Non-Traditional Wedding in Marquette

This non-traditional elopement at the Black Rocks in Marquette, Michigan was amazing! The gorgeous fall setting on Presque Isle was an absolutely perfect location for it. Cassandra’s black wedding dress was jaw-dropping. Her bouquet and the boutonnieres were all hand-crafted by her and featured pages from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and featured specific, meaningful quotes.

The Black Rocks Elopement Ceremony Spot

The couple chose a private location at the Black Rocks for their wedding ceremony. A high outcrop of unique lava rock situated between a huge wooded hill and Lake Superior. Josh arrived at the ceremony spot nervous, but eager to get started. As the small wedding party walked the path to the natural altar, “Concerning Hobbits” (the song from the intro to The Shire in the Lord of the Rings movie) played on a Bluetooth speaker. Josh was turned away as Cassandra and her father walked down the pathway to the ceremony. His sister, also his groomswoman, helped him remain as calm as possible but he was hardly keeping it together. When he turned to see Cassandra it was an amazing, intense, beautiful moment!

The rest of the ceremony was amazing! There was a peaceful calm in the autumn air as Cassandra and Josh said their vows. At one point Josh became very emotional, and a time-out was called. Everyone could feel the love and utter joy that this couple shares.

A Unique Wedding Tradtion

After the ceremony, the couple chose to include a very interesting family wedding tradition. They call it “The Malört Ceremony”. Malört, a pretty terrible-tasting liquor, is passed around a circle and whoever is holding the bottle has to say something they’re thankful for, a favorite memory of the couple, or a piece of marriage advice. Then, if able, they take a swig of Malört.

I’ve never seen anything like this at a wedding before, and I have to say, it was pretty awesome! We laughed, cried, and all agreed that Malört is pretty terrible.

Wedding Photos at the Black Rocks

The guests headed out to a local bar to relax while Cassandra, Josh, and I spent a few hours exploring the Black Rocks and Presque Isle. It was relatively quiet, despite a lot of tourists hanging out at the “popular” spots for sunset. The weather was perfect, and we had a great time hiking around and making some amazing photos.

Enjoy!

Andrea

Are you thinking of eloping or getting married in Michigan? Let me help you design the most amazing, unforgettable wedding day and document it in beautiful photos for you! Just reach out and let’s get the conversation started!