Local Love Stories

Five tales of true love Up North

By Jillian Manning | Feb. 3, 2024

Love is in the air this time of year, so we asked readers to share their love stories set against the backdrop of northern Michigan. How wonderful to discover that this little corner of the world has been where so many couples meet, fall in love, and begin new adventures together!

Just Haven’t Met You Yet

Alex and Becca both grew up in Traverse City—Alex was a Central High School hockey player who graduated in 2006, and Becca was a West High School soccer player who graduated in 2008. Despite their overlapping social circles, they never met back then.

The pair almost met several times over the years, including once in Marquette, Michigan, where Becca was attending college and Alex was visiting mutual friends; and once in Lander, Wyoming, when Alex was biking the Great Divide Trail with Becca’s stepbrother. They almost stopped to stay with Becca, who lived there at the time, but plans changed and their paths didn’t cross.

After Becca moved back to Traverse City, her stepsister set these two up, and they finally met one August day in 2019 at Esch Beach. Three years later to the day, Alex proposed to Becca at Esch Beach…and they just got married in January 2024 at Silver Spruce in Traverse City!

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Beth’s step-grandparents have had a house in Elberta for a long time. She spent some summers visiting and fell in love with the area. When she met her husband, Tony, in Scottsdale, Arizona, Beth knew just the spot they should get married in 2011: northern Michigan!

Beth and Tony flew all their friends and family from around the world to Elberta to attend their wedding on the shores of Frankfort Beach. They then had their reception at The Cabbage Shed. They danced, they ate, and they embraced the beauty of northern Michigan on that special day.

Fast-forward to May 2016, when Beth and Tony made the decision to move their two daughters and family across the country from Arizona to operate…The Cabbage Shed! The same place they celebrated their love and wedding already had such fond memories, and soon it became their family business.

This April will be eight years that Beth and Tony have owned and operated The Cabbage Shed. Beth says their wedding pictures are a beautiful reminder of where their story started and continues to grow.

In Love with Leelanau

Ken and Codie have been together for 12 years, and they have been married for seven. They both love spending time in Leelanau County, so it was a no-brainer for Ken to propose at Codie’s favorite place, Shalda Creek, in 2015.

The couple’s only wish was to have their family and dearest friends present for their big day. They were able to rent out the entire Leland Lodge and made that wish come true, surrounded by everyone they loved. They took their wedding photos in Historic Fishtown for another nod to their love of Leelanau. According to Codie, it was a perfect day. (Sure sounds like it to us!)

Written on Your Heart

Bob and Karen met at the Traverse Bay Sunrise Rotary’s annual Backpacks, Books & Bikes fundraiser in October 2021. As Bob said to Karen that evening, “Today is your lucky day!” Yes indeed, as they have been dating ever since.

Within five minutes, they learned a lot about one another. Both discovered they had experienced long, successful marriages, but were widowed when their spouses died after long illnesses. Both had strong backgrounds in community service, shared avid interests in food, cooking, hiking, and—most importantly—a shared passion for the importance of reading to children from a young age.

Now, Bob serves as the chairman of Books from Birth, A Community Gift for Raising Readers. Karen is co-chair of the Rotary’s Born to Read project. The lesson learned? Give back to your community…and watch the love and magic happen!

Bless the Broken Road

Cheyenne and Donovan have known one another since high school. Their story started in 2012, and they welcomed a child to their home in 2015.

But around the new year in 2016-2017, Donovan’s alcoholism came between them. The couple lived apart until Donovan booked himself into rehab just days before their daughter’s second birthday.

Cheyenne says no one could have told them that those years of trials and tribulations would eventually bring them joy and love. Donovan learned so much about himself with the years of sobriety, and Cheyenne learned how to handle her family’s lifestyle with grace and pride.

Thanks to their love for their little family—and lots of support from friends and family— Cheyenne says their cup overflows. The duo knows for most folks the outcome of alcoholism isn’t the same as theirs, but it is a reminder that even when times are hard, perseverance will help.