Aria at The Whitcomb

Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana

$3,500 starting price

201-250 guest capacity

This venue can host up to 250 guests

About this vendor

Aria at The Whitcomb is a timeless wedding venue located in downtown St. Joseph, Michigan, offering breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and unforgettable beach sunsets. Known for its vintage Mediterranean-inspired architecture, this romantic venue features elegant outdoor-covered spaces perfect for both ceremonies and receptions. Its central location provides easy access to charming shops, boutique hotels, restaurants, beaches, and more—making it an ideal destination for your celebration. Facilities and Capacity: With a capacity of up to 250 guests, Aria at The Whitcomb offers multiple scenic spaces for your wedding day. Say “I do” in the serene Garden courtyard or on the panoramic Rooftop, designed to showcase the beauty of Lake Michigan. For receptions, the covered Veranda offers an enchanting setting where you and your guests can celebrate under the glow of spectacular sunsets. The newly enhanced bridal suite, conveniently located near the ceremony and reception spaces, provides a private and comfortable area for you and your bridal party to prepare and relax throughout the day. Services Offered: Aria at The Whitcomb partners exclusively with Classic Catering & Events, offering full-service catering and rentals for a seamless planning experience. From customizable menus to elegant tablescapes, Classic Catering & Events ensures every detail is tailored to your vision. While you have the option to source rentals from other vendors if desired, their all-in-one approach simplifies planning, leaving you free to enjoy your day. Cuisine: With over two decades of experience, Classic Catering & Events specializes in creating exceptional culinary experiences. Their team works with you to design a menu that reflects your personal taste and accommodates your budget. From artfully presented appetizers to indulgent entrees, desserts, and late-night snacks, their focus is on delivering exquisite flavors and impeccable service. Contact: https://bit.ly/AriaWhitcombWeddings Schedule an In-Person Tour: https://bit.ly/ariawhitcombtour

Amenities + details

Ceremony Area

Covered Outdoors Space

Dressing Room

Handicap Accessible

Indoor Event Space

Liability Insurance

Outdoor Event Space

Reception Area

Wireless Internet

On-Site Accommodations

Business Attributes

Woman-owned Business

Ceremony Types

Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding

Guest Capacity

Up to 250

Settings

Beach
Waterfront
Garden
Historic Venue
Loft
Rooftop

Venue Service Offerings

Bar & Drinks
Destination Weddings
Food & Catering
Planning
Rentals & Equipment
Service Staff

4.5

out of 5.0

28 reviews

Search reviews

2/02/2025 • Jill&Tyler T

Nav and Jay were excellent to work with and the venue and town were gorgeous. One of the many benefits to the venue is you get to work with the owners which offers flexibility and customization to make the day everything you imagine! The space has a great element of depth, guests can choose to let it speak for itself or transform into a truly customized space.

10/16/2024 • Jack G

I only did a tour so take this review with a grain of salt. However, I could not get out of here fast enough. The pictures are beautiful but going to see it in person was a total 180. There are no bathrooms besides a trailer they pull up on the street. To walk to the roof-top, you need to walk up stairs that look like a hotel fire escape. There is no grand entrance for the bride, (you walk out the dingy stairs to the side of all your guests). The bridal suit is an old patients room from the retirement home that only fit two people at once. The view to the lake is blocked by a giant tree and you can only get the view from about 30% of the space. No aspect of a wedding will be inside as the entire building is a retirement home. You are confined to the rooftop or covered patio. I feel bad writing this because the people were nice but beware this place, especially for the money

10/22/2021 • Amy J

Beautiful space and all inclusive!! It's hard to imagine a senior living facility as an ideal place to get married, but it really is! Being from out of town and during COVID, Kris did a virtual tour with us in the height of winter. This was so appreciated as it allowed my parents in another state to see the space before booking. Once we booked, it was all uphill. They partner with 1928 Planning, so you really don't interact with White Space Events and Kris again until Wedding Day. We got married on the rooftop, it was so convenient to have everything in one place! If you want to make all your choices amongst all the options out there, maybe this isn't the place for you as you pretty much have to use their coordinators, their caterers, and their bartenders, but honestly that helped us so much not have to search for all those things! And you can bring your own alcohol in!! They do charge per person for the bartenders but SIGNIFICANTLY less than any other place where just beer and wine was double the cost of the bartender here. We also couldn't use the bridal suite or indoor bathrooms due to the Whitcomb's restrictions for COVID, but the only hinderance was the bridal suite and not having a place to "hideaway" before the ceremony. Hopefully this won't impact future brides! Bottom line, you make it what you want it to be and if they're available you should book it now!

