Frog Pond Village STORY BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS • PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL KAZMIERSKI
Aug 17, 2020
Frog Pond VillageSTORY BY ELIZABETH EDWARDS • PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL KAZMIERSKI
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Callie NeubeckerAnthony Peter
July 31, 2010
FROG POnD VILLAGEInTERLOCHEn
Callie and Tony both grew up in the coun-tryside on large wooded tracts of property
near West Branch. They knew they wanted their wedding to reflect the love of nature they’d learned in their Northern Michigan childhoods. They also dreamed of a destina-tion wedding. They were sold when they heard about Frog Pond Village in Interlochen with its rustic yet elegant grounds filled with woods, gardens and, yes, frog ponds, all paired with the venue’s proximity to the beaches of Traverse City.
The choice turned out to be the perfect fit for the couple and their 250 guests who flew in from as far away as Alaska. Many visitors stayed the week in Traverse City, with one family combining the occasion with a family vacation at Interlochen State Park. The bridal party spent the day of the wedding primping at Epiphany Salon in Traverse City, where stylist Andrea Wallace pulled Callie’s hair into a loose romantic updo framed with her tiara. Meanwhile, Tony and his groomsmen hit the Lake Michigan beach at the Holiday Inn, where they were staying.
As Callie and her father and her atten-dants were lining up to begin the walk down the aisle at Frog Pond’s open-sided Bullfrog Chapel, Callie’s maid of honor handed her a present from Tony: an heirloom hankie from the Peter family that he’d had monogrammed with her initials. First, though, it was noth-ing but smiles as ring bearer Caleb Neubecker pulled his 18-month-old sister, flower girl Carly Neubecker, down the aisle in a toy police car—in honor of their new uncle Tony, who is a policeman.
After the ceremony the guests enjoyed cocktail hour on the patio, then moved to din-ner and dancing in the Bullfrog Ballroom with its romantic, summery décor of fuchsia table linens, lime green spider mums, hydrangea with tall candle centerpieces and votive candles.
wedding 2011� 51
Opposite: Callie teaches kindergarten in Bay City, where Tony is
a policeman. The gown is the focal point at Frog Pond’s bridal
suite. Down the aisle at the Bullfrog chapel.
This page: Frog Pond was voted the number one wedding
venue in Northern Michigan by Traverse City Record-Eagle read-
ers for the second year in a row. The bride wore a Private Label
By G gown of taffeta and organza. Callie chose a bouquet of
green kiwi roses; matrons of honor Nikki Bowen and Courtney
Hills carried bouquets of fuchsia, gerbera daisies and lime green
hypericium berries, designed by Karen Jackson Snyder of Frog
Pond Village. A moment on the bridge.
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This page: Callie and Tony grew up near each
other in West Branch, but re-met on a volleyball
team in Bay City. Gerbera daisies decorate the
cake—made by Tony’s aunt. Nothing dampened
the spirits of this wedding party; when it started
sprinkling the photographer (Kaz Creative)
pulled out umbrellas serendipitously trimmed in
the lime green and pink. Black and white pro-
grams (displayed by ring bearer Logan Neu-
becker) complement the fuchsia, lime green
and black color scheme of the wedding.
wedding 2011� 53
This page: Flower girl Carly Neubecker rode down the aisle in
a toy police car pulled by her brother, ring bearer Caleb Neu-
becker. The wedding spilled onto Frog Pond’s lush grounds. In
the Bullfrog Ballroom: Lime green spider mums in small square
vases, lime green hydrangea accenting tall centerpiece candles,
fuchsia linens and elegant chairs, designed by Karen Jackson
Snyder of Frog Pond Village. Flower girl Alaina Neubecker.
PHOTOGRAPHY: MICHAEL KAZMIERSKI, KAZCREATIVE
PHOTOGRAPHY, 231-357-2064, KAZCREATIVE.NET
VENUE: FROG POND VILLAGE, INTERLOCHEN, 231-357-9128,
FROGPONDVILLAGE.COM
We help brides make a unique and memorable statement with flowers, decor, photography, videography, cakes and decor. We coordinate your ceremony to perfection. Choose our trio for an extra special touch. Our clergy makes it all so meaningful and personable. Our caterer is the best in food, taste, quality and service for a worry free evening. You can connect with purchasing your alcohol and beverages, having all delivered the day of your wedding. Our D.J. is wonderful and will help you coordinate your reception and for sure will "make" the party. We also put you in touch with accomodations from B & B's and hotels. All this and we have a Trolley Bus to assure you with a fun way to shuttle anywhere whether it be wine tour entertainment for your guests or a golf for the guys or shuttling your guests back to their hotels safely at the end of your evening! We have truly taken special efforts to secure the best of the best vendors in their fields for you. You may visit them all on our web site.
