Why Roostertail is a Top Metro Detroit Wedding Venue

Want to find out why I’ve picked Roostertail as one of my favorite Detroit area wedding venues? Roostertail is a fantastic option for couples looking for water views, lots of space to play in and want the BEST client experience you’ll find in Metro Detroit, Michigan.

Roostertail has many unique elements that most Metro Detroit wedding venues don’t have. So here’s my top 10 favorite things, in reverse order, about why Roostertail tops my favorite wedding venue list…

Roostertail Detroit Wedding Venue dressing room.

What the Roostertail bridal suite dressing room looks like before everyone arrives.

Roostertail Detroit Wedding Venue property wall.

The property wall through their greenery at Roostertail’s newest covered outdoor area.

Roostertail Detroit Wedding Venue overlooking downtown Detroit on a stormy day. This venue looks fantastic when the weather is great AND terrible.

Roostertail Detroit Wedding Venue Anniversary dance winners..

The Anniversary dance winners. I love this sweet moment.

Roostertail Detroit wedding venue smaller room reflected in mirrors.

One of the Roostertail venue’s smaller rooms reflected in mirrors on the stairs up to the room.

Roostertail Detroit wedding venue with Detroit river background.

Detroit river background makes for a fabulous backdrop for wedding photos, especially on overcast days.

10) Roostertail’s Location

What makes the Roostertail one of my top favorite wedding venues is its location. It’s close to Detroit, but away from all the hubbub. The building sits on the shores of the Detroit River with views of Detroit in the background.

Roostertail Detroit wedding venue has docks that are fun to take photos out on in the evening.

A unique thing about this venue is it has docks that are fun to take photos out on in the evening.

Roostertail Detroit wedding venue has great mood lighting for everyone's taste.

There is great mood lighting for everyone’s taste at Roostertail.

Roostertail Detroit wedding venue has some great spots for detailed wedding photos.

This wedding venue has some great spots for detailed wedding photos.

How’s this for a marriage license signing spot?

Wedding couple greets their guests at the Roostertail Detroit wedding venue.

A young wedding guest at Roostertail Detroit wedding venue.

First look with brides at Roostertail Detroit wedding venue.

First look with bride at Roostertail Detroit wedding venue.

9) Keeping the Roostertail Fresh and Cool

Another thing that sets Roostertail apart from their Metro Detroit wedding venue competitors is that even though they’ve been around since 1959, they are always improving their 25,o00 sq.ft property. They added docks, more covered space (which really comes in handy if the weather turns), upgraded colored lights, fun wall signage and more.

Every time I photograph a wedding there, they’ve added something new, fresh and cool.

Flower girl eating her wedding dress before the wedding ceremony at Roostertail’s outdoor covered dock.

The best man gives the groom a pep talk just before heading down the aisle at the Roostertail wedding venue.

A small wedding guests waits by the window wall before the wedding gets started.

This wedding venue doesn’t need much decoration since the wall of windows is plenty amazing.

The wedding couple reflected in the tabletop share a kiss shortly before their wedding ceremony.

A wedding guest spots a friend coming in shortly before the Roostertail wedding ceremony.

Guests greeting each other as the ceremony begins.

Check out the mirrors in this fabulous bathroom!

The bride’s jewelry reflected against Roostertail’s iconic blue tiled wall.

A flower girl checks herself out in the mirror waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Two flower girls compare dresses on the docks of Roostertail.

8) Three Unique Wedding Spaces

The Roostertail has three different unique wedding spaces; a small, intimate space with a balcony and large bar. It also has a second venue space on the bottom floor (which still has floor to ceiling windows) and an equally large ballroom upstairs with vaulted ceilings.

It’s rare for a wedding venue to have three great rooms to host weddings that all have water views. It’s one of the things that makes this a top pick for my list of favorite Metro Detroit wedding venues.

A mirror with wedding details shows guests where to go for the wedding with real clouds reflected in the mirror.

Vows taken upstairs in the top ballroom.

View of the wedding ceremony from the back of the room at Roostertail’s largest ballroom.

A wedding ceremony is the downstairs ballroom.

Guests wipe their eyes during an emotional wedding ceremony at Detroit’s Roostertail.

Wedding guests enjoying the wedding ceremony.

The wedding couple enjoy a laugh during their outdoor wedding ceremony at Roostertail’s smaller ceremony site.

The couple’s dog joins the ceremony at the pergola at Roostertail.

The groom drops the rings during the wedding ceremony along Detroit’s riverfront.

