This Marygrove Conservancy wedding brought together so many things I love about photographing weddings in Detroit. Moving through different parts of the city throughout the day gives each part of the wedding its own feeling, and this one brought together three very different Detroit spaces beautifully.
Westin Book Cadillac- Getting Ready
The wedding day began at the Westin Book Cadillac in downtown Detroit, where the bride and her family got ready. She was classically beautiful, and everything about her look felt effortless and timeless. Nothing overly trendy or fussy. Just elegant in a way that will look every bit as beautiful twenty years from now.
Emotional First Look with Dad
One of my favorite moments happened when we arrived to the church. The bride shared a first look with her dad, and the second he saw her, he completely lit up. Through tears, he kept looking at her and saying she looked like she belonged in a magazine. It was such a sweet reaction, equal parts proud and emotional. You could tell he was genuinely in awe of his daughter. These are the moments I love most on a wedding day. They happen quickly, but they end up being some of the photographs that mean the most.
Ceremony at Old St.Mary’s Greektown
From the Book Cadillac, everyone made their way to Greektown for the ceremony at Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Old St. Mary’s is one of those Detroit churches that really doesn’t need much introduction once you walk through the doors. The architecture, stained glass, and history of the space create an incredible setting for a wedding ceremony. It feels grand without taking away from what is actually happening.
Marygrove Conservancy Wedding Reception
After the ceremony, the celebration continued at Marygrove Conservancy.
I photograph weddings all over Detroit, and Marygrove Conservancy might be one of the city’s most underrated wedding venues. The campus is beautiful, the architecture is incredible, and there are so many opportunities for photographs without ever feeling like you need to leave the property in search of a backdrop.
For this wedding in particular, it was the perfect fit.
Marygrove Conservancy Wedding Decor
The reception felt modern while still working beautifully with the history and character of Marygrove. Instead of trying to turn the space into something completely different, the modern elements complemented the architecture. Everything felt polished and current, but not overly trendy.
That balance carried through the entire wedding day. It was classic without feeling too traditional and modern without trying too hard. It was beautiful, but still very much about the people in the room.
Those are always my favorite weddings to photograph.
Years from now, the things that will matter most are the expressions during the ceremony, parents and grandparents in the room, friends laughing together, and all of the little interactions happening between the planned moments.
With downtown Detroit, Old St. Mary’s, and the Marygrove Conservancy campus as the wedding backdrop, there was certainly no shortage of those moments to photograph.
Thinking about engagement photos in Detroit? Check out this amazing engagement photo session at the Monarch Club.
Want to hear more about Holly Green Photography? Email us here
