Overcoming the Odds

Life has a way of throwing us unexpected challenges. How we meet those and with what kind of tenacity and expectancy we have usually determies how far we will get. Joel and Bridget of Menominee Michigan are one of those wedding stories that impacted not only their family, but everyone who witnessed the way they overcame some very unexpected challenges to their wedding. Their wedding day was July 4, 2020 at Mission Point Resort.

During the summer of 2019, Joel and Bridget met with wedding coordinator Michaelena Waite of Mission Point and a relationship began that would eventually become a special bond of lifetime friendship. With four beautiful children coming together as family, the holiday of July 4th had always been an exciting time in their relationship and they decided what better time to celebrate the beginning of a brand new life together. For their recepion, they chose the new for 2020, Promendade Deck, with views of the Straits of Mackinac from an amazing covered but open to the outdoors venue. From the the Mackinac Island Wedding Guide, they selected all their wedding vendors, trusting that the local professionals were their best choice. Everything was going as planned - until COVID-19.

Cancelling this wedding wasn’t going to happen. When love says get married and life won’t wait, Joel and Bridget found the faith and necessary flexible attitude to adapt but not give up! After numerous zoom meetings and telephone calls with their gracious wedding coordinators, the day had come. Mission Point Resort’s opened just two weeks prior to the wedding, as the entire Island was delayed opening, and the Promenade Deck was completed to welcome Joel and Bridgett to this beautiful new event venue for Mission Point and the Island.

The afternoon of the wedding, a meet and greet was held with a casual red white and blue theme. Games, lemonade and sweets got everyone going for the day. Before long, it was time for Bridget and her daughter to head to the Lakeside Spa and Salon at Mission Point. Bridgets’s bouquet was personally hand delivered from Samantha at St Ignace in Bloom. Joel went his way to get ready for the wedding as the guests departed to afternoon activites prior to the important “I Do’s” .

Many hands working busily at the spacious 2 bedrooom bridal suite at Mission Point, assisting the children and attending to the beautiful bride- everything was perfect. Photographer Christi Dupre of Island Photo, captured the special moments that otherwise are forgotten as the excitement of the children mixed with the anticipation of their parents of their wedding day.

The waterfront gazebo at Mission Point was the location for the wedding ceremony. Bridget’s Dad walked her across the Great Lawn drawing quite a bit of attention from many who stopped their bikes to take a look at a WEDDING! Ceremony music was provided by Brevin Cawthorne and the ceremony service was conducted by Rich Lind. Flowers were provided by St Ignace in Bloom. The girls proudly clutched their flowers! Wedding vows were tearfully given and rings exchanged. A beautiful sand ceremony took place within the gazebo as each child poured their own colored sand creating a family vase keepsake.

After the family had left for the reception, Bridget and Joel took a walk to the Mission Point shoreline for photographs with Island Photo. Romantic moments turned into laughter. Walking along the grounds adjacent to the gazebo allowed for several different setting for photos. After a short session of photos, Mr. and Mrs. were on their way to their family already waiting their arrival to the beautiful Promenade Deck.

A perfect evening followed as Joel, Bridget and their entire family danced, dined and later watched the night sky fill with fireworks from the July 4th celebration. DJ Brevin made sure everyone was having a blast on the dance floor. A delicious dinner of surf and turf was plated and served to each guest. Dinner was followed by the cutting of the cake - beautiful, delicious and sweet from Bella E Dolce. Fudge favors from Joann’s Fudge were fancy in their patriotic colors, as every box is a custom creation for your wedding.