The wedding party strolls down the docks towards the wedding ceremony at Roostertail.

I love how happy this couple looks. It’s pretty rare for wedding party members to NOT look terrified!

The groom joins the bride as they enter to large covered dock area at Roostertail for their wedding ceremony.

The groom joins the bride as they enter a large covered dock area at Roostertail for their wedding ceremony.

7) Multiple Wedding Site Options

Another reason Roostertail tops my list of top Metro Detroit wedding venues is there are five different wedding site options! It’s pretty unusual for Detroit wedding venues to have multiple wedding site options.

The smallest is quite small, but is good for really small gatherings. The two outdoor options are one long, narrower space under a pergola that fronts the Detroit River and the other is out on a large covered dock.

In case of bad weather (or a winter wedding), the indoor wedding spaces inside the two large rooms are equally fantastic. Most wedding couples can’t find wedding venues that have a fantastic indoor back up plan. And this one does.

Beautiful wedding in the downstairs ballroom at Roostertail.

Guest watch a wedding during the Covid years at Roostertail.

A guest reaches out to the wedding couple as they exit their ceremony.

A guest reaches out to the wedding couple as they exit their ceremony at the pergola area of the Roostertail.

The dog’s tail was wagging as the couple exited their wedding ceremony site at Roostertail. So cute!

A small wedding guest tried not to trip on the bride’s dress.

Wedding ceremony on the docks of Roostertail’s largest ceremony site.

Exiting their wedding on the Roostertail docks.

6) Roostertail is Built for Fun!

Another reason Roostertail tops my list of favorite Detroit wedding venues is that it is built for fun. There is plenty of space to spread out (and get away to chat without leaving the party).

The bar isn’t in the way or background of wedding photos (almost always an issue for wedding photographers) and it doesn’t take guests truly out of the room. Dance floors are great with plenty of room for DJs, bands and some major dancing.

The flower girl has a moment with her Mom at the top wedding venue, Roostertail in Metro Detroit, Michigan.

The flower girl has a moment with her Mom at the top wedding venue, Roostertail’s smaller wedding rooms.

The groom hugs his Mom at the top wedding venue, Roostertail in Metro Detroit, Michigan.

The groom hugs his Mom at the top wedding venue, Roostertail’s smaller rooms.

The wedding party (and dog) signed their marriage license at the top wedding venue, Roostertail in Metro Detroit, Michigan.

The wedding party (and dog) signed their marriage license at Roostertail’s outdoor patio.

A cold guest laughs during formal photos at the top wedding venue, Roostertail in Metro Detroit, Michigan.

A cold guest laughs during formal photos at the top wedding venue, Roostertail in Detroit.

The bride and groom get photo bombed at the top wedding venue, Roostertail in Metro Detroit, Michigan.

The bride and groom get photo bombed by the floor to ceiling windows at Roostertail.

The bride and groom having a private moment on the deck at the top wedding venue, Roostertail in Metro Detroit, Michigan.

The bride and groom having a private moment on the deck at Roostertail.

A wedding portrait of the bride and groom in the lobby at the top wedding venue, Roostertail.

Bride and groom portrait under the pergola at the top wedding venue, Roostertail in Metro Detroit, Michigan.

Bride and groom portrait under the pergola at Roostertail in Metro Detroit, Michigan.

5) Few Metro Detroit Wedding Venues Offer Great Winter Options

In Michigan, you never know what you’re going to get, weather wise. There’s a saying here that if you don’t like the weather, wait ten minutes and it will change.

Metro Detroit only has a few wedding venues that bring the outdoors in so that it doesn’t matter what season it is, you’ll be protected from the elements.

Being able to have a beautiful, light filled wedding in winter makes Roostertail a fantastic choice for a Michigan wedding venue. It also means that if it rains, you can still have a beautiful wedding with views of the water.

Large wedding party at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Fitting a large wedding party for photos at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan can be a bit tricky.

The bride and groom at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Bride and groom under the trellis at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The father of the groom out of the deck of Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Groom and bride out of the deck of Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The bride and groom on a ledge at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The couple on a ledge at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The bride and groom at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan with Detroit in the background.

Playing Titanic at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Groomsment at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The bride and groom on the docks at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The wedding couple on the docks at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

No idea what was said here on the docks at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

4) Roostertail Has A Top Notch Lighting System Which VERY Few Detroit Wedding Venues Have

Almost all couples can pay a DJ or band to bring in extra lighting with lasers (which truly look like guests are in the middle of target practice with red pin dots on their foreheads) or uplighting.

