About
Bowen Mills Weddings for a Lifetime is a historic wedding venue located in Middleville, Michigan. Throughout this forested retreat, traces of the property’s rich past echo through blowing tree branches and bending floorboards. From its beginnings in the early 1800s to today, Bowen Mills is a site of historical significance and a place that marks promising futures. Here, amidst intriguing preserved structures and idyllic natural surroundings, couples are sure to make precious memories to last lifetimes.
Facilities and Capacity
The grounds offer a charming location for couples to exchange their vows before their closest friends and family on a sunlit lawn. The Bowen House is available to wedding party members to get ready for the main event in privacy and comfort. For those looking to host an indoor celebration, The Gathering Place offers a spacious site for unforgettable receptions. Bowen Mills is capable of hosting up to 250 distinguished guests.
Services Offered
Bowen Mills Weddings for a Lifetime is committed to transforming wedding visions into realities. Couples can take advantage of offered horse-pulled wagon rides, arriving or disembarking in style. A number of event rentals are available that range from tables and chairs to decorative shepherd hooks. Other services offered at Bowen Mills include wedding planning assistance, vendor referrals, and event setup and teardown.
Other Facilities
Situated on 19 acres of lush land, Bowen Mills is also a local museum attraction. A building that has survived bustling operations as well as neglect, the Grist and Cider Mill now stands as a landmark of historical significance. Available to visitors, the main floor of the structure features genuine antiques that date back to the early 19th century. The mill itself continues to manufacture corn for cornmeal by way of its water-powered rotary mechanical system. Other long-standing points of interest nestled across the Bowen Mills property include:
- A one-classroom schoolhouse
- A barn that houses the property’s resident Belgian draft horses
- A 17-foot-tall water wheel and covered bridge
- A vintage woodworking shop
History
Originally purchased in 1836, the mill began as a fully functioning hydro-powered lumber manufacturer. In 1838, the mill changed ownership and it was transported via oxen upstream to its current location. This resettlement involved the construction of a dam across a nearby creek which resulted in flooding and the subsequent formation of Barlow Lake. After multiple reacquisitions and added structures, the mill fell into disuse due to a shift in operations. However, after extensive rehabilitation efforts by Neal and Marion Cook in 1978, the mill was recovered to its former glory. Today it stands to educate the public about a piece of American history while also providing a romantic location for special wedding events.
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Map
Bowens Mills Weddings for a Lifetime frequently asked questions
- Chairs
- Clean Up
- Event Planning
- Parking
- Set Up
- Tables
- Banquet Hall
- Farm/Ranch
- Historic Building
- Indoor
- Covered Outdoor
- Uncovered Outdoor
- Ceremony
- Reception
- Clean Up
- Event Planner
- Event Rentals
- Get Ready Rooms
- Liability Insurance
- Pet Friendly
- Wifi
- Aisle Markers
- Altar/Arch
- Chairs
- Dance Floor
- Decor
- Drapery
- Furniture
- Lighting
- Photo booth
- Tables