ourmichiganwedding.com

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The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn is one of the classier joints around Southeast Michigan. According to what I've heard (a price quote my brother received in early 2007) the basic price per person at the Ritz is around $150 per person. I wouldn't be surprised if it's more. The Ritz can easily accommodate 400 guests.

I've attended two or three weddings at the Ritz and, although nice, weddings at the Ritz aren't particularly memorable as a guest. I readily confuse memories of the Ritz with the Troy Marriott. Being on the host end of the wedding however is probably easier because service at the Ritz is impeccable. Having been to a buffet-style Indian wedding and a regular plated-dinner wedding I can say that the food at all stages are great. I think the Indian buffet food comes from your choice of approved caterers while regular food comes from the hotel.

I've seen two memorable food items at the Ritz. First was the martini bar where the server poured through an ice luge to chill the drink. Second was the Coldstone Creamery-style ice cream bar. If you don't know what that Coldstone Creamery is, think of a Dairy Queen flurry but a server uses spatulas to fold your choice of toppings (M&Ms, cookie crumbs, etc.) into ice cream on a chilled stone slab. The stone slab reduces melting.

I'm sure options and extras add up fast but if you want a high-class hotel wedding reception in the metro Detroit area the Ritz fill fit the bill.

The Henry Ford Museum or Greenfield Village in Dearborn would be super cool places to have a wedding because everybody has been to a hotel wedding. When do you get to go to a museum for a wedding? It would have been especially cool because many of our out of town guests have not been to Michigan more than once or twice, if ever. It would be wedding and vacation entertainment rolled into one convenient package!

You could have the gathering at the museum, Greenfield Village or Lovett Hall. After doing a quick cost comparison for the museum average cost would have roughly the same per person (~$120/pp) including some of the additional fees such as admission ($10-20/pp) for admission into the museum. This would include premium drinks, appetizer setups, dessert, and mid-range entrees. They have interesting museum and Michigan-specific twists like afterglow Coney Dog Bar or Faygo Float Station. Coney Dogs are chili dogs named after the numerous Coney Island restaurants in Southeast Michigan. I don't know why they are all called Coney Islands. Faygo is a Detroit-based soft drink company. Their more unique flavors are Red-pop or Rock and Rye.

I hoped we could figure out a way to do our wedding here but it fell short in a few aspects. First, it is not a hotel. I know our friends would be doing some drinking. I think being at the museum would jeopardize general public safety afterwards because they would either have to drive to a hotel or drive back home. At least having the wedding in a hotel would stop a few of the people from driving. Second, since it is a museum there is less time flexibility. Third, they do not list a vegetarian option in their menus. I know we will have a fair amount of vegetarian guests.

If you're looking for a place to take wedding photos it might be tricky but I would consider taking photos here.

Links:

• Weddings at the Henry Ford
  • Greenfield Village
  • Lovett Hall
  • Menus
  • Desserts & Afterglow
• Faygo: Website // Wikipedia
• Coney Island: Wikipedia and some favorites
  • National Coney Island
  • Senate Coney Island