You've Found the Perfect Spot

Every couple who gets married at Cherry Basket Farm can plant a tree to commemorate their day. We tag each sapling with the couple's name and wedding date. Additionally, we include for your ceremony: - Chairs (natural wood, beige seat) - Antique arch - Large easel for welcome signage - Farmhouse gift and welcome tables For cocktail hour/dinner: - Chairs (natural wood, beige seat) - Lower Barn bar - Cocktail high-tops (5) and bar stools - Bistro tables (5) - Lawn games For dinner/dancing in the Barn: - Chairs (natural wood, beige seat) - Round 60" tables (5) - Antique stove for dessert or cake station - Coat racks - Booster seats for little ones - Curtains for barn entry (ivory or silver) - Ambient lighting in both barns - Lanterns for barn ramp and driveway For your vendor team: - Cook tent + interior prep area - Work tables (8) - Hot boxes - Coolers - Recycling, garbage and sorting bins We also provide a dedicated room for vendors to store their personal equipment and supplies.

We offer a Long Barn Lounge appropriate for hair and make-up for bridal parties up to 5. The room has a changing corner, mirrors, make-up chair and benches. A former farm stand that cherries were once sold from (known now as the "Love Shack") is available for smaller parties or groomsmen. Detached restrooms are located at the center of the property. Please note, large bridal parties of more than 5 should plan on getting ready off site, since generally multiple hair and make-up artists will be working at once. In such instances, or when libations will begin early, we suggest getting ready at a nearby Airbnb or similar lodging. When considering if you will get ready on site, please be aware that all personal items, bags and clothing need to depart with you. Cherry Basket Farm is not responsible for personal property left overnight.

Cherry Basket Farm has three restrooms. We have a single restroom and a double with two stalls. We service restroom throughout your event and provide baskets filled with ammenities. While the general rule is 1 restroom per 50 guests, lines do form during traditional bottleneck times such as before/after dinner speeches. When clients prefer, we are happy to make all restrooms gender neutral

We can accommodate 70 guest cars and 10 vendor vehicles in our nearby field parking area. A short stairway leads to the main driveway. While parking is available, we highly encourage shuttles for both safety and elevated hospitality, particularly for out of town guest unfamiliar with our roads.

Yes. Venue staff can transport guest needing assistance in our golf cart. Guests arriving by car may be dropped off close to the barns prior to parking in the field just south of the farm.

Yes. Upon request, we provide a fire pit on the gravel courtyard to the east of the barns. While in peak summer, Northern Michigan's long days make this often unnecessary, moving into fall we are happy to light the fire as dusk settles in. Please note, the fire will be maintained by venue staff only.

Our extensive Welcome Packet lists provided amenities and services. Additionally, you will need: - Event and host liquor liability insurance policy or rider - Caterer with bartending service or a separate, licensed, insured bartending service - Bay Area Recycling for Charities (BARC), zero waste event services - Linens, tabletop and decor - Floral - Music/entertainment (DJs/bans can provide ceremony sound) - Photographer/Videographer - Officiant - Tent, if needed - Tables, if needed - Chairs, if not using ours - Shuttles for additional guest transportation, if needed

For events under 80, the Upper Barn provides a good alternative. For events that want or require one, your tent is a major design element. Rather than restrict your choices or raise our prices, we can direct you to the area’s top vendors able to provide a wide variety of tenting options and sizes so that your vision is customized.

We offer a flat site fee starting at $7,000. 2025 Pricing Guests counts above 80 add $200. Guests counts of 130 people add $500. Guests counts above 150 require approval and an additional $20/person fee. Please note, new pricing for 2026 goes into effect January 15, 2025.

There is an initial, non-refundable 50% payment. A second payment, due sixty (60) days prior to your event, consists of your balance and refundable security deposit.

We prefer payment by check and in the mail. It's old school and it works. While we will accept credit cards, additional service charges will be added to credit card payments.

Yes. A minimum 60-day engagement with a wedding coordinator or planner responsible for logistics and day-of tasks is required. We can provide recommendations for a wide range of creative partners and a check list if you are still making inquiries. Leading up to your event, your planner will coordinate and communicate logistics between vendors and the venue. Additional planning and design services will depend on the size and complexity of your event and are entirely up to you. The day of your event, your planner will execute the run of show, install your design elements, make things pretty and problem solve. They are the main point of contact for bridal parties, parents, grandparents, guests and you. Cherry Basket Farm provides two venue managers on site to answer questions and immediate needs, particularly for vendors executing the event.

Our max capacity of 150 guests is due largely to the number of restrooms on site and the historic nature of our property. Guest counts above 100 should plan on tenting the Main Lawn for dinner. This has multiple benefits, including enabling your guests to experience several spaces throughout the property for different parts of the day, making it feel like a "story." Without a tent, the Barns are an ideal venue for up to 80 guests. There is room for 80-100 provided your wedding planner and catering team will "flip the room" after dinner i.e, move some tables to the side for dancing. For events of this size, weather permitting, dinner may be held outside with the barns used as a "rain plan." We do not recommend al fresco dining past early September.

Your rental affords access at the following times: - Friday (1:00 pm - 5:00pm): includes time for a two-hour ceremony rehearsal - Saturday (10:00am - 10:00pm) - Sunday (9:00am - 12:00pm): access for retrieving any remaining personal items We allow your wedding planner and approved vendors Saturday access starting at 8:00am. However, please note that event end times are regulated by the local township and are not negotiable.

We work with a wide variety of caterers and can make recommendations, especially if you share with us a sense of what you have in mind, a favorite meal or preference. All caterers must be licensed in Michigan. Caterers who have not previously worked at Cherry Basket Farm must make a site visit at least 4 weeks in advance of the event.

Yes. You are free to purchase this yourself and provide it directly to your caterer or bartending service. Throughout your venue rental, alcoholic beverages must be served by a caterer with bartending service or by a separate, licensed and insured bartending service. All bartenders must be TIPS certified. What is TIPS? TIPS is an alcohol server training program and nationwide standard. Self-service during your venue rental is not permitted in the state of Michigan (and we're kinda sticklers about it).

Yes, with conditions and for up to 2 hours. This window enables them to be a part of ceremonies and photographs. While on-site, pets must have a dedicated caretaker. Dogs must be leashed. We require pre-approval for any pet permitted on the farm and will ask for proof that arrangements have been made to ensure your pet’s safety, wellbeing and departure after the allotted time period.

The Upper Barn serves as an excellent ceremony site during inclement weather, especially when paired with a tented dinner that enables the barn to be reset for the reception. For smaller weddings up to 80, the Lower Barn can be transformed into an atmospheric space with a center aisle.

Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) is located just south of the Leelanau Peninsula and minutes from lodging, downtown Traverse City and the Grand Traverse Bay. The farm is located on M-22 between Suttons Bay and Northport, just 30 minutes north.

It's always a bit hard to say, but generally speaking the orchards in Leelanau County are in bloom early-mid May. This is always a great time to book your site visit. Or, an engagement session if you haven't already asked officially! The harvest, which is always weather dependent, occurs sometime in late July or early August.

No. Access to Cherry Basket Farm is exclusive during your entire rental. There is no need to rush set-up and tear down. Access begins at 1:00pm Friday for set up, decor install and a ceremony rehearsal. Access ends at 12:00pm Sunday.

If you want to change the date of your event, we will be happy to discuss an alternate date (based on availability). If we are unable to mutually agree on an alternate date, the initial payment is non-refundable.