Michigan, despite all the crazy weather, is one of the most beautiful states!
It is filled with cultural, historical, and environmental inspirations!

If you are getting married in Michigan, click here to get your marriage license.

The great lakes are a huge part of Michigan and they make a great theme for any event. A nautical themed event may not sound ideal, but they can be so stunning and classy! Think tables overlooking the lakefront with a lantern centerpiece lighting each one. White lights can adorn the celebration by being suspended overhead, draped across tents, or lighting up the dance floor. Try clean and bold linen colors, like blue and white, to resemble the water. Or, go with warm hues, like red and yellow, to resemble the sunrise or sunset. Scattering a little sand and some seashells around the table’s center can add the perfect touch, or you can also incorporate these into guest invitations or favors.

For another elegant event idea, incorporate the state flower. The apple blossom can be used for centerpieces and bouquets, and these flowers can also be used to decorate your cake. Apple blossom trees look amazing in the springtime, and outdoor receptions, ceremonies, or other celebrations look wonderful set underneath them. You could use this idea for a nautical theme as well by finding a lakefront area where the branches of these beautiful trees hang overhead.

Michigan is the only state in the shape of a hand. You can turn this into a theme for your event as well. If it is a wedding or anniversary use something like “one hand, one heart” and have everything at your wedding be hand made. Use hand blown glass for centerpieces, and have a friend or relative make your favors, cake, gown, etc.

For a baptism, 1st birthday party, or baby shower, use something like “handle with care” for your theme. For favors, as long as the child has been born, give your guests a small framed copy of your child’s handprint with one of the following poems:

The Michigan Petoskey stone is another great idea for guest favors! For an elegant look, have the stones polished and cut into shapes. Consider hearts, crosses, or even the shape of Michigan itself. To always remember the event, have them engraved with names, dates, quotes, etc.

There are so many groups, people, ideas, and occasions that make up the heritage of Michigan. This state’s melting pot population hosts all sorts of great events with food, drink, music, costumes, and flowers that can be incorporated into your event!
Below are just some of the many events and festivals that Michigan has to offer.

* Art and Apples Festival in Rochester. September 11-13 of 2009

(The Charlotte apple festival hosts a cooking for the cure dessert contest, where people use Michigan’s fruits to create amazing deserts! Incorporate their ideas into your event by having a dessert bar. You can set up a table with all sorts of goodies and even have a chocolate fountain for dipping. Guests will be coming back for more! Also, if you’re not in need of gifts, consider sponsoring a charity at your event and have guests donate instead.)

* Alpenfest in Gaylord. July of 2009
* Danish Festival in Greenville. August of 2009

(These events are very family friendly and are also filled with a variety of games and contests. Follow their example by having an area set-up just for children at your event with crayons, paper, etc. Some events can be tiresome for children, but this will keep them happy and occupied. Also try incorporating games into your event. Have a bubble-gum blowing contest for your guests or choose a select few guests and see who can find certain items (pen, hand sanitizer, etc.) among the other guests.)

* National Forest Festival in Manistee. June of 2009
* Green Street Fair in Plymouth. May 01 - May 03 of 2009

(Michigan is full of beautiful trees and they make a great idea for guest favors. Present each guest with a tiny new tree to be planted in their yard. It will remind them of your event, and if it is a wedding, it will grow as your marriage does. This is especially great for a baby shower or baptism. The trees will grow as your child does, or as their faith does, and you can make the baby tree favors fit the shower theme by putting each one into a diaper, blanket, doll stroller, etc.)

* Michigan Challenge Balloonfest in Howell. June 26 - June 28, 2009

(Add some real excitement into your event by having hot air balloon rides available to your guests. You can find local companies here.)

* Detroit Downtown Hoedown in Detroit. May 15 - May 17, 2009
* Jazz Festival in Detroit. August 28- August 31 of 2009
* Colors of Salsa in Lansing. June of 2009
* Hot blues and BBQ in Oxford. June of 2009
(All of these festivals offer great music that can be used for receptions or parties. If you have a favorite style of music, be sure to add it in to your event! A BBQ is also a great idea! Cookouts can be great for corporate functions or any event that you want to make fun and relaxing. Many catering companies offer a cookout option and they take care of everything, even the grill! You could also try a potluck dinner.)

For a CD with music by many of the ethnic groups that have settled in Michigan, click here.

* Renaissance Festival in Charlevoix. June of 2009
(Renaissance festivals are full of great costumes, food, music, and traditions. Over the years, many events have taken on a Renaissance theme to add a little whimsy to the celebration.)

* Stars and Stripes Festival in Mount Clemens.
June 26-28 of 2009
* Target Fireworks in Detroit. June 22, 2009
(If your event is sometime around the 4th of July, incorporate a local fireworks show. This is usually great entertainment for everyone! Or, you can hire a professional fireworks company to do a private fireworks show wherever your event is being held, even if the occasion is not in July!)

* Tulip Time Festival in Holland. May 2-9 of 2009
(Tulips make great bouquets and centerpieces for events! These bright and cheery flowers come in a wide variety of colors and are very eye catching! If the event involves a couple, they even have their own built in theme or catch phrase, tu-lips!)

* Annual Apple Festival in Charlevoix. October 09 - October 11, 2009
* Cherry Festival in Traverse City. July 4-11 of 2009
(This may sound odd at first, but fruit is great for decorating at your event! For centerpieces, you can fill vases with apples, lemons, limes, or any other fruit you like. Drop cherries or strawberries into vases filled with water, before adding in the flowers. Make a trail of light by cutting small oranges or tangerines in half and scooping out a hole large enough to put a tealight candle in. This smells amazing, and is great when carried by the wind at an outdoor event! If you are the star of your event, use star fruits! You can cut them up and put one on the rim of everyone’s glass. You can also make great event slogans from using fruit such as, the perfect pear, apple of my eye, berry much in love, star of the show, etc.)

* Wine and Harvest Festival in Paw Paw.
September of 2009
* Ella Sharp Art and Wine Festival in Jackson. June 13, 2009
(Only for events with guests over 21: Michigan is home to many wineries and brewing companies, so make them part of your event by offering wine and beer tasting! This can be great for a cooperate event, but be sure to set limitations or arrange transportation for guests. If you don’t think a tasting would fit into your event, you could have Michigan wines and beers available for your guests at the bar.)

For a list of other great festivals available within the state of Michigan, click here.