6/03/2021 • Alyssa S

We reached out to The Veranda after having to reschedule our wedding from an indoor venue in downtown GR due to COVID restrictions. The staff at The Veranda were so much more responsive, professional and helpful than our previous venue and we instantly fell in love. Kris and team guided us through every step of the process. We were especially pleased because it gave our guests -- many of whom were not from Michigan -- the opportunity to see our state in all its beauty!

5/25/2021 • Rebecca R

Beautiful venue in the heart of charming St. Joe, Michigan! We got so many compliments on the venue and area! Kristin from White Space Events was super nice and helpful and 1928 Planning Co, with whom WSE partners, had it all - the experience and knowledge, coordination options, rentals, checklists, etc. Discounts available too, but worth every penny for a beautiful event! My only complaints are 1) with all the planning entities (WSE, 1928, catering) involved, it could get a little confusing, however our 1928 coordinator, Stephanie, was easy to communicate with and answered questions effectively! And day of, Gail from 1928 was onsite and was so kind and helpful! 2) We would have liked a second choice with caterers as opposed to having to exclusively use the one they partner with, just to compare. We may still have picked CK Catering and overall we were pleased with them and received many compliments on the food, however communication was lacking at times (see review for CK Catering). Ultimately, The Veranda and St. Joe are so charming, our guests loved it, and I highly recommend this versatile and beautiful space for your outdoor, SW Michigan affair!! 💖

11/07/2019 • Ashley B

Absolutely the best wedding reception I’ve ever seen (maybe I’m biased). It was so beautiful, the staff was amazing, and all of my guests have raced about the location. I couldn’t have picked more wonderful people to work with!!

9/14/2019 • Cassidy H

With no experience in planning or having a wedding, I didn’t know how expensive it really was. Beautiful venue, but too expensive for what wasn’t included.

9/11/2019 • Maxine P

The Veranda couldn’t have been more perfect for our wedding reception and ceremony. Our ceremony was supposed to be offsite and the weather had other plans so we ended up having the ceremony at the Veranda as well. The 1928 Planning Co. Made our dreams come true as they created our vision for our ceremony at the Veranda (minus the lake). The venue is beautiful with all vintage concrete pillars to the beautiful railing and garden area for gathering. It’s the perfect spot to be close to the water but also have that cozy and romantic feel. I highly recommend the Veranda as a Reception and ceremony venue! Our wedding was a dream come true! Definitely worth the money!

10/10/2018 • Claire K

We loved having our September wedding at the Veranda! We planned our ceremony on the rooftop overlooking the lake with the reception to follow downstairs. All of our guests commented on how easy and smooth the day went! They loved having everything in one place. This venue is in the heart of downtown St. Joe and is so unique. While we were blessed with gorgeous weather (80 degrees and sunny), they have back up plans to account for rain and colder weather. There is also an outdoor garden area which our guests loved. The Veranda makes the planning process easy since when you book you also get basic coordination services through 1928 Planning Co. and automatically work with CK Catering for food (which is awesome by the way). While you still have to pay for bartending services (which they help coordinate for you), you get to bring in your own alcohol which saved us a decent amount of money. All glassware, tables/table linens, chairs, dinnerware, and extra tables were included in the cost which made everything easy as well. Staff was very helpful and professional!

7/11/2018 • Ana T

The venue itself was so beautifully set up and I still can't believe how amazing it all looked after the decorations. This location will forever hold a special place in my heart. I will always get reminded of this special day as I live like 5 min away from here. I would definitely recommend this place to future brides, as this place was perfect for both my husband and I.

