Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant is a lakeside wedding venue located in Holland, MI. The management at this restaurant welcomes you to gather your friends and family around the dinner table and celebrate the love between you and your partner. With multiple event spaces, you can be flexible when planning your event and celebrate all its stages in one location. Located only a short drive from Grand Rapids, you can benefit from proximity to the city’s many accommodation options and transport links.
Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant management welcomes you to the venue with pride. They are excited for you to celebrate your special day on-site and offer you access to several spaces. You can celebrate your big day overlooking the waters of Lake Macatawa from the comfort of the Black River Ballroom. A spacious setting in which to celebrate, its floor-to-ceiling windows welcome lake views and ample natural light. Before dinner, you can celebrate your vows in the restaurant’s courtyard, with the lake as your backdrop. A pavilion covered by a roof made of repurposed sails, this sheltered space makes the most of the venue’s spectacular location. For a smaller gathering, you can choose the Macatawa Room. Warm touches such as a fireplace and wood paneling welcome guests to relax in comfort and style.
You can celebrate with over 250 loved ones at your side at the Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant. The kitchen team will delight your friends and family with expertly cooked food made with the freshest ingredients. These, of course, include a selection of seafood from BBQ shrimp to pan-seared grouper.
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Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception:
$5,000
Ceremony:
$2,000
Bar services:
Contact for price
Catering:
Contact for price
Starting prices don't include service fees, taxes, gratuity, and rental fees. Guest count and seasonality may also affect prices.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Guest Capacity
Up to 300
Settings
Ballroom
Beach
Waterfront
Garden
Park
Restaurant
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Cakes & Desserts
Destination Weddings
Food & Catering
Planning
Rentals & Equipment
Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Availability
Reviews
4.8
out of 5.0
140 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Boatwerks Event Center received glowing reviews for its exceptional service, delicious food, and beautiful lakeside setting for various events, including weddings and corporate gatherings. Guests praised the helpful and friendly staff, particularly mentioning Hannah and Tracey as standout coordinators. The seamless planning process was highlighted, as well as the stunning views, tasty food offerings, and professional service. Boatwerks was highly recommended for any event due to its picturesque location, outstanding staff, and top-notch service.
Review photos
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5.0
4/01/2025
Staff was welcoming and very accommodating! The food was amazing and the restaurant was clean and had a beautiful view of the river. Very spacious venues. Professional and organized staff.
5.0
3/31/2025
We had a great experience at an event held in the boatwerks event center. The staff was kind and food was exceptional.
Any questions?
Allison H
5.0
3/31/2025
Hannah was great! She helped coordinate every detail of the day. We had a wonderful experience
Janice F
5.0
12/11/2024
We were very happy with our company Christmas party at Boatwerks. The space is beautiful, the staff professional and helpful, and the food was great! Would highly recommend!
Anna M
5.0
10/22/2024
If you’re in the mood for a seamless booking experience, look no further than using Redwater Events, Hannah was absolutely amazing and great with details and impeccable service, the dessert menu was truly a showstopper!
Lyza S
5.0
10/22/2024
We had a small corporate event at Boatwerks and our experience was great! We worked with Hannah, who made the planning process seamless. The staff was incredible, had everything set up and ready to go for our team (even a half hour early for our early bird arrivals), and the food was delicious! Highly recommend for any size event.
Jordan M
5.0
10/21/2024
The food was yummy and the staff were so helpful and friendly! A great environment for any event! Tracey The event coordinator was great to work with as well. Overall, it was a great experience, hosting our event there.
Bryce Q
5.0
10/18/2024
Everything went according to plan. Food was great.
Eric V
4.0
10/04/2024
It was a beautiful day and a beautiful location for our event.
Megan M
5.0
10/01/2024
We loved every part of having Boatwerks as our wedding location. Tracey was very helpful and responsive in the planning process and the day of staff exceeded our expectations from their professionalism and friendliness to making the whole event feel seamless. We kept our wedding as simple as possible and we are so glad because our guests wouldn’t stop raving about the lake view and beautiful event space.
Liz D
5.0
9/17/2024
Boatwerks is a beautiful venue on the lake. We had our daughter’s after wedding day brunch here and it was a wonderful ending to an amazing weekend! Hannah and the staff were friendly, helpful and accommodating. And the food was delicious! Our guests raved about everything. 10/10!!
Madison O
5.0
9/16/2024
I have been to Boatwerks lots of times for all types of events (casual dining, wedding, engagement party, and bridal shower) and each time was a perfect experience! Highly recommend for the venue alone and the great food is a cherry on top!