FROG POnD VILLAGE
One unforgettable day—countless ways to make it yours. Welcome to Frog Pond Village, where you will find ten acres of
private landscape groomed for your special day. We offer a woodsy, yet
elegant setting among towering trees, charming frog ponds, meandering
walkways and beautiful gardens. Our quaint, romantic wedding chapels
and ballrooms open to the outdoors. And we’ve added to the magic with
twinkle lights, sparkling chandeliers and enchanting water fountains.
We are proud to hold 3 titles: Voted #1 Best Wedding Venue in Northern Michigan by City Voter and #5 Best Outdoor Wedding Venue in Michigan by The Knot. Also Voted #1 Best Wedding Venue in Northern Michigan by Traverse City Record-Eagle.
services
Wedding Notebook
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event facilities
FROG POnD VILLAGE 1950 Ellis Lake Rd., Grawn, MI 49637
P.O. Box 383, Interlochen, MI 49643
231-357-9128
frogpondvillage.com
catering
CHAPELSElope Vegas-style; just the two of you or invite 200 of your
closest friends and family to share your ceremony. Three differ-ent chapels allow the secluded gardens and rolling grounds to be part of your service, while our facilities protect your guests from weather if necessary. Invite your officiate or Judy and Ken Grimes would be pleased to perform your ceremony. Ken is an ordained Lutheran minister; Judy is a retired Unity minister.
BALLROOMSFrog Pond Village can accommodate events up to 350 guests
(and of course anything smaller). Choose from grand ballrooms or a formal tent graced by 15-foot cantilevered lampposts and quaint romantic patios for rehearsal dinners, cocktail hours, receptions fit for royalty and even brunch the morning after. Our website offers you a virtual tour of our facilities and grounds.
Having your rehearsal dinner, luncheon or brunch at Frog Pond gives couples unmatched flexibility. You may hire a caterer or simply bring in your family's favorite appetizers and salads and order our "grilling package", which includes a grill and a grillmaster to cook your main course for you.
Even if you are having your wedding at another location other than Frog Pond Village, wouldn't it be nice to have your guests in for a totally unique rehearsal dinner or morning after brunch in our custom Gala Tent tucked into the Northern Michigan woods and gardens and designed especially for the "small gathering of friends and family" for a most intimate experience. Not to worry about a chill in the air; we have heaters to keep you warm...not to worry about a rain; we have you covered there too and not to worry about ambience; the nature of the woods and gardens and the twinkle lights take care of this for you...there is no decorating to do!
Our professional planners can help you plan your event whether you'd like an enchanting catered gala, sparkling cock-tail party or a barbeque as comfortable as your backyard. Our website outlines services you may use from Frog Pond or we'll help you find appropriate professionals.
wedding 2011� 55
transportationWe offer transportation for all events anywhere! You will
love our vintage Trolley Bus to provide you with a fun way to shuttle anywhere whether it be wine tour entertainment for your guests, a catered pretty boxed luncheon on the peninsula, a golf outing for the guys, a tour for wedding photos at various T.C. locations or simply shuttling your guests to and from your event for their convenience and safely at the end of your evening. Bachelor or a bachelorette party...let us be your designated driver. It's fun...it's easy...it's worry free!
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cateringcatering
EventCoordinationElegant PlatedDinnersArtfullyBuiltDisplaysButler ServedHors de’oeuvresStunningBuffetsInteractiveChef Stations
PO Box 1288 |TraverseCity,MI
231.932.9713 | tcfood.com
Grandview Catering1/2 page horizontal Ad, 6.875 x 4.75, full color, full bleedMy North WeddingsOctober, 2010Jen Foltz, Jeff Wiltse
We’vegottherest.
GrandviewCatering, namedMichigan’s top cateringcompany byMichiganMeetings andEventsMagazine
eonly thing youneed toworry about is showingup.
www.frogpondvillage.com
Reverends Ken and Judy Grimes
Serving your needs for Weddings,
Vow Renewals and Holy Union Ceremonies
Fees starting at $250
715 E. Deer Lake Rd.Boyne City MI 49712