10 unique wedding venues in Michigan to suit every kind of couple

From a distillery in Detroit to a summer camp, we’ve rounded up some of Michigan’s most unique wedding venues.

Of all the elements you need to consider when planning a wedding — color scheme, floral arrangements, the cake, etc. — your venue is arguably one of the most important. As the setting for your special day, picking the perfect site is paramount.

While churches have typically been the wedding ceremony venue of choice, many modern day couples are choosing to exchange vows in less-traditional locales.

We know planning a wedding is no easy feat, but we hope this list of extraordinary spaces to say “I do” at will help you cross one major item off your checklist and get you one step closer to your happily ever after.

Greater Detroit

The Whiskey Factory

1000 Maple St., Detroit

Celebrate your big day with a craft cocktail in hand at The Whiskey Factory in Detroit. This two-story distillery and event venue features 7,000 square feet of space and can accommodate up to 250 people.

The industrial-but-elegant interior is lined with aging whiskey barrels and has a 1920s Detroit vintage bar toward the back where guests can sip artisanal spirits from Detroit City Distillery.

Because The Whiskey Factory is a functioning distillery, it offers customizable beverage packages. It also offers tons of fun add-ons, such as a Guestbook Barrel, bottled cocktails with personalized labels, and more.

Planterra Conservatory

7315 Drake Rd., West Bloomfield

Do you and your future spouse share a love of plants? Then West Bloomfield’s Planterra Conservatory might be the perfect wedding venue for you.

This gorgeous greenhouse has been dubbed one of the best garden wedding venues in the world by Harper’s Bazaar and has a decidedly European charm. The glass-enclosed botanical garden is customizable to fit your desired style, whether you want a bohemian-inspired event or prefer a more modern aesthetic. Your walk down the aisle will end at a breathtakingly beautiful birch and floral arbor that can be styled with fresh cut flowers or fabric.

Planterra is a full-service venue, so everything from flowers and design to food and beverage is handled by expert in-house planners.

Rust Belt Market

22801 Woodward Ave., Ferndale

Rust Belt Market is an artisan marketplace that’s home to more than 30 small businesses. It’s also an event space perfect for unique weddings.

The main event space features bespoke farm tables and chairs, a bar area, and a stage and is decorated with artisan-made wood pendant lighting, whimsical string lights, and barn wood feature walls.

There’s also a luxury bridal suite called The Green Room. With plush vintage seating, custom lighting, and a full-length mirror, it’s the ideal place to get ready or relax before your ceremony commences.

While Rust Belt Market is a popular choice for receptions, you can also host your ceremony there for no additional fee.

Packard Proving Grounds

49965 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township

If you’re looking for a venue that allows for lots of customization, Packard Proving Grounds might be the perfect fit.

This venue, established in 1928 by The Packard Motor Car Company, celebrates Detroit’s rich automotive history and features several Albert Kahn-designed buildings in which you can get hitched. You can even opt to have Packard Cars from the company’s collection on display during your celebration.

Packard Proving Grounds is perfect for vintage and industrial weddings, but as a “blank slate to create your dream wedding,” it will work well for nuptials of all types.

Zingerman’s Cornman Farm

8540 Island Lake Rd., Dexter

Zingerman’s Cornman Farm is a country-chic wedding venue with plenty of elevated farmhouse flair.

This picturesque estate features multiple buildings and spaces, each designed with a specific aspect of your wedding in mind. The Greek revival farmhouse features a hair and makeup room, as well as a dressing room and a lounge where your wedding party can relax. The Red Barn has a loft that’s ideal for cocktail hour and formal dinners, in addition to the bar and lounge, a cozy space with a wood-burning fireplace.

The Farmhouse and the Red Barn’s loft are both popular indoor ceremony options, but if you prefer and outdoor ceremony, The Grove is a surreal site to behold.

Cornman Farm spans 27 rolling acres, providing plenty of photo opportunities.

Western Michigan

Cedar Lodge

47000 52nd St., Lawrence

Michiganders love their lakes, and if you choose Cedar Lodge as your wedding venue, you can get married right next to one. Located in Lawrence, Cedar Lodge is a children’s summer camp and horse riding stable, but with 150 acres of forest, wetlands, and fields, plus a private 12 acre lake, it’s also the perfect spot for nature lovers to exchange vows.

You can hold your ceremony lakeside or find another stunning spot on the sprawling property. In the case of inclement weather, the camp dining hall can be used for your ceremony, and the summer camp cabins are available to rent for overnight guests.

The Blue Dress Barn

3893 Territorial Rd., Benton Harbor

If you’re looking to channel a country-chic aesthetic on your big day, say yes to The Blue Dress Barn.

This 4,600-square-foot dairy barn is the perfect place to host your rustic-yet-refined reception. It’s adorned with wrought-iron chandeliers, draped twinkle lights, paper lanterns, and vintage wood furniture.

For the ceremony portion of your big day, you have two sites to choose from, both of which also exude plenty of rustic charm. The first option is a more traditional site between two historic 40-foot silos, while the second one is located on a bed of grasslands. The second site features a pergola handcrafted from birch and bench seating for guests.

Northern Michigan

Castle Farms

5052 M-66 Charlevoix

Does your dream wedding involve a castle? If so, put Castle Farms at the top of your list of venues to check out.

Built in 1918, Castle Farms is a historic landmark that boasts French-inspired architecture, gorgeous gardens, and multiple different spaces (indoor and outdoor) in which friends and family can gather for your fairytale wedding.

Presque Isle

4500 E. Grand Lake Rd., Presque Isle

Presque Isle is home to two lighthouses, both of which would make a beautiful backdrop for your outdoor wedding ceremony.

Each lighthouse is noteworthy for its own reasons — New Presque Isle Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse on the Great Lakes, and Old Presque Isle Lighthouse is the Great Lakes’ oldest accessible lighthouse. Both lighthouses overlook Lake Huron and offer countless photo opportunities in a serene — and stunning — environment.

The Depot on Fletcher Street, a nearby event space, is the perfect place to host your reception.

Lake Bluff Preserve

1136 Michigan Ave., Frankfort

Say “I do” with Lake Michigan as your backdrop at Lake Bluff Preserve. This scenic setting boasts incredible water views, whether you choose to exchange vows on the beach or atop the dunes.

There are several private vacation homes available to rent and plenty of activities and attractions nearby, from hiking and canoeing to wineries and breweries.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.