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Weddings

About

Step into timeless elegance at the Packard Proving Grounds, one of Michigan’s most unique and storied wedding venues.

Built in 1928 and designed by legendary architect Albert Kahn, our historic site is a dream backdrop for couples who admire 1930s design, automotive history, and classic American luxury.

Originally created as a testing facility for Packard Motor Car Company’s most innovative vehicles, the site now offers multiple beautifully preserved event spaces — from the industrial charm of the Repair Garage to the Art Deco-inspired Lodge and the open-air charm of our lush historic grounds.

Rich with history and full of possibility, the Packard Proving Grounds welcomes modern love with vintage flair.

From the industrial character of the Repair Garage to the refined charm of the Lodge and the grandeur of the Tank Building, every corner tells a story. Whether you’re hosting a wedding, corporate gala, fundraiser, or intimate celebration, the site offers endless flexibility — with spaces that can be tailored for small gatherings or large-scale events of up to 296 guests.

Unlike typical venues, the Packard Proving Grounds is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, and every event directly supports the preservation of this historic landmark. When you host with us, you’re not just creating memories — you’re helping protect a piece of Michigan’s history.

Schedule a private tour or view our event calendar at www.packardprovinggrounds.org.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$6,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$6,000

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$6,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$6,000

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Parking
Tables

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

2

Describe your venue:

Historic Building

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party

What event services do you offer?

Event Rentals
Outside Vendors
Wifi

What event items are available?

Tables

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Reviews of Packard Proving Grounds

T
Tina Sent on 09/26/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Sons grad party

I had my son‘s graduation party here. It was absolutely beautiful. The Packard is truly a hidden gem in Shelby Township. The staff was amazing as well, I dealt with Jeanine the most, and she went above and beyond to make sure everything was going to be ready that day. I would definitely recommend Jeanine and this venue.
Victoria
Victoria Sent on 10/10/2022
5 out of 5 rating

A Vintage Venue with Character--Guests Raved!

We were married at Packard on 7/22/22. My husband and I didn’t want a traditional venue, and we wanted our wending funds to go toward organizations and people we liked and trusted. We knew Packard was the right place for us on our first tour in 2021. Mary Ann was wonderful to work with and we loved knowing that our venue fees were going toward supporting the preservation and maintenance of the historic grounds. We also liked that they had a Facebook group for couples, hosted wedding garage sales, and were at a convenient location for us. The space also fit well in our vision of a vintage-themed wedding, melding my work as a librarian with my husband’s work as an automotive engineer.

The space was beautiful. Our out-of-town guests stayed at the Cambria Hotel, which offered a shuttle to Packard, and we got ready on the Packard grounds, which helped the day feel more relaxed. It also helped that the ceremony and reception space were close together but there was still space to spread out. One thing that surprised us was that few guests stayed to dance despite our fantastic band; most of our guests wanted to wander the grounds or tour the museum (or leave altogether) instead. That might have more to do with our friends/family than the venue, but it’s worth thinking about!

We had some confusion on a couple points the day of the wedding. We had attended a handful of other Packard events before our wedding day, so I was accustomed to seeing the reception hall’s large garage doors open in the warmer season—especially during these pandemic years. We envisioned our floor plan with the doors wide open, but our wedding planner had to quickly adjust when the venue staff informed us that we would not be allowed to open the reception hall’s large garage doors during cocktail hour because of the heat that day. It turned out to be a very hot day, so it made sense to spare their A/C systems, but this change ran counter to the floor plan we’d constructed around traffic flows and effectively trapped the band’s music in the reception space, so I wish I’d known about it sooner! We had also been told that we could walk through the Packard house for the ceremony, so we left some things (phones, water bottles) there. My wedding planner moved the belongings shortly after the ceremony when a staff member noted that our belongings could not be left in the house, which took us by surprise in the whirlwind of activity following the ceremony. However, aside from these minor snafus the day of our event, everything went beautifully! Our guests loved the venue and still talk about the space, and everything looked like how we dreamed it would.
G
Gregg Sent on 12/01/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Best venue for a wedding and reception.

Son Nick and Jill were married on 11/22/19. Rene’ was wonderful in helping. The entire evening was first class. The cars we chose were gorgeous, especially for car guys.
The best venue for a wedding and reception.
Brittany
Brittany Sent on 11/19/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Best. Day. Ever!

