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The 2014 Wedding Season on Mackinac Island was as always, fun and magical. It’s always a honor to meet so many great Brides & Grooms, family and friends. As one of the top (10) destination Wedding Islands in the world we know it is “Somewhere In Time” yes it is a Magical Island. Below is a sampling of memories from many Weddings through-out the 2014 season. Enjoy and give feedback if you like.

Any additional questions please call Steven Blair @ 231-631-2002 or stop into my Gallery at 1500 Astor St, Mackinac Island, MI, in between Main & Market St., or visit my website at www.photosbyblair.com

“We will customize your Wedding photographs as you have dreamed”.

Last year many different themes like this one “Yellow Brick Road”.       

The 63rd, 2012 Mackinac Island Lilac Festival starts today on beautiful Mackinac Island and runs through Sunday June 17th, Lilac Festival Parade Day.

The first land in the Upper Peninsula celebrating Mackinac’s Lilac collection began in 1949 after a conversation with Evangilene “Ling” Horn and Nurse Stella King who encouraged the then teen and today’s Mackinac Island Carriage Tours veterinarian Dr. Bill Chambers to have a parade on Lilac Sunday, to bring people to the Island to enjoy a great horse drawn parade amidst the lovely lilacs that fragrance the Island in June. What began as a one day event called the Mackinac Island Lilac Day has blossomed into a ten day festival.  Look forward to seeing you.

The schedule of events are located at this link:      http://www.mackinacislandlilacfestival.org/

From the big bands to,

the horse and buggies to,

Lilacs, Lilacs, Lilacs….

Lilacs, Lilacs, Lilacs….

Lilacs, Lilacs, Lilacs….

Lilacs, Lilacs, Lilacs….

10k race Sat morning at 9:30

Round Island Lighthouse Open House for July 14^th, 2012 information attached. This benefits the Round Island Lighthouse Preservation Society.

 For more information please visit this site: www.roundislandlightmichigan.com

Many bands will come to the Island to perform,

and more then 6 weddings will celebrate there special day during the Lilac Festival.

Friday June 15th, is the Market Street Art Gallery Walk Open House from 6pm to 10pm. Artistic Mackinac Gallery & Studio is located on the corner of Astor & Market St. Come and visit us and see painting artist Noel Skiba who won 2nd place in the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival Poster Contest. Also, our governor Rick Synder requested a painting from Noel to be used for The Mackinac Island governors mansion  invitations while in office. Come and watch Noel paint live in person.

Come and join the fun On Beautiful Mackinac Island.

All pictures owned and copyright: Steven  Blair  photosbyblair.com  Artistic Mackinac Gallery & Studio.  231-631-2002

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If you are considering a Destination Wedding, Mackinac Island is one of the top 10 locations in the U.S., and the top three in Michigan.  I have had the pleasure of photographing over 400+ Weddings on Mackinac Island since 1997.  The venues are spectacular and the views are breathtaking.  As I look back at the last 13 years there is not one wedding that was uneventful.  The atmosphere and the anticipation from the brides make for a beautiful celebration.  It truly is a

“Somewhere in Time” destination.

Steven Blair, We just wanted to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for creating the most perfect wedding memories. Being out of state, we searched high and low for the best photographer for our wedding on Mackinac Island. We went to the wedding expo on the island, clicked through so many websites, and thumbed through a plethora of brochures. When we saw your site, we knew you were “our photographer.” We chose you because we could see the thought and the love shine through every picture that you took. Your passion for photography comes through each and every photo that you take. During the entire process (planning, and executing the photos), your demeanor, professionalism, and overall personality made you a pleasure to work with. Everyone who sees our wedding album comments how beautiful the pictures are and how they look like they could be stills from a movie. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

I have four generations from Mackianc Island.  The LaPine Family. My mother Dr. Mercedes A. LaPine  N.D.was the last to be born on my side of the family on the Island.  I have spent every summer on the Island since I was two years old.  My summers now are spent photographing Weddings on the Island.  Below are some facts about:

Mackinac or Mackinaw?

The name Michilimackinac, the place of the “Great Turtle”, was first given to Mackinac Island for its shape and was eventually given to the entire Straits of Mackinac region. In time, certainly by the 1820s, it was shortened to Mackinac. The founders of Mackinaw City opted for the phonetic “aw” spelling, probably as a way to distinguish their town from Mackinac Island for confused postal carriers.

Today Mackinaw City retains the “aw” spelling while the bridge, straits and island steadfastly cling to the “ac” spelling. No matter how it is spelled, however, it is always pronounced Mackinaw!

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