Morgan N
5.0
9/16/2024
Our sales manager did a great job answering most of my questions in a professional manner (and I had a lot of them). We absolutely loved the atmosphere and the staff on the day of, everyone made our special day amazing. Food was really good, but be aware that wedding tastings are not free and we found some variance in the cooked vegetables (overdone vs raw vs just right). Thank you for an amazing day Boatwerks!
Sydney H
5.0
9/03/2024
Very helpful. Made the day great.
Christopher M
5.0
8/29/2024
Boatwerks was beautiful and the staff was professional and kept us feeling calm leading up to the wedding day. Hannah was very easy to work with. The value for the location is unmatched
Cara B
5.0
8/19/2024
My daughter chose Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant for her wedding lunch and it was the perfect choice for the event. The service was excellent, the view was lovely, and the food was delicious. Everyone in attendance enjoyed the event!
Mara T
4.0
8/07/2024
We were all so please with this venue for our rehearsal dinner! The food and staff were incredible! Would recommend :)
Sydney P
5.0
8/06/2024
The food and service was fantastic, everyone raved. Will definitely be back!
Jenell K
5.0
7/26/2024
Wonderful location for your special event. Knowledgeable staff and very professional.
Karl S
5.0
7/24/2024
Great food and service- third year for family reunion of more than 30! Recommend highly!
Jess W
5.0
7/22/2024
I cannot recommend Boatwerks enough. I am very type A and ask a lot of questions and Tracey was there to answer them all and always in a timely and friendly fashion. I never had to worry that she was on top of my wedding details. Their prices are absolutely wonderful for everything that you get. You cannot beat the lake front deck and huge windows in the ballroom! Everybody complimented the food, the bar setup and bartender were amazing (shout out to Cara!), the serving staff was so prompt and polite. The day of staff were incredible and very attentive to some of our special requests and guests with allergies. I could not have asked for a better venue.
Michele D
5.0
7/16/2024
Tracey was excellent to work with setting up the rehearsal dinner. Great communication and the food was fabulous. Highly recommend.
Amber L
5.0
7/02/2024
We had a work retirement party there. The communication from staff was very fast. The food was amazing. Would highly recommend having events there
Christina B
5.0
7/02/2024
Boatwerks was the perfect summer wedding venue! Our guests really enjoyed the outdoor space, especially the games (giant jenga, cornhole, etc) that were available for the reception. The string lights over the outdoor space were a perfect added touch! The service was top notch and the food was excellent! We only ordered a small cutting cake and wished there was more! (get the funfetti, you won't regret it!)
Kathy M
5.0
7/02/2024
Great spot for rehearsal dinner. A lot of dining options, water views, and very helpful and professional staff.
Ana A
5.0
6/25/2024
We had our rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and wedding at Boatwerks. The entire team was great to work with and made everything run smoothly from start to finish for everything!
We received a ton of compliments on the service and food (especially the Cinnamon Toast Crunch cupcakes!).
Jane G
4.0
6/18/2024
We hosted our son's rehearsal dinner at Boatwerks and loved the ambiance. Dinner and dessert were delicious! The weather was perfect and after we had eaten, we went outside to chat on the waterfront patio, which sets this location apart. I felt like we maybe could've benefitted from an additional server, but otherwise had a nice time and at an affordable price point.
Kamarah S
4.0
5/29/2024
Beautiful venue for rehearsal dinner! Super friendly staff in the planning process and lots of menu items to choose from, including allergy friendly options.
Brooke E
5.0
5/28/2024
The Macatawa Room at Boatwerks has amazing views and easy access to the bar and sitting outside. The room was spacious for our group of 40, and the events team was easy to work with and helped us out with all of our needs/requests. Those traveling from out of town appreciated the ease of parking and finding the events room as well.
Megan K
3.0
5/27/2024
Beautiful venue with good food, but the communication and organization with staff needs improvement.
Jenna P
5.0
5/23/2024
Had a wedding shower for my soon to be sister in law and they were so attentive to us and our needs and the place looked lovely. Clean bathrooms, it was such a wonderful experience!! I would highly recommend.
Gwen A
5.0
5/16/2024
Beautiful venue, staff is excellent to work with and all the details were handled. Food was excellent as well.
Molly N
4.0
5/07/2024
I had my bridal shower at Boatwerks and enjoyed it thoroughly. The food was delicious and the room was made up beautifully. Hannah did a great job helping me coordinate and plan the event. I did have trouble finding staff at the beginning and end of the event to help with set up and take down.
