Wedding pictures on Flickr!

Many of the family's snapshots of the wedding are now on Karen and Ken's Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/familybychoice/collections/72157622367536298/

Wonderful Wedding Weekend

At Friday night's rehearsal dinner and Saturday's wedding, family gathered to celebrate the creation of a new family - Jen and Mike's. The entire wedding weekend was a fitting send off for two amazing people, and yes, the sun came out for the ceremony!

Many more photos and stories to come!

To the Duck!

10-10-2009 5-25-16 PM_0024, originally uploaded by karenandkenstock.

After the wedding and post-ceremony festivities, all the twenty- and thirty-somethings (and a few of the 50-plus'ers) went to the local watering hole to continue the celebration with brews, music on the jukebox, and a couple games of pool. This was just the beginning of an evening that truly helped the economy in the Cheboygan area, benefiting the Dirty Duck and the Bluff's alike.

With this ring, I thee wed

10-10-2009 12-18-50 PM_0484, originally uploaded by karenandkenstock.

A beautiful ceremony beside the blue waters of Black Lake. Sunny but in the forties - the wind picked up and the bride's shivers prompted friend Kim to drape her red leather jacket across Jen's shoulders mid-vows. Only in Mike and Jen's wedding - the minister's prompts to "listen to each other" elicited a "What?" from Mike and a vow to "almost always listen" from Jen.

Everyone agreed that Mike and Jen are top candidates for "couple most suited for each other."

Dawn on Wedding Day

10-10-2009 8-11-53 AM_0432, originally uploaded by karenandkenstock.

A clear starry night Friday and a beautiful dawn Saturday.

Friday October 9, 2009

10-9-2009 7-14-12 AM_0006, originally uploaded by karenandkenstock.

A busy day as family gathered and settled into lodgings and dropped by the cottage to say hello.

The guys played golf at the Black Lake Resort course, and girls took beauty naps.

After golf, everyone assembled at the cottage for a run-through of the wedding, then off to Mulligan's in Cheboygan for rehearsal dinner. We were a big group for sunroom at Mulligan's, but Josh Ingersoll and Sue, our waitress, took good care of us.

Jen and Mike stayed at the cottage with Ken, Karen, and Grandpa. It was like Christmas eve, only we weren't hoping for snow.

Wedding weather forecast

Weather forecast for October 10!!!

Sunny sky during the morning hours will become overcast in the afternoon. High 52F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.

So...wear your snuggies but be ready for a beautiful day! The enclosed tent has a heater (and dancing will make you warm) and the cottage is cozy for warm ups.

Thursday October 8, 2009

10-8-2009 2-22-42 PM_0012, originally uploaded by karenandkenstock.

The tent went up next to the cottage Thursday morning. The workmen would have finished faster, but Ken helped (this according to Ken).

Meanwhile,Jen and Mike drove up and took the catamaran to Mackinac Island to visit Grandpa Plaza before the wedding. You can see from their attire that the day was beautiful, but not exactly warm.

Later, Jen and Mike hung out at the cottage with Ken and Karen, with a cozy fire in the fireplace.

Wedding Weekend Schedule

FRIDAY

Golf at Black Lake Resort:

Check with Mike about this if you don't have the details.

Wedding rehearsal:

Members of the wedding party should meet at Ken and Karen Stock's cottage at 6:30 PM for a brief wedding rehearsal. DIRECTIONS: See the link "Directions to the wedding," in the right column of this page under "Shortcuts."

Rehearsal dinner:

Join hosts Karen and Ken Stock and Grandpa Woodruff at 7:30 p.m. Friday October 9 for the wedding rehearsal dinner at Mulligan's in Cheboygan.

- Restaurant address: 320 North Main Street, Cheboygan, MI 49721

- Google Map: http://tiny.cc/OVhgK

- Restaurant website: http://www.goodfoodbadshots.com/

SATURDAY

Wedding:

As you already know, the wedding is at noon on Saturday. Feel free to come anytime after 11 a.m., and bring a change of clothes for after the wedding if you wish. We'll be walking on grass and dining outdoors (under a tent - heated if necessary) so dress with that in mind.

See you soon!

Wedding weather forecast!!

It's always tricky to guess what the weather will be a week in advance, but here goes: According to weather.com, most of the week will be in the mid-50s and with about a 30% chance of rain. That's fairly classic October weather, just like we have today. The sun has been out off and on, a light breeze, mid 50s. Dress appropriately!

Wedding planning at Black Lake

Jen and Mike visited Karen and Ken at Black Lake this weekend. Amid the pontoon boat rides and bonfires, they did a bit of wedding planning and logistics, visiting the Black Lake neighbors who are generously donating the use of their parking and additional facilities for the wedding guests. The wedding invitations are in the mail and the wedding is less than a month away!

Here is the view of Black Lake from the lawn where Jen and Mike will be married.

A beautiful Black Lake sunset.

Jen's Wedding Shower

Today Jen and Mike's family and friends gathered at the Wayne Tree Manor for the wedding shower. Ima Trimble, Jen's mom, and Lisa, her sister-in-law, were the hostesses, and it was a lovely event. Special guest was Ava, Jen's brand new niece. All the guests got to make bead bracelets as mementos, and there were games for prizes, including the nice centerpieces. Not to mention that yummy cake!

Map to Wayne Tree Manor

If you are coming to the shower and need directions, here is a link to Wayne Tree Manor on Google Maps.

Fall color in October

So you can visualize the fall colors you will see on the wedding weekend: this picture was taken on the road driving up north last year on the same weekend as the one Jen and Mike are getting married. Early October is a beautiful time at Black Lake. Last year, on this same weekend, it was 80 degrees, and the following weekend it was sunny and in the 50s.

Directions to the wedding

Directions to the wedding:

Find your way to 75 north, in the best way from your area.

Take I-75 north to Exit 310 (at Indian River, about 25 miles north of Gaylord)

Turn right on M-68, go 8 miles to Walker.

Turn left on Walker, go less than a mile to M-33 (Note: Walker is a little shortcut from M-68 to M-33 - if you miss it, just ahead there is a sharp left onto M-33)

Turn left on M-33, go 9 miles to Mann Rd.

Turn right on Mann, go 5 miles to Black River Rd. (AKA F05 or Gaynor)

Turn left on Black River Rd./Gaynor, go 2 miles to Twin Lakes Rd. (Landmark: The Dirty Duck Saloon)

Turn right on Twin Lakes, go 3 miles to Doriva Beach

Turn right on Doriva Beach, go 1.5 miles to Starview Drive (just after Northshore Drive)

Turn right on Starview and follow the signs to parking and the wedding.

Slideshow of Jen and Mike from 2008