Lake View Events In St. Joseph Michigan

Happy Friday once again! Now that we’ve all had time to mull over the first five reasons to favor a small town lakeshore wedding, we move along to our top five reasons west coast Michigan is calling your name.

5. Begining a tradition. With as crazy as the wedding planning becomes it’s easy to get lost in the details and forget the reason you have temporarily lost your sanity: you are starting a new family. Whether it remains small, with just the two of you, or grows to include children and someday grandchildren, think about coming back to a town like St. Joseph every year for your anniversary! No matter the make-up of your family you can return to the spot you were married and find enjoyment for the whole crew.

4. Phenomenal Vendors. I realize this is a small community, but we are a community full of crazy-talented people! And not only do you have a wealth of talented, reliable vendors to choose from – but we have that mid-western hospitality. They will make you feel at ease and will treat you right – not to mention we all know each other and work well together. Competition isn’t quite as fierce as in the big cities so we help each other out to further our respective businesses – which equals better service for you!

3. Wedding Weekend! Your wedding day is supposed to be one of the best days of your lives right? So, why not make it a whole weekend?? St. Joseph is located 90 minutes from Chicago and about the same from Grand Rapids. So asking guests to travel that distance is not putting anyone out  – yet, it’s far enough away that your guests will feel like they are on vacation and most likely will stay the night. This leaves you time to spend with family and friends without the rush of the actual wedding day. Think about a wine tour and dinner before your rehearsal – or a picnic and day at the beach to prepare yourself for your honeymoon the day after the wedding. Having a southwest Michigan wedding is like planning a destination wedding that all of your guests can afford to attend – and you can celebrate all weekend long!

2. Cost. And I debated making this factor #1 because honestly, this is one of the first things couples consider when wedding planning. I have worked with enough out of town couples to tell you – if you research a big city wedding before making your way to this area, you will experience sticker shock. We’re in the middle of tough economic times but your wedding doesn’t have to reflect that – you just have to plan wisely. And planning in a smaller town is one way to accomplish that.

1. Location, Location, Location! True, a big city view with all the lights and skyscrapers is beautiful – but it’s not for everyone. What we have to offer is a more serene picture. Soft sand beaches, quaint brick lined streets, and yes, the sun sets on the lake! That is a view you can’t get in the big city.

So, while the city provides some modern glamour that may be a bit harder to find in our lakeside town, we have our own set of “pro’s” when it comes to wedding planning. So grab a southwest Michigan wedding magazine, jump on a train, bury your face in all that we have to offer and come check us out!

I spent this past weekend in Chicago and as a wedding professional my mind never wanders far from “the world of wedding”. I found myself checking out details like banquet hall carpets, hotel wedding ads, and even rehearsal ideas. And thanks to my clever girlfriends I even scored some free Chicago wedding magazines. So on the train ride back to beautiful St. Joseph I buried my face in the glamour of a big city wedding. As I soaked in all the glitter and glitz I began to wonder why anyone forgoes the plethora of options Chicago has to offer and settles in our quaint little beach town for their nuptials.

Well, since I was sequestered on a train for the next two hours I decided to make a list. And here is what I came up with….

Top 10 Reasons SW MI Beats a Big City:
10. The reason I am on a train in the first place: traffic. I realize if you are in a limo drinking champagne this isn’t a big concern. But be kind to your guests! In our little town you can find all you need for a great wedding weekend within walking distance.

9. Privacy. This may seem a little odd when considering a wedding but think about those crazy locations you want pics taken – who wants stragglers in the background? And there aren’t a million other things going on in town to bust up your day.

8. Personal Attention. The Veranda hosts about 40 weddings per year. We know who you are, we remember your details, and you are treated as a VIP from start to finish, regardless of how much money you are spending on your wedding. And this is the practice of most vendors we work with. That’s how we do it in small towns!

