The Beautiful Gem Theatre
201 to 250 guests
Holds ceremonies and receptions
Parker James Forbes
PRESIDENT
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER (7X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
With dramatic character and storied history, the historic Gem Theatre is one of the most sought-after event venues in the city. Located in the heart of Downtown Detroit on Madison Avenue, the building features ornate Spanish & Art Deco architecture, warm dining rooms and an exquisitely landscaped garden patio.
The Gem Theatre offers each couple exclusive use of the building on their special day. With multiple floors and rooms, the Gem can accommodate any guest count, from a more intimate experience with 150 guests or less in the Gem itself, or a larger dining space in our lower level for up to 250 guests.
With outstanding service and attention to every detail, Forbes Hospitality will ensure that any occasion is truly unforgettable. Our wedding packages include all your venue needs, including tables, Chiavari chairs, floor length linen, glassware, china & silverware. Our in-house catering team will work with you to create your ideal wedding menu from passed appetizers to late night stations and everything in between. Our bar package is top tier and includes a wide variety of wines, domestic and craft beers, liquors, and champagne so that each guest has something they'll enjoy. Dedicated staff will be on-site throughout the night to make sure everything runs smoothly and seamlessly.
We can't wait to work with you to host the wedding of your dreams!
Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception:
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Ceremony:
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Bar services:
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Catering:
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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
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Commitment Ceremony
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Estate
Garden
Historic Venue
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Cakes & Desserts
Food & Catering
Planning
Rentals & Equipment
Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Parker James Forbes
President
Parker keeps an eye on everyone in the office and makes sure everything runs smoothly starting at the time of booking until the Wedding day. We are a family run business that grew with Detroit's emerging popularity. We love Weddings and Events and take great care in creating a magical wedding experience located at our amazing historic venue, with on trend food & beverage, and personalized service!
Reviews
4.9
out of 5.074 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.
The Gem Theatre is highly praised by multiple reviewers for its exceptional service, beautiful venue, and delicious food. The staff, including Amber and Nathalie, are highlighted for their professionalism and attention to detail throughout the planning process and on the day of the event. Guests appreciated the convenient downtown location, free on-site parking, and the seamless coordination of the wedding. The historic building, accommodating staff, and reasonable pricing make The Gem Theatre a highly recommended wedding venue for a memorable and successful event.Review photos
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Ali K
Highlighted review.
5.0
1/02/2025
The staff at the Gem were great! The planning team and day of manager were very attentive to our family. They allowed us to have some appointments earlier than average as my husband was living out of state at the time. Everyone was so pleasant day of and we received so many compliments about our venue and the staff from guests. A top notch venue for our winter wedding, was simple to navigate to and everyone got to stay in the same place!
Sarah L
5.0
9/28/2024
The BEST venue for our wedding. All of our guests loved the food, great service, and friendly staff. Amber helped us plan our whole wedding the entire year, and she was better than we could have imagined. She answered every question and emailed back very promptly. The venue is naturally beautiful, so not many decorations were needed. We will never forget this venue and this night. Thank you for making our dreams come true!
Any questions?
Nicole H
5.0
9/20/2024
Not only is the venue itself impressive, but the staff that worked our wedding went above and beyond our expectations. Whether it was making sure we always had a drink or food (as the bride and groom) to the quality of the food and drink itself— everything at the Gem was perfect. Highly recommend them to anyone looking for all-around good service, attention to detail, and good energy on their wedding day!
Megan D
5.0
1/07/2024
We hosted our wedding ceremony and reception at The Gem Theatre on 12/16/23.
Amber was our lovely sales manager who we worked with from when we booked the venue a year before our event until the week before our wedding. She responded quickly to emails and answered all of our questions with transparency. For weddings, The Gem cannot guarantee that couples can host their rehearsals at the venue itself and is only able to communicate if this is possible two weeks before the event. But Amber knew how important this was to us and was able to tell us that we had secured the venue for our rehearsal a month prior, which took stress off our shoulders!
Nathalie rocked it as our venue manager, who handled day-of logistics. She was present for our rehearsal the day before and made sure we were all on the same page. She communicated our vision to The Gem staff so that they could follow suit and coordinated seamlessly with our vendors.
The food was phenomenal! We had passed appetizers during our cocktail hour and opted for crab cakes, mini beef wellingtons, and spanakopita. Everyone loved all of them. Same thing for the dinner and bar service. No complaints! The staff was on-point throughout the evening tending to the needs of us and our guests.
We personally found the cost of The Gem to be reasonable considering the location within downtown Detroit (right next to Ford Field), the exceptional service, and the gorgeous venue itself. It was also very convenient that the venue has free on-site parking that they let us use for our rehearsal the day before and then for all of our guests the day of. We hosted our wedding on the same day as a Lions game and the fact that our guests could park in The Gem's structure easily was wonderful.
The whole event ran smoothly. Whatever hiccups there were we weren't aware of as Nathalie handled them. We would wholeheartedly recommend hosting a wedding at The Gem! Thank you again to the whole team at The Gem for making our wedding such a success!
Joshua J
5.0
12/19/2023
We hosted our December wedding at the Gem and it was just perfect. Everyone loved the venue and the food was so good. The entire team was so helpful from beginning to end, too! If you are looking for a venue that handles it all, this is definitely the one for you! And the building itself is just so lovely.
Alison Z
5.0
11/27/2023
The staff was very kind to us. The event planner we worked with helped make sure our food was just right and than everthing was in order day of. This event space is great. I had the whole building to myself and my guests for my wedding and it was intimate and perfect. I loved this beautiful historical building and the staff is so accomidating if you want any special mood lighting or ideas. Great space! Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys Theatres, History, or just really cool buildings.