Roostertail gets top Metro Detroit wedding venue marks for their in-house lighting. The Roostertail can light the entire wedding space any color you want, so the whole room is awash with color.

Not only will this save you money, but the effect is really cool, dramatic and elegant. Oh, and there’s light enough in the room that your guest and I can still see what’s going on.

I personally LOVE the accent lights, but any photographer who doesn’t use flash will struggle to balance the light so everyone isn’t the same color as the walls!

Back to the ledge for dramatic storm photos at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Another ledge photo for dramatic storm photos at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

A view of the Detroit River from Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

A smooch at sunset at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The groom rests on this best man’s shoulder during speeches at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The cake with the river as a backdrop atRoostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Wedding cake with the river as a backdrop at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Can’t get enough detail pics with that blue wall at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

A Ring Bearer gets tangled in his Mom’s legs at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

A bride searches for her husband on the deck at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The bride searches for her husband on the deck at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

A wedding couple dip for the grand entrance at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

A wedding couple go fishing for the grand entrance at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

A wedding party couple go fishing for the grand entrance at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

A wedding couple have a unique grand entrance at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

This wedding party couple have a unique grand entrance at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The wedding couple's grand entrance at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The bride and groom’s grand entrance at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Enjoying wedding speeches at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The ballroom through champaign glasses at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Ready to party from great heights at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Ready to dance at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Let the dancing begin at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

3) Why Is Roostertail One Of My Favorite Detroit Wedding Venues? It’s All About The Fun!

Weddings can be beautiful, emotional, and have great food. But what’s the number one ingredient for a GREAT wedding? Fun!

Both large ballrooms lend themselves to having fun. When you’re too hot and need a break, you can head on to the deck and feel the spray from their “Roostertail” fountain.

Their spaces are set up for conversation AND dancing. That’s a combination that’s hard to find in one wedding venue.

First dance at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

A smooch to end their first dance at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

A joyous dance for father and daughterMother and son dance at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Mother and son dance at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Enjoying their first dance in the smaller room at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The bride dances with her flower girl at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The bride and groom dance their first dance at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Guests dancing at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Always a packed dance floor at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

See how cool the lighting is at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Bride and groom boogying on the dance floor atRoostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

2) They Are Nice To Vendors AND The Clients

It may surprise you to know that a lot of Detroit wedding venues don’t treat vendors very well. But nine times out of ten, if they treat us poorly, they also treat their clients poorly. That seems to go hand in hand.

There are no curveballs at Roostertail; everything is smooth as silk. I also love seeing their waitstaff singing along to the songs as they go about their jobs.

People who sing and bop along are happy. They like their jobs, they are treated well and it really does help to set the mood for fun.

Two wedding guests dance at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The groom dances up a storm at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

A guest claps along to the music at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Fun dance arguments at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The bride has a danceoff with her new stepson atRoostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

A cookie and milk station at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Enjoying a cooling off with the roostertail fountain stray at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Enjoying their dance at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Detroit seen in reflection through a window at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The couple checks in with grandparents at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Covid dancing never stopped anyone at Roostertail.

A young guest runs across the dance floor at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

A guest loses it on the dance floor at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Covid never bothered them anyway at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

1) THE STAFF!

Nicole, Roostertail’s chief everything, works with couples to come up with a great timeline customizing everything for clients to have their needs met. To see her working with clients and pivot on the fly when it looks like adjustments need to be made is something to behold.

Her mission is to say, “YES” as much as possible and she is a team player and team leader extraordinaire. She makes everyone who comes to Roostertail feel welcome. Couldn’t ask more from a wedding venue.

A sweet moment of closeness that was hard to find during the pandemic at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

A guest plays with light sabers at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Two bridesmaid dance / hug at Roostertail.

Father of the bride having a blast at Roostertail.

Cooling off after dancing at Roostertail.

A couple enjoying a slow dance at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

The party train at Roostertail.

A T Swift sing-a-long at Roostertail.

A family dance at Roostertail.

A kiss at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

A dance floor kiss at Roostertail.

Another proposal after their wedding at Roostertail in Detroit, Michigan.

Gotta do the dip at Roostertail in Detroit.

A final portrait in the lobby of Roostertail in Detroit.

So, if you think I’m super happy photographing weddings at Roostertail, you’re right! It’s got that rare combination of amazing attributes that makes it a great place to capture unique, magical and fun photos.

My clients are well taken care of and that means the photos are automatically better.

Top Metro Detroit Wedding Venues – Roostertail!