Ann Arbor Wedding Venues: Your Guide to Finding the Perfect Match
You’ve decided to do the thing and get married. YAY! Congrats! Ready to embark on the adventure of wedding planning? Before you dive headfirst into endless venue tours, here are some of my favorite tips for choosing your venue AND my favorite venues in the area. Choosing the perfect spot for your "I do's" can feel overwhelming, so I wanted to put this guide together for couples who are unsure about where to start.
This guide will equip you with essential tips and tricks to navigate the venue search with confidence:
Finding Your Perfect Match: Your wedding venue should feel like an extension of you, so take some time to think about what's most important. Are you envisioning a cozy rustic barn wedding or a modern urban celebration? Whatever your style, there's probably a venue in the Ann Arbor area that fits.
Sticking to Your Budget: Let's face it – weddings can be expensive. But that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your dreams to stay within budget. Set a realistic budget and do your best to stick to it. Look for venues that offer inclusive packages (that include catering, linens, tables, etc) OR venues that allow you to bring in your own vendors to help stretch your dollars further. These sorts of venues are great for the couples that prefer to DIY a lot of their decor.
Bonus tip: A day-of coordinator may be helpful if you’re a hardcore DIYer and/or choose a venue that requires you to bring in all or most of the basics. You do not want to be setting up your reception and folding napkins at 11pm the night before your wedding because you didn’t have time to do it earlier.
Preparing for the Unexpected: Michigan weather can be unpredictable, so it's essential to choose a venue with a solid rain plan in place. Trust me, you don't want to be scrambling for cover if a sudden downpour hits on your big day! Look for venues that offer indoor/outdoor spaces or have backup options available. Or, at minimum, be familiar with a local tent rental company for a last minute tent.
Seeing is Believing: While online research is a great starting point, there's no substitute for seeing a venue in person. Make a shortlist of your top contenders, then schedule visits to each one. Pay attention to how the space makes you feel – after all, you want your venue to feel like home on your wedding day.
Planning from Afar: If you're planning your wedding from out of town, this is really no big deal. Enlist the help of a local wedding planner (I’m happy to provide some recommendations!) or a trusted friend to scout venues on your behalf. And be sure to check a calendar to avoid scheduling your wedding during peak events like the Ann Arbor Art Fair or U of M football games, which can impact hotel availability and pricing for out-of-town guests. As much as we love our football around here, it is a buzzkill trying to be somewhere (like your ceremony) on time before or after a game. Don’t risk it.
Now, let's talk about some of the best wedding venues in the Ann Arbor area (in no particular order):
Craving an intimate celebration with a taste of Napa Valley? This charming wine bar offers the perfect setting for cozy gatherings with your closest loved ones.
If you told me that this restaurant was in Napa, I’d believe you. Their incredible wine list is mindblowing, and the decor is modern with a touch of old world vineyard.
Couples often get married in the Bubble Room, then flip the space for the dinner party reception while guests mingle in the Bordeaux room next door. This space is dark, intimate, and cozy and features some of the best farm-to-table food in Ann Arbor. A whole restaurant buyout is also possible.
Featured Spring Vinology Wedding
Address: 110 South Main Street, Ann Arbor MI 48104
Phone: (734) 222-9841
This countryside barn venue is all about rustic charm and drop-dead gorgeous views. Bonus points: no hay bales required (unless you want them!).
The Valley rental includes access to the property Friday through Sunday, which offers a chance to set-up the day before and to have the rehearsal on property. The ceremony typically takes place out back under some gorgeous trees next to a tiny creek, and guests enjoy an outdoor cocktail hour before entering the lower barn for dinner. Dancing typically takes place in the upper barn. This venue is especially magical on nice Fall nights when guests can mingle indoors or out as they please. The upper barn also acts as a good rain plan for the ceremony.
Featured Misty Valley Wedding
Address: 7650 Scio Church Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Email: info@frutigfarms.com
Let nature be your wedding guest of honor! Lush gardens and peaceful surroundings transform this venue into a breathtaking haven for your outdoor ceremony.
Matthaei features four outdoor locations for ceremonies, but my personal favorite are the perennial gardens. The lighting in the summer is gorgeous, and couples enjoy using the manicured gardens afterward for photos. The Matthaei Conservatory is also a unique intimate wedding and reception option for guest counts under 60 people.
Featured Matthaei Botanical Gardens Wedding
Address: 1800 N Dixboro Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Hail to the Victors... and your dream wedding! These venues blend iconic charm with modern amenities, offering unique spaces for weddings big or small.
Both the University of Michigan League and the Union offer gorgeous, historic spaces for weddings of all sizes. Most recently, I’ve photographed intimate weddings at both locations and it’s worked out beautifully. Both of these locations offer an outdoor (or outdoor-like! The Union has a covered courtyard) ceremony spot. You can also choose to get married somewhere else on campus, such as Ingalls Mall, which is right outside of the League. Imagine the Rackham Graduate School (think staircases, white marble, and grand architecture) or the Diag in the background of your photos… nothing is more Ann Arbor than that!
Featured League Wedding
League Address: 911 North University Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Union Address: 530 S. State St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Email: conferences@umich.edu
This stunning museum venue lets you add a touch of culture and class to your wedding. Whether you're an art aficionado or a history buff (or both!), this venue promises a wedding that's anything but boring.
Located in the middle of campus, this venue is not only known for its impressive art collection but also for its proximity to iconic campus locations such as the Law Quad and the Michigan Union. You won’t need to rent additional transportation to get to your wedding photo locations!
During cocktail hour, guests may have the opportunity to walk around the museum and admire the artwork. This also gives us the chance to use the numerous galleries for wedding portraits! Between the interesting blend of architecture and the always rotating art on display, there is no shortage of spots within the museum for great photographs. This is especially great if the weather decides not to cooperate and we have to do all/most of your photos indoors.
