SO…..your love finally put a ring on it and you’re ready to start planning your dream wedding day! One of the first pieces of the wedding planning puzzle is finding your venue. With TONS of local wineries, breweries and beaches, Southwest Michigan is the perfect midwest destination to host your wedding. Choosing your wedding venue can be a daunting task, especially if you don’t have the time to visit every venue that sparks your interest. To make things easier, I’ve curated a list of the most unique wedding venues I’ve photographed in southwest Michigan – all of them have so many opportunities to create stunning photographs!
- Sundance and the Secret Garden – Benton Harbor, Michigan
This eclectic venue is the perfect mix of industrial and vintage. From the handmade beaded chandelier in the dining area to the lush outdoor secret garden- this venue is full of unique details from head to toe. Located in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Sundance is 1.5 hours from Chicago and 45 minutes from South Bend, IN.
Maximum Guests: 175
On-site Getting Ready Locations: Bridal Cottage,Groom Garage
Venue Spaces: dining room, dance hall, outdoor ceremony space with arbor, outdoor cocktail hour with bar, bridal cottage, groom garage
2. Journeyman Distillery – Three Oaks, Michigan
A previous corset and buggy whip factory turned distillery + wedding venue- how more unique can you get?! Located in Three Oaks, Michigan, Journeyman Distillery is the perfect fit for couples looking for an industrial modern venue. A few of the many stunning design details include hundreds of string lights draped in Warren Hall, gorgeous crystal chandeliers in the Bridal Suite, and original hardwood flooring throughout. Added bonus: Journeyman is home to the largest putting greens 🙂
Maximum Guests: 300
On-site Getting Ready Locations: Bridal Suite
Venue Spaces: Warren Hall, The Grainery, The Still Room, bridal suite, outdoor ceremony site, outdoor cocktail hour area
3. Revival Wedding Barn– Dowagiac, Michigan
Revival Wedding Barn located in Dowagic, Michigan is a newer venue offering an ALL WHITE barn, and let me tell you, it’s absolutely stunning! It will also be completely air conditioned by summer 2022 so you can still enjoy the rustic barn feeling while also keeping you and your guests cool on the dance floor! The black chandeliers and oversized sliding barn doors are just some of the details that make this a stunning modern barn venue.
Maximum Guests: 200
On-site Getting Ready Locations: Separate Bride + Groom suites
Venue Spaces: Indoor barn area, indoor/outdoor bar, outdoor ceremony location, two getting ready rooms, covered outdoor cocktail hour
4. The Millcreek Wilde– Watervliet, Michigan
Millcreek Wilde is a rustic, vintage barn venue located in Watervliet, Michigan. The owners spared no details when creating this unique space! The dance hall features a chandelier draped with dried florals, the ceiling in the main dining area is decked out with paper globes and a handmade wooden arbor perfectly frames the head table.
Maximum guests: 250
On-site Getting Ready Locations: Man Hut, Bridal Cottage
Venue Spaces: Dining hall, dance hall, outdoor ceremony location, indoor/outdoor bar, two getting ready rooms, fire pit, outdoor cocktail area
5. Gable Hill– Marcellus, Michigan
Located in Marcellus, Michigan, Gable Hill is definitely for couples looking for a romantic, rustic venue. The high ceilings paired with draping tapestries and crystal chandeliers is simply breathtaking. The outdoor ceremony site is complete with mature shade trees and wood benches. No detail was spared creating this space!
Maximum Guests: 200
On-site Getting Getting Ready Locations: Cottage with upper and lower levels
Venue Spaces: Main dining area, dancing area, outdoor ceremony site, cottage with upper and lower levels, patio with fire pit
Want help coming up with a design plan, making your space even more unique or wanting a professional to run the show for you? Checkout some of my favorite southwest Michigan event planners and designers!
And of course, another big thing to check off your wedding planning list is a photographer! If you’re looking for a wedding + elopement photographer based in southwest Michigan to tell your love story in authentic way with real emotions, look no further, I’M YOUR GIRL! Reach out now, 2022 availability is extremely limited and my 2023 calendar is filling up quickly!
