What's a Wade's Bayou?
Wade's Bayou is an adorable pint sized park of the shores of the Kalamazoo River, located in the heart of Douglas, MI. Home to local kayakers, this neighborhood park features a small gazebo (in case of rain), nice grassy spaces, and a brand new pier. It's convenient and free parking are an extra bonuses.
Why do we like Wade's Bayou?
We like it because it's easy to find, and there are no curbs so it's totally handicap/wheelchair accessible. It's also got several photogenic spots, including one under a big old tree, that are great for ceremonies. For those reasons, and more, Wade's Bayou is one of our favorite locations to use for small weddings and elopements.
Bring on the photos!
To give you an idea of what it looks like I've rounded up a few photos from recent weddings there. When you arrive you're welcome to pick your own favorite spot.
A summertime Wade's Bayou Elopement
It's a short walk across the stone driveway at Wade's Bayou to the big old tree, at the far end of the park. Julie & Bill picked a shady spot under that big tree for their ceremony. It's about as close as you can gets to the waters edge, without being on the beach. We find most people tend to prefer trees and water, to people in swim suits, to be in their wedding photos, So, this park has become one of the most popular choices for small weddings and elopements especially in good weather.
Wade's Bayou with Pets
O.M.G. I need to do entire blog series on these two and their pets! Our florist did the lab's wreath, and each little poochie got their own outfit, sunflower necklace,. They were held for the entire ceremony because...are you ready for this!?! The little doggies were their ring bearers! It was so cute to see their rings tied on each little dog's adorned collar, it was tots adorbs! This couple picked a grassy area near a bench that we'd use later for photos and signing their marriage license. To protect their privacy, I'm not going to show you any close-ups but, here's a quick overview of the area. There theme was blue and white, sunflowers are their favorite flower....cue the "awwwes"
Wade's Bayou in April
Rob and Dougie got married at Wade's Bayou before heading off to celebrate in Dougie's hometown in Scotland, they recorded his Dad's speech and it was one of the best I've heard; such a warm and loving family; we were so luck to be a part of their special day! They'll get a blog all of their own, too, some day soon. But, in the meantime here are some shots from their wedding under the gazebo.
About their spot
It was a typical Scottish day, cold and rainy but, the gazebo provided just enough cover for us to stay dry. Afterwards the couple ventured out in the sprinkles to get some photo's with their sweet dog, which give us this a nice look at the grassy area between the gazebo and the big tree, where the weddings above took place. Notice how different the "big old tree" looks? Can you see how close it is from the parking lot in the background of the family photos? The green space in front of the cars is where many of the couple's photos were taken, and where the trees had blooming flowers.
Please remember is the photos I'm showing you here aren't necessarily wedding photos you'd keep, they're here to show you what the different popular "wedding" areas of the park may look like in the background of your photos. But, if you Google the park, don't be fooled by anything that looks like a sunset over this spot. That's a a sunrise, and I don't get up before the sun rises. If you want those gorgeous sunset shots, check out our beach wedding options.
What I can tell you is that Wade's Bayou Memorial Park is a cute little local park, that's easy to find, and free to park at; 3 of the hardest to find things in this area. It's also one of the only places to have a virtually private ceremony, near the water, especially during the summer. It's also just a short walk to some great restaurants and wine bars. Which makes it the perfect place for an afternoon small wedding or elopement in the park.
About Us
Dream Day Weddings is a boutique wedding planning company, based in Saugatuck MI. We love cool, low drama, couples and take pride in catering to the LGBTQ+ community. We offer wedding planning and all-inclusive wedding packages throughout Saugatuck, Douglas, and South Haven.
Are you getting married?
Are you getting married or planning a wedding? Click the button to find out how we can help!
Photo credits: Shutter Sam Photography and Saugatuck Wedding Photography