Traverse City Airbnb Elopement

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

2020 sure has been a weird year for weddings, but something I have been working on is trying to find the good in things. Even though big weddings and regular “wedding season” has been a little different this year, its really just another opportunity to get creative. I mean, if you honestly believe that the wedding is about the marriage and not the other way around, then love always wins! It doesn’t matter where what, or why? What matters is each other. What matters is marrying the love of your life, right? If that is your main focus then you’re on the right track.

I helped Rachel + Dan from the very start. They already knew they wanted to stay in the Traverse City area and found one of the coolest Airbnbs. I remember when Rachel sent me the link to it and I saw this ^ bookcase, I knew we could get totally creative with all the space!! This place used to be a gym too and let me tell ya, the floors are creakkkky so they must have been working hard before it was turned into this beautiful space! I spent about 2 hours putting together a whole location recommendation list, doing some research, and finding all that we needed for permits.

Check out this blog post about permits + locations for Sleeping Bear: Top Places to Elope in Michigan

Once we settle on some locations, I then put together a timeline for them. This is all part of what I do for you, especially if locations are hard to find.

I first pulled up to their Airbnb and it was a HOT one! Walked up to the iron gate, swung it open and was immediately greeted by a cute little community courtyard. Met Dan at the door and the first thing I do I poke around and take some videos for the IG stories. Creak creak as I walk around and explore. I love the colors, the wood floors, all the books and the space was HUGE! walked around the corner to the master suite which had the coolest bathroom with a fun little tub. Yup! We’re getting in there later!! I spent the first two hours just working on details, bride and groom portraits, getting ready shots, and we cut the cake. Dan is vegan so their cake was bought at a local vegan bakery and I didn’t mind either since I cannot have dairy and the frosting was SO good! All the fun was had at the Airbnb and once we were done there, we had to drive the hour over to Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Last-minute, we decided to check out Point Betsie Lighthouse. What we didn’t know was they were actually having a wedding at that location as soon as we showed up, so we didn’t stay long out of respect for the couple! Didn’t really explore the grounds either, but were able to grab a few lighthouse pics and a quick selfie before heading over to Peterson Beach. Rachel + Dan plan on doing a Zoom with his Uncle to make things official, official…so today, we decided to read each other their vows, exchange rings and pop some champagne!!

This Elopement was

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Catchfly Photography is a traditional wedding and adventurous elopement photographer based in Farmington Hills, MI. Julie Believes in the little details and in between moments. Nature completely inspires Julie and she incorporates nature into almost every photo she takes. Julie travels to photograph traditional weddings and intimate elopements in Traverse City, Mackinaw City, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Colorado, Arizona, Puerto Rico and Ireland.