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Updated Oct 14, 202413 Scenic Lake Michigan Wedding Venues To Consider
Find the perfect lakeside backdrop for your wedding day.
by Gia Yetikyel
Updated Jan 21, 2025
For those in search of waterfront scenery and beachy breezes for your wedding, Lake Michigan wedding venues offer the views you've been looking for. While wedding planners and vendors can take care of the food, drinks, decor and more, finding a gorgeous wedding venue with an iconic backdrop is one of the most important choices you'll make while preparing for your special day.
These Great Lake wedding venues are found throughout the Midwest in states like Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. Not only do these venues offer stunning scenery, but the massive body of water cools down the summer and warms the winters (though it's still quite cold!), making for a more temperate climate. Check out some of our favorite Lake Michigan wedding venues below, and find even more amazing spaces at The Knot Vendor Marketplace.
Miller Room in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
If you're looking for incredible water views and incredible food, the Miller Room in Milwaukee may be the Lake Michigan wedding venue for your big day. Say "I do" on the South Garden patio overlooking Lake Michigan, then host cocktail hour on the terrace. The modern restaurant is an upscale, yet relaxed setting for dinner and dancing. And you don't have to take our word for it, as the Miller Room wins raves from couples. "The Miller Room is a beautiful venue overlooking Lake Michigan with incredible spaces for photos, ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception," says a recent bride. "More importantly the staff did everything they could to make it an exceptionally special day for us."
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- Guest Capacity: Up to 250
Coast in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
This Wisconsin wedding venue, Coast, will leave you and your guests in awe of the gorgeous Lake Michigan views and sleek decor. The ballroom and restaurant offer a lavish yet elegant atmosphere, ideal for up to 220 guests—and there's plenty of outdoor space as well. From wedding planners to catering and more, your wedding planning process is sure to be stress-free.
- Guest Capacity: Up to 220
Port 393 in Holland, Michigan
Lake Michigan wedding venue Port 393 gives you exclusive use of the entire building (including the rooftop) for your wedding. Up to 250 guests can enjoy the rooftop views of Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan, and you and your new spouse will adore the many gorgeous photo backdrops. The space can be rented on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays for weddings, but can also host showers and other events during the rest of the week.
- Guest Capacity: Up to 250
Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, Michigan
With over 130 years of rich history and multiple awards to prove it, Grand Hotel turns a wedding weekend into an incredible getaway. Located on Mackinac Island in Northern Michigan, surrounded by Great Lakes Michigan and Huron, this beautiful venue is the perfect spot for a destination wedding. In addition to being a National Historic Landmark, the venue can accommodate up to 400 guests in spaces like the Front Porch (featuring views of the Straits of Mackinac), or the flower-adorned Tea Garden. After the ceremony, enjoy one of the 5 private dining rooms, 3 of which feature dance floors. And—bonus!—you can cap off the big day waving from the hotel's very own horse-drawn carriage.
- Guest Capacity: Up to 400
Armour House at Lake Forest Academy in Chicago, Illinois
The Armour House at Lake Forest Academy on Chicago's North Shore offers captivating waterfront views. The ballroom and library are the perfect spaces to host up to 200 friends and family members for a wedding reception. With professional and flexible staff, this estate will make choosing vendors a breeze. Not to mention, the lakeside breeze will make for some truly magical candid wedding photos.
- Guest Capacity: Up to 200
Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, Michigan
If industrial-chic is totally your vibe, host your dream wedding at Journeyman Distillery. Whether you're planning an intimate ceremony or a reception with up to 500 guests, this venue and its staff offer indoor and outdoor spaces for a truly magical evening. The 8,000 square foot Warren Hall features reclaimed wooden floors and exposed beams, plus huge windows for abundant natural light. Smaller events may be held in The Grainery or The Still Room, which has its own private patio. Along with the in-house catering team, there's also on-site lodging for up to 20 guests so you and your crew can enjoy a full wedding weekend together.
