Mynorth Wedding 2015: Crystal Mountain

STORY BY ADRIENNE ROBERTS PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOLLI ANN STUDIOS

Crystal Mountainm&j

2015 MN WEDDINGS_CRYSTAL MTN.indd 33 12/15/14 3:25 PM

34 MYNORTH.COM/WEDDING

MOLLY RUSSELL JONATHAN PAULI

MAY 31, 2014

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, THOMPSONVILLE

m olly Russell was working as a beverage cart girl at a golf course in St. Johns,

Michigan, when Jonathan Pauli, a handsome student at Oakland University, bought her a pack of M&M’s. Here’s the happy ending to that sweet story: they were married six years later.

But first, of course, there was a wedding. Molly, a lifelong skier, and Jon, an avid golfer, wanted to be married at a venue that show-cased their passions. Crystal Mountain fi that description—the resort’s two golf courses, were open—and although there wasn’t snow in May thankfully, the chairlifts were available to transport the bridal party and their guests to the top of the mountain for the ceremony.

The events planners at Crystal Mountain made it easy for Molly to plan most of the wedding while she was still in dental school in Milwaukee. Jon, too, was a big help. With his career in finan e, he proved apt at handling

the spreadsheets and making calls. “While my mom and I were at a Packers game one day, Jon and his mom were tasting cakes,” Molly says with a laugh.

As the wedding weekend began, 160 guests from the Midwest and beyond arrived at Crystal Mountain for what turned out to be their own mini vacations, given the resort’s many amenities. “I loved the idea of making a weekend out of the wedding and giving our guests a little vacation,” says Molly.

In lieu of a traditional rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, Molly, Jonathan, and their guests relaxed with pizza and beer. A blue and cloudless sky graced the day as guests hopped aboard chairlifts that whisked them up to the ceremony at the top of the ski hill. There, Molly and Jon exchanged vows overlooking Betsie River Valley.

Butlers stationed at the base of the moun-tain stood ready to serve wine, water or lem-onade after the ceremony—a detail that was

as necessary as it was elegant, as it was one of the hottest days of summer.

Dining was under a tent set up on the lovely lodge lawn. Molly’s favorite color, yellow, dot-ted the decor in paper lanterns hanging from the tent ceiling and fl wer arrangements that included yellow roses and craspedia—a vari-ety of sunny-colored button-sized daisy. Guests had their choice of steak or fish for dinner. For dessert, there was a pink champagne–fl vored cake with mother-approved buttercream frost-ing (Molly’s mom is a frosting afi ionado).

The partying started as the DJ struck up the first tune and didn’t end until the after-reception party in the Vista Lounge with its view of the mountain—a perfectly romantic spot for Mr. and Mrs. Pauli to start their happily ever after.

PHOTOGRAPHY: HOLLI VANDERVEEN,

HOLLI ANN STUDIOS, HOLLIANNSTUDIOS.COM

VENUE: CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, THOMPSONVILLE,

231.378.2000, CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM

Molly & Jonathan

m&j


wedding 2015 35

Opposite: Flowers by Victoria’s Floral Design and Gifts in Beulah. Bridesmaids’ bouquets: yellow garden, regular and spray roses with crespedia and yellow ranunculus wrapped in twine. Bridal bouquet: white regular and spray roses, lisianthus, baby’s breath and ranunculus. The bride wore a Kenneth Winston battenburg lace gown with a Swarovski crystal jeweled neckline and corset back. This page, clockwise: The couple exchanged traditional vows before Pastor Jamey Nichols (from Molly’s hometown church). Boutonnieres sport the groom’s love of golf. Ring bearer Liam Pauli heads bravely down the aisle with his sign, while his younger brother Jack (in the background) wasn’t quite ready to pull duty. The bouquet is wrapped in lace from Molly’s mother’s wedding gown, then draped in the “something blue” garter. The bride and her attendants rock-hopping to the ceremony from Crystal Mountain’s charming Cot-tages at Water’s Edge where family members stayed.


36 MYNORTH.COM/WEDDING

This page, clockwise: Top row from left: Rob Reynolds, Brett Pauli, Peter Russell and Ryan Schultheiss. Middle Row from left: Michael Gurecki, Ellie Dowden, Laura Schindelholz, Betsy LeVand, Betsy Wiles, Brieanne Oehlke, and Brian Pauli. Front row: Jonathan and Molly Pauli. The beer mug of cigars and other goodies was Molly’s wedding gift to Jonathan. The mug is engraved with “All of Me Loves All of You,” the lyrics to the newlyweds’ first dance song. Cake by Kingsley Cakes. Cocktails slopeside. Photo ops abound on the Crystal Mountain grounds. The reception centerpieces were lovely minimalist versions of the bridal bouquets.

2015 MN WEDDINGS_CRYSTAL MTN.indd 36 12/12/14 11:21 AM

wedding 2015 37

This page, clockwise. The couple vacationed in nearby Glen Arbor after the wedding but plan a formal honeymoon to St. Lucia the day after Christmas. Molly wore Alessandras by Badgley Mischka. The Paulis’ rings are from Harr’s Jewerly in St. John’s, Michigan. Molly’s engagement ring is a tapered cathedral set-ting with a round solitaire diamond. Her band is a semi-circle of pave-set round diamonds. Husband and wife ride the chairlift down from their mountaintop ceremony. Tables set for the reception under a tent on Crystal’s lovely grounds. The champagne-lace bridesmaids dresses were from SimplyDresses.com.


