About Meadow Brook Hall
As a Southeast and Mid Michigan wedding photographer who’s photographed 70+ weddings, I know the best Michigan wedding venues for your dream wedding day. Hi, friend! I’m Catie Eovaldi and I’ve been photographing weddings for the past 3 years.
Heading into my fourth year of wedding photography, I believe your wedding photos should truly reflect you. Your wedding day will some day be a sentimental memory, and you want images that make you remember even the smallest moments on your day. Selecting the perfect venue is the first step in bringing your wedding day vision to life.
On Michigan’s east side is the historic Meadow Brook Hall. As a national historic landmark, this tudor-style estate doubles as a wedding venue in the heart of Rochester Hills. Set back in a park, this peaceful property is the dreamiest wedding venue.
Meadow Brook Hall Weddings
Meadow Brook Hall is the perfect wedding venue for couples looking to host an upscale, sophisticated and exclusive event. The experience of a Meadow Brook Hall wedding truly starts as you enter the gates to the property. The tree lined drive up to the estate is beautiful and gives a sense of privacy even though the venue is located in the heart of the city. The property is wonderfully quiet, so no outside city noise!
Outdoor Ceremony & Reception Space
The architecture and gardens provide the perfect space for celebrating wedding nuptials. The gardens are perfectly manicured and colorful throughout the summer. Meadow Brook Hall has an outdoor tent that is used for receptions in the gardens. This is located on the backside of the historic manor and features historic art and sculptures throughout the garden area. Meadow Brook Hall has multiple outdoor ceremony spots as well.
On-Site Catering and Bartending
Meadow Brook Hall offers offers onsite catering and bartending. The food at this venue is just amazing. Outside of photos, I hear so many people remember weddings by the food they eat. Meadow Brook Hall offers an amazing menu that your guests will remember for years and continue to rave about well after your wedding day.
If you’re considering using Meadow Brook Hall for your wedding, I’d love to connect and check my availability for you!
My 3 Favorite Spots For Portraits
The Gardens
While all of Meadow Brook Hall is stunning, I do have a few favorite spots for couples to take portraits in. The first are the gardens! With bubbling fountains, columns and walkways, and colorful florals the gardens make a gorgeous spot for portraits throughout your wedding day. The ambient lighting provided from one of the garden gates also creates the perfect late night portrait spot not far from the celebration tent. Night portraits can be so much fun- I highly recommend taking even just 10 minutes to get some late night moody portraits.
The Main Gates
Right out front of the estate is a set of black wrought-iron gates. These are the main gates leading into the manor. This gated entry way has great ambient lighting for a moodier vibe, and is architecturally gorgeous.
Inside the Manor
The manor inside has so much detail and art that add a historical detail to your wedding portraits. The basement inside has such a cozy atmosphere for these late night portraits. We added candles to the space to give a more upscale and moody vibe. The grand staircase is a work of art with the crafted wood banister and red carpeting.
With the darker lighting and historical work and art inside the manor, you will need a photographer that’s experienced in working in low light conditions. With the art, the venue has strict rules on no camera flashes. I’m quite experienced in low-lighting situations and would love to connect if you’re having your wedding here. Contact me to check my availability!
4 Tips For Planning Your Meadow Brook Hall Wedding
Work Alongside a Wedding Planner
Planning a wedding is truly such a wonderful experience, but it can also be stressful at times. I highly recommend hiring a wedding planner. So many times on wedding days I’ve seen planners fix issues while you focus on having fun. I recently worked a wedding day without a wedding planner and I could tell my couple was stressed.
They had to make so many split second decisions that it was overwhelming to them. Missing table linens? Make up team is running behind schedule? Enacting a rain plan? Running out of drinks? These are all issues I’ve seen fixed (or prevented) by wedding planners without letting a bride know there was even an issue. Hiring a wedding planner ensures you are able to live life in the moment without worrying about the details and little things. I highly recommend this!
Schedule Extra Portrait Time
I highly recommend scheduling a little extra time for your wedding portraits. Meadow Brook Hall is such a large property. You’ve got gardens, the main gates, patios, and even inside the manor to explore. When planning your timeline I recommend making the time for portraits. Schedule extra time so you aren’t rushing from one end of the property to the other. Use all the spaces available for portraits and enjoy the extra time spent together on your day. If you work with me, I handle all this for you! You can connect with me here to check my availability.
