Grand Hotel Mackinac Island

Grand Hotel Mackinac Island
286 Grand Ave
Mackinac Island, MI 49757
(906) 847-3331
View their website

Average Base Cost: $42,000

Average base cost for a Grand Hotel wedding is calculated by figuring a 125-person guest list for a Saturday wedding using their Tea Garden for the wedding ceremony and Grand Pavillion for the reception as well as a mid-tier dinner menu ($85/pp) including passed hors d’oeuvres, wedding cake, and an open bar for 5-hours. Entertainment, flowers, hotel rooms, additional decorations and rentals, transportation, and photography are not included. Price is rounded up to the nearest thousand. Gratuity and tax is included.

*Prices subject to change

How it Breaks Down

Facility Rental Fee: There are several wedding options available at the Grand Hotel, which include the following:

Romantic Wedding Package

For two to 10 people

Package Includes:

• Front Porch or Tea Garden locations for your wedding ceremony
• White rose and hydrangea bouquet for the bride, a white rose boutonnière for the groom and roses and hydrangeas to decorate the top of your wedding cake
• Traditionally decorated two-tiered wedding cake in your choice of flavor: traditional white, chocolate or lemon
• Champagne toast for the entire wedding party with your choice of Grand Hotel sparkling wine or non-alcoholic sparkling Michigan fruit juice

Pricing for the Romantic Wedding Package:

• $1,250 Monday – Thursday, ten or less guests, including the bride and groom
• $2,000 Friday – Sunday, ten or less guests, including the bride and groom

Notes: The Romantic Wedding Package is for Grand Hotel guests only. The package price does not include the cost of your guest room or an officiant to perform the wedding ceremony.

Ceremonies and Cocktail Receptions:

If having more than 10 guests, you can choose from the following spaces for your ceremony:

Tea Garden

• $2,200 up to 50 persons
• $2,700 51-150 persons
• $3,900 over 150 persons
• $1,500 rental fee for an additional event in the same location

Additional Notes:

• Up to 450 guests can be hosted in this enchanting area.
• Additional equipment rentals are not included in the space rental fee.
• There is a minimum of 100 persons for a food function in the garden. Transportation fees and extra staff fees apply for all food functions.
• All functions must be concluded by 10:00 p.m.

East or West Front Porch

• $2,200 up to 50 persons
• $2,700 over 50 persons
• $1,500 rental fee for an additional event in the same location
• For 20-450 guests
• Alternate indoor space will be held in case of extreme weather
• Acoustic music only

Cupola Bar

• $1,250 one floor
• $3,000 both floors

Additional Notes

• For 20-100 guests
• Acoustic music only
• Cupola Bar is not handicap accessible

Receptions

The following spaces are available for your wedding reception:

Pontiac Room

• $2,100
• $5,000 minimum spend
• Attached to the Main Dining Room
• Up to 35 wedding guests
• Attached private semi-circular porch with view of Grand Hotel gardens and Grand Avenue

Cottage Restaurant

• $1,900
• $8,000 minimum spend
• 20-70 guests
• Acoustic music only

Terrace Room

• $3,000
• $10,000 minimum spend
• 70-125 guests
• Live band or DJ which can be accommodated on the existing stage
• Ballroom-sized dance floor
• All functions must be concluded by 8:30 p.m

Grand Pavillion

• $4,500
• $25,000 minimum spend required in May, September and October
• $35,000 minimum spend required in June, July and August.
• 70-125 guests
• Large dance floor
• Live band, DJ or an acoustic musical ensemble allowed
• Private veranda with views of the Grand nine golf course

Theatre

• $5,500
• $45,000 minimum spend
• Up to 450 wedding guests
• Existing dance floor and stage

Note for all venue spaces: The minimum can be obtained through charges for function space, food and beverage, flowers, music, salon services and all other services provided by Grand Hotel, excluding guest rooms. If the total charges do not meet this minimum, you will be billed for the difference.

What’s Included: Tables, chairs, in-house white linens (not floor length), in-house china, in-house glassware, and in-house silverware.

Vendors: Food, beverage, and flowers must be purchased via the hotel.

Food/Beverage: The pricing for catered food and alcohol is below:

Cocktail Receptions:$25-$48/pp (for one hour) for appetizers and beer/wine or full bar are available. You may also opt to purchase hors d’oeuvres a la carte, with prices ranging from $75-$120/per 35 pieces (you can expect to order 3-4 appetizers per guest).

Beverage: A straight open bar is available for the evening (including a complete line of premium liquor, beers, Grand Hotel wines, Grand Hotel sparkling wine, mineral water, mixers and sodas, as well as bartender fees and set-up fees) for $32/pp, plus $20/per person, per hour for each additional hour (for a 5-hour event expect that price to be around $112/pp). You may also opt for wine service with dinner, with prices per bottle ranging from $45-$52.

Lunch: The Grand Hotel offers a Luncheon menu for $50/pp

Dinner: There are several dinner menu options available,ranging from $75-$95/pp. A sample one is below:

Green Menu

$95 per person

• Select one item from each course to create the menu for your wedding dinner.
• Coffee and tea service and fresh baked rolls are included with the cost of your meal.
• (Served between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.)
• Vegetarian meals are available with prior notice.

