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Weddings

About

The Sweet House is a charming historic wedding venue conveniently located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Built in the mid-1860s in the style of an Italianate villa, it is a testament to the beauty of Italianate architecture. The Sweet House Foundation has lovingly maintained its timeless beauty and historical significance. Couples can now enjoy hosting the wedding event of their dreams in this truly incredible location as they create a memorable celebration.

Facilities and Capacity

The Sweet House is the perfect location for a Wedding. We can accommodate the ceremony, dinner, and reception all under the same roof! No worrying about picking up and having to go to another location. The Sweet House offers several event rooms, each adorned with stylish decor and individual themes, ideal for a variety of wedding events. The Hazel Vandenberg Auditorium provides a chic, light-filled ceremony space, complete with a grand piano and raised platform. The checkered floor, cream walls, and tasteful decor provide elegance and grandeur within this space, which can comfortably accommodate up to 150 seated guests. Desdemona's Dining Room, named in honor of the original lady of the house, Desdemona Sweet, offers space for up to 125 guests for wedding receptions. The room features antique wallpaper, ornate chandeliers, and large sash windows, creating a vintage, sophisticated ambiance. The room benefits from an open-plan layout, which facilitates a variety of seating arrangements that can be tailored to your preferences. The Sweet House also offers a number of smaller rooms that can be used for engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, cocktail hours, and more. These include the elegant Wedgewood Room and the Drawing Room. Get-ready rooms are also provided on-site for convenience, offering comfort and style for your wedding preparations. We have our own Liquor License and offer a variety of Bar Packages and drink options. Parking is available on the property and the venue can supply a valet service upon request.

Services Offered

The event team at this property offers various services to enhance your day. This includes referrals to a range of tried and trusted vendors that can accommodate your needs. WiFi is available throughout the venue for your convenience, and setup is provided by the venue, giving you less to worry about. Couples can also have audio-visual equipment, such as wireless microphones and a projector. A selection of event items is available for your celebration. These include:

  • Full Bar Service
  • Coffee Service
  • Non-Alcoholic beverages
  • Glassware
  • Linen
  • Barware
  • China
  • Flatware
  • Floral centerpiece choices are included in the rental price

What You'll Love About Sweet House

This refined, stylish, elegant venue radiates historical importance, charm, and grandeur. Couples can celebrate their special day in a truly one-of-a-kind setting at Sweet House, where previous US Presidents have dined. Marvel at the venue's beauty and luxury by checking out the photos and review photos.

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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?

$500

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

$500

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?

$500

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

$500

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

Chairs
Lighting/Sound
Parking
Set Up
Tables

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$22

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

House Beer
House Wine

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

4

Describe your venue:

Banquet Hall
Historic Building
Mansion

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
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Catering Services
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Liability Insurance
Wifi

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Liquor License
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Audio Equipment
Chairs
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Valet
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

April
May
June
July
August
September
October
December

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
November

Reviews of The Sweet House

Tamara
Tamara Sent on 11/06/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Warm, Wonderful, Welcoming, Historical experience!

We hosted our daughter's wedding rehearsal dinner at the Sweet House on October 15 in the Wedgwood room. The history of the room and the house is fascinating. The table upon which we dined had been used in the past for dinners attended by US presidents William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Gerald Ford. Everything about the house exudes elegance and grace. After entering the welcoming and beautiful foyer, our party enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the Best Room, Print Room, and Library before dinner. The custom menu was provided by the Sweet House's Chef Hannah and the food was delectable. The bar service was excellent. Every detail was attended to by the respectful and fully vaccinated staff. We were treated like royalty from start to finish. I recommend this mansion venue to anyone looking for a perfectly unique and charming experience. You will feel special here!
Buffy
Buffy Sent on 10/21/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Absolutely everything I wanted

The Sweet House Foundation did absolutely fantastic, our situation was not easy and The Sweet House Foundation worked with me for 2 years before I could actually have my wedding there, I would recommend them to anyone for any occasion. They do all the hard stuff that makes wedding planning so much more simple, I pretty much just brought my decorations and put in place, they set up and tear down. The other thing I was so happy was the cost for everything, it was so reasonable. More reasonable than any venue I checked for my smaller wedding. The price i paid was for whole day and had a bar package for 30 people.
E
Erin Sent on 10/27/2021
4.8 out of 5 rating

Great Experience

My husband and I got married on 7/31/21 at The Sweet House and it was a beautiful day! We had both our ceremony and reception there. We invited 115 and 75 people attended. We were planning in the midst of Covid and Sue was very patient with me and my Plans A,B,C,D,etc and was willing to work with us to the best of her ability. Luckily, everything went as planned! Sue was also so awesome behind the scenes on the day of and helped everything run smoothly. She also helped gather decorations up as the night wrapped up.

