© Tabi Walters

Theater Romance

Getting married at the Michigan Theater

by Jeff Mortimer

posted 6/19/2012

"Historic theaters are kind of intrinsically romantic," says Russ Collins, executive director of the Michigan Theater. Maybe that's why eight to ten couples a year get married there.

The tab can range from $750 for a simple ceremony in the grand foyer to $5,000 and up for what Amanda Bynum, who's in charge of rentals, calls "the whole shebang": a ceremony followed by an evening reception in the auditorium, including dinner and DJ, for 100 or more guests.

"This is my thirtieth year, and I can't ever remember not doing weddings," says Collins; his own stepdaughter was married at the Michigan last New Year's Eve. "Theaters share a lot of characteristics with churches, synagogues, and mosques," he reflects. "You have seats, a stage area, and frequently music is incorporated as part of the ritual process.

"I guess the big difference is that we're not claiming to be sacred--and we don't have windows."   

[Originally published in June, 2012.]