By Diane Gale Andreassi
Wedding dreams really do come true at Metro Detroit wedding venues that focus on creating custom made receptions.
Couples can plan exactly what they want from intimate ceremonies that transfer to breathtaking ballrooms for the receptions in the two ballrooms at the Masonic Temple. The structure was built in 1920 and is the world’s largest Masonic Temple, which is in Detroit’s Cass Corridor.
One ballroom accommodates up to 350 guests and the other up to 650 guests. The Masonic Temple staff handle all the wedding details and the couple is invited to bring their own center pieces, photographer, officiant and entertainment.
Making it easy
The Ford Community Performing Arts Center also offers convenience to guests who can watch couples take their vows in the theater and move directly to the reception in the ballroom with a two-story grand entrance that opens to an elegant spiral staircase, ideal for photos in an elegant setting. The center was recently renovated and it accommodates 800 seated guests.
The facility is operated by Dearborn Recreation, which also facilitates weddings at the Dearborn Hills Golf Course and
Cocktails are served on a patio at Mystic Creek, which can accommodate 250 guests. The reception appears to bring the outdoors inside with floor to ceiling windows that overlooks the lush greenery and landscape.
“It gives you a feeling of being in the countryside,” explained Erica Lyght, assistant director of Dearborn Recreation. “The golf courses are a perfect facility for someone who is looking to have an outdoor ceremony and an indoor reception so you can do everything in one place.”
Focused on service
The Mirage Elegant Banquets & Catering in Clinton Township is in it to impress with recently renovated bars, bathrooms, and flooring, according to Virginia DiGiuseppe, event coordinator.
The Mirage can create whatever couples imagine.
“We have packages with chair covers or the chiavari chairs that are popular right now,” she said. “And we have six beers on tap, including craft beers, which younger couples really love. Most halls only have two beers on tap.”
“We go the extra step, always,” DiGiuseppe said. “We’re Italia House, and the food is just amazing.”
The Mirage can also bring that food to your party off-site with their VP Catering service.
“We work with our clients from the time they book right up through the day of their event,” she added.
The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History gives couples an historical backdrop.
“A love story is of great significance,” said Gail Busby, director of special events and rentals. “The Wright Museum offers several private spaces and the option to setup throughout the entire museum for a wedding or reception. Conveniently located in Detroit’s Midtown Cultural Center, The Wright offers couples an incredible value at truly exceptional rates.”
While the bride and groom have their pictures taken, their guests can stroll through the exhibits. There’s no need for decorations.
Catering to couples
Hiring a caterer gives couples a chance to choose their own venues and customize their menus.
Strolling stations are popular requests at Katherine’s Catering and they often follow themes to incorporate fun and unique menu items. Katherine’s is available at Summit on the Park in Canton and Lyon Oaks Golf and Banquet Center in Wixom; as well as offsite venues.
At Lyon Oaks reception meals can be buffet, family style or plated accommodate up to 350 seated guests or 400 strolling guests. Ceremonies are held on the lawn or the patio.
“We pride ourselves on customizing menus to every event,” explained Lyon Oaks Jennifer Francis, catering sales coordinator. “We offer wine and beer and help create a signature cocktail. We can come up with a recipe or they can bring us one. We can help coordinate the décor, as well as the food.”
Meanwhile, the grand ballroom at Summit on the Park can hold up to about 250 people.
“We focus on creating something for each individual bride,” explained Laura Przybylo, senior catering sales coordinator. “We want to make it their day, rather than just letting them choose from a prebuilt menu. We are able to customize menus for each party.”
Décor colors at the Summit are neutral, which makes it easy for couples to add whatever they like, she said. The couple can also layout the room as they choose by placing the dance floor wherever they want.
Royal setting
If you’re looking for elegance and sophisticated décor, the Regency Manor and Banquet Center in Southfield, has high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, two full bars, ballrooms and a lower level lounge.
Regency Manor can provide everything the couple needs, from simple delivery and set-up of an order to fully staffing weddings with servers, bartenders and valets. Regency staff is available to coordinate rentals, from seating to tableware to décor. Regency Manor also offers full service, off-premise catering in the Metro-Detroit area.
Ice sculptures made in-house with a martini infusion are part of the signature attraction at Fern Hill Golf Club in Clinton Township. Up to 700 guests can be accommodated for a sit-down meal. Ceremonies are held indoors and outdoors, said Erika Marko, event coordinator.