7. Variety. Now, this may seem counter intuitive, but southwest Michigan actually offers a wide variety of wedding services. As I looked through the Chicago magazines I saw ad after ad for hotel receptions and traditional banquet halls. They are no doubt beautiful, but all similar in style. The top venues in our area include the beautiful outdoor Veranda (of course), a beachside hall/carousel, and a barn, among a host of other non-traditional locales.

6. If you are a gambler, you can place your bets on the fact that you won’t have the same wedding as your girlfriends, your cousin, your neighbor, etc. The mini-destination wedding to Southwest Michigan, while growing in popularity, has yet to become “the it thing”. It’s your chance to be the trendsetter and treat guests to a wedding that won’t blend into the 14 others they will attend this year.

Ok, let’s insert a quick break here…..give you some time to fully appreciate these 6 gems and we’ll post the top 5 reasons we are lovin’ a Southwest Michigan wedding next week.

Stay warm & Stay Tuned!

Who doesn’t love Friday?? When you think of the final day of the work week what comes to mind? Relaxation, the start of a good time (yay weekend!), the chance to sweep all those worries and stresses under the rug – at least for a couple days.

Well, here’s one more – or should I say – four more reasons to LOVE Friday! The Veranda has four recently opened prime Friday dates in 2011. We’re talking June, July, and August! These are dates that most have considered booked for a year now – but here’s your chance! And if the wonderful-ness that is a June/July/August Veranda wedding isn’t enough to entice you – we’re throwing in a deal that’s just too good to refuse (I know you all said that in “Godfather voice” in your head).

So, why not have all those fantastic feelings you get when thinking about Friday associated with your wedding. You already plan on it being the most amazing day of your life – so why not sweeten the deal for your guests. Here’s why Friday weddings are perfect for guests….

1. True, guests will have to take a day off work – but who doesn’t want a reason to do this anyway? So, guests take a day off work and spend it during prime summer months in beautiful St. Joseph, MI.

2. If you have guests coming from out of town, they will no doubt enjoy all that our city has to offer. Amazing festivals, quaint shops, delicious eateries, and of course the BEACH! After seeing all of St. Joe splendor – your guests are going to want to enjoy it with their families and friends. Having a Friday wedding allows them time to spend on this mini-vacation!

3. Let me tell you my own personal Biggest Regret of my wedding. I had family in from out of town, way out of town. I spent exactly 2 minutes with them in the flurry of the wedding reception. I have been married for almost 8 years and I still think about how awful that was. Don’t let that happen!! A Friday wedding is the perfect chance to get in that quality family time or the time catching up with friends that you only see whenever someone gets married. Use that whole weekend to kick back, relax, and remember why weddings are so much fun – because you’re celebrating with all the people you love….why not celebrate longer!

4. Lastly, it’s cheaper. Not only do we offer great deals but other vendors may offer discounts for a non-Saturday event as well. Not as sentimental as the above listed reasons but certainly important when considering your budget.

Convinced yet? If you’re thinking this sounds like a possibility for you please send me an email – kcornell@stjoebanquets.com and I’ll tell you all we have to offer and the dates available.

Happy Friday Everyone!!!

Congratulations Ann + Eric!

We were so fortunate to host such an amazing couple for our first wedding of the season! Ann and Eric had a simple, elegant wedding with lots of green (my favorite!) touches. Their easy going personalities and wonderful organization were truly a perfect start to the craziness that is June, July, and August along Lake Michigan.

Ceiling decor and white up-lighting were provided by ProShow DJ and Specialty Rentals along with assistance from Merry Me. As gorgeous as these pictures are, it was even more beautiful with the sunset!

Thank you again to Ann and Eric for sharing your wedding with us and for your service to our country in the military. We hope you are enjoying your happily ever after!

Looking for some ways to entertain your guests in St. Joseph?  Whether they have a full day to explore all that this city has to offer, or only a few hours there are plenty of ways to keep guests of all ages happy!

The Veranda is just steps away from all that Downtown St. Joseph has to offer and only a short walk from Silver Beach and gorgeous Lake Michigan.  A stroll along Silver Beach and the pier offers breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and St. Joseph’s North Pier Lighthouse and is also a great place to snap some family photos!

