Island I do

Mackinac Island’s renovated The Inn at Stonecliffe is one of the world’s greatest places to have a wedding
Photo: Courtesy of the inn at Stonecliffe

When you envision a destination wedding on an island, northern Michigan may not be your first thought. Yet The Inn at Stonecliffe on Mackinac Island may just be the perfect spot. Included in Time’s 2024 list of the “World’s Greatest Places,” this recently renovated 1904 estate has charm, elegance, privacy, and several breathtaking options for your nuptials and reception.

Located on the West Bluff of the island, The Inn is far enough away from the bustle of “downtown” to make you feel like you’re on a private retreat. In fact, the 45-minute taxi ride (a horse-drawn carriage) from the ferry terminal (with arrivals from Mackinaw City and St. Ignace) is just the right amount of time for you to relax, catch your breath, and ease into your stay.

Sunset Pavilion has a 3,072 square-foot interior and seats 150 for a dinner seating and 200 for a standing reception. Their outdoor patio (not shown) is 900 square feet. The food served comes from The Inn at Stonecliff’s in-house team, who also prepare meals for their fine dining restaurant.
The Straights restaurant at the mansion looks out onto the lawn with a view of the Mackinac Bridge.

The Inn’s over $40 million renovation is well worth the two-year wait. Previously, the mansion, which was built for Chicago’s Michael Cudahy, who made his money in the meatpacking industry, had a dark-wood interior. Now it is all white — with careful detail in preserving the historic charm, including the moldings and fireplaces — and has features that bring the outdoors in. These include guest room windows with expansive views of the Straits of Mackinac and an outdoor dining area with clear plastic shades to shield you from the elements on windy or rainy days and nights.

The refurbished spiral staircase is one-way guests can get to their rooms or suites.

The Inn at Stonecliffe has a variety of settings to choose from for your ceremony and reception, including the Straits Lawn (water-facing with a view of the Mackinac Bridge), the North Lawn (located in the front of the property with towering trees and bridal paths and the mansion as the backdrop), The Grotto (a charming area surrounded by lush greenery, flowers, and a fountain), and Sunset Pavilion, a 3,000-square-foot space with indoor and outdoor options. The food at your reception will be prepared by The Inn’s in-house team, who work in tandem to provide not only meals for The Inn’s restaurant, The Straits, but also curated meals for all its private events.

An exterior shot of Sunset Pavilion, one of the ceremony and reception options.

Last August, Michael Luciani, who grew up in Birmingham, and Allie Jensen, of Washington, D.C., tied the knot at Stonecliffe. They’re among the first couples to revel in the resort’s beauty since its renovation. “A wedding at The Inn at Stonecliffe is a fairy-tale dream come true,” says Michael’s mother, Leslie Luciani, who with her family owns Original Murdick’s Fudge (the fudge shop has several locations on Mackinac Island and in Mackinaw City and St. Ignace). “Their reception on the great lawn with the view of the Mackinac Bridge was spectacular,” says Leslie, of Birmingham. “And the attention to detail and high level of service was perfect in every way.” Luciani’s family and friends stayed on the property for the weekend. “We felt like we had our own private slice of Mackinac Island.”

a sunset view in October, with the Mackinac Bridge on the horizon. Sports equipment is available for play on the lawn.
, guests at the Luciani/Jensen wedding enjoy food, drinks, the view, and each other’s company.

As far as lodging, the wedding party and guests have many options. The mansion itself has 16 beautifully renovated guest rooms, each with a unique view. (The most requested are rooms with balconies showcasing the lake views.) There is also the Summer House, with 36 rooms (including suites), and three private cottages, each with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a full kitchen, a patio, and a spacious living area. There is also an adults-only pool and a family pool on The Inn’s property.

Every guest who attends the wedding will feel like they are in a fairy tale when they arrive at the mansion in a horse-drawn taxi.
You’ll find gorgeous flora and fauna everywhere on the estate; cyclists head out from the property, through the entrance gate, and to the paths around the island.

Other buildings on the property include a general store, a wellness center (with a spa, fitness equipment, and a sauna), The Backyard restaurant, and a bicycle pavilion, where you can rent a bike and take a loop around the island or a short ride downtown to visit shops, dine at restaurants, or catch a tour.

The Inn at Stonecliffe has a list of vendors for you to work with to make your wedding complete, including wedding coordinators, photographers, florists, musicians/DJs, stationery suppliers, and more. It is suggested that those wishing to book a wedding reach out to The Inn at least nine to 12 months in advance, or sooner.

Cyclists head out from the property, through the entrance gate, and to the paths around the island

“There are many aspects of planning a wedding on Mackinac Island that are not within the norm,” says Jenna Holland, director of sales, “so many brides want to get an even bigger head start on planning the wedding of their dreams!”