Ultimate Mackinac Island Elopement Guide: How to Elope on Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island Elopement Guide to help you plan your elopement on Mackinac Island, MI

Mackinac Island is probably one of the most famous destinations in Michigan, especially considering it was named the top summer destination in the US! And with the crystal blue waters, magical little town, and endless amounts of fudge – I’m not even a little surprised hahah. I’ve grown up going to the island with family and friends, and every year I am blown away by how beautiful our sweet little island is. And literally every time I go there I think about how AWESOME it would be to have an elopement there!! There are so many unique activities and destinations all over the island that would make your elopement day so much fun! I’ve pulled together all of the information here in this Mackinac Island Elopement Guide to help you plan your perfect island elopement day!

Why Should I Elope on Mackinac Island?

Mackinac Island is one of the most charming towns and natural beautifies in our state. It’s also one of the most popular places to visit in the entire US! It’s truly a world of its own, which makes it an amazing place to elope. You have so many options for locations, activities, and scenery for your wedding day. More variety really just gives you the opportunity to make your day 100% yours, which is what eloping is all about!

There are no cars on the island, which means that your methods of transportation are walking, biking, or horses – which is so cool! Although the island gets busy, it’s truly such a magical spot with so many unique attributes that make it so special. Eloping here could go in so many different directions, which really gives it you the ability to create an experience that is all you. You can find seemingly private hiking trails, secluded views, or you can have your experience at a luxury resort. There’s endless possibilities for activities and beautiful places to explore!

Best Mackinac Island Elopement Locations

Lookout Point

Lookout Point is a small, quietly popular pit stop on the trails up to Fort Holmes! It’s a beautiful little spot that overlooks Lake Michigan and Sugarloaf. In the fall you can get some beautiful fall colors (shown above lol). It’s also a fairly central location and is nearby a couple of other beautiful spots so it would be easy to visit this spot with other places!

Soldier’s Garden

Soldier’s Garden is a beautiful field tucked within the trails in the middle of Mackinac Island. You can reach this spot by biking, walking, or horses, and because it’s a little off the beaten path you can find some true privacy in nature here! It’s also filled with wildflowers at certain points of the year, which makes is an amazing spot to elope!

Arch Rock Viewpoint

Arguably one of the most iconic spots on the island, Arch Rock is a unique rock formation and also notoriously popular to visit. The view from the top of arch rock is always one of the most crowded spots in the park and gets thousands of visitors ever year, which unfortunately makes it a not ideal spot to elope. However, you can get a beautiful view of the formation from the road down below! It’s right next to a small rocky beach, which gives you a little room to spread out and have your ceremony right on the water.

Shoreline Trail

The highway going around Mackinac Island is 8.2 miles long, and the entire shoreline has beautiful limestone rocks bordering the shoreline. There are certain areas of the shoreline where you can find private little rocky beaches, which would be so perfect for a Mackinac Island elopement. These small shorelines are all around the island, so you could find one near another location you love and visit multiple spots on your wedding adventure!

Fort Holmes Lookout

Another absolutely breathtaking spot in the park, this is the highest point on the Island and provides some amazing views. You get a beautiful look over Lake Michigan and Round Island, and the trails leading up here are absolutely gorgeous!

There is one spot I do NOT recommend planning your elopement at – and that would be Arch Rock. The stone formation is beautiful and so iconic, but is surrounded by fencing and is always packed with people. For this reason, it’s better to just avoid it for wedding photos unless you are viewing it from the water!

Mackinac Island Elopement Venues

If your’re thinking of involving a few family/friends in your wedding plans, then a venue might be a better option for you and your loved ones! Mackinac has some absolutely incredible elopement and intimate wedding venues. I’ll go over a few of my favorites in this Mackinac Island Elopement Guide, so you can see which one fits your vision!

