Fountain Point Resort Wedding Guide
Fountain Point Resort is an idyllic destination to gather with friends and family for your wedding weekend. Located near Leland in Leelanau County, the venue is comprised of quaint cottages, a hotel, and a half mile of beautiful shoreline on Lake Leelanau. Whether you’re envisioning a laid back weekend with morning paddles in a kayak and long nights around a bonfire, or a more formal and elevated affair with reception buildouts and floral installations, I’ve seen many styles of weddings beautifully incorporated into the backdrop of Fountain Point. As a photographer who does a lot of work in Northern Michigan, Fountain Point has become a favorite for the quintessential “Northern Michigan summer” experience the setting provides couples and their guests. If you’re looking for a wedding venue that feels like a true Leelanau lakeside vacation, complete with the option to have your guests stay on site, here’s your full guide to planning a Fountain Point Resort wedding.
Key Takeaways
Fountain Point Resort has an unlimited capacity for day guests at events and can accommodate up to 128 guests in hotel rooms and cottages overnight
The venue offers several pricing options including a site fee only, weekend buyout, and half-week “vacation” buyout
All Fountain Point Resort weddings are outdoors and the venue requires that couples hire a wedding planner and rent a tent for their celebration
Due to a local noise ordinance, there is no amplified music after 10pm, but silent discos are permitted
Why You’ll Love Fountain Point
This charming lakeside haven will instantly connect you to your summer memories of visiting Northern Michigan while also bringing you back to a time that feels very - Dirty Dancing.It’s that feeling of being tucked away and seemingly in your own world - the brightly painted rooms in the hotel, the red roofs, the large open lawn, the double slam of the cottage screen doors and the sandy beach on the shore of the lake.
Beyond it’s appeal as a lakeside wedding venue, Fountain Point Resort is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It gets it’s name from a French fur trader’s failed attempt to dig the land for oil in 1867. Instead of hitting oil, he struck a gusher of sparkling water that created a natural fountain that has been flowing ever since. The land changed hands and became the destination it is now in 1889, making the history of gathering and vacationing here a tradition that’s over 135 years old.
Fountain Point Resort has consistently been one of my very favorite wedding venues in Michigan since the first time I shot there in 2016. As a photographer, one of my favorite things about Fountain Point is that guests can stay on site. It adds such a fun and dynamic energy, the feeling of a big family vacation, when guests are able to casually hang with each other over the course of a weekend. Getting to spend your time with your people playing beach volleyball, boating on the lake, and staying up having drinks by the fire is a dream scenario. I love that Fountain Point is on the east side of the Lake, so you can watch the sun dip below the horizon from your reception, and even step out on the dock to enjoy golden hour.
Your Ceremony & Reception
The vast lawn at Fountain Point gives the flexibility to choose a ceremony and reception site that works best for you and your vision. There are multiple options so you don’t have to be put into a box. I’ve seen ceremonies utilize Lake Leelanau as the backdrop in multiple places, as well as ceremonies under the ancient maple tree.
Fountain Point requires that you rent a tent for your reception as they do not have any indoor reception spaces. There are multiple sites for your tent on the lawn, and for couples who are extra mindful of weather possibilities there is always the option to rent or build out tent flooring to avoid a wet ground.
How much does it cost to get married at Fountain Point Resort?
There are three options for your venue rental: site fee only, weekend buyout, or vacation buyout.
Option One: Site Fee Only $10,000, minimum 75% occupancy Friday and Saturday | No accommodations included
Option Two: Weekend Resort Buyout $37,500 | Includes all accommodations Friday and Saturday, site fee, taxes, and gratuities
Option Three: Wed-Mon Vacation Buyout $50,000 | Includes all accommodations Wednesday-Monday, site fee, taxes, and gratuities
Capacity and Accommodations
An exciting thing about this venue - they have no capacity limit for wedding guests! Whether you’re planning a large 300 person weekend or a small family only micro wedding, Fountain Point can accommodate your number with ease. Keep in mind, the capacity for overnight accommodations is 128 people, so additional accommodations via inns, hotels, or Airbnbs will be necessary for larger celebrations. The accommodations at Fountain Point are quaint and include 19 cottages of different sizes and 13 hotel rooms.
Choosing a Photographer for your Fountain Point Resort Wedding
If you’re consider Fountain Point Resort for your wedding, the next step is to find a photographer who can make the vision come to life. What should you keep in mind as you search for the right photographer?
First you’ll want a photographer with a lot of experience photographing outdoor weddings. Natural lighting is tricky, especially on a lake, and it’s important to work with someone with extensive experience working with all the unique scenarios the sun can throw at us throughout the day.
If it’s important to you to work with a photographer who shoots both digital and film, and has the ability to capture gorgeous drone photos for a unique view of your event, make sure you ask those questions.
It’s never a bad idea to hire a photographer with experience at the venue you choose. A person familiar with your venue understands the lighting, has a sense for the best locations, and has a relationship with the people who run the venue.
Make sure to share your vision to ensure that it aligns with the kind of work your photographer creates. I have photographed many weddings at Fountain Point resort and shoot in a hybrid of digital and film.
I think of my style as documentary with a hint of editorial to really capture the full story of your weekend. It is important to me that your day is not about photos, but that the photos are about your day. If you’re interested in talking about what coverage of your day might look like, I’d love to chat more with you.
FAQ
What is the best time of year for a Fountain Point Resort Wedding?
June-early October is the best time for an outdoor wedding in Northern Michigan. Due to the nature of the location also serving as a vacation resort, Fountain Point only reserves a limited number of weekends each year for weddings. I would recommend reaching out early to get their current availability. (Contact info below).
Are there any restrictions on music?
Yes, amplified music is only allowed until 10pm in compliance with a local noise ordinance. To keep the party going, you can have a silent disco after 10pm.
Can we have our rehearsal dinner or welcome party on site?
Yes! The weekend and vacation buyout rental options include Friday and Saturday at a minimum, so you can host your welcome party or rehearsal dinner on site.
Will we be the only wedding at the venue?
Yes, Fountain Point Resort only books one wedding per day.
What are the options in an inclement weather situation?
All weddings are required to rent a tent, so it will be important to discuss options with your planner.
Is there anything else we should know?
You’ll want to reach out to Fountain Point directly for the most up to date information about booking the venue, but one thing to note is that Fountain Point requires you to hire a wedding planner to execute your day. Reach out if you’d like any planner recommendations! I have favorites.
Contact Info
To get in touch with the venue and inquire about your wedding, reach out here:
Website: Click here
Email: info@fountainpointresort.com
Phone: (231) 256-9800
Address: 990 S Lake Leelanau Dr, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653
Wedding Photos from Fountain Point Resort
Hi, I’m Jillian
I’m a wedding photographer based in Michigan and I photograph weddings all over the state and throughout the country, but weddings in Northern Michigan are always my favorite. I blend a documentary and editorial style while shooting on digital and film in order to tell your story in a way that feels both emotional and elevated. I’ve been a photographer for almost 15 years and in that time I have had the honor of celebrating with over 250 couples.
Are you planning a wedding at Fountain Point Resort? I’d love to hear more about your vision.
After submitting the form I’ll be in touch to let you know if I’m available on your wedding date. I take a limited number of weddings per year to ensure that I am fully present for each of my clients and creatively sharp.
It’s important to me to get to know you and make sure I’m a good fit, so if I’m available on your date we’ll schedule a call to get to know each and talk all about your plans.