6/14/2018 • Bethany W

I could not be more pleased with having my ceremony and reception at the Veranda. It was simply STUNNING. People would not stop talking about how amazing the venue was. Stephanie, Sarah, and the ladies who helped the day of were amazing to work with and really helped me feel at ease during the planning process. Seriously, best night of my life!

6/06/2018 • Shannon S

When searching for a venue for our wedding over Memorial Day weekend of 2018, my fiancés only request was somewhere he could see the water, and I thought a historical building would be lovely. We found the Veranda, and I can’t tell you how perfect it was to celebrate our big day. White Space Events manages the rentals there, and Kristin was fabulous to work with! We had our ceremony on the rooftop there, and the sky was gorgeous with Lake Michigan and the lighthouse in the backdrop. Although it was unseasonably hot that day (91F with a heat index of 99F), we provided our guests with fans, and there was a lovely breeze coming in from off of the lake. Our guests are still talking about how lovely it was! We had our reception in the main ballroom space, which was shaded and lovely. The space really is the historical epitome of elegance. The Whitcomb building itself is wonderful, and the residents were so kind to our guests – making certain to stop everyone in our wedding party and tell them how wonderful they looked. If you want a really unique venue with history AND a view, look no further!

7/20/2017 • Caroline B

We chose the Veranda for our early July wedding without seeing the venue in person, and it ended up exceeding my expectations in every way! The building itself is an assisted living facility, which made me very wary at first. But it did not affect our day at all! There are multiple unique areas at the Veranda. We chose the rooftop for our ceremony and had cocktail hour in the garden! We received so many compliments on the location! It rained during dinner (and was perfect weather the rest of the day), and people hardly noticed that it was raining, even though we were still sort of outside. The staff at the Veranda and the planning company associated with them are so wonderful, and I'm pretty sure they read my mind in making sure things looked like what I had envisioned! It was a perfect day, and a perfect venue. I'm so happy with our decision!

6/25/2017 • Shannon J

The veranda at the whitcomb was the perfect backdrop for what was the perfect day. 1928 planning did an amazing job. Day of, Danielle made sure we were as hands off as possible. She got all the troops in lock step and we just got to sit back and enjoy the day. As for the space itself, the view of the sun setting over Lake Michigan was worth every penny. Our guests were very complimentary of the Veranda at the Whitcomb and we couldn't agree more. Couldn't have picked a better location.

1/23/2017 • Heather S

Most beautiful venue! Loved working with 1928 planning co and Ck catering catering!

9/27/2014 • stefanie B

My fiancé and I choose The Veranda at the Whitcomb for our wedding venue without even visiting the site. The pictures above and on their web site accurately show the beauty of the location. Their staff and coordinators are extremely professional, knowledge and made planning out wedding from afar an easy task. There recommendations for vendors was extremely helpful and all that I used exuded the same professionalism and skill as The Veranda staff. (Crystal Spring Florist - Amazing; Dee's Specialty Cakes- Delicious). When we booked our wedding, The Veranda, only had Friday dates available. A desirable destination like this obviously books up early. I was a bit unsure of having a Friday evening wedding as all of our guests had to travel (3-6 hours). I believe some saw it as an inconvenience but after the wedding, we had so many guests thanks us for the little push to take a weekend vacation. Lake Michigan and St. Joe's has so much to offer, your guests will not be board if they choose to stay a day or two longer. I feel like we had a "wedding weekend" not just a wedding day.

9/14/2014 • Deena L

Not sure how not 1 review has mentioned this....Whitcomb is a retirement home. Google it first. The Veranda seemed nice though, just beware of the location. Bride gets ready in one of the empty patients rooms. There are seniors roaming about trying to talk to you.

6/18/2014 • Katie J

I got so many compliments on the reception venue from guests. It was truly unique! Danielle & her staff did a great job working with me and making sure everything was perfect on my big day! I didn't have to worry about a thing the morning of, they did all the set up for me & it looked beautiful!!!