Appetizers

• Jumbo Shrimp Martini with Asian Napa Cabbage and Horseradish Cocktail Sauce
• Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tart with Basil Pesto
• Avocado and Lobster Egg Roll with Asian Slaw and Sweet Chili Sauce
• Wagyu Beef Tartar on Mixed Greens with Dijon Mustard
• Jumbo Diver Scallop on Forbidden Rice with Caper Rémoulade
• New England Clam Chowder with Sourdough Croutons
• Black Bean Soup with Cilantro-Lime Cream and Red Onions
• Consommé of Beef with Sherry and Truffle Dumplings

Soups

• Chilled Cucumber and Asian Pear Soup
• Cream of Lobster Soup with Cognac

Salads

• Organic Greens with Roquefort, Candied Walnuts and Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Asparagus and Belgian Endive with Salt Roasted Beets and Cilantro-Lime Dressing
• Spinach and Pear Salad with Goat Cheese and Shallot Vinaigrette

Entrées

• Vegetables and potatoes or rice will accompany your entrée choice
• Grilled Veal Chop with Sautéed Morels and Brandy Cream Sauce
• New Zealand Lamb Chops and Filet Mignon with Port Wine Sauce
• Horseradish Crusted Filet Mignon and Diver Scallops with Lemon and Cabernet Butter
• Dungeness Crab Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp and Filet Mignon with Zinfandel Sauce
• Herb Crusted Beef Medallion and Lobster Tail with Sautéed Morels and Drawn Butter
• Diver Scallops and Grilled Veal Chop with Chanterelle Ragoût and Saffron Sauce

Other menu options:

Wedding Cake

• $9 per person for traditional cake flavors
• $10 per person for specialty cake flavors
• Minimum cost of $225 per cake
• If a wedding party chooses to bring in a cake from an outside baker, there is a $3-per-person cake cutting fee.
• Additional desserts can be added to both luncheon and dinner menus for an additional $8 per person

Wedding Flowers

You must purchase your wedding flowers through the hotel. Prices for the flowers break down as follows:

Bride bouquet: $125

Bridesmaid bouquets: $50

Boutonnières: $12

Ceremony arrangements: $100/each

Centerpieces: Prices vary, however you can expect arrangements to start around $55/each.

Additional Wedding Options

You may also choose to hire the hotel’s musicians, salons services, or even buy their wedding favors (though it is not required). The prices break down as follows:

Bridal Hair Package: $150

Bridal Makeup: $110

Wedding Party Hair: $48-$78

Wedding Party Makeup: $58

Victorian Carriage: $750 per hour, minimum one-hour rental, rain or shine.

Wedding Favors: A custom candy box would run you $8.50/each

Music: From classical to jazz, prices for three hours of music range from $550 for a jazz piano to $3,500 for the Grand Hotel Orchestra plus vocalist.

More Stats

Space Type: Inside/Outside

Size: Up to 450 guests depending on venue location

Bridal Suite: You may of course use your room, or you can rent their bridal room for $150 up to 4 hours, or $250 for up to 10 hours.

Parking: Since cars are not permitted on Mackinac Island, you must park your car at the mainland ferry docks, then take a ferry to the hotel. The hotel is a short walk to the dock, or you can arrange for a horse-drawn carriage “taxi.” The closest regional airport guests would fly into is the Pellston Regional Airport, which is located 12 miles south of Mackinaw City. Air taxi service between the Pellston Regional Airport and Mackinac Island Airport are available 24 hours a day.

How Will Grandma Get There? Grandma would most likely stay at the hotel, along with most guests. Wedding room rates range from $312/night for a Category 1 room, to $2,940 for a four-bedroom cottage. Rate includes a daily breakfast.

Party On!  Your event end time depends on your location. For example, events must end by 10:00 on the Front Porch, and 11:30 p.m. in the Theatre.

The Report

In 1886 the Michigan Central Railroad, Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, and Detroit and Cleveland Steamship Navigation Company formed the Mackinac Island Hotel Company as a way to provide lodging for an increasing number of summer travelers to the island. By the 1890’s their front porch (measuring 660 feet) was the longest in the world, and attracted such speakers as author Mark Twain (you could see him talk for a $1).

It wasn’t until the 1930’s that an automobile ban was strictly enforced on the island, and is still in effect today. Since it’s opening the 390-room hotel has been the location for several films, including This Time For Keeps starring Jimmy Durante and Esther Williams, and Somewhere In Time, starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, and Christopher Plummer. It has also hosted five U.S. Presidents: Clinton, Bush, Ford, Kennedy, and Truman. Fun fact: No two rooms at the hotel are alike.

Woman Getting Married Says

If you like kitsch, the Grand Hotel has it in spades. While the hotel’s decor might feel like you’ve traveled back in time, the interior’s bright colors as well as the hotel’s architecture and grounds will definitely provide a unique and fun backdrop for a wedding. Considering the island’s automobile ban, you would definitely want guests to stay on the property. And the fact that they make it easy to book everything from flowers to the music on-site makes it an easy destination wedding venue for those couples looking for something a bit different.

My two biggest complaints is that their open bar price per person is extremely high, and their wedding cake cost is as well. While you most likely can’t do anything about the open bar price (minus just serving beer and wine), I would definitely consider bringing in an outside cake (if you can find a reasonable one in town) and paying their $3/cake-cutting fee. I also would consider doing a much smaller wedding here of 20-35 guests…I really love those Pontiac Room chairs!

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