Sarah M
5.0
11/11/2023
This was the perfect venue for our wedding day! Amber was so helpful leading up to our wedding, keeping us on track with planning and helping us make it our own. And Nathalie helped so much on the day of making sure everything ran smoothly - not a single thing went wrong the whole day!
The food was amazing and the venue is absolutely beautiful.
Laurie B
5.0
10/18/2023
My daughter and son-in-law chose the Gem Theater as the venue for their wedding. From the sales team to the events staff, everyone was responsive and accommodating. The set up was exactly as planned and the venue was the perfect backdrop for all of the vendors to create my daughter and son-in-law's vision. Our guests were raving about the food especially the lamb chop appetizers, the butternut squash ravioli and the duo of filet and halibut. This is a fabulous venue to host a party.
Tiffany C
5.0
7/27/2023
My husband and I had just had our wedding here at the Gem Theatre and it was absolutely amazing. It was a dream wedding come true ! Jamie, Dylan and the staff treated us and our guest with respect and royalty . All the guest had an amazing time ! Also the food was delicious !
We would recommend this venue to everyone!
Tiffany & Dante Greer-Beal
Samantha B
5.0
6/26/2023
I just had my wedding there and it was amazing! The venue is beautiful, and unlike anything I've seen! I originally wanted a small backyard wedding, but with our family size it wasn't a realistic option. We originally looked at another more well-known theater is the area, and both my Fiancé and myself were not a fan. When we got a tour of the Gem - we knew it was the place for us! For most of the planning process I worked with the sales manager, Amber Sharp. I cannot even explain how amazing she was through the entire process! When you originally book a wedding at the Gem, you receive a large packet of information, which was so overwhelming, but Amber made everything SO easy. Anytime I reached out to her for anything she was so quick to reply, and never once did she ever come across as annoyed with my ridiculous questions. In the end I really thought of her as more of a friend, then just a vendor. On the wedding day you work with a wedding coordinator, but Amber still stopped in the girl's room prior to the ceremony to say Hi. I was also having an issue with my flowers (nothing to do with the venue) and stressed, but Amber was able to help out and really calmed my nerves. Planning a wedding is insanity and having her honestly made a world of difference. I honestly do not think it would of gone as good as it did without her. I mentioned at one point that I cannot drink alcohol, and there was non-alcoholic champagne is my dressing room and a glass waiting for me at dinner for toasts.
The wedding was perfect! It was the coolest experience to have the ceremony of stage, and out guest either on the main floor or in the balcony looking down. I am still receiving compliments on how beautiful the venue was, and how amazing the food was! The waitstaff, cooks, bartenders and sound-system crew were so amazing! We had a little over 150 people, but because of the venue everyone was able to spread out. Not only was there seating inside the theatre / dance floor, but also at the bar / lounge area and outdoor seating, which our guest really loved! We got a sneak peak of our photos, and I can't even begin to say how amazing they are! We didn't do first look - so we were limited on time for photos and could not go to another location. But we were able to get family photos done on the stage stairs, and wedding party / couple photos done outside the venue. Because the outside is done SO beautifully with flowers - the photos look better then imagined! Also, parking gives me so much anxiety in Detroit, but the Gem has their own parking garage, and every guest gets a parking pass for the event!
My wedding at the Gem was perfect, and exactly how i imagined! I do not have one single regret on choosing the Gem.
Hayley F
5.0
2/08/2023
There are so many good things to say about The Gem and our experience with this venue! Because we chose to get married in February we wanted a one-stop-shop to minimize time in the cold. We loved how many options The Gem has so many rooms and spaces to make the event run smoothly in one building from rehearsal to ceremony to cocktail hour to reception! We appreciated Jaime, Dillon, and the entire event staff who were all kind and helpful, always anticipating our next move or need and ready to help with a smile. I cannot give a stronger recommendation for a wedding venue!!!
Lisa D
5.0
1/11/2023
We got married at the Gem on NYE and everything about the venue and our day was absolutely perfect. The Gem itself is beautiful and allowed us to do minimal decoration. Having the entire building was great since we used different spaces for different parts of the night and the cocktail hour area allowed people to sit and relax away from the dance floor. The food was all fantastic, and so was all the staff. Jaime and Amber were always available for questions leading up to the day and always helpful in finding any solution, and Nathalie took care of all the things I was stressing about on the day of. Our guests were big Michigan football fans and they set up a TV in the cocktail hour area so people could see the game. I never made it to the bar, but many guests raved about the bartenders. I can't say enough about the Gem, and can't count how many guests told us it was the best wedding they've ever been to. And in my research, reasonably priced for what you get. I already told the staff I will be back to visit. Would recommend this place to anyone!
Kristopher P
5.0
11/25/2022
Words cannot express the gratitude we have for the Gem. We got engaged 2.5 years ago and booked almost immediately. So, it's been a long journey with this venue. Jaime was AMAZING throughout the whole experience. She was patient and kind and quick to respond with any questions we had.
The venue itself was STUNNING. The staff, every single one of them, was helpful, fun, and supportive.
We'd recommend this venue a million times over! It was a magical day and every one has been telling us how beautiful the theatre was!
Isabelle E
5.0
11/04/2022
Our experience throughout the wedding planning process couldn’t have gone more smoothly, and I owe that to the Gem! Jaime was our contact and was so responsive and answered my dozens of emails timely and helped ease any concerns I had. She also offered up any suggestions that helped us in planning our wedding, and was a pleasure to work with. Preston was our day of venue coordinator, and he also was super responsive and helpful. He calmed down any last minute concerns we had, and took care of everything behind the scenes. We didn’t have to set up or pack up any of our decor we brought, Preston went the extra mile and did all of that for us, which wasn’t even part of his job description!