ProprietorsJim and Chris MacInnes

Wedding & Special Events Sales ManagerAmanda [email protected]

Direct line is 231.378.2038

Spa DirectorStephanie Scott

Recreation DirectorJanice Davidson

Reception CapacityUp to 350 guests

Event Rooms5 indoor, tent and outsideoptions available

Guest Rooms246

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

Weddings shine at Crystal.From showers and rehearsal dinners to ceremonies, receptions and even hon-

eymoons, 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 fi nest

resort lodging. Versatile dining

options. Complete full-service

spa and fi tness 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.

Recreation

accommodations

event facilities

guest servicescatering

Wedding NotebookPh

oto

by: S

iri S

alon

en P

hoto

grap

hy

Phot

o by

: Mitc

h Ra

nger

Pho

togr

aphy

Beautiful accommodations and a wide range of lodging options at Crystal Mountain will be sure to fi ll 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 fi replace and in-room whirlpool tub. Magnifi cent!

Phot

o by

: Mem

orie

s by

Man

di

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 bonfi re, gift basket delivery, free on-site shuttle ser-vice and more. And we encourage all wedding parties to join us in lessening the environmental impact of their event by purchasing renewable energy offsets.

Simply gorgeous. Choose from among many splendid ceremony and reception locations at Crystal, indoors or out. Ceremonies can be held a the top of our mountain, where guests will arrive by chairlift, or down by the Petritz Pond Lawn, the Front Lawn under a beautiful white gazebo, tucked in the woods under the recently renovated Jessie Frohlich Amphitheater in the Michigan Legacy Art Park or inside the Crystal Center surrounded by the view of the breathtaking slopes. Receptions can be held under a Pavilion Tent, in the woods or in one of our elegant Crystal Center banquet rooms. Reception rooms feature a dance fl oor, table linens, skirted head table as well as gift, cake and DJ tables. Dinners include votive candles on all guest tables. Dinners of 100 or more entitle the bride and groom to a complimentary overnight hotel room stay on the night of the reception.

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 fl air. Even going-away breakfasts can be arranged.

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN12500 Crystal Mountain Drive

Thompsonville, MI 49683

855-546-9733

Fax: 231-378-4603

crystalmountain.com

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,

new Edge Adventure Course with elevated ropes course and zip

line, 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 beauti-

fully groomed downhill runs, 40k

of scenic cross-country trails,

take a horse-drawn surrey ride,

go ice skating, dog sledding and

snowshoeing. Award-winning

kids’, family and group activities

are also available.


wedding 2015 39

ProprietorsJim and Chris MacInnes

Wedding & Special Events Sales ManagerAmanda [email protected]

Direct line is 231.378.2038

Spa DirectorStephanie Scott

Recreation DirectorJanice Davidson

Reception CapacityUp to 350 guests

Event Rooms5 indoor, tent and outsideoptions available

Guest Rooms246

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

Weddings shine at Crystal.From showers and rehearsal dinners to ceremonies, receptions and even hon-

eymoons, 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 fi nest

resort lodging. Versatile dining

options. Complete full-service

spa and fi tness 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.

Recreation

accommodations

event facilities

guest servicescatering

Wedding Notebook

Phot

o by

: Siri

Sal

onen

Pho

togr

aphy

Phot

o by

: Mitc

h Ra

nger

Pho

togr

aphy

Beautiful accommodations and a wide range of lodging options at Crystal Mountain will be sure to fi ll 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 fi replace and in-room whirlpool tub. Magnifi cent!

Phot

o by

: Mem

orie

s by

Man

di

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 bonfi re, gift basket delivery, free on-site shuttle ser-vice and more. And we encourage all wedding parties to join us in lessening the environmental impact of their event by purchasing renewable energy offsets.

Simply gorgeous. Choose from among many splendid ceremony and reception locations at Crystal, indoors or out. Ceremonies can be held a the top of our mountain, where guests will arrive by chairlift, or down by the Petritz Pond Lawn, the Front Lawn under a beautiful white gazebo, tucked in the woods under the recently renovated Jessie Frohlich Amphitheater in the Michigan Legacy Art Park or inside the Crystal Center surrounded by the view of the breathtaking slopes. Receptions can be held under a Pavilion Tent, in the woods or in one of our elegant Crystal Center banquet rooms. Reception rooms feature a dance fl oor, table linens, skirted head table as well as gift, cake and DJ tables. Dinners include votive candles on all guest tables. Dinners of 100 or more entitle the bride and groom to a complimentary overnight hotel room stay on the night of the reception.

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 fl air. Even going-away breakfasts can be arranged.

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN12500 Crystal Mountain Drive

Thompsonville, MI 49683

855-546-9733

Fax: 231-378-4603

crystalmountain.com

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,

new Edge Adventure Course with elevated ropes course and zip

line, 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 beauti-

fully groomed downhill runs, 40k

of scenic cross-country trails,

take a horse-drawn surrey ride,

go ice skating, dog sledding and

snowshoeing. Award-winning

kids’, family and group activities

are also available.


THIS WAS IT.

MAKE IT YOUR MOMENT.

Siri Salonen Photography - Traverse City, MI

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 Amanda, our wedding expertat 844.277.0193.

844.277.0193CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM


Mynorth Wedding 2015: Crystal Mountain

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