Brittany S
5.0
5/02/2024
Hannah was wonderful from the beginning to the end. Our wedding was PERFECT in every way. The venue is magical and the atmosphere is unmatched. I highly recommend having your wedding here, you won’t regret it!!!
Mackenzie M
5.0
4/24/2024
Boatwerks was amazing for our wedding on 4/6/24! The sales manager Hannah was fantastic at communicating with us and making sure everything would be set up to the way we wanted it throughout the planning process. The cost was definitely reflected accurately through the service and staff. The staff was very attentive and extremely nice, while the food was amazing. Our guests were raving how fantastic the food was throughout the night. I was not concerned at all throughout the day because I knew Boatwerks had everything under control. Our wedding day was flawless and we are so happy we had our wedding at Boatwerks!
Kaylee B
5.0
4/23/2024
We had our wedding here on April 20th. It was the wedding of my dreams. The team made the process so incredibly smooth. Highly recommend this venue!!
Lisa B
5.0
4/09/2024
We used the Boatwerks for our son's rehearsal dinner. We specifically used the Macatawa Room and it was beautiful. The view of the water was gorgeous. The staff was super friendly and very helpful all evening. We did a dinner buffet and the food was delicious. They sure made our evening special.
Sam S
4.0
3/21/2024
The smaller banquet room overlooking Lake Macatawa was perfect for our dinner of 40-50 people. Cozy, comfortable room, with a great bar service, food and dessert options!
Kim K
5.0
3/21/2024
Recently hosted a work dinner at Boatwerks for 90 guests and the ballroom was beautiful, wonderful event staff, banquet staff and bartenders, and food was delicious as well. As a 2023 bride, Boatwerks would have definitely been a contender for my wedding reception given how well everything went for our work event.
Holly D
5.0
3/20/2024
I had a great experience renting the Macatawa Room for my birthday party. The Staff was friendly and helpful and the food was great. So many of my friends made comments on how great the cheesecake bar was.
Susan L
5.0
3/11/2024
Our daughter wanted a destination wedding, and our son-in-law wanted a wedding with all family and friends there. Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant gave them both their wishes! It couldn’t have been a more beautiful wedding, right on the edge of Lake Macatawa! The food at the reception was phenomenal And the staff is so easy to work with!
Shebatt Q
5.0
2/20/2024
Boatwerks exceeded my expectations as a venue for my Valentine's event. The cuisine was of the highest quality, and the servers contributed to the event's comfortable and upscale atmosphere. Hannah's ongoing support throughout the planning process was instrumental. I enthusiastically endorse Boatwerks for any event – a solid 100% recommendation!
Jason S
5.0
1/15/2024
We had our company Holiday Party at Boatwerks this past weekend and it went wonderfully. Hannah was very nice and worked well with us on scheduling and food options. The service at the party and food were very good. We highly recommend Boatwerks to cater any company event or party!
Sarah C
5.0
12/10/2023
We held our rehearsal brunch at Boatwerks and we couldn’t imagine doing it anywhere else! The food was delicious, the room was beautiful, the staff was so kind, and we even got great weather even though it was in October. Tracey was great to work with and made everything feel very seamless. We will recommend them to anyone planning an event in the future!
Traci O
5.0
12/06/2023
We recently had a company Christmas party at The Cottage at the Ravines. Tracey Barry helped with the planning process. The venue is beautiful. Perfect place for a smaller more intimate wedding.
Jan N
5.0
11/17/2023
It is a beautiful location right on the water. The staff was super helpful in regards to setting up the event space just the way I wanted it. Dinner was excellent and our waitress Cassidy was wonderful and very attentive to my guests.
Nicholas K
5.0
11/08/2023
We had another amazing private dinner in the Macatawa room this past week. We had 26 people, we had a buffet meal and the food we had was amazing. The staff was very helpful especially when I realized we had 26 people and not 25. They made it work.
Denise K
5.0
11/08/2023
My experience at Boatwerks was amazing. All the staff was super friendly and willing to help out. Amazing food as well.
Josh S
5.0
10/24/2023
Hosted a private event here! Food and service were great! Loved the location and being right on the water!
Jordan M
5.0
10/23/2023
They were great with communication and were very helpful during the decision making process. I’ll definitely use them for future events.