As for the venue itself, you truly can’t beat the history, architecture and character of the Gem! Our guests were all blown away with the venue, and so were we. I couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else! It was so nice to have the entire space to ourselves, and we made use of every room in the Gem. I couldn’t recommend this wedding venue enough!
Max W
5.0
10/15/2022
It's been one week from our wedding at the Gem and we're still talking about how incredible it was!!
Talking about the wedding, we have said "we wouldn't have changed a single thing" and that's thanks to the Gem. From the time we booked it to the end of our wedding night, the Gem was perfect and the staff was so helpful.
While Jaime wasn't always our contact, she answered any questions we had when I kept asking, and Dylan helped as our day-of coordinator for whatever we needed.
Now, to the venue itself. Having it to yourself is a huge plus, and there are so many great spots for pictures. Getting married on stage was something we were nervous about, but it absolutely rocked! Having friends and family on the floor and in the balcony was amazing to see. We also played into the theatre for our theme with other things like film reels, ticket placecards, etc.
The bartenders and kitchen staff were on point, and when there was an emergency, Dylan stepped up to help out and people never waited for a drink. The food was delicious. Highly recommend getting the duo just so people can try some more, and the appetizers kept people snacking during cocktail hour.
We wouldn't have changed a thing about the wedding, and we can't recommend the Gem enough.
Spenser L
5.0
8/23/2022
It was so excellent, the Gem staff and service are amazing! Everyone was so impressed with the presentation, service, aesthetics, and food quality! We had some very incredible compliments, it was great from start to finish!
Emily R
5.0
8/18/2022
This venue is perfect! We used the Gem for both the ceremony and reception and the big stage is so beautiful to get married on. Our guests loved sitting up in the balcony and the outdoor patio area for cocktail hour right downtown Detroit was amazing. I cannot rave more about the staff, starting with Jamie Smith, she truly was wonderful to work with. She was on top of every detail and always helped answer any question or concerns we had. She met with us whenever we requested and we came down to look at the space whenever we needed to get flower/decorating inspiration. She made us feel like we were the only couple she was working with and we felt so special throughout the whole experience. And Nathalie was tremendous help the day of the wedding... she took care of details that I was afraid family members would have to be stuck with but Nathalie and Preston handled everything! If we could do it all over again we wouldn't change a thing. The Gem Theatre was our dream wedding 100%
Becky B
5.0
5/27/2022
I cannot say enough good things about the Gem Theatre and their staff. We had our May 2022 wedding there and from the booking process all the way through to our wedding day the experience was wonderful. Nicole, our salesperson, was incredibly helpful in offering suggestions as we planned. She was quick to respond to any emails and calls. Leading up to the wedding day I felt very supported, which was important to me because I did not hire a wedding planner.
The venue itself is simply gorgeous and meant we could save money on decor because the theater, bar area, and banquet room look amazing already.
We hired a live band for our reception and they sounded AMAZING plugged into the house system. The Gem’s technical staff helped coordinate everything with our band and ceremony musicians, meaning I didn’t have to get directly involved.
Nathalie (assigned day-of coordinator) and the Gem’s house and banquet staff made sure our rehearsal and wedding day went off without a hitch. Nathalie even helped us by going back into the theatre at the very end of the night because something was accidentally left behind in a dressing room.
The banquet team was on top of everything from making sure our getting ready suites were stocked with staff to accommodating some guests with severe food allergies.
The FOOD was AMAZING. I wish I could go back and relive the day over again just so I could eat my wedding dinner one more time.
I cannot recommend the Gem enough. The package was very reasonably priced considering the benefits that are included (the bar package alone is the best I saw out in the market). We are so happy we booked and would recommend again in a heartbeat.
Haley B
4.0
12/22/2021
We had our wedding and reception at the Gem this past Saturday and it was so wonderful. We were a little worried when we had to re-schedule our February 2021 wedding to December 2021 due to COVID-19 but we managed to make the night everything we could have dreamed of with the help of the Gem staff. Nathalie was so accommodating and professional, she worked with all of our vendors to ensure the night went off without a hitch. Everyone kept commenting on how cool and collected we were as a couple and that's a testament to all the help and support we had. The dressing rooms were the perfect space for everyone to get ready and were great for pictures. When some guests arrived a little early and caught us doing our pre-ceremony photos, Nathalie was able to sneak us around the back so that no one saw us. The food was beyond amazing (we had the filet and salmon). We couldn't be happier with the entire night, thank you so much to the Gem for making our wedding day special.
Diana K
4.0
11/01/2021
The venue was beautiful, Preston our event manager was outstanding in making sure we had everything we needed when we needed it, the bartenders were great; sound staff was great! Everything went off with out a hitch except for one thing, the serving staff was not so great, as the bride and groom we had a duty to greet and thank all of our guests which is standard, they took away our dinner with out asking if we were finished, and put down cake and took it away before we ever even got to it, that was frustrating to say the least seeing as we paid quite a bit of money for our dinners.
Aside from that, I can’t say enough positive things about Preston. He made sure to give us his cell phone so that we could personally call him to let us in as it was raining that day, he made sure we had champagne in hand, and made sure to help us line up for our ceremony where everyone was suppose to be. He’s what helped the entire night to run as smoothly as it did and we can’t thank him enough
Allie S
5.0
10/27/2021
Allie S.
Holly T
5.0
10/19/2021
We are so thankful that we went with the Gem Theatre for our wedding venue. The entire team was extremely professional and helpful throughout our wedding planning. The food was great, the building was beautiful, and everything was exactly on time.
