Our love story began at The Grand Hotel in 2021. This was Isaac’s second season as kitchen supervisor for the main kitchen; and I was just starting out in my culinary career. I chose the Grand Hotel as my externship location to complete my degree in Baking & Pastry Arts at the Culinary Institute of America/San Antonio. Graduating was the only thing I had in mind at the time; I didn’t know that God had other life changing plans for me to meet the love of my life in the main kitchen of the Grand Hotel!!

My externship was only supposed to be 4 months, but I decided to stay the whole Mackinac season because I wasn’t quite done with Mackinac yet. Isaac and I started hanging out together and got to know each other on and off the clock at the Grand Hotel.

Isaac asked me to be his girlfriend when he took me to a bench overlooking Mackinac bridge. We share our love for God, family and food! We began a personal Bible study and started going to church together. In July of 2022, Isaac called my dad to ask his permission to marry me.

Isaac then proposed to me on the same bench with the view of the Mackinac Bridge that started it all in the previous season.

We had our dream wedding on the island in June 2023 during the Lilac Festival. The lilacs were in bloom and the island was very colorful and more than amazing.

Our rehearsal dinner was held at The Gate House the evening before. The food and service were fabulous. My family stayed in the Grand Hotel Masco Cottage and the groom’s family in Pontiac Lodge. Both of these were wonderful and comfortable lodgings for this memorable event.

Margaret Gardens worked with me on the floral arrangements for the bouquets, reception and the floral for the bride’s cake. Laura was such a pleasure to work with and her floral creations were exactly my vision. They were beyond beautiful, and she is amazing!

A beautiful bright white marriage carriage from Gough Livery Carriages picked up my girls and I at 2:30, June 14th on the red carpet at Grand Hotel, where we were able to get ready. The groomsmen and family were picked up earlier by Mackinac Island Taxi Company at the Grand Hotel red carpet, as this is where the photos were taken before our ceremony.

Our ceremony was at the amazing ‘Somewhere In Time Gazebo’. Everything was ready and the gazebo was so beautiful as it overlooks the bluff, has a wooded area behind the gazebo and is surrounded by gorgeous greenery. So very perfect for pictures. The sky was overcast as it rained that morning until an hour before our ceremony began. Then God cleared up the sky and it became a beautiful blue as the weather was perfect. The birds chirping and singing as we had a breathtaking wedding ceremony with Pastor Ken Straight from Mackinac Island Bible Church.

After the ceremony, Christi Dupre, owner of Island Photo, continued to take our wedding photos. She is unbelievably talented and dedicated to capture every moment. Christi took photos for a full 8 hours capturing all the unforgettable memories before the wedding, all the way up to the end of the reception. She followed us on her bike as we waved like royalty in our ‘marriage-carriage’, finally as Mr. & Mrs. Oliveri, down Main Street and through town. She went above and beyond, as all of our pictures are over the top amazing, as she made sure we had photos of our favorite places on the island. She presented us with our beautiful wedding book of 800+ photos that are truly breathtaking.

Our reception was held at Grand Hotel at the all new Lilac Terrace & Lilac Room at the Esther Williams swimming pool complex . Our reception decorations and food were provided by Grand Hotel. The food and table settings were so beautiful and the room was perfectly set up. We had amazing Hors d ’Oeuvres, drinks and food for 60 guests and family.

Our bride and groom cakes were made by Paige, owner of Bella e Dolce in Cheboygan, MI. She designed our cakes wonderfully and they were so very delicious.

Our DJ, Brevin Cawthorne, owner of A-List Event Group, did an amazing job with the music for our ceremony and the reception. He was very professional and knew exactly what we wanted and did not disappoint. He kept the reception flowing and made sure we were on schedule throughout the evening. He was amazing! The staff was more than perfect as they made sure all of our needs were taken care of. At the end of the evening, Isaac and I ordered 16 pizzas (way in advance) from Mackinac Island Pizza Company. They delivered delicious mouthwatering pizzas to our reception and made sure no one left hungry.

Our wedding was everything and so much more than we could ever ask for. Definitely a dream come true. We are so thankful for what Mackinac Island has meant to us. We are beyond blessed and cannot wait to see where God will take us together next. Our wonderful and amazing wedding would not have been possible without family and friends, from on and off this one-of-a-kind island, that is truly set back in time.