Inn at Stonecliffe

The Inn at Stonecliffe is a beautiful, historic estate tucked away from the busy main street. It’s surrounded by woods, a beautiful lawn and gardens, and has one of the best views of the Mighty Mac and Straits of Mackinac on the entire island! They have packages for both elopements (up to 4 guests) and intimate weddings (up to 30 guests) with special weekday pricing. It’s an absolutely beautiful place to get married, you can see more information on their website here!

Mission Point

Beautiful gardens, Lake Michigan views, the Great Lawn – all of this can be found at Mission Point. This location isn’t far from downtown, so if you’re looking forward to celebrating your wedding with a night on the town this place would be great! They have packages and locations for intimate weddings ranging from 15-60 guests. Learn more here!

Grand Hotel

Arguably one of the most iconic places on the Island, the Grand Hotel is a truly one of a kind location. This massive hotel is known for its iconic porch, beautiful gardens, forest trails, and an upscale experience. The luxury hotel opened in the 1800’s, and offers a unique walk back in time and an amazing dining experience! Their romantic wedding package can accommodate 10-15 guests, and you have to spend a night at the hotel! See more about this wedding package here.

Harbour View Inn

This Inn is absolutely gorgeous, and is in an AMAZING location overlooking the harbor (probably stating the obvious based on the name haha). It’s also in an amazing location only a short walk from downtown Main Street! The rooms here are super cute as well! They can accommodate up to 40 guests for your celebration, and you can learn more here!

When to Elope on Mackinac Island

One of the best parts about Mackinac is that it’s open year round, which means that there are different aspects and adventures to enjoy every season! I’ll give you a glimpse into what expect to experience on Mackinac Island in every season, so you can see what you feel best fits with your vision! I do recommend visiting in the non-winter seasons, so you can enjoy the full amenities and experiences the island has to offer!

Spring

Spring is an amazing time to plan your Mackinac Island Elopement! Tourism on the island reaches its peak in the summer, so planning a spring wedding there saves you from some of the crowds. Mackinac in the spring is also famous for its flowers, some of which are in full bloom in the spring! Especially their lilacs, the island is known for them! They have a festival every year celebrating the beautiful blooms. So if you’re hoping for flowers and a little more privacy, spring is a great time for your elopement!

Summer

Even with the crowds, summer is still an amazing time to plan your elopement. If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t mind a little sun (pack your sunscreen!!), or wants to incorporate some fun water activities like swimming, kayaking, or paddleboarding, summer is your perfect time. Weekdays would be your best bet in order to minimize crowds and be able to visit various locations without it being quite so slammed!

Fall

If you’re a fall colors person, there are few areas in Michigan more beautiful to see than Mackinac Island. You can get some absolutely incredible views of the fall colors from so many different areas all over the island! The crowds are still going strong because the colors bring in people from all over, but if you’re okay with sharing spaces, going to less busy areas, or choosing a weekday then you should be totally okay! It gets a little chillier as the fall settles in so you’ll definitely want to bring some sort of jacket or something to keep you warm.

Mackinac Island Elopement Guide Activities

Eloping means you can play your wedding day 100% your way! So if you want to add a little adventure then go for it!! Of course you can always add hikes to your day to some of the locations listed above, but if you want to see some options for other ideas here you are! I’m a huge proponent of making your day one of your best days ever, and I encourage you to have fun with it! I also have a guide that goes into some unique Mackinac Island elopement activities you can check out here!

• Plan a Picnic
• Go kayaking or Paddleboarding
• Take a sunset Sip n Sail Cruise
• Get a rum runner at the Pink Pony
• Go horseback riding
• Take your bikes around the island
• Have a fancy dinner overlooking the water at Hotel Iroquois
• Get ready together over coffee
• Take a swim in Lake Michigan
• Dance to live music at Horn’s Bar
• Fly a kite at Windmere Point
• Pop champagne
• Have morning coffee at the Watercolor Cafe
• Take a horse-drawn carriage ride
• Rent bikes (or a tandem bike if you’re feeling adventurous!)
• Jump into the water at British Landing
• Go for a bike ride
• Stay up late and take photos under the stars

Where to Stay

Staying on the island for your wedding celebrations is so much fun. The island in the morning and evening is so magical and peaceful, and being able to experience it will just make your wedding experience that much more incredible! Mackinac is home to a number of historic inns, bed & breakfasts, hotels, and homes for you to choose from! Some of the venues above are also places to stay, so I won’t list those again, but know they also have beautiful stays! I’ve pulled together some of my favorite ones for you to see what fits with your vision for your elopement day.