Carolyn M
5.0
9/28/2021
Where to begin? From the first time my husband and I walked into the gem we knew it was the venue for us. It was unique and had the amazing 1920’s vibe we were going for. From starting to plan before Covid to moving our date the staff was absolutely amazing. They answered any questions we had and more.
When it came to the wedding finally happening they made sure every detail was set. The food was amazing. The bar was great. Everything we talked about was set up better than I expected!
Overall an amazing experience that our guests have complimented us on since having our wedding!
Jon/Renee L
5.0
6/21/2021
We had the best wedding at the Gem Theatre! We had the unfortunate luck of planning a COVID wedding. Alex was great to work with throughout the entire process. We were a little nervous about being one of the first weddings at this Venue since the state reopened, but everything went off with out a hitch! The staff was great and accommodating throughout the evening. The venue itself is stunning, and perfect for entertaining (especially if you plan on having live music!)
Jenny B
5.0
12/11/2019
I still can't believe how spectacular our wedding reception was. We knew when we walked in to The Gem Theatre that it was where we wanted our wedding because of how old and beautiful it truly is. Samantha was so great to work with - she never failed to answer any of my questions very quickly, and made sure we felt comfortable and prepared for our big day. Nikki was our 'day-of' coordinator, and can I just say, she made everything seem so seamless and easy. She met with me and my family a few days before the wedding to go over everything, and made sure we knew where we needed to be and what the day was going to look like. They helped set everything up so we didn't have to worry about that, and everything was beyond gorgeous. My husband and I were truly speechless walking in to the theatre before the reception started. Everything was BEAUTIFUL and went so smoothly. People were raving about the food, cocktails, and the uniqueness of the venue. We can't say enough great things about The Gem Theatre and their staff, thanks for helping make our wedding such a special day!
Ashley G
5.0
11/30/2019
Our wedding was a fairytale! Samantha and Nikki were so helpful. They made sure we were on schedule,but not rushed and that everything we wanted happened. They set up everything which made it easy for us! They have a wonderful staff and we received complements all night about them and the venue. I highly suggest booking your wedding at the Gem! Easy to park, easy to organize and a fun time for everyone!
Catherine S
5.0
11/29/2019
Our wedding was months ago (8/24), and guests are still raving about how amazing the Gem was. The location is incredible, an absolutely gorgeous building in the heart of beautiful downtown Detroit. And the food is delicious there, too! Everything came together beautifully and the staff there were great to work with — so on top of all the details, big and small, that make a wedding day special. Samantha was especially amazing at helping us sort through everything beforehand. The whole day was such a whirlwind, but I felt like I didn’t have to worry because the Gem had everything under control and really went above and beyond to take care of us and our families.
Olivia A
5.0
9/28/2019
We got married at the Gem 7/20/19 and had the absolute best experience. From planning to the big day everything went so smoothly. Samantha was our coordinator and was always available for all of my questions. Even our food tasting experience was awesome. The food the day of the wedding was excellent. Bertha was our day of coordinator and left no detail undone. The bridal party had the option of coming in to the Venue in a separate entrance and we had drinks and all the hordoerves in the dressing room. Bertha even made sure I had a glass of my sangria. She brought my husband and I to look at the dining room in private. The space is so unique and beautiful that we didn’t need much to decorate. Holly took over later in the night and she was excellent. She made sure all of our decorations and items made it out of the venue, she thought of everything. Not one detail was missed. We highly recommend this venue to anyone looking for a fabulous Detroit wedding with amazing food and staff that goes above and beyond.
Alyssa W
5.0
9/19/2019
My husband and I had a wonderful experience with the Gem Theatre! We had our ceremony and reception there, and everything exceeded our expectations. Samantha was great to work with as we were planning and was always very responsive/helpful. Nikki was our day of coordinator and was absolutely amazing!! All the staff took such great care of us and helped make our night exactly what we wanted and more. Would definitely recommend the Gem to anyone looking for a beautiful downtown Detroit venue!
Renee M
5.0
2/26/2019
Working with the Gem Theatre was a dream come true. If you are looking for an all-inclusive venue that delivers on service and experience, this is your place. Sales Manager Samantha Sant was extremely responsive to every question throughout the process and ensured we stayed on track for our wedding. Clara Kay, who helped to coordinate everything the day of, made sure things went smooth so that we didn't have to worry about a thing. Our guests raved about the venue itself (unique decor/theme, location, etc...) as well as the food and service. Would definitely do it all over again if we could. Thank you again to everyone at the Gem!
Colleen C
5.0
1/22/2019
I'm not sure where to even begin. The Gem Theatre and its staff were an absolute dream to work with. My husband and I wanted a venue that was unique but would still offer some hand-holding during the planning. The Gem was all of this and more. Samantha fielded a couple dozen emails from us and was always so incredibly helpful and responsive. Clara was our day-of coordinator and I can't thank her enough for all of her guidance on our big day. We received so many compliments from our guests saying what a beautiful venue it was and how delicious (and hot! can you believe it?) the food tasted. I absolutely loved our wedding and that's due in very large part to all of the incredible people at The Gem.
Abby F
5.0
1/02/2019
I'm pretty sure we had the most perfect wedding and it was in large part because we chose The Gem Theatre for our December wedding. The Gem has everything you need at a very affordable price. I was shocked when I received the quote, as originally, we were going to try and do everything ourselves because we thought that move was less expensive. Let me tell you. It's not. I can't say enough great things about the Gem. See below for my long-winded explanation, but I really wanted to get this out there.