When you look back on your wedding gallery, you’ll see such a variety that truly showcases not just you but Meadow Brook Hall. Scheduling extra time means if you do finish early, you can sneak away for a private moment with your new spouse. Spend as much time together as possible on your wedding day!
Attend the Group Tasting
Meadow Brook Hall offers their couples the chance to attend a group tasting. Group tastings are a way for wedding venues to showcase the foods they provide for wedding days. This is usually a menu similar to one you would have at your reception, and can include appetizers. Treat this like a mini-date night. Try some delicious food that will ultimately help you decide what to serve for dinner at your reception!
Cocktail Hour Tours
This is such a unique thing to this wedding venue! Meadow Brook Hall will offer manor tours to your guests throughout cocktail hour. I highly recommend taking advantage of this. No other wedding venue offers something like this, and it’s a natural activity to keep your guests happy and engaged before dinner.
My 2 Favorite Things About Meadow Hall Weddings
The Gardens
The gardens are such an immaculately kept space for weddings at Meadow Brook Hall. With three different ceremony spaces, the reception tent, and all the portrait spots this venue just has so much versatility to offer. You’ll be able to take a private moment with your new spouse through the gardens and just enjoy the moment in peace.
All-Inclusive Experience
Meadow Brook Hall weddings are an all-inclusive experience. This venue provides getting ready suites on site, catering and bartending services, and historical tours throughout the manor. You won’t have the stress of communicating with multiple vendors since it’s all through the venue.
Meadow Brook Hall Wedding Cost
Weddings at Meadow Brook Hall start at $43,000 and includes the following:
- Complimentary event coordinator and consultation services
- Multiple ceremony locations
- One-hour ceremony rehearsal
- Ceremony chairs
- Linen napkins, mid-length tablecloths, elegant China, flatware, glass stemware, and tables for food and beverage service
- Setup and breakdown of all Meadow Brook equipment
- Exclusive use of the grounds and estate with a guarantee of being the only event on the property
- Five-hour rental, beginning with cocktail hour
- Complimentary tours of the historic mansion during cocktail hour for guests
- Climate-controlled garden tent
- The ability to add on valet services
- The opportunity to attend the group wedding tasting
- A dressing area for the wedding party
- Microphone and speaker
- One hour photography session on the grounds with your photographer
Meadow Brook Hall Wedding Venue Details
- Location: 40 minutes north of Detroit
- Address: 350 Estate Dr, Rochester, MI 48309
- Website: meadowbrookhall.org/venue/weddings
- Capacity: 150-300 guests
- Cost: starting at $43,000
- Style: historical estate and gardens
Meadow Brook Hall Wedding Vendors
- Venue: Meadow Brook Hall
- Photography: Catie Eovaldi Photography
- Catering: Meadow Brook Hall
- Florals: Studio Wilde
- DJ: Prestige Weddings & Events
- Photobooth: Rtro Foto Co
About Your Meadow Brook Hall Wedding Photographer
Hi Friend! I’m Catie, and I have been photographing couples and fellow sentimental souls professionally since early 2023. Unprofessionally, I’ve been a hobbyist for almost 14 years.
Photography was, initially, a creative outlet for me as I navigated life changes- the loss of my dad, loss of my grandma, an out of state move, corporate jobs, etc. In that time I discovered my passion for preserving authentic, meaningful moments, big and small. I dove into my photography full-time and have never looked back.
Being rooted in connection and sentiment, I provide couples with professional photos they treasure for the rest of their life. My couples also count on me to serve them as a friend. So, let’s connect! You deserve to have your story preserved in photos forever.
Services I Offer For Meadow Brook Hall Weddings
My most popular packages for couples getting married at this venue and similar ones are my Full Day and Full Weekend packages.
Full Day Package
This package provides a comprehensive look at all the moments of your wedding day. From getting ready with your closest friends to reading your vows to everyone dancing to ‘Pink Pony Club’ on the open dance floor.
Full Weekend Package
This package provides the deepest look into all the moments of your wedding celebration. This collection will highlight your whole wedding weekend. Starting with a celebratory rehearsal dinner with your family and friends, to your wedding ceremony, and ending with a grand exit from the reception all captured on digital and film.
For a full detailed list of what’s included in each of these packages and to check my availability, connect with me here!