The PPG was the best place for our wedding reception! The Repair Garage is beautiful and honestly doesn't need much decor as it's beautiful on its own. Mary Anne and Rene' are so helpful and even honored our odd request of letting us have skeletons in the static car inside of the garage as part of our 'Til Death theme. Our guests loved our venue, especially the tours that the PPG volunteers led during the reception, at one point the dance floor was empty as everyone was on the tour! My only word of advice is that it's a build-your-own wedding venue which is totally worth it in the end and is completely customizable. There's a lot of decisions to make and if you want an all-in-one venue the PPG isn't for you.
C
Candice Sent on 06/15/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Best decision ever

Great venue and exactly what i wanted
L
Lu Sent on 02/18/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect!!!!

Packard holds a special place in our hearts. My husband and I got married at Packard in 2015, and we had a party for our first born in 2017. We could not have asked for a more perfect place to host the celebrations of our important life moments. The joint focus of celebrating the past and the present makes Packard very unique. It has a classy yet homey atmosphere. Mary Ann is a pleasure to work with, always readily available to answer questions and give recommendations. Bruce also helped greatly with getting the venue ready and providing dimensions of certain areas. On the day of, Ro and Ray were a delight. Everyone helped make our day(s) special and memorable.
Samantha
Samantha Sent on 01/10/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Best venue ever!

We have received SO many compliments on our venue! People loved the unique and historic feel that Packard has to offer. If you're considering this venue, don't hesitate! Their calendar fills up quickly each year. We had such a positive experience, from our first inquires about the venue all the way until the last moments of our reception. The wedding coordinator at Packard, Mary Anne, is extremely helpful and patient! She is always available to answer questions or concerns, and offer suggestions. The two Packard volunteers who worked our wedding were so professional and kind. The grounds at Packard are also perfect for wedding photos.
A
Ashley Sent on 01/22/2018
5 out of 5 rating
The Packard Proving Grounds was a dream venue. Mary Anne was the busiest bee and never let us down. She will help start the process (and looking at it now I would jump to the venue ASAP) and help with whatever you need to. She is always there and answers emails and texts so quick. My husband and I wanted an unconventional venue - something that we could make our own. We are not banquet hall types. If it wasn't for family we would have had a backyard bash so the Packard filled every box. You can choose to set up everything yourself. We had a Friday wedding and rented the Thursday before hand. While we got closer we realized that it might be less stressful to just hire a coordinator to help set up and fix any issues we would have. It sucked to pay more, but man was it worth it. Our coordinator was one of the first to do a wedding at the Packard so she knew Mary Anne and all of the background on Packard. We never had her plan for us she just helped us make the Packard beautiful for us. It sucks to have to move so quickly to get everything in and out, but that's just how it is with weddings every weekend. If there isn't one I know Mary Anne would help to make something else work. Our ceremony was outdoors, but they do have the lodge on location for a backup plan. You do have to do everything yourself at this venue. Caterer, DJ, Bar, tables, chairs, but honestly we wouldn't of had it any other way. We also wanted our dog to be apart of the day, but worried about what guests would think. He was definitely part of our ceremony which was on the Packard Boulevard and then when we arrived the Packard volunteers convinced us that it was our day and to keep him the whole night. This would never have happened elsewhere. That was so special for us and the volunteers made us feel so important. They are all there to just help out and are the nicest people. Our wedding was in July so it was hot, but comfortable. We were able to have half our guests outside and half him, it was great
Shelby
Shelby Sent on 07/28/2017
5 out of 5 rating
Packard Proving Grounds is the perfect wedding venue! As a bride I was able to have so much creative freedom! We were so glad we chose this venue. Our guests raved about how unique and fun Packard Proving Grounds was to see. They loved the tour given by Bruce and Mary Anne was so wonderful to work with - everyone here is so great and genuine. My husband and I were blown away by how beautiful the place looked on the day of our wedding!
V
Vicki Sent on 04/29/2017
5 out of 5 rating
This was the perfect wedding venue for us. We were able to use all of our own vendors to make our guests' experience exactly what we wanted. The volunteers on site were helpful and knowledgeable about the grounds and even took my guests on a little tour of the Tank Building where the historic vehicles were housed.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

15

Professional Network & Endorsements

1 Endorsement
On The Spot Knot On The Spot Knot Wedding Officiants

A beautiful site for a wedding and ceremony. I've been to an outdoor ceremony and one in the front carriage house... both very beautiful!

Map

Packard Proving Grounds frequently asked questions

Packard Proving Grounds includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Parking
  • Tables
The space offered by Packard Proving Grounds for wedding events is known for:
  • Historic Building
Packard Proving Grounds offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Packard Proving Grounds offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
Packard Proving Grounds offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Event Rentals
  • Outside Vendors
  • Wifi
Packard Proving Grounds offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Tables
Packard Proving Grounds is recommended by 94% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.7 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.8 in value, 4.7 in average response time, 4.7 in professionalism, 4.6 in quality of service and 4.6 in flexibility.
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