First, when you book The Gem, you book the ENTIRE venue, not just one room. For a winter wedding, this was perfect. We did not have to share our space with any other weddings. We were also able to have some separation between events. We had our ceremony on stage, moved downstairs for dinner (a larger space that accommodates more people), and then use the upstairs for private family photos. This was perfect for us. Also, the guests liked that they didn't have to drive anywhere. This made it very easy for them. Speaking of easy and driving... for a downtown Detroit venue, they have a parking garage that guests can use with complimentary parking. Another plus!
Not only was the space and layout perfect for us, but it was SO BEAUTIFUL (and unique)! You can get away with minimal decor. You don't need it! The place is just stunning. I can't say enough about it and our guests are still talking about that. The staff was also amazing and so professional. We even met one of the head waiters at our tasting. He has been there for many years (I want to say almost 20!) and to us, that spoke volumes as that must mean that he does a great job, and The Gem must do a great job at keeping their staff happy (it shows!). They also provide a day of coordinator that you work with from before you book until after your wedding. I didn't think I would need somebody like that, but man am I happy they were there. They literally ran the show so I could just enjoy my wedding. Things go wrong on your wedding day, and I didn't even notice. It wasn't my problem, they just took care of it. From uninvited guests showing up, to our polaroid guest book not working, they handled it no problem. And after our wedding ended, everything from dinner was already packed up and ready to go, and we had very minimal clean up to do. Wow. Just wow. Did I mention that this IS ALL INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?! I still can't get over it.
So the venue is perfect. The staff is outstanding. What about the food? Wow. That's great too! We had tons of appetizers, an outstanding meal, a champagne toast, midnight snacks, and an open bar for a very affordable price.
You probably will get sticker shock at first and come to find out, weddings get expensive. But besides your photographer and florist, this will be the only other thing you need to book. And I promise you won't regret it. People are STILL talking about how perfect our wedding was. Thanks, Gem Theatre for making it that way!!
Jea N
5.0
9/05/2018
The Gem was absolutely perfect for my wedding reception. Lauren was my point of contact for the entire planning process. There was not one email she didn't respond to within 24 hours. She was extremely patient with multiple changes in our plans and didn't mind being contacted by both my mother and myself. Lauren's professionalism left little to be stressed about leading up to the big day. The week before, Bertha reached out to me as the day-of coordinator. Bertha was also extremely friendly, comforting and helpful. She did everything with a smile and seemed genuinely happy for us. Every request of mine was fulfilled. The food was delicious and service was great too. I have nothing but good things to say about this venue!
Emily M
5.0
8/14/2018
We had the absolute best time celebrating our wedding this past weekend at The Gem/Century Theatre. Everything was pretty much perfect from start to finish. The venue is beautiful, and everything was so detail oriented. Nicole L. and Lauren K. were great with their responses/updating of the event order as we got closer to the date and accommodated all of our requests. Bertha C., our day-of coordinator, is nothing short of perfection and confidence and sweetness and wonderfulness all rolled into one. This venue was a perfect set-up (we had everything here and each part of the evening flowed into the next), and it was a perfect location for pictures/near our hotel/close to other activities for guests/etc. The only tiny issue we had is that we should have been a bit more explicit regarding what needed to be saved and how things should've been packed up--but part of that was our distraction/lack of communication. Be very clear about what you want kept, or take care of it yourself quickly. We loved the Gem Theatre, and our day was absolutely perfect!!! Food is amazing, wait staff is attentive, coordinators are professionals, and the venue is gorgeous and perfect to have everything there if you're not doing a church ceremony. There are a lot of options as well regarding different rooms/areas to hold different aspects of your evening to show off the building. Everyone was obsessed. Have your wedding at the Gem! :)
Allison A
5.0
4/29/2018
We just got married at the Gem this month and are so thankful we choose such a great venue. Access to downtown, a parking garage, the accommodating and professional staff, having everything made in house, helped make everything go SO SMOOTHLY! We didn't have to stress about a thing (huge shout out to Molly our day of coordinator for being a jack and jill of all trades that day). We also planned most of this event out of the state and really felt like we were taken care of from the first email to the big day. Thank you, Nicole, Samantha, and Molly!
Caiti N
5.0
10/17/2017
The Gem Theatre was an amazing venue for a wedding! The team is incredible to work with and helps to make sure your night runs perfectly! The food is amazing and the venue is beautiful with a great location in the heart of downtown Detroit. I can't say enough about how happy we were with the Gem Theatre I would highly recommend this venue for anyone looking for a unique and historical venue in the city.
Andrea B
5.0
9/18/2017
Wow!!! Just had my wedding this past Saturday and I was blown away! I was really nervous planning from out of state but Lauren was a dream to work with!!! She always was prompt with email responses or phone calls!!!! She really helped me as I was so uncertain with decisions at times! My day of coordinator Katie was AWESOME! She is so so efficient and professional! She ran a tight ship!!
Regarding the gem...such a fantastic venue. It's true the food is phenomenal, we got compliments galore even as far as "this was the best filet I have ever had!". The appetizers were amazing as well! I loved that they had drinks and appetizers in the bridal dressing rooms for us to enjoy as well!
I would so recommend the Gem! They take such good care of you and will help make your wedding flawless from start to finish!!!!
Anna C
5.0
9/18/2017
The Gem was an amazing venue for our reception! The staff was incredible and made sure that our vision came to life. They were professional and it was stress-free. During dinner, the staff made sure to provide the head table and VIP tables with drinks and check on us frequently. The bar and food were outstanding. I highly recommend The Gem to anyone looking for an amazing experience in Detroit!