Featured UMMA Wedding
Address: 525 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Art lovers, this one's for you! Celebrate your union surrounded by inspiration at this contemporary venue.This contemporary venue lets you ditch the traditional ballroom for an unforgettable celebration.
The Ann Arbor Art Center is a bit of a wedding venue hidden gem in downtown Ann Arbor. I adore its gallery spaces; one more white and minimal and the other with exposed brick. It’s more of an industrial vibe than you would expect, but both of these spaces are the perfect blank canvas for your intimate wedding. Also, this is right downtown Ann Arbor and all of it’s picturesque storefronts and tree lined streets. Downtown is one of my favorite places to photograph for a reason!
Featured A2 Art Center Wedding
Address: 117 W Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Ditch the stuffy ballrooms and embrace the barn charm! This venue offers rustic elegance and enough picture-perfect spots to make your photographer swoon.
The Historic Blum Barn is a relatively new venue to the area, and it’s become one of my favorites. It’s not exactly in Ann Arbor, but it’s a short ride away. Everything at this venue is well thought out and beautiful. From the new bridal suites, to the planted flower fields and the adorable fire pit outside the barn, this wedding venue was made with exceptional guest experience in mind.
Address: 10383 E. Austin Rd. Manchester, MI
Email: Mirela@historicblumbarn.com
Skip the crowded banquet halls and embrace the charm of this historic venue! Picture exchanging vows surrounded by picturesque gardens, then choosing between two distinct event spaces for your unforgettable celebration.
I adore a garden ceremony, and Wellers has two of the best garden ceremony spots in the area. The landscaping as a whole is gorgeous and whimsical. Wellers also has the option to rent out its historic hospitality house near downtown Saline. The hospitality house has the same vibe as Wellers: charming and historic with a tiny well kept garden out back, so keep that in mind while looking for a getting ready location.
Featured Wellers Wedding
Address: 555 W Michigan Ave, Saline, MI 48176
Email: wellers2@aol.com
This sophisticated Ann Arbor club boasts a hidden gem – a stunning landscaped garden perfect for an elegant outdoor ceremony.
From the moment you step through the doors of the Ann Arbor City Club, you're greeted by a sense of history and “old world elegance” that sets the stage for a fabulous wedding day. The getting ready spaces are light and airy, with bright decor and big windows, which make for beautiful getting ready photos. The interior of the club house also makes for a great rain plan for portraits, and there are numerous picturesque little nooks all over the building, in addition to the lovely gardens outside.
Featured Ann Arbor City Club
Address: 1830 Washtenaw Avenue Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Email: info@annarborcityclub.org
A Modern Hotel Venue with Historic Touches located in the heart of Ann Arbor. Modern Chic + Historic Charm + A Central Location = the perfect Ann Arbor hotel wedding venue.
The Graduate Ann Arbor is located in downtown Ann Arbor and close to campus. The location alone makes this a great option for couples coming in from out of town. You and your guests can enjoy reminiscing on campus and enjoying all that downtown A2 has to offer before and after the wedding. How about walking to your after party at Circ Bar??
The lobby of The Graduate is also a big deal to me: it has great decor, large floor to ceiling windows and a large dramatic staircase that I enjoy using in photographs. Couples often want to use this space for photos before heading onto campus for their rest of their photos.
Address: 615 East Huron St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Email: sales@graduateannarbor.com
This industrial-chic gem seamlessly blends modern style with a touch of history, creating a blank canvas for you to paint your dream wedding into reality.
Imagine saying "I do" bathed in the warm glow of natural light streaming through expansive windows. Zingerman's Greyline boasts high ceilings and neutral décor, giving you the freedom to transform the space to match your wildest (or most elegant) wedding vision. Intimate gathering or grand soiree? No problem! This versatile venue adapts to your guest list and style flawlessly. Also, Zingerman’s Catering - who DOESN’T love them?!
This venue is also great option for rehearsal dinners, day-after brunches, showers and everything in between. It truly is the “blank canvas” for pretty much any event.
Address: 100 N. Ashley St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: 734-230-2300
A few bonus venues…
This secluded B&B boasts stunning waterfront views, beautiful gardens, and a sprawling lawn – perfect for an intimate and unforgettable celebration.
Okay, this isn’t that close to Ann Arbor, but this venue is stunning for an intimate wedding on the lake, complete with adorable rooms for you and your wedding party to stay in. Imagine saying your vows in a garden on the lake. What’s not to love here?
Featured Strawberry Lake Lodge Wedding
Address: 10201 Kress Road, Pinckney, MI. 48169
Email: strawberrylakelodge@gmail.com
Ditch the plane ticket! Southeast Michigan offers a secret Napa-like escape. This enchanting venue, brimming with rustic charm and vineyard vibes, creates the setting for the perfect romantic wedding.
Located about 40 minutes outside of Ann Arbor, and close to Jackson, lies the most magical barn vineyard venue. This venue has it all: gorgeous outdoor ceremony spots (two to choose from- Willow Tree or Lower Lawn), a gorgeous indoor/outdoor reception space, and a beautiful outside deck for your cocktail hour. The sprawling grounds are also gorgeous, and offer a ton of options for your wedding party photos. This venue was obviously extremely well planned, and it’s become another one of my favorites in the area.
Address: 10473 Churchill Rd. Rives Junction, MI 49277
Email: wendy@westersfamilywinery.com
Venue search stress melting away? It should be! With these tips and curated list, finding your dream Ann Arbor venue just got a whole lot easier. Once you’ve booked with one of these venues, you’re probably ready to book your next vendor: a photographer! Please reach out so we can talk about ALL the details of what you’re envisioning for your day.
Happy Planning!