10/17/2013 • Jenn B

We chose the Veranda for our late September wedding. It was absolutely perfect! The Veranda is simple and elegant and makes it extremely easy to do whatever you want with decorations. They will literally coordinate EVERYTHING for you. Help you with the catering, the decorations, the bartending, etc. They were such an incredible help with all the little details. They send you monthly emails with checklists on where you should be in your planning. We used this as our reception, but they even helped us make sure everything was perfect with our wedding ceremony that was located at the bandshell across the street. Morgan was there helping with my dress and letting me know when it was time to start heading to walk down the aisle. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change anything! All our guests loved it and talked about how beautiful it was. If you are having a fall/spring wedding and are concerned about it being cold, don't worry! When they close their curtains (which compliment the venue and are not ugly) and turn on the heating lamps, it get very warm in there!! I was HOT dancing even though it was about 45 degrees that night. Everything was absolute perfection and I was so pleased with everything they did for us! I have already recommended it to my other engaged friends in the area!

9/04/2013 • Alex C

I couldn’t have picked a more beautiful place in St. Joe to get married! I was an out-of-town bride and Danielle was so helpful with all the wedding planning. We shared dozens of emails back and forth and she was with me every step of the way. She definitely went above and beyond even when it meant finding a place to store our dogs last minute or standing on tip toes to cover a light so our photographer could get the perfect shot. We ended up with 200 guests at the wedding and it was a tight fit, but everyone was comfortable. We came up with a seating chart that included round tables and banquet tables throughout the room and it looked amazing. To my surprise, the rented patio furniture ended up being a huge hit and I recommend it to future brides. We went with a plated dinner, which I am told takes a bit longer. We had our own dinner rushed to us so that we could greet guests. I noticed while on the floor some guests were half way through dinner before others had been served. This bothered me a little bit, but I think the servers did the best they could with so many tables. Pro’s * The Whitcomb includes a caterer, bar service, tables & chairs, and linens while also offering decoration and coordination. * The location is stunning and guests enjoyed being downtown with lots of things to do. * The food was excellent. * Danielle did a great job communicating. Con’s * If you have a 250+ wedding it get’s a little tight and you have to fill the dance floor with tables. * Parking is a problem if there are other activities going on downtown. We had 3-4 other events happening the same weekend and the bridal party had a difficult time moving to different locations for photos because of the traffic and parking. * You don’t have a choice in the matter of bar service and caterer. Though we were very happy with CK Catering, we were not so happy with the bar service.

8/26/2013 • Maggie Cooper C

The staff at the Veranda at the Whitcomb were amazing professionals. Throughout the entire planning process I felt I was in good hands- questions were answered truthfully and I always received a quick reply to emails. The location can't be beat and the quality of service was just as great.

11/01/2012 • Rebecca H

From start to finish, from A - Z, absolute joy to work with. The provided everything I could have wanted (and if they didn't, they directed me to it!) They were extremely helpful, professional, courteous (even after the 6th or 7th 'one more question' email). The space itself is so gorgeous that any theme/decor would work well in it (not surprising, but I LOVED my vintage/eclectic theme - it went beautifully with the grays in the venue). It's the perfect location for pictures (sits on the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan), and has the most magnificent Bridal Suite.

9/04/2012 • Allyssa W

It was a beautiful and versatile venue and all the staff was incredible helpful

7/03/2012 • Anna T

The Veranda was a beautiful venue site. The lighting for pictures are beautiful. They have a fantastic caterer that they work with (CK Catering). All of our tables were set up by noon the day of our 4 p.m. wedding and looked beautiful. Danielle was our "day of captain" and was wonderful to work with!

6/16/2012 • Kelley R

It was a pretty good venue. There were only a few minornthings that could of been a little better but overall a great place to have a reception.

10/25/2011 • Tracy A

Everyone at the Veranda was so amazing and accommodating. We were extremely fortunate to have exceptional weather. You could see the sunset as we danced our first song. The view is one of a kind. We feel that it was worth more than the cost.

6/20/2011 • Andrea C

I cannot say enough good things about the Veranda. Not only is it a beautiful and unique location for a wedding or reception, but the staff is beyond accommodating and knowledgable. The value is great and we could not have picked a better location for our reception! We received countless compliments and our guests loved the experience!