Katherine W
5.0
8/31/2017
I wish I could give 10 out of 5 stars! Our wedding was beyond perfect and I attribute a huge part of it to the Gem. It was the first place my husband and I viewed, and although we saw many other venues the Gem's customer service, elegance, comprehensive wedding packages, and personal touches made our decision an easy one. All of the sales people we worked with were incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. Weddings can be super stressful to plan but the Gem made sure no detail would be overlooked. Our wedding coordinator was incredibly thorough and made sure that my husband and I were comfortable, calm, and cared for the day of the wedding. The beauty of the theatre was absolutely breath taking when we saw it for our reception, and we actually got married in the century theatre - which is attached. We loved that we had the whole building to ourselves the entire night. I cannot stress enough how amazing it was to get married in such a beautiful and historic location. If you are looking for a venue that will take care of you, wow your friends, and leave you with the best memories of your life then you have to choose the Gem Theatre!
Alyssa T
5.0
7/28/2017
We could have not been any happier with our wedding reception at the Gem. Everyone we came in contact with was amazingly professional, helpful and truly wanted our day to be magical. The team we worked with firsthand were Nicole, Ashley and Molly all ladies were great! We received and are still receiving multiple complaints from our guests on all aspects of our reception including the Gem itself, he food and the entire experience! We could not have asked for a better venue since the Gem brought our 1920s themed/Gatsby style wedding to life!! Do not hesitate to book the Gem for your wedding you will not be sorry!
Hanna B
5.0
5/31/2017
What a beautiful place to have a reception! We had excellent staff and service, many compliments from family and friends - and the food was excellent!
Kelly S
5.0
5/05/2017
The Gem was the perfect setting for our wedding, planning was seamless, food was amazing and everyone was great to work with. Lauren and Rachelle answered every ridiculous question I had over the course of a year immediately and without making me think I was being crazy. Also, we have gotten compliment after compliment on our wedding since we've had it. I would recommend the Gem for a stress free (as much as wedding planning can be) and well thought out wedding!
Christine E
1.0
5/02/2017
Was really excited about using this venue for a Friday lady's sangeet. Although we couldn't do outside catering the assured us that they have done indian weddings before and could do indian food in house. She even went as far to say we could use our own recipes (which seemed odd). After inquiring for pricing information her manager replied with "If authentic Indian cuisine is important to you and your group, our venue may not be the best fit." I wasted multiple days comparing venues, estimate pricing, and pros and cons only to be told I was lied to the entire time. I would have saved tons of time and looked for other options if they would have been upfront and honest.
Raleigh D
5.0
3/13/2017
We could not say better things about the Gem Theatre! If you are looking for a unique venue that will have you guests talking for years to come then this is your place!!!! From the very start they were helpful and easy to work with, especially as we were planning our wedding from North Carolina. Their organization skills go above and beyond, and we highly recommend this venue and its staff. Lauren, Rachelle, Nicole and the entire staff made our dreams a reality with minimal stress that normally accompanies wedding planning. I wish I could thank them properly, but words will never do it justice.
As if the stress-free experience and wonderful staff wasn't enough, this venue is simply stunning!!! We held cocktail hour on the third floor with guests able to view the Detroit skyline. They had appetizers and drinks waiting for the wedding party in our dressing rooms before our grand entrance. We were all starving and could not believe they had even thought to save us all food!!! Dinner followed in the lower level with a roaring fire behind us. The food was exceptional! As was the wait staff!
We finished the evening with dancing in the theater. We left the doors open to allow guests to easily flow between dancing and catching up at seated tables.
I highly recommend this venue to every bride and groom looking to give their guests a unique Detroit experience. They think of EVERYTHING and are so easy to work with. Thank you to everyone at the Gem for the best day of our lives.
Megan K
5.0
12/01/2016
The Gem was the perfect backdrop for a one of a kind wedding. The staff was super easy to work with, the food was to die for, and the historic venue created a one of a kind experience our guests are still talking about.
Mallory G
5.0
11/28/2016
Lauren and the staff at the Gem were absolutely wonderful to work with! They made the process of wedding planning easy and enjoyable. I asked Lauren a million questions during the planning process and she was always very responsive and courteous. We planned our wedding from out of state and we couldn't have done it without the outstanding level of service we received from the Gem staff. The entire experience, from food to accommodations was fantastic! Our guests all had an amazing time, they absolutely loved the venue, the food and the overall atmosphere. The day of staff were fantastic, they did everything to assist us, so we could just enjoy our special day! It was more perfect than we could have ever imagined! We would definitely recommend the Gem to other couples. It’s the perfect venue in the heart of Detroit!
Lauren F
5.0
2/01/2016
The Gem was the first and only venue that my husband and I went to look at in person. We knew we wanted to get married downtown and we knew as soon as we walked in that The Gem was the perfect place to have our wedding. From the beginning the responsiveness of the team at The Gem showed us that they knew what they were doing and that they were happy to be a part of our special day. It was very obvious that this is what they do and they do it best.
The venue itself is stunning and since we were married in December there were some decorations up that complimented our own perfectly. We got married in the upper “Century Theatre” level and then moved our guests to the main floor “Century Grill” for a cocktail hour before going all the way downstairs for dinner. Afterwards we had an 8-piece band that perfectly filled The Gem Theatre space and our guests could move freely about the building at their leisure.
The food was delicious, our guests still talk about it when we see them, and the staff was impeccable. I have to say that Melissa, our event manager for the day, was an absolute dream to work with. She was on top of everything and I cannot even begin to thank her for everything she did to make our day so special. I do not have one complaint or thing I would have changed about our wedding, it was truly perfect and most of that has to do with our choice to have our Wedding at The Gem Theatre. I highly recommend this venue!
Sinéad N
5.0
9/30/2015
The Gem was everything we could have hoped for and more. Here are some specific thoughts:
-The food was fantastic and they had options that were unique and refreshing for our guests, as opposed to the typical wedding food options (i.e. - Parmesan-crusted halibut instead of salmon). More traditional wedding food options were available too.
