortable.

An outdoor cocktail hour with soft seating and hanging lights during a Long Lake Outdoor Center weddingA purple calligraphy seating chart in a gold frame

Guests enjoying a beverage at the camper bar during a Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

Guests dancing at a Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

Bride and Groom smiling and listening to toasts

The lodge was decorated so beautifully by Elizabeth’s floral designer/sister-in-law, Paula. Due to it being July and a toasty weekend, guests only used the lodge for dinner before wanting to head back outside to the cool air. So a note to any bride or groom looking to use the lodge during their Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding, is bring a few fans in case it gets a bit warm.

But beyond being motivated to escape to the cool air, guests were greeted with a pie station, more cocktails and lots of fun dancing.

The Lodge decorated for a Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

The Lodge decorated with flowers for a Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

Purple calligraphy dinner menus Flowers and a pie dessert bar

Pie dessert bar at a Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

Bride and Groom share their first dance at their Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

Bride and Groom share their first dance at their Long Lake Outdoor Center weddingBride and her father share a dance at a Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

Groom and his mother share a dance at a Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

Guests dancing during a Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

Oh, sweet Stella! Stella is Dan & Elizabeth’s dog and I think she had the most fun during the wedding weekend. Maybe a little too much fun, because once dancing got started she was sleeping, even with the loud music in the background. The long weekend of chasing sticks and visiting guests caught up with her and she couldn’t hang anymore.

Dog takes a nap while guests dance at a wedding reception

Bride and Groom smiling around sparklers at their Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding

If you want to experience the day through video, check out this awesome video by James Turner.

What I loved the most about Dan & Elizabeth’s Long Lake Outdoor Center wedding, was they really focused on what mattered. They didn’t sweat the small things and chose to be present with their friends, family and loved ones. It was so refreshing to see and it made the day unforgettable.

Dan & Elizabeth, thank you for being so relaxed, go-with-the-flow and positive. I hope you had the best day ever and I cannot thank you enough for letting me be a part of it! Check out their awesome vendor team below.

Coordination: Stellaluna Events | Photography: Ryan Inman | Venue: Long Lake Outdoor Center | Catering: A Pizza Yen | Beauty: Lauren Kelly | Floral: Paula Ryder | Entertainment: Steve Azkoul | Cinema: James Turner | Rentals: Celery City Trading Co. | Bartending: Happily Ever After Bartending | Bridal Gown: Jenny Yoo

 

Do you love unique lakeside wedding venues? Then you will love this Camp Blodgett wedding!

Stellaluna Events

The team at Stellaluna Events are Michigan wedding planners. We believe in fulfilling experiences and creating meaningful memories. We plan and coordinate weddings throughout all of Michigan.

1 Comment

  1. Radio App on February 6, 2022 at 2:18 am

    Wow really enjoyed your pictures and the blog.

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