Planning your elopement day in Michigan but wondering how to fill those precious hours together? You don’t have to just go to the court house and then go home. Your wedding day should be a perfect reflection of your love story, whether you’re thrill-seekers craving adventure or romantics dreaming of intimate moments. Michigan’s diverse landscape offers endless possibilities for couples looking to create magical memories beyond the ceremony itself.
From the rugged shores of Lake Superior to the charming vineyards of Southwest Michigan, the Great Lakes State provides the perfect backdrop for any type of celebration. Here’s your ultimate guide to elopement day activities that will make your Michigan wedding unforgettable.
Adventure and Extreme Sports Activities
Rock Climbing and Rappelling
The Upper Peninsula offers some of the most breathtaking climbing experiences in the Midwest. The colorful sandstone cliffs provide stunning photo opportunities as you literally take your love to new heights. For a more accessible option, Grand Ledge near Lansing features beautiful limestone cliffs perfect for beginners and experienced climbers alike. Here’s a great resource if you’re interested in climbing in Michigan!
White Water Rafting
The Menominee River along Michigan’s Upper Peninsula border provides Class II-IV rapids for couples seeking an adrenaline rush. For a gentler but equally romantic experience, the Pine River near Cadillac offers scenic float trips through pristine wilderness where you might spot eagles and deer along the way.
Skydiving Over the Great Lakes
Skydive Charlevoix offers tandem jumps with incredible views of Lake Michigan and Petoskey’s rolling hills. Nothing says “leap of faith” quite like jumping out of a plane together on your wedding day!
Winter Sports Adventures
If you’re having a winter elopement, Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville offers couples skiing, snowboarding, and even horse drawn carriage experiences. Boyne Mountain Resort skiing and snowboarding along with a spa and followed by cozy fireside dining.
Scenic Sightseeing and Photography Locations
Lighthouse Tours
Michigan boasts over 120 lighthouses (more than any other state!), making them perfect romantic backdrops that scream “MICHIGAN!”. Big Red Lighthouse in Holland offers stunning sunset views and charming boardwalk strolls. Crisp Point Lighthouse on Lake Superior provides a more secluded, dramatic setting for intimate photos. Consider timing these visits during golden hour, filtering these historic structures creates magical photography opportunities that capture both the location’s beauty and your connection as a couple.
Scenic Drives
The Tunnel of Trees (M-119) between Harbor Springs and Cross Village offers 20 miles of winding road canopied by maple, birch, and aspen trees. Time your drive for sunset and stop at the blufftop overlooks for breathtaking Lake Michigan views. For a more quiet drive, take a drive up the Keweenaw Peninsula in the fall. Driving all the way up to Copper Harbor (“The End of the World” in Michigan) and then stopping for a little picnic at the park can be a calming and beautiful opportunity to just spend some time with each other.
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive at Sleeping Bear Dunes provides multiple overlooks of Lake Michigan and the Manitou Islands, with easy hiking trails to even more spectacular viewpoints.
You really cannot go wrong with taking a drive anywhere in Michigan!
Wine Country Tours
The Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail features over 20 wineries along the Leelanau Peninsula. All offering different options, their own esthetic, and quaint towns in between. With wineries as being your destinations, there are also plenty of places in between each one to stop and enjoy the landscapes of the water and nature and to do a little small town shopping.
Hiking and Nature Activities
Waterfall Chasing
Tahquamenon Falls State Park is definitely one of Michigan’s well-known and probably most visited waterfalls. Tahq Falls features Michigan’s largest waterfall with easy, more accessible trails. The golden-colored water creates a unique and romantic backdrop for photos. The Presque Isle River Waterfalls Loop is one of my personal favorites! It features a loop trail that is a bit more difficult than the trails along Tahquamenon, but definitely doable for most people. The trail runs along the river with multiple layers of large waterfalls as you walk along the trail. The trail loops around the river and at the most Northern part, you can walk out to Lake Superior right on the rocky beach.
