The Boardwalk Riverfront Wedding and Event Venue

Our Story

Many years ago, Matt and Kathryn met in Grand Rapids and planned a dreamy wedding in Petoskey along the shores of Lake Michigan. While they've lived on the West Coast and traveled around the world, nothing beats a Michigan summer. 

Their shared love of unique experiences have led to years of organizing large gatherings, road trips, and detailed itineraries for both domestic and international adventures. In 2020 they were presented with the opportunity to develop a quiet paradise by the St Joseph River into a wedding and event venue. After years of construction, renovation, and landscaping, The Boardwalk opened in July of 2022 for tours and booking.

The team is focused on creating an environment for those milestone celebrations. Everyone is welcome to enjoy a day at The Boardwalk, tucked away in nature and minutes from city life.

Our Services

We're available for all types of events, but specialize in wedding celebrations. Host your ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, and dance floor all in one secluded riverfront location.

Each event has exclusive access to the property with various amenities and services included. Our integrated P/A system allows for seamless audio both inside our air-conditioned lodge as well as in our outdoor spaces.

Venue staff will be onsite to help coordinate vendors, facilitate A/V equipment, greet guests, assist with parking, setup/take down of venue furniture (tables, chairs, furniture vignettes, etc), and provide general maintenance.

Reach out with your event inquiry and we'll confirm pricing and availability. All events are welcome, whether it's a graduation, baby shower, family reunion, or corporate event.

Testimonials

Josh & Bekki: "The Boardwalk was our last stop when we were touring possible venues, and we fell in love with the location as soon as we saw it. The setting is gorgeous, and the design of the courtyard and boardwalk right on the bank of the river complement it really well. The little touches like the outdoor chandeliers and furniture vignettes also made it fun and unique which was exactly the vibe we were looking for. What really sold us on The Boardwalk was the owners - Matt and Kathryn were a delight and worked with us every step of the way to make sure that we had a solid plan going into the day that was fully tailored to us. They also gave us a lot of helpful advice along the way. They mentioned that their goal was to build the wedding venue that they wished they could find when they got married and it really showed. We had an indoor backup plan for bad weather going into the weekend which we ended up needing. Everyone at the Boardwalk was incredibly helpful and flexible so we were able to mix the indoor and outdoor plans as weather changed throughout the day. We also highly recommend reserving the day beforehand - having that full extra day to set up and enjoy the space helped us relax before our wedding. Since they’re not on The Knot themselves, we also want to include a shoutout to The Boardwalk’s catering partner, Gandia’s Catering. Chef Alexander and his wife Chantal were both wonderful and worked with us to build a menu from the ground up fully customized to our tastes. The food was all outstanding and they put a strong emphasis on using local ingredients which was really important to us. All in all, we highly recommend The Boardwalk to anyone looking for a beautiful, private venue in the woods with delicious personalized food and staff who will go above and beyond to make sure your special day goes as smoothly as possible."

Stephanie:  "This venue is built with heart by a lovely couple so you can see and feel the love in many ways. The venue is picturesque and peaceful since it is secluded by the beautiful, lush nature surrounding it. It was everything we were looking for our moment. They set the tone with little details like putting our music on and making it special for us. This special place was the highlight of our day. They were so thoughtful and the place has so much to offer with a classic river boardwalk, a beach, lounging areas indoor and outdoor including places for getting ready, playing a game of pool, indulging in treats by the fire, and enjoying company as well as a fancy car! Great place & great people. Everything you could look and ask for and pictures to die for!"

Nic:  "Had my wedding here on 04/20/23 and it was everything. The view is breathtaking and will have guests talking about it long after the event. Matt and Kathryn are the nicest people who will go beyond just to make sure you have the best event! If you’re looking for a venue that will make you feel like royalty then this is the one!"

Photo Gallery