While exploring below the bluff you don’t want to miss the new Silver Beach Center where the whole family can enjoy the Silver Beach Carousel and Whirlpool Compass Fountain.  If you are looking for more kid friendly activities the Curious Kids Discovery Zone is currently featuring the traveling Grossology exhibit and has many more fun activities for children as well!

If your guests have only a few hours of downtime between the ceremony and reception there are plenty of activities and shops throughout the downtown area to keep them busy.  While strolling the streets you can’t help but notice the outdoor art exhibit, “Hot Diggity Dogs” which features 34 colorful and fun pooches that the whole family can enjoy.  Maps of all the pooches’ locations can be found at the St. Joseph Welcome Center.

A few other ideas:

-Take a stroll through the various shops throughout the downtown area
-Get a tasty treat from Kilwin’s Ice Cream and Fudge Shoppe or Caffe Tosi
-Enjoy a Signature Martini at Port 412 on their rooftop patio (the Flirtini is my favorite!)
-Rent a Surrey Bike from Scooter Joe’s for the entire family to enjoy.  They also offer hourly rentals on tandem bikes and many others

Hi everyone!  My name is Jessica and I am very excited to be interning with The Veranda at The Whitcomb this summer.  As a senior in college I am majoring in Corporate Communications and Business Administration, and aspire to one-day work as a managerial consultant.  For now I am dabbling in different lines of business hoping to figure out exactly what my forte is!

Throughout the summer I will be updating you on all of the exciting events taking place here at The Veranda and throughout town.  In addition I will be offering some tips for entertaining your guests in St. Joseph and much more!!

• Just over a month until our first wedding of the 2010 season in The Veranda @ The Whitcomb! #fb #

Tip #3 comes directly from the venue’s point of view. With multiple weddings a weekend, every weekend during wedding season, we have seen our share of smoother than silk events. The secret to their success : a timeline!

I can’t stress enough how important this is on such an action packed day. The timeline doesn’t necessarily have to be followed to the letter because that can make for an ornery couple when you are inevitably thrown off schedule.  However, get the basics down.  It’s the plan that counts. You will eliminate stress on your wedding day and keep your vendors happy (which ultimately will help them provide you with stellar service!).

Here are some things to plan for:

- Transportation: when will you be picked up, how long will it take to get places, are guests being shuttled, etc.

-Vendor Set-Up/Delivery: when will your florist be delivering centerpieces (are table linens on and ready at your venue?), when is the cake, food, decor, etc. coming and being assembled.

- Pictures: when are they taken and with who, how long will it take to get that perfect shot

- Extras: when is hair getting done, dressing happening, and when will you EAT!

-Reception: when is cocktail hour, when should guests be seated, when is cake cutting and first dance.

Planning these items is just a start to a great wedding day timeline. The Veranda @ The Whitcomb offers a template to help you put all the pieces together and build the wedding you remember for all the ‘right’ reasons.

It’s time for tip #2 from The Veranda @ The Whitcomb in planning a seamless wedding day!

One of the greatest advantages of a wedding in Southwest Michigan is the picture perfect setting. And I mean that very literally. The picture settings along this west coast are fantastic!

When planning the timeline for your big day (which is an absolute necessity) be sure to factor in time to take the pictures you have in mind; including transportation time.

Here are some other things you may want to consider when planning with your photographer…

Will I have to pay to park for beach pictures?

Which beach affords the most privacy?

If I am taking great street pictures (like the one above), when is traffic the lightest?

When will the sun set on my wedding day? (check out this website for your answer: www.goflying.org)

There are so many details that go into planning your big day – the more you can prepare for ahead of time, the closer to stress-free your wedding will be!

We’ve had the opportunity to work with some amazing photographers at The Veranda who know all the local hot spots and who are able to capture the beauty of a Veranda wedding.

As always, feel free to contact us for our wedding insights, we’re happy to share!

• Showing off The Veranda at the Wedding World Expo @ The Mendel Center. Come see us! http://twitpic.com/10i9bf. #fb #