The venue is beautiful. It is a historic Heritage Hill home and comes with plentiful character, charm, and history. This was one of the biggest selling points for us. The layout is a little different from other venues. We had the ceremony downstairs in the ballroom, cocktails and dinner upstairs, and then dancing back downstairs. This made us a little nervous going in, but our guests loved it and there was no confusion. It made it really unique!

One of the few downsides was that you can't bring in your own bar service from elsewhere. You have to use their own bar packages, which were quite pricey in comparison to the rest of the rental. However, the bar service was good quality and shout out to the bartender to went above and beyond her duties! Other hiccup was arranging staffing for clearing tables/dishwashing. It ended up being way more complicated than it needed to be, and an industry wide staffing shortage didn't help either.

Another one of our favorite notes about The Sweet House is that it's a non profit that prioritizes the maintenance and care of the house for many more to enjoy in years to come. This place holds so many wonderful memories now. It was such a special day. We would definitely recommend The Sweet House!
H
Hope Sent on 09/17/2024
3 out of 5 rating

Really Disappointing

My wedding was summer 2024. The event manager was out of office, so we worked with the General Manager. She made my wedding day very stressful for me and my entire wedding party. She was passive aggressive the entire day.

Keep in mind that I was a VERY chill bride, I didn't have any specific needs at all, all I wanted was to be happy and present on my wedding day. I didn't participate in any traditions, it was really just a gathering of family and friends.

We met with the general manager the day before my wedding to go over layout. We had about 30 guests and we wanted rectangle tables. She was beyond rude and when we left she said "I hope we can jump through all these hoops for you". We left feeling guilty and bad, but we didn't know that we did anything wrong.

My mother brought sparkling water, bottled and sealed in a bulk pack, but the gen manager said we could not have it in the house. Yet, she didn't offer anyone water during the four hours we were getting ready. We couldn't bring drinks inside, AND we weren't offered any.

The bridal suite was upstairs, which was included when we rented out the entire house. She mentioned to me and multiple bridesmaids that we had too many people upstairs and we technically weren't allowed to. Keep in mind the people upstairs included my wedding party, my mother, future mother-in-law, and 2 photographers. That does't seem outrageous, yet she guilted me and multiple other people the day-of.

The groom and I were getting photos taken and we sat on a couch upstairs for them. She told me we weren't allowed to sit on them. They weren't marked off or roped off, but she made me feel bad for sitting on them.

The wedding party and I were outside for photos, and the front door was locked. This is the ONLY time during my wedding day that I approached the general manager with a request. I asked if she could please unlock the front door so the wedding party could come back in after photos. She said "No, I can't do that." I was very confused, as it seemed like a harmless request. Again, I felt bad.

Overall, the venue is beautiful but the staff truly put a damper on my wedding day. Not only for me, but for multiple people in my wedding party as well. It was disappointing and sad to me and my groom. Unfortunately, when I look back on my wedding day, I remember the dozens of times throughout the day that I felt guilted.
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Awards

4

Professional Network & Endorsements

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Map

The Sweet House frequently asked questions

The Sweet House includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • Lighting/Sound
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
The bar service starting price at The Sweet House includes:
  • House Beer
  • House Wine
The space offered by The Sweet House for wedding events is known for:
  • Banquet Hall
  • Historic Building
  • Mansion
The Sweet House offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
The Sweet House offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
The Sweet House offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Liability Insurance
  • Wifi
The Sweet House offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Audio Equipment
  • Chairs
  • Tables
The Sweet House is recommended by 89% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 5 in average response time, 4.8 in professionalism, 4.3 in quality of service, 4.3 in value and 4 in flexibility.
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