Lisa V
4.0
10/09/2023
The rehearsal dinner we hosted at Boatwerks was very nice. The Macatawa Room suited our 33 guests perfectly. Our coordinator worked hard to accommodate our food and table layout requests. The view of the patio and lake from this room was beautiful. The servers were excellent and the food was great! The only downside would be how the actual Boatwerks staff communicates with those renting space for an event. They were not very hospitable and made it very clear they are not a part of the event planning crew.
Eric G
5.0
9/27/2023
The BEST place to have your wedding! Boatwerks was an incredible wedding venue. We got married this past weekend and it went off without a hitch. All the employees (Hannah, waitstaff, cooks, bartenders, et al) were all professional and couldn’t say enough about the quality of service they provided.
The venue speaks for itself. Incredible views of the water on your big day! What else is there to say? Hey that rhymes…
There are 2 spots to get drinks (indoor/outdoor) and folding doors to dance in and out. Also outdoor cocktail tables. Drinks were poured well.
The FOOD WAS RIDICULOUSLY AMAZING. We loved the beer and salmon served plates and so did all of our guests. Also loved the potatoes and green beans. The cakes, cupcakes, and gluten free cupcakes were also incredible.
Guys/gals get changing suites and can order drinks to them. Perfect for getting ready close by. Speaking of close by, Kollen park is a stones throw away for gorgeous pictures.
100/10 would recommend Boatwerks to others
Kendall P
5.0
9/26/2023
My husband and I had our wedding ceremony and reception at Boatwerks Restaurant in mid September. We had the BEST experience working with them. They were very easy to work with, accommodating, and responsive. The staff is AWESOME to work with and very friendly. The wedding turned out so amazing and I highly recommend anyone considering to have their wedding there to do it! You will not regret it. On top of the staff and everyone being very easy to work with, the venue is so beautiful. We knew we wanted a venue that was outdoor but wanted indoor capabilities just incase of weather. Luckily we had awesome weather and it worked out perfect to have their slide in doors open all night so we had a great summer breeze. IT was the best night of our lives and Boatwerks staff and venue played a HUGE part in that.
Tom A
5.0
9/21/2023
Boatwerks did an awesome job for our professional meeting. Staffing and food was outstanding.
Peg H
5.0
9/16/2023
The facility was amazing. It’s right on the lake and the patio outside was perfect for a beautiful summer afternoon/evening rehearsal dinner. Our server even brought out yard games! The food was amazing, too! Definitely was a great time and there were many compliments from our guests.
Lindsay Z
5.0
9/14/2023
Boatwerks was truly a dream location for our wedding! We could not be more happy with the service, food, venue look, and entire process working with Boatwerks to plan and execute our special day. The team there truly did such a good job to make the day run beautifully and smoothly. I would highly recommend the location - it is not only stunning but perfect if you want an outdoor reception BUT you do not need to stress or worry about the weather because there is an easy back up. We felt people stayed longer because there were more places to sit and mingle with the indoor and outdoor space. Food and service AMAZING so impressed and so happy with what we received.
Catherine C
5.0
9/14/2023
Boatwerks was the most perfect place to have our wedding. We loved the lake view and the opportunity to have a beautiful sunset over the lake. The staff was so friendly and kind. We had about 10 people with food allergies, and they made it so easy to provide allergy-free meals for those guests! The steak was cooked to perfection. We were worried it would be overcooked since it was for a wedding, but it was a perfect medium rare!! They help you determine the timeline for dinner, cake cutting, first dance, etc. and help to keep you on schedule! I 1000% recommend them for your wedding! :)
Brianne P
5.0
9/11/2023
I loved the food we had for our dinner after the ceremony. Hannah put a vegetarian option for my one vegetarian, by giving her a choice between three different options. I presented the options and she told me it was excellent! The food overall was very good, and all my selections were made amazingly. I am VERY happy that we choose Boatwerks to hold the event.
Taylor B
5.0
9/07/2023
We got married at Boatwerks last week! We live in Holland, but our families and most of our guests came in from out of town. They all were blown away by the beauty of this venue! The day was perfect from start to finish. A lot of our guests said it was the best wedding food and dessert they had ever had! The dance floor was in a perfect spot and the guests who weren’t into dancing always had something to do, whether it was playing one of many games on the patio, or enjoying the view off the deck. I’m so glad we chose Boatwerks to host our wedding and I’d recommended it to anyone who wants a beautiful waterfront location! Also a perfect location for sunset photos. The venue is a stunner. We had so much fun!!
Gracie B
5.0
9/03/2023
We had a beautiful wedding at Boatwerks. The staff was very attentive, food was 5 star, and the venue itself was stunning! We can't wait to come back to visit.
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