There are also a number of different waterfalls throughout the state that have the feature of being able to either walk under them or walk out on them and get in the water. Unfortunately, Lower Michigan doesn’t feature many opportunities for what would be considered natural waterfalls.
Sand Dune Adventures
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore provides multiple hiking options from easy beach walks to the challenging Dune Climb. The panoramic views from the top are worth the effort and create incredible wedding photos. Warren Dunes State Park offers similar experiences closer to Southwest Michigan’s wine country. Lake Michigan, in general, offers the best opportunities for sand dunes.
Forest Bathing
Hartwick Pines State Park near Grayling features old-growth forest with towering white pines that create a cathedral-like setting. The peaceful atmosphere is perfect for private vows or quiet reflection on your marriage commitment.
Leisurely and Romantic Activities
Cozy Cabin Experiences
Shanty Creek Resorts in Bellaire offers luxury cabins with private hot tubs and fireplaces, perfect for intimate hot cocoa moments and stargazing. There are so many other options across the state that provide similar amenities with the added romance of different vibes and aspects.
Gourmet Dining Experiences
The Restaurant at Gray Gables in Charlevoix offers fine dining in an elegant Victorian Mansion overlooking Round Lake. For a more historic and city vibe, The Whitney in Detroit provides the romantic, fine dining experience in a more upbeat, vibrant neighborhood.
Spay and Wellness Activities
Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island offers world-class spa services in a historic setting. Couples massages, champagne treatments, and relaxation rooms provide the perfect way to unwind after your ceremony. Boyne Mountain Resort features similar amenities with the added charm of Northern Michigan’s natural beauty along with the ski resort.
Sweet Treats and Simple Pleasures
Murdick’s Famous Fudge on Mackinac Island has been creating handmade confections since 1887. Watch the fudge-making process while enjoying samples, then take a horse-drawn carriage ride around this car-free island.
In Grand Rapids, I can personal recommend The Salted Cupcake. These are custom made cupcakes with flavors that are made from dreams!
Unique Michigan Experiences
Great Lakes Cruises
Tall Ship Manitou in Traverse City offers romantic sailing experiences on Grand Traverse Bay with stunning sunset views. Check out this blog post from someone who personally experienced the Tall Ship Manitou. Star of Saugatuck provides narrated boat tours along the Kalamazoo River and Lake Michigan shoreline.
Historic Train Rides
Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso operates vintage train rides through scenic countryside. Little River Railroad in Coldwater offers themed dinner trains perfect for romantic evening celebrations.
Budget-Friendly Elopement Day Ideas
Not every memorable activity requires a large budget. Stony Creek Metropark (Shelby Township) offers beautiful trails, beach access, and picnic areas for just the cost of a vehicle permit (and possibly a little more if you are hosting guests at a picnic shelter).
Pack and picnic lunch from L’Chayim Delicatessen in Glen Arbor and enjoy it at Sleeping Bear Point while watching freighters pass on Lake Michigan. Simple pleasures often create the most meaningful memories.
Planning Your Perfect Michigan Elopement Day
Creating a seamless elopement day requires thoughtful coordination of activities, timing, and logistics. Many couples find that working with experienced Michigan elopement planners and photographers helps ensure every moment flows naturally while capturing all the special details of their celebration.
We are Erika and Stephen and we are an elopement photographer and videographer that help you plan your full day elopement.
One thing we see a lot is people asking, “How can I elope in Michigan?”. Many times when people see the word “elopement”, they think of going to the court house and having a judge marry you and then that’s it. Who said you can’t make a whole day out of it? Because you absolutely can and we can help you plan it! All the activities we listed above are not all inclusive. The options are endless and we aim to make the day fun, timeless, and all about you as a couple!
The best thing for you to do is to decide the region you want to get married in, the time of year (and what season), and the types of activities you enjoy doing. We will help you research and plan the timeline of the day to make sure you are happy with the most unforgettable day of your life!
To connect with us and start planning your elopement day, check out our website!
To take a look at an example of what a 12 hour elopement day could look like in the Porcupine Mountains in the UP, check out this blog post!
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