The patio overlooks the golf course and couples can treat their guests to cocktail parties outside after the ceremony.
“A lot of people like to have the ceremony and reception in one place,” she said. “The guests don’t have to travel around and we take photos of them on the golf course.”
Making statements
One wedding trend is to focus on making good first and last impressions by making a splash with extravagant hors devours and desserts, explained Eric Djordjevic, Epicurean Group Catering and Events president.
“People aren’t spending as much on their main course, but they’re going over the top with appetizers and desserts,” Djordjevic said adding that craft cocktails, specially designed for couples, are common requests too. “A recent wedding had tequila bars and bourbon tastings,” he added.
Desserts are finding their way onto dance floors with servers passing mini delicacies on and around the area. “People can have their one or two bites and keep dancing,” Djordjevic said.
If you’re looking for different types of venues, the Epicurean Group Catering and Events, a suite of partner restaurants and banquet halls, accommodates parties from a few people to 4,000 guests.
The venues include The Premier Hotel in Southfield, Four Points Hotel in Novi and Aloft Hotel in the David Whitney Building in Detroit. Catering by Epicurean is also available “at any venue guests choose,” Djordjevic said.
A team of talented culinarians and chefs create whatever the couples can imagine.
“We’re not just a catering group,” he said. “We’re a restaurant group and we can bring that ala carte, from creativity and scratch cooking and the skill set to execute beyond bulk food preparation.”
Epicurean also connects couples with preferred vendors from pastry chefs to floral designers.
Love smoked meat?
Weddings at Red Crown offer a different flavor to weddings. Serving upscale southern barbecue in an antique gas station, the dining room accommodates 60 people and in the summertime, the restaurant can accommodate 80 guests with some spilling out into the patio. Red Crown will also take their menu to parks and backyards for catered receptions of up to 3,000 people.
Red Crown’s specialties include ribs, pork, brisket, burgers and the like.
“We design each menu for each guest,” said Del Sagnes, general manager. “We smoke and brine all our own meats in-house and we have the ability to do any size party.
The fact we can groom each menu to the guests’ desires and price points, makes us a little more agile.”
Located in the quaint and romantic downtown district of Grosse Pointe Park, wedding guests will enjoy a fully-stocked bar of craft beer and specialty cocktails, an expansive patio, and a warm and inviting fire pit.
Back to another time
Couples will step away from the ordinary when they host their weddings in a 16th century village presented by the Michigan Renaissance Festival in Holly.
Weddings start at the front gates where the party is paraded through the village to a garden gazebo in front of a waterfall. Shop keepers holler out as the party travels through the village, explained Kim Petit, wedding coordinator.
The wedding group is taken to the castle for a two-hour reception that includes a six course dinner. Sword fights, acrobatic acts and other entertainment will amuse the guests while they feast.
Weddings are booked for the seven weekends of the festival—this year the schedule is Aug. 17 through Sept. 29. Everyone receives a hand thrown pottery goblet to take home.
The big castle can comfortably seat 120-130 people and the smaller castle seats about 80 people. After the wedding guests are invited to venture out into the festival to play games.
“We typically book in January and February,” Petit said. “We can cater it to be anything they want, like a pirate theme, Throne of Swords, traditional and Celtic weddings. It’s very entertaining if you’re looking for wedding to stand out.”
Draw own package
The Ukrainian Cultural Center in Warren has hosted thousands of weddings and showers since 1978 with a focus on personal service and delicious food. The grand ballroom can accommodate up to 450 guests and can be divided into two smaller halls, one with a capacity of up to 150 guests and other with a 250 guest limit. The Dovbush room provides an intimate setting accommodating 80 guests.
All of the wedding packages can be customized to meet the needs of the couple. Menus range from traditional American cuisine to eastern European.
Hotel St. Regis Detroit invites couples to join them on their journey of revitalization from newly reimagined rooms to an engaging lobby experience bringing the best of its past forward.
Say “I do” in Detroit with the building’s historic architecture, reflecting Old World Europe design and making the perfect backdrop for the special day.
Hotel St. Regis can accommodate celebrations of 10-300 people for engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, ceremonies, receptions and your sending off breakfast.