-the staff were amazing to deal with. From the sales people who helped us choose our options to the day of coordinator (shout out to Judy!), everyone seemed to be working towards making it the best experience possible for us. There was even a hiccup with the cake on the day of and I wasn't even aware until Judy made numerous phone calls and solved The problem.
-the facility itself is in immaculate condition. What I loved was that the venue was already so amazing and beautiful that very minimal added decoration was needed, a big money saver if you're doing DIY decor. The courtyar d is also so wonderful and well taken care of, beautiful flowers.
Our guests reported loving this venue and all its unique features. I would recommend it in a heartbeat!
Jessica H
5.0
7/30/2015
My new husband and I just had our wedding reception at The Gem Theatre. He worked for the Detroit Lions when we first started dating and had mentioned that they had their draft parties there and that "it was a cool place to have a wedding". (Hint! Hint!) Well when he popped the question and as we started planning, the Gem pushed itself to the front of the line! They were reasonably priced, had great food, which we able to taste (very important to me), and were very flexible with vendors we wanted to bring in. Their wedding coordinating staff was always prompt and friendly with responses and more than willing to work with us on whatever we needed with a huge smile on their faces! We have had compliment after compliment on how perfectly beautiful our wedding was since the big day! I'm so happy that it was not only our fairytale, but that others felt the great vibes! A few favorite things I like about the Gem Theatre is that the owner himself tends the beautiful outdoor garden/patio where cocktail hour can take place, the fact that you rent the whole venue out and it almost has an "estate" feel, and even though it is downtown Detroit, the parking structure makes parking easy and very safe!
Katie G
5.0
5/05/2015
Everyone at the Gem did an amazing job. From the moment we booked, the were available and made our day so incredibly special. All the details were perfect. Our guests could not stop commenting on how beautiful the Gem is! We had a wonderful night. I feel like I didn't lift a finger. I highly recommend the Gem and its staff to any couple looking for a smooth, beautiful experience.
Gina S
5.0
4/08/2015
The staff at the Gem was amazing! I had a really short engagement (3 months!) and they really helped me in every aspect of my day. The wait staff was the best I have seen, and my wedding coordinator Bertha was top notch! They really made my whole family feel special and I have heard nothing but wonderful compliments from that day!
Lauren W
5.0
12/08/2014
The Gem was the only venue my husband and I looked at for our wedding. We wanted a venue with charm and character, but which was also professionally staffed and run. The Gem was the perfect balance of the above. Our wedding was three weeks ago, and we are still receiving compliments from friends and family about the beauty of the venue, the food, the service, and the entire evening.
Throughout the planning process, Nicole, Lauren and Alyssa were never more than an e-mail or phone call away. They answered any questions we had in an extremely prompt manner and sent helpful reminders when things like balances, seating charts, and vendor information were due. Two weeks before the wedding, we had our final meeting, and handed over our vendor information, which was such a relief! The Gem coordinated all of our vendors - we were not left calling anybody last minute and telling them when to show up and where to load.
Our event manager, Judy, was impeccable. She was at our rehearsal the night before, and even gave my husband and I her cell phone number, insisting we call her at any time that night if we had anxieties or questions. We didn't, of course, but wow - that is dedication! The day of the wedding, everything was perfect. Judy kept everyone organized. People were never milling about or unsure where to go. Mohammad was our dinner server and he was also fantastic - he was following us around with a bottle of champagne all night!
If you want more than just a "room" for your wedding…and if you want an enjoyable, stress free wedding day…the Gem is the place. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Sarah A
5.0
7/16/2014
My fiance and I looked at a number of different venues for our wedding and we really fell in love with the Gem. We loved the feel of the old theater and appreciated the privacy available for our event and various activities that would occur during the day. The Gem was really easy to work with and very thorough. They even provided a day of coordinator at no additional cost who confirmed with all our vendors before the event to make sure they knew where to be and when.
Judi helped with our event on they day and she made sure everything went perfectly. She ensured that the wedding party had food and beverages and ensured all the events happened on time. She even took the time to check in with the guests to make sure they were enjoying themselves. Months after our wedding people are still talking about how great the venue, food, and entertainment were. The late night coney station was a hughe hit with everyone.
We had a wonderful and stress-free event at the Gem. It was absolutely perfect!
Caitlyn V
5.0
1/20/2014
We selected the Gem Theatre for our New Year's Eve Wedding. We were looking for a unique venue where we could host both our ceremony and reception. We were extremely pleased with the Gem on our wedding day and throughout the entire planning process. As the bride, I emailed our event coordinator about 100 times, and she was always helpful and quick to respond.
We tried to set up our decorations the day before the wedding, but we were not able to finish everything. Our event manager (Judy) helped our wedding planner set everything up the day of the wedding, and it was all gorgeous. She went above and beyond to make sure everything was as we imagined it.
After our wedding, we got continuous feedback from our guests on how beautiful the wedding was and how delicious the food was. Overall, I could not have been more pleased with the venue we selected for our wedding.
Jessica H
5.0
10/21/2013
The Gem is such a beautiful venue and the staff was the most helpful and understanding staff ive ever worked with. all of the event planners are right there with you along your journey of planning. they give you a check list of when certain tasks need to be completed, they answer any small question you have, and are happy to assist you. Judy (event mgr) is amazing!she contacted all the venders for us and talked to them directly about how things would go. so sweet!for example she approached me during dinner and made me promise I would eat (most brides forget to do that) every few minutes she'd walk over and say "you need to eat more!" lol i loved it! the food was THE BEST WEDDING FOOD EVER!! and we heard that from everyone we asked.
we had a 7peice band for our reception and they rocked that stage! It was like their own concert being played just for us! The band even said it was an awesome experience to play on that stage in the main theatre. when the night was done and we had time to reflect, we both agreed, how happy we were with our venue choice, wouldnt have changed a thing!
