Frances wore a gown designed by Peggy Hoyt made of ice blue silk satin with a four-and-a-half yard scalloped train. Her veil was ice blue illusion, bound with blue satin and held in place with a tiara decorated with seed pearls.

Welcome to the new Meadow Brook Hall Wedding Blog!

Welcome to the Meadow Brook Hall wedding blog!

We want to share with you some of the exciting happenings here at The Hall about weddings – past, present, and future. From tips on budgeting and selecting vendors, to our favorite décor ideas, to must-haves and definitely-nots, we will help guide you through some of the questions we get asked the most and share some of our favorite weddings along the way.

Made for weddings

 

One thing you may not know about Meadow Brook Hall is that it was built with weddings in mind. When Matilda Dodge Wilson, the matriarch who made it all happen, was working with her architect on design, she envisioned the staircase in the Great Hall just for her daughter’s wedding:

I want it long and winding, leading from the second floor to a first floor great hall. I know just how I want it and I can see Frances coming down the steps as a bride.

The best part is, the classic elegance of The Hall holds true even nearly 100 years later.

Check out these amazing weddings of the Dodge and Wilson children that happened here at Meadow Brook Hall.

 

Frances was escorted by her brother Dan down the grand staircase and into her wedding ceremony in the Living Room.

 

Frances Dodge’s wedding

 

The five-tier, three-foot tall wedding cake was displayed and cut in the Dining Room, where supper was also served.

Matilda’s vision came to life in 1938 when her daughter Frances married Jimmy Johnson, Jr. at Meadow Brook Hall.

She proceeded down the grand staircase, accompanied by her brother Dan, into the Living Room for her wedding ceremony. The majestic Aeolian organ, which can still be played today, could be heard throughout the house as the Wedding March played.

After the ceremony, the receiving line was in the Library where guests could share their best wishes with the new couple and their families.

The five-tiered wedding cake was displayed in the Dining Room, where the dinner was also served. Frances hosted approximately 500 guests for her unforgettable celebration, and they all danced outside under the stars on a special dance floor, brought in for the special occasion!

 

Dan and Laurine stand in the Living Room, with the white carpet that was brought in for the summer. The ceremony was small, with just family in attendance.

Dan Dodge’s wedding

 

Dan, Laurine and their families gather in the Dining Room during the reception.

Dan Dodge, Matilda’s son, was also married at Meadow Brook Hall, just one month after his sister’s wedding. Although a much smaller celebration, his wedding to Laurine MacDonald was simple and elegant. It also took place in the Living Room.

In the Dining Room after the ceremony, the bride and groom each cut their own cake on opposite ends of the dining room table. The original table is still used today in the dining room! Celebratory punch was served for guests in the Breakfast Room.

 

 

Barbara Wilson’s wedding

 

Matilda and Alfred adopted Barbara Wilson in 1931. She also celebrated her wedding at Meadow Brook in June of 1953, when she married Thomas S. Eccles. Like her siblings before her, Barbara descended the grand staircase into the elegant Living Room for her ceremony.

Following the ceremony, guests gathered in the Great Hall for the reception.

The bridesmaids wore amethyst blue taffeta dresses and carried bouquets of blue delphinium, red rosettes and ivy.

 

Meadow Brook was made for weddings, and many brides have descended the grand staircase throughout the history of this home. Each celebration has been unique in its own way: from Frances’ opulent celebration and Barbara’ simple elegance, to the trend-setting styles of today – each is a part of the legacy that began nearly 100 years ago. I’d like to think Matilda would be pleased.

 

Thanks for reading! Check back every 2 weeks for new blog posts, and visit our Weddings page for more information on weddings today at Meadow Brook Hall.

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  1. Love the vintage photos! But are there any more recent images from the venue if a bride wanted to get married there?


  2. Absolutely! Please visit our wedding page for some recent photos of Meadow Brook Hall weddings.