Rooftop Wedding at Detroit Opera House

Sunday, August 21st, 2022

Taylor and Jerry celebrated their rooftop wedding at Detroit Opera House surrounded by family and friends.

Last fall, I spent a breezy afternoon walking the streets of Detroit, getting to know Taylor and Jerry as I photographed their engagement session. We ended our session in Eastern Market near sunset. I remember, like it was a cinematic moment in slow motion, watching Taylor, Jerry, and their dog walk down the street and this sense of calmness blanketed over the entire moment. There was something about Taylor and Jerry together that didn’t need anything more, anything “extra.” The sun was casting a golden hue on them as they embraced and looking at each other while I took photos. Once I was done shooting, the remained motionless, lost in the moment and lost in each other. As a lucky observer, I realized that what I witnessed was the fact that they didn’t need anything besides each other. It was a beautiful moment that I held for months knowing that sentiment would be present again on their wedding day.

~

Months later, Taylor and I met up at the Westin Book Cadillac to walk through their wedding day. It was going to be a busy day with several moving parts. To honor Jerry’s heritage, the morning would begin with a traditional tea ceremony, where Taylor and Jerry would offer tea to their grandparents and parents. After the ceremony, Taylor changed into her white wedding dress and shared a first look with Jerry in the beautiful Venetian Room in the Westin Book Cadillac. Following the first look, photographed our way around Detroit before beginning their rooftop wedding at Detroit Opera House. It was a hot day, but that didn’t deter the excitement from Taylor, Jerry, and their guests. Once their rooftop wedding at Detroit Opera House ceremony ended, guests were invited downstairs, where they were treated to a traditional lion dance, performed by Michigan Lion Dance, before the rest of the reception events commenced.

A bride and groom look at each other with grandma in between them during a Chinese wedding tea ceremony.
Chinese tea ceremony taking place on a wedding day at the Westin Book Cadillac.
A bride and groom kiss during their first look in the Venetian Room at the Westin Book Cadillac.
A bride and groom share a first look in the Venetian Room at the Westin Book Cadillac.
A bride and groom share a first look in the Venetian Room at the Westin Book Cadillac.
A bride and groom kiss in the Venetian Room at the Westin Book Cadillac.
A bride and groom pose, leaning on a marble block on their wedding day, at the Detroit Public Library by Brian Weitzel Photography
A bride rests on a marble block on her wedding day at the Detroit Public Library.
A bride poses on a marble block on her wedding day at the Detroit Public Library.
A bride and groom longingly look at each other on their wedding day at the Detroit Public Library.
A bride and groom close their eyes and hug on the grand staircase at the Detroit Opera House.
A bride and groom pose on the grand staircase at the Detroit Opera House.
A bride and groom kiss on the grand staircase at the Detroit Opera House.
A bride and groom pose on the grand staircase at the Detroit Opera House.
A bride and groom walk down the grand staircase at the Detroit Opera House.
A bride and groom walk down the grand staircase at the Detroit Opera House.
A crowd watches a rooftop wedding at Detroit Opera House.
A bride smiles, looking at the groom during the reading of vows, at a rooftop wedding at Detroit Opera House.
A groom smiles at his rooftop wedding at Detroit Opera House.
A bride and groom share vows at their rooftop wedding at Detroit Opera House.
A bride and groom kiss with guests in the background at their rooftop wedding at Detroit Opera House.
A bride and groom walk down the aisle at their rooftop wedding at Detroit Opera House.
A bride and groom walk down the aisle at their rooftop wedding at Detroit Opera House.
A bride and groom kiss after walking down the aisle at their rooftop wedding at Detroit Opera House.
A bride and groom stand next to each other at their rooftop wedding at Detroit Opera House.
A bride and groom stand next to each other at their rooftop wedding at Detroit Opera House.
A bride and groom slow dance at their rooftop wedding at Detroit Opera House.
A bride and groom closely embrace on top of the Detroit Opera House.
A bride and groom kissing on the rooftop of the Detroit Opera House with the GM Renaissance Center in the background.
A bride and groom kissing on the rooftop of the Detroit Opera House with the GM Renaissance Center in the background.
A black and white photo of a bride being dancing at their Detroit Opera House wedding.
A black and white photo of a bride being dancing at their Detroit Opera House wedding.
A black and white photo of a bride being lifted by her groom on the dance floor of the Detroit Opera House.
A black and white, wide angle photo of a packed dance floor in Detroit Opera House.
bride and groom, wearing traditional Chinese wedding garments, hold hands at night in Detroit's Z lot.
bride and groom, wearing traditional Chinese wedding garments, hold hands at night in Detroit's Z lot.
bride and groom almost kiss at night in Detroit's Z Lot

Catering & Event Management: Continental Event

Entertainment: Pro DJ Services

Lion Dancers: Michigan Lion Dance

Film: Timothy Scott Films

Venue: Westin Book Cadillac

Venue: Detroit Opera House

Flowers: Emerald City Designs

Attire: East Meets Dress

Dress: The Wedding Shoppe

Beauty: Veronica Kabacinski

Beauty: Sandra Alonso

Dessert: Morning Glory Coffee + Pastries

Ceremony Coordinator: BE and Company