TRAVERSE CITY WEDDING AND EVENT VENUE

BlueBridge sits among 10 acres of stunning, mature hard woods, pines and open park areas. Experience true Northern Michigan beauty among our beautifully landscaped gardens, walking paths, small ponds with fountains and small bridges, and countless special touches. There are no shortages for great photo opportunities that will serve as the perfect backdrop for capturing your special day! Offering year round wedding and events at our venue as of April 2024. Explore our beautiful venue space and come to connect and celebrate your life event with us.

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CREATING LASTING MEMORIES:
The Heart and Soul of BlueBridge Wedding and Events Centre
- Article from Cherryland Electric Cooperative, July 8, 2025

A collective breath is held as the French doors swing open to reveal the bride dressed in a flowing white gown. The groom anxiously fidgets at the front of the room as his friends and family watch. As he looks up, he sees the love of his life. His face lights up and she takes her first steps down the aisle toward him and their new life. This is the beginning of a beautiful story, and for Chris McCrumb, it is his favorite part of a wedding.

Chris and Stephanie McCrumb own BlueBridge Wedding and Events Centre in Grawn. In 2025, their ninth season in business, they will host their 500th wedding, so you could say they know a thing or two about hosting events. Their knowledge and experience certainly helped them create a successful wedding space, but what sets BlueBridge apart from other venues is their approach. “We don’t just operate a space for you to rent, but rather a place for your marriage journey to begin.” These aren’t just the words on the inside of a brochure—it’s the commitment they make to their couples and a responsibility their staff takes seriously.

Set back in the woods, when you arrive, you are transported to a haven of Northern Michigan beauty mixed with touches of elegance—from the natural landscaping and a cozy campfire corner to the fountain, bridge, and rustic building draped with twinkling lights, “It really represents everything that’s great about Northern Michigan,” said Chris.

BlueBridge proudly prioritizes quality over quantity; that’s why they limit the number of weddings they hold each year. “We never want to feel like we are operating transactionally, but always relationally,” Chris said. “We want our last wedding of the year to be just as great as the first one.” If you take time to read the pages upon pages of positive reviews, you will know that they absolutely accomplish that mission.

But that matrimonial magic doesn’t make itself. It takes a special team to pull that off wedding after wedding. The business is family owned and operated, with all five of Chris and Stephanie’s kids helping out in one way or another.

Their two oldest work full-time at BlueBridge. They say being surrounded by family helps keep the focus on the people at the heart of every event, which is one of their core values.

Another core value? Fun! Chris explains, “We understand our staff is choosing to give up a Friday or Saturday living in Traverse City during the best time of the year. It’s so awesome to work here, but it comes with a sacrifice. If we’re going to be here all night while your friends are out at the beach or on a boat, let’s have fun doing this thing.” You know your wedding is going well when the venue staff is having a good time, too.

Their core values drive their business and truly make a difference in the way that they approach every interaction. As a former BlueBridge bride myself, I can attest Chris and his staff are not just selling a venue; they are helping each couple create a foundation for a lasting marriage. Every year at Christmas when we hang the BlueBridge ornament gifted to us by the staff, my husband and I reminisce about our wedding and how amazing it was. The vendors worked together seamlessly. The flow of the day became effortless. We felt cared for and loved and completely able to enjoy our day. Instead of timelines, linens, and color swatches, we remember the love, laughs, people, and special moments made possible because BlueBridge took care of the details, both seen and unseen.

In talking with Chris, this time as a writer instead of a bride, he shared the reason he finds his work so important: “When we do a great job at what we do, it creates memories and moments that they can experience to the max. And then, when things get hard, they can look back on that day and say, ‘Do you remember? Do you remember what we did? Do you remember the people who were there that were cheering us on? They’re still in our corner.’ That’s kind of the why we do what we do. I like to think that it makes a difference.”

When you enter the BlueBridge property, time slows down, and you sense just a hint of magic. Some might say it is the calming nature that encompasses the buildings, but I think it comes from the warmth, comfort, and care you feel from everyone you encounter while you’re there. Chris and Stephanie McCrumb own an event space, but they’ve built a business for people to laugh, cry, dance, love, and create lasting memories. “When I am at an event or a wedding and I just look out and I see people dancing and laughing and connecting, and eating and all of that—it kind of fills your soul,” he said. “So that’s really what I feel like our place is all about. We get to experience that with them, but we also get to set the table for those moments to happen.”

The BlueBridge team is proud to be part of the Grand Traverse Community. They host proms, baby showers, and events for local nonprofits. Just a few weeks ago, they hosted a 90th birthday party.