SO YOU WANT TO HAVE A BEACH CEREMONY…
Beach weddings in Michigan are becoming splendid ceremony alternatives for Midwesterners. Here at 1928, we are well-seasoned in beach ceremonies. That is why we have created this guide of our favorite beach and pavilion ceremony locations here in Southwest Michigan. We know a lot of our couples are from out of town and want to have a unique wedding along the shores of Lake Michigan, but they don’t always know what to consider when they look.
Oftentimes couples forget they need feasible access for their elderly guests, or they forget about a sound system … or the undeniable parking situation. We have started a list to help you start thinking about the best options in the area. We also offer ceremony planning services, where we attend your rehearsal to prompt cues, provide you with white padded chairs, decorate and tear down your ceremony site for you and be the point on contact at the beach for you, your guests, and your vendors.
Weko Beach Park – Bridgman, MI
Why we love it: While it is a little bit of a drive, this is one of our favorite gems. Weko Beach is right off of Red Arrow Highway in Bridgman and it has plenty of parking. The beach is extremely large and seldom crowded for that reason.
Distance from Saint Joseph: 13 miles, 20 minutes
Cost to rent: There is no pavilion; beach access is free to the public – so you would need to arrive early to stake your claim
Cost to park: $7 per vehicle for a daily pass
Public Restroom: Yes
Electricity: No
Shadowland Pavilion – St. Joseph, MI
Photo Credit: Matt Pratt Photography
Why we love it: While the pavilion is not directly on the beach, it overlooks the St. Joseph river and is at the entry point of the St. Joseph Lighthouse. There is a beautiful walkway with sculptures along the river for guests to explore along with the lighthouse. We also love this location because it is under shelter and you don’t necessarily need a Plan B should it rain. There is also an option to put chairs in the grass for unlimited seating.
Distance from Saint Joseph: It’s in the heart of it all!
Cost to rent: $400 for non-residents on weekends
How many does it seat: 200 under the pavilion
Cost to park: $8 per vehicle for a daily pass (non-residents)
Public Restroom: Yes
Electricity: Yes
Tiscornia Beach – St. Joseph, MI
Photo Credit: Jordanne and Ryan Photography (top) | Woodnote Photography (bottom)
Why we love it: Tiscornia is our favorite (and free!) beach ceremony site in St. Joe. It runs along the north side of the St. Joseph Lighthouse and makes for awesome ceremony photos. We also love it because although a public beach, it is typically less crowded than Lions Park and Silver Beach. The only downside of Tiscornia is that the parking lot isn’t massive. We recommend using a shuttle service for a ceremony here.
Distance from Saint Joseph: North side of St. Joe
Cost to rent: Free
Cost to park: $5 per vehicle for a daily pass
Public Restroom: Yes
Electricity: No
Jean Klock Park and Jean Klock Park Pavilion – Benton Harbor, MI
Photo Credit: Ben Pancoast Photography
Why we love it: Getting to Jean Klock is a beautiful drive over the St. Joseph river and up a large sand dune. There is a ton of parking and the pavilion offers an option to have your ceremony under a shelter. To have your ceremony on the beach, it is free. The fee for the pavilion below.
Distance from Saint Joseph: 1.5 miles, 5 minutes
Cost to rent: $600 for 4-hours, $1200 for 8-hours, $1500 for full day (for non-residents)
Cost to park: $8 per vehicle for a daily pass (for non-residents)
Public Restroom: Yes
Electricity: Yes (at pavilion only)
A couple of things to always remember and when considering a beach wedding ceremony:
Don’t assume your DJ will/can go to the beach. Because there is no electricity at most beaches, DJ’s will need to bring in a battery-powered sound system. Be sure to have this be a question you are asking possible DJ vendors. We have also done our fair share of weddings without sound systems – just keep in mind that when it is windy, not everyone will be able to hear your officiant without a mic!
We hope this helps narrow down your Michigan beach wedding site search! There is nothing like dipping your toes in the sand and saying your “I dos” on Lake Michigan. Contact us today to see if we are available to help plan your beach wedding ceremony! Check out our service page here for more info on what we offer!
