My fiance and I plan to elope in Michigan later this spring/early summer. We're looking for a non-touristy, charming, romantic location. Rustic, pastoral or beach town. An inn, B&B or quaint chapel. We live in the suburbs of Detroit, but love to explore and road trip so are open to suggestions anywhere in the state. Thanks for you insight.

Cheers, Jennifer

Jennifer, I don't have a specific location but if you want non touristy, don't go to tourist destinations (beach towns, quaint cities) in the summer.

I'd try to pick a location either before Memorial Day or after Labor Day.

I've got some great ideas, but none are in Michigan - unfortunately. You might want to repost with Michigan in the title so that people who are familiar with the area will click on your post.

It has been a long time since my wife and I visited there, but you might want to try the Highland Inn in Monterey, Virginia, the tiny county seat of Highland County. Highland County, tucked away on the Virginia-West Virginia border, is called the "Switzerland of Virginia." I remember it as being very rustic, reasonably cool for the summer (we visited in July of 1990), populated with dairy farms and a few back-to-nature types, and relaxed and unhurried. There were really no sort of tourist trap in Monterey only a couple of antique shops and someone selling pies from their front yard. It reminded me of the fictional Green Acres or Petticoat Junction.

Metro Beach- they have a cute little gazebo out on the point, with tons of flowers planted around it. It's where we eloped this summer. It was $50 to rent for the day. Let me know if you'd like me to email pictures!

We have friends who eloped to Lake Tahoe. Beautiful pictures.

Garland Resort in Lewiston is supposed to be very nice. I can't get their website to come up now however.

Whitefish Point in the UP. The lighthouse has been restored and is a B&B. There are some great overlooks along the trails.

We eloped to Maui. My wife needed a Lutheran minister and he even ha d 2 of his congregation there. They videotaped the marriage ceremony on Mokena Beach at sunset for us. It was beautiful and the video is a great memory of the occasion.

Don't forget to get all your legal documents in order first.

My husband and I eloped to St. Thomas last year. We flew down to Florida from New York where we live and the hopped on a cruise to the Caribbean. On our day stay in St. Thomas we got married on the beach. We were even able to get a free wedding dress rental from the wedding company as part of the package. Here is the link to our wedding planners: http://www.sttweddings.com/
Have Fun! Susie

I grew up spending summers in Higgins Lake, and I think it's the most beautiful lake I've ever seen. I'm not sure what the inn or B&B options are, but maybe you could research on the internet.

Congratulations!

Uh, I think the OP should be married by now...