Emerald City Designs creates elegant wedding on historic Mackinac Island which prohibits motorized vehicles

Load-in thanks to horse-drawn carriage

A magical place--and home to the bride's family estate--Michigan's Mackinac Island prohibits the use of motorized vehicles. So how to load in a wedding for 226 guests? All transportation on the island is done by bicycle or horse-drawn carriage.

The metro Detroit-based team transported all decor elements, including fresh floral in buckets, centerpiece stands, vases and containers, lounge furniture, bar fronts, chiavari chairs and tablecloths by truck to the ferry docks in Mackinaw City. Then the trucks and staff were loaded onto wide barges and ferried to the island docks. Once safely on the island, all decor items were transported by horse-drawn drays to the event space, which took 10 hours to complete.

Transporting floral

A view of the floral being brought in.

Outdated soundstage as reception venue

The reception venue: an outdated soundstage at the resort. How to turn this into a beautiful wedding?

The transformation begins

The transformation begins with the installation of eight custom crystal chandeliers. Next will come a complete drape of the perimeter in diamond white satin.

More light, more power!

And the stunning result. In addition to the chandeliers, the event team placed LED lighting and more than 650 candles to provide a romantic glow for the event.

Unfortunately, once the lighting was in place, the team discovered that the electrical capability of the space was insufficient, and worked with venue staff to reroute power to another location nearby.

Dramatic wall drape

Another view of the beautiful wall drape.

Three striking centerpiece designs

Three different centerpieces graced the tables. Here, an elegant pavé design of white hydrangeas, ivory Tibet roses and white polar star roses, which sat elevated above clear glass vases surrounded by collections of candles.

Silver hurricane centerpieces

The second design incorporated dual silver hurricane stands of different sizes, surrounded by mounds of floral arrangements at the base.

Third centerpiece design

The third design blended the vintage and modern elements of glass, crystal and mercury vases filled floral bundles.

The grand head table

The head table was long and rectangular, placed centrally in the room and surrounded by smaller guest tables.

Huge floral runner

At the head table, a floral runner originated at the couples’ seats, and ran the entire length of the table before cascading to the floor in a burst of beautiful floral color.

Floral runner

A long view of the head table floral runner.

The bridal couple's chairs

Chairs for the bridal couple at the head table.

Skirted cake table

The pretty cake table.

'Fur' throws

'Fur' throws accent lounges.

Elegant tabletop

An elegant tabletop.

Chiavari at guest table

Chiavaris set the scene.

Another view of a tabletop

Another view.

Guest and head tables

A long view of the guest and head tables.

'Vintage with a modern touch' theme

Lanterns and votives are emblematic of the wedding's 'vintage with a modern touch' theme.

Bride's bicycle gets star treatment

The bride's beloved bicycle, a preferred mode of travel on the island, is given floral treatment by the event team.