Detroit may not have a reputation as a wedding destination, but with its historic buildings, museums and beautiful parks, the city boasts plenty a hidden gem when it comes to romantic spots to tie the knot.
Some 7,000 marriages occur yearly in Wayne County, according to 2009 data from the Michigan Department of Community Health. That might make it seem challenging to have a unique wedding, but there are countless locations in the Detroit area, each with its own style.
Advertisement
(SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS)
At the Detroit Historical Museum, "Saying I Do: Metro Detroit Weddings," on display through May 24, takes a look at local marriage ceremonies throughout time and across different cultural traditions. The exhibit reveals traditional ceremony locations in the city, like the city's first church, St. Anne de Detroit, built in 1701.
What exhibit organizers might not have bargained for was that the show itself would become part of Detroit's wedding history: Jeanette Pierce's now-husband Rich Peresky proposed to her while walking through "Saying I Do."
"It's an amazing exhibit," said Pierce, who met Peresky while giving a tour at the museum for the non-profit she cofounded, Inside Detroit. "We both love history and we both love Detroit -- it couldn't have been more perfect."
Pierce and Peresky made their wedding -- from local rings to local bands -- full of Detroit flavor, topped off with a public ceremony and reception in the heart of downtown, Campus Martius.
Advertisement
"Before I was married I would say, 'Detroit's the love of my life,'" Pierce said. "We wanted to celebrate our love and all the people we love and the city that brought us together."
The couple also took wedding photographs at their favorite city spots, including the Heidelberg Project, the Guardian Building and Rivard Plaza on the Detroit riverfront. They offered bus tours of the city to their wedding guests, both those from the metro area and from out of town, to see the best of what Detroit has to offer.
"[We had] the opportunity to show people what we love about it and all of the wonderful things about it," Pierce said. "It was our way to give back to the city that's given so much to us."
Pierce and Peresky aren't the only ones to use their wedding photographs to show their civic pride. Deborah Lee, store operations manager for the popular John K. King Used and Rare Books, said many couples take wedding pictures at the store, and they've seen at least one in-store proposal.
"It's part of their date experience to come to the bookstore, so we're really happy that they have fond memories and embrace us as part of those memories," Lee said. (For the book lovers out there, the store asks for camera-happy couples to email their plans in advance.)
Advertisement
Dan Nichols, owner-operator of Michigan Wedding DJ, has seen it all after two decades spent working more than a thousand weddings, most in southeastern Michigan. As a professional, he has a unique take on what makes a perfect reception venue. One key factor he says brides and grooms tend to overlook: the location of the bar. If it's too far from the main area, Nichols said, you're going to end up with an empty dance floor all night.
According to Nichols, the best way to make a wedding memorable is to end it earlier than expected.
"You want people still screaming for more," he said, rather than have the party die a slow death. "They remember everybody screaming and high-fiving at midnight."
And a short reception might make your Detroit wedding stand out. "We have marathon weddings," Nichols said, adding Michigan weddings tend to last around six hours. The national average is closer to four.
So what does Nichols play to get Detroit wedding-goers on their feet?
"Motown. At least in Detroit, it never fails."
Whether your wedding song is by the Supremes or the Stooges, check out a gallery of great Detroit wedding locations, from the iconic to the offbeat.
Detroit Wedding Locations
Advertisement
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.