THANK YOU TO THE GEM & CENTURY THEATRES FOR MAKING OUR WEDDING PERFECT!
Heather L
5.0
9/17/2013
The best night of my life!!! I had my reception at the Gem Theatre in August 2013 and I couldn’t be happier. First and foremost, Bertha, my day of event coordinator, was amazing. We had a mishap with our cake and she went above and beyond to make sure I had a cake to cut for my entrance.
The hall looked beautiful and perfect size for my 115 person wedding (we kept everyone in the theatre room). Between the wedding and the reception starting I had some family coming over to the hall to set up my candy bar and some other favors, and the staff at the Gem had already had everything set up by the time they got there without even asking.
The food was just how I remembered from the tasting and the servers were first class. We went with the mushrooms and the coconut shrimp for the cocktail hour and salmon and chicken for the reception. The liquor selection is top shelf for all of the packages and the wine was pretty tasty (and I live out near Napa Valley, so that is saying something). I had no complaints:)
All of our vendors were well aware of where they needed to be and the time. The event coordinator called them all in advance to confirm timing and answer any questions which took a lot of the pressure off of me in those last couple of weeks before the wedding. The parking attendants were top notch. I came down to the theatre throughout the weekend and we had Tiger’s Games, a Kenny Chesney concert and more going on and we always had no problem parking in the garage.
Overall I highly recommend the Gem. It is a beautiful venue with a ton of charm. I have had so many people tell me that have never been to such a beautiful wedding/reception. The only thing that went wrong with that night is that it ended. Thank you so much for making my wedding day so special!!
Rebecca G
5.0
9/15/2013
My ceremony and reception at the Gem was exceptional. Every staff member involved was outstanding, especially Judy, the banquet manager, and Mo/Mohammad, the head table waiter. There were a couple problems that were out of the Gem's control (air conditioning issues, parking garage overcrowding, and guests of honor seating situation) that could have turned into catastrophes, but Judy calmly and effortlessly prevented them, saving me unneeded stress. Mo's personality charmed our head table, and he was more than accommodating all night.
Our guests raved about the location- doting on how delicious the food was, the beauty of the venue, and the service. Vendors complimented the ease of communication with Gem staff and the organization of the event, which made their jobs easier.
The entire process, from signing the contract and making the payments, to the tasting, to the day of the event was so easy because of the outstanding service that the Gem provides. Alyssa was available for all of my questions in the weeks leading up to the wedding, and always treated me as if I were her only bride. I was hesitant about having our wedding at this location because I knew that I could spend less money elsewhere, but I am SO happy that we ended up choosing the Gem. Our wedding truly would not have been perfect without it.
Jessica B
5.0
8/20/2013
I really couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding! The venue, staff and service far exceeded my high expectations!
From start to finish, everyone was beyond amazing! Both Alyssa and Nicole were extremely helpful and there to assist in anyway, or answer any questions that came up during the wedding planning process. Bertha and the day of staff were absolutely brilliant and our guests were raving regarding every detail!
The uniqueness of the venue, the hustle and bustle of downtown Detroit, and the intimate feel made for the perfect atmosphere to celebrate our wedding.
It really couldn't have gone any better!!! I can honestly say that I feel like the luckiest bride of 2013 and it wouldn't have been possible without The Gem!!!
Jessica S
5.0
8/13/2013
We could not have been happier with the Gem Theatre as the venue for our wedding reception this past July. The service at the Gem was outstanding! We had many requests during the planning process and Nicole worked with us every step of the way to ensure that our event was just as personalized as we had imagined. The entire event staff (Mario, Judy, and all of the servers/ bartenders) at the Gem were very accommodating. At one point, our server for the night even came to find me on the dance floor with a glass of ice water! We loved the outdoor patio for our cocktail hour and we lucked out with a gorgeous summer day. We highly recommend the Gem to any couple looking to host a downtown Detroit reception in a unique space. All of our guests loved the location and the decor. We received several complements after the wedding from family and friends.
Lauren W
5.0
6/12/2013
We just had our wedding at the Gem on June 9, 2013 and had an amazing time. Nicole, who is the main events coordinator, was professional and on top of things from the beginning- even when there was a consultant switch 3 months before the wedding. After our final meeting, I knew that anything venue-related would be worry-free, because she and the whole staff are so competent. They also go out of their way to make sure you can contact them at any point with any request, small or large.
We had our ceremony upstairs in the Century Theatre, cocktail hour outside on the patio (which was spectacular) and then our reception in the Gem Theatre.
The Tigers were in town the weekend of the wedding, and we worked around the traffic issues by having a shuttle from the hotel. However, even when we drove, it wasn't that bad.
I will agree with a previous reviewer who mentioned the nickel-and-diming... for instance, to bring in one kosher meal cost me $100 above and beyond the cost of a regular adult, and they wanted to charge me an "outside vendor fee" of $150 for my MIL and mother to place their home-baked cookies on the cake table (we got around that by calling the cookies "favors", put them on another table, and then there wasn't a cost). But I really do feel that overall the value is quite good for all that you get, and the staff were really top notch. I can't say enough good things about how helpful everyone was and how lovely the venue was for our wedding!
kendra k
5.0
5/22/2013
Thanks to everyone at the Gem who made our wedding night spectacular! The staff was so accommodating and helpful. Our guests, as well as we, had an amazing evening! The food was delicious and I am still receiving compliments. Thanks for everything! I would highly recommend the Gem Theatre for a wedding or any event!!