Rental Homes / Condos

Above Mackinac Condos
Downtown Harbor Suites
Island Golf Course Cottage
Historic Cottage (dog friendly!!)

Hotels

Hotel Iroquois
Pine Cottage Bed & Breakfast
The Mackinac House
The Island House Hotel
The Cottage Inn
Chippewa Hotel

Camping

If camping is more your style, don’t worry! While there is no camping on the island itself, there are two state parks just across Lake Huron that make it super easy to get to Mackinac. Both state parks are nearby the ferry ports, one in Mackinaw City and one in St. Ignace. I’ve camped at both campgrounds and can attest that both are also gorgeous, and so much fun to camp at!

Wilderness State Park – Mackinaw City, MI
Straits State Park – St. Ignace, MI

Permit Information

To get married here on public land, you will need a special events permit from the Michigan DNR! 80% of the island is State property, so if you are looking at anywhere besides a venue you will likely need one. To acquire a permit or get more information, call 906.847.3328!

Can I Bring My Pet?

Mackinac Island is notoriously dog friendly! The ferries allow furry friends onboard, and all of the natural attractions and trails allow pets, as long as they are on a leash. The caveat is that there are limited hotels and restaurants that allow pets. So if you were hoping to stay on the island, be sure to double check with your lodging! But because I frequent the island with my Australian Shepherd, I’m familiar with some pet friendly locations and will share them with you here!

Pet Friendly Lodging:

Mission Point Resort
Sunset Condominiums
Park Place Suites

Pet Friendly Dining:

Bill’s Grill at Harbour View Inn
Gate House
The Mustang Lounge
Bistro on the Greens
Round Island Kitchen at Mission Point
Kingston Kitchen
Ice House BBQ
Great Turtle Brewery & Distillery
Carraige House Patio

Other Tips

• Be prepared for crowds, so work with your photographer or coordinator to choose times to mitigate them!
• Pack plenty of water, bug spray, sunscreen, and snacks if you are hiking.
• With Mackinac being a bikes-only island, you definitely have to think a little harder about your outfits! If you’re envisioning a day with multiple spots around the island and some fun activities in the middle, you are most likely going to be biking from spot to spot – so make sure your clothes can keep up. Especially if it’s in the summertime, the island gets HOT so you want to be careful. Make sure your dress has a slit or some way you can keep it off of your pedals, or make sure that your dress shirt is a color that won’t show sweat stains super easily!
• Always remember to Leave No Trace. We respect Mama Earth! Learn more here.
• Wear trail-appropriate shoes if you will be walking. Some trails can be uneven, it’s not worth breaking an ankle to wear heels!

Mackinac Island Elopement Guide Vendors

Florists

St. Ignace in Bloom

Carriages

Mackinac Island Carriage Tours
Gough Carriages

Hair / Makeup Artists

Lakeside Spa & Salon
Vintage Glam

Mackinac Island Elopement Photographer

You’ve officially got all of the tools you need to plan your Mackinac Island Elopement! Now all you need is a Mackinac Island Elopement Photographer to capture every moment. I work with you to create an experience focusing on authenticity and intention, where we get photos that capture the heart of your story. So if that sounds like you, get in touch with me! I’d be so excited to help guide you to creating a 100% unique elopement experience. Whatever your vision may look like, or if you need help figuring it out, I’m here to help make it happen! Get in touch with me and let’s get started!