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- Guest Capacity: 25 to 500
The Veranda at The Whitcomb in St. Joseph, Michigan
The Lake Michigan sunset is the perfect finishing touch to your outdoor wedding at The Veranda in St. Joseph, Michigan. You and 250 of your friends and family members will fall in love with this historic and charming beach wedding location, which offers 1920's architecture and gorgeous photo backdrops you and your photographer will adore. The Veranda partners with award-winning 1928 Planning Co. to help you through the wedding planning process.
- Guest Capacity: Up to 250
Planterra Conservatory in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan
Located 40 minutes from downtown Detroit, Planterra Conservatory offers an award-winning venue for up to 200 guests. Say "I do" in its gorgeous glass enclosure, surrounded by a variety of tropical greenery. The venue's professional wedding planning team and in-house florists will help you throw a unique event. Planterra Conservatory is actually a sustainable venue, with its passive solar heating, on-site weather station and run-off water irrigation.
- Guest Capacity: Up to 200
Bay Pointe Inn in Shelbyville, Michigan
The captivating Bay Pointe Inn offers both indoor and outdoor spaces for your Lake Michigan wedding, with a capacity of up to 300 guests. The Bay Pointe Woods lawn, the ballroom, the boathouse villa, the lakefront pavilion or the fireside banquet room are just some of the spaces to choose from for your big day. Additionally, couples can book the inn's suites as getting-ready spaces for the big day.
- Guest Capacity: Up to 300
Castle Farms in Charlevoix, Michigan
Invite over 300 friends and family members to this award-winning Lake Michigan wedding venue in Michigan, or opt for a more intimate wedding reception in the manicured gardens. Castle Farms has 5 event spaces to choose from, including the King's Great Hall & Queen's Great Courtyard, which can host up to 300 guests, the West Garden Room & Knight's Courtyard, which can host up to 230 guests, and the more intimate Queen's Tavern & Queen's Courtyard, with space for up to 40 guests (and a great rehearsal dinner, engagement party, or shower option!).
- Guest Capacity: Up to 300
Adler Planetarium in Chicago, Illinois
Looking for Chicago wedding venues near Lake Michigan? Have your wedding under the stars at the Adler Planetarium. With space for between 50 to 1,200 guests, this venue offers a number of spaces, including the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Solarium, which sits within a glass enclosure boasting panoramic scenery of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. The planetarium features other unique event spaces like the Clark Family Welcome Gallery and the Grainger Sky Theatre, both great options for dinner and drinks. This award-winning venue offers a variety of pricing options to ensure your waterfront wedding is out of this world.
- Guest Capacity: 50 to 1,200 guests
The Homestead in Glen Arbor, Michigan
The Homestead in Northern Michigan is an elegant setting for both your wedding ceremony and reception. There's a hotel, ballroom and beachfront on site that can accommodate up to 160 guests for your big day. This venue also provides catering, bar services, transportation, accommodations and wedding coordinators to make your planning process a breeze. Your guests will love spending your wedding weekend enjoying the facilities (including a golf course!) at this Lake Michigan wedding venue.
- Guest Capacity: Up to 160
Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay, Michigan
Black Star Farms, located in the heart of Leelanau's wine country, can host weddings and events year-round. You and up to 150 of your guests will have a blast celebrating your special day in the vineyard or renovated centennial barn, followed by a comfy stay at the luxurious inn. The events team and service will help you create a personalized menu with wine pairings and delicious food.
- Guest Capacity: Up to 150
More Lake Michigan Wedding Venues and Vendor Ideas
Here are a few extra recommendations from our editors for couples planning a Lake Michigan wedding.
- Affordable Wedding Venues in Michigan
- Affordable Wedding Venues in Chicago
- Fall Wedding Venues in Michigan
- Barn Wedding Venues in Wisconsin
Bonus: Browse The Knot Vendor Marketplace for even more Lake Michigan wedding venues and vendors. You can find wedding photographers, florists, cake designers and more!
