[babybren87]

I am planning out my wedding and REALLY need to pick out the date and venue. I am looking at Castle Farms in Charlevoix, MI.

Has anyone been there and what are your thoughts on it?

When is the weather best?

In particular, how much do I have to worry about rain? I'm from Joplin and just lost everything a month ago in the tornado and really don't want to worry about rain or storms (particularly tornadoes lol) ruining my weddding.

[wagonman76]

I was there a few years ago for a work party and it was really nice. They did a nice job with the renovation.

As far as the weather, theres really no telling what it could be. It could be 40F and rain or 90F and sunny, or anything in between. Many times the 7 day forecast will say one thing but it's completely changed by then. You just have to take it as it comes. If you want to predict rain here, the best thing would be to flip a coin.

However one thing is almost guaranteed and that's no tornadoes. There have been a handful of twisters over the years but they've always been small and brief. I've been here for 34 years and have never seen one. Straight line windstorms of 40-70 mph are more common but the really strong ones are still usually once every couple months.

[tecpatl]

Castle Farms is a beautiful facility, the multi-million dollar renovation and expansion of the unique property was done right, and done to accomodate, among other things, first-class weddings.
June into September are fine months for weather, though the previous post made clear that weather is always changeable and challenging. That would be true anywhere you go.....
The ONE thing you can be certain of is that you won't see a tornado. It's a very, very rare occurance in Northern Michigan.
Good luck!

[YAZ]

I saw Cheap Trick & Billy Squier there in 1981.

[tecpatl]

Originally Posted by YAZ

I saw Cheap Trick & Billy Squier there in 1981.

Was that you, jumping on the stage, in the REO Speedwagon T shirt ?!
It's a whole different place now, YAZ....but thanks for the memories

[wagonman76]

Yes I saw Metallica there in 1992 which was probably one of the last big shows they did. That day I could hear them setting up from our house which was 10 miles away, the wind must have been right. My folks saw several shows there in their earlier years. I remember in the 80s when Rod Stewart performed there, and stopped into Molly Malone's in Eastport for a Guiness and they put some photos on the wall of it. It's the complete opposite of what it used to be, but lots of good memories from back then.

[Michigansnowflake]

The Castle is just stunning for a wedding! As for the weather, pick a date and cross your fingers.....late May to October.....I would tend more toward the late Summer/ Fall,,,but you can have some brilliant Spring days....you can also have rain for a week as we are now, gray, chilly, rainy...in the 60's. It will be wonderful no matter the weather!

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by YAZ

I saw Cheap Trick & Billy Squier there in 1981.

LOL, I drove down from the SOO for that show. Plus many others after that time.

For the OP, it is a great place for a wedding. Very elegant now, and about the weather... anybodies guess. Just like every other place in the US, who really knows what the weather will be even a day or two in the future.

[northernmichiganman]

My wife and I were married there in 2008. Great facilities. Good help from the staff and everything ran smoothly. Our wedding was in September and I think they stop at the end of September due to weather. It's northern Michigan.... I would say your best chance is late August, early September.

[YAZ]

Originally Posted by tecpatl

Was that you, jumping on the stage, in the REO Speedwagon T shirt ?!
It's a whole different place now, YAZ....but thanks for the memories

Being underage & stupid, we dumped 1/2 the pop out of our 2 liter bottles and filled the rest up with liquor.

Stashed 'em in the cooler and sat on the grass.

Cheap Trick rocked, BTW.