The easiest mode of transportation to the venue is by personal vehicle or carpooling with other wedding goers; we do not anticipate that any form of ridesharing (Uber, Lyft, etc.) will be available. With this in mind, we have scheduled a charter bus for the day that will be providing rides to and from the venue for both the ceremony and reception. There are two scheduled loading times, 3:20pm and 4:00pm, for transport from the Blue Gate Garden Inn to the wedding venue, and the bus will be available to make trips back and forth between the hotel and venue throughout the night (exact times TBD). All guests are welcome to use this shuttle, even those who have found accommodations other than the room block we have at the Blue Gate Garden Inn.
There is free parking available at both the Blue Gate Garden Inn and at the wedding venue should people choose to drive to the venue or meet the shuttle at the hotel.
The ceremony will begin promptly at 4:30pm, and we welcome guests to begin arriving anytime after 3:45pm. We are planning to host the ceremony service outside with a very short walk from the clubhouse, so please plan accordingly. We will be in the clubhouse and on the patio, for the remainder of the evening for cocktail hour and reception.
The dress code for our wedding is cocktail attire. Considering the event is a July afternoon wedding, please feel free to make things summery, and don’t forget your dancing shoes!
Shipshewana prides itself on providing a fascinating cultural experience and provides a lens into the Amish lifestyle. As the third largest Amish community in the United States, it has become a major Midwest attraction and tourist fan-favorite. So much so that the town hosts roughly 1.5 million visitors a year. Shipshewana provides the opportunity for visitors to partake in the "Midwest's largest flea market" boasting over 700 vendors, to book a traditional Amish meal experience at Hoosier Banquets, and finish the experience with a buggy tour around town or a show in their downtown theatre.
Our personal favorite things to do while in Shipshewana include grabbing a bite to eat at the Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery and visiting the cute boutique shops in downtown (Davis Mercantile is a great stop).
For those who golf, there is no shortage of golf courses in the surrounding area! We recommend either Green Valley Golf Course or St. Joe Valley Course if you are looking to hit the links while in town.
Shipshewana hosts a large Amish and Mennonite community, and therefore the town voted to become a "dry" town some years ago. While the county Shipshewana resides in is not a "dry" county, the town itself does not allow the sale of hard liquor or alcohol. However, it is perfectly acceptable for individuals to bring their own alcoholic beverages with them. We have checked with the Blue Gate Garden Inn, and they informed us that although alcohol will not be sold on the premise, guests are more than welcome to bring their own alcohol if they choose.
For clarity, our wedding ceremony and reception are not located in Shipshewana, only the lodging. Alcohol will be provided during the weekend wedding events.
If you have any additional questions, PLEASE do not hesitate to reach out to Alex or Zan. We are extremely grateful to have so many family members and friends who are willing to travel far and wide just to celebrate our marriage, and we want to do everything that we can to make your trip as smooth as possible.
Feel free to reach out via call, text, or email at:
Zan - (248) 672-2573
Alex - (315) 750-5490
Email - atoz.brink@gmail.com