Experience Detroit at a Wedding With Art Deco Details at The Fisher Building
Martha Maytham and Jen McCain first locked eyes at the Wayhome Music Festival on a balmy summer day in 2016. “Our paths almost crossed several times over the years,” Martha notes. “But, as fate would have it, we wouldn’t meet until the festival.” Three years after their first encounter, Jen popped the question to her beloved during a hike on Fogo Island. “I proposed in what is known as one of the four corners of the Earth,” says Jen. “Martha’s parents met in Newfoundland when her dad was in residence as a doctor and her mom was a nurse. Returning to such a symbolic place (the east coast of Canada) seemed appropriate.”
The brides sought to design a wedding inspired by their cherished city. Explains Martha, “We wanted to show guests the history of Detroit and its cultural resurgence while honoring some famous landmarks. The weekend started with one of Detroit’s oldest Motown gems (Cliff Bell’s) and ended with a take on new Detroit at the Shinola.” The lovebirds invited their nearest and dearest to experience Cliff Bell’s, one of the most revered jazz clubs in the city, steeped in history, prior to the wedding—kickstarting the weekend’s cultural education with a bang.
On the morning of their big day, Jen donned a sleek pink suit and gingham-print loafers while Martha was helped into a flowing lace gown with delicate illusion details. With their looks set, they embarked on the most-anticipated event of the day: their first look. “The first look was one of our favorite moments,” Jen shares. “When you plan a wedding for three years, you predict how you may feel in the moment for a long time, but nothing compares to the real deal.”
Guests entered the Fisher building to find astounding architecture and ample foliage. “We chose a monochromatic array of pink flowers in various shapes and sizes for the bouquet, ceremony backdrop, arches and reception centerpieces to complement the historic building and add a soft but vibrant touch,” Martha explains. The couple traversed the grand hallway and said their “I dos” on a raised marble stage surrounded by bold blossoms.
Following the ceremony, attendees utilized a uniquely retro escort card display to find their seats for dinner. “Inspired by Motown, we made a little record shop, and the theme was ‘find your tune to find your table,’” reveals Jen. “We hand-selected vinyl records for each guest party that somehow reminded us of the person/couple.” Dinner was served at expansive farm tables sporting soft green linens, deep-toned place settings, punchy florals and tons of candles, creating a low-lit, old-world romantic aesthetic with a touch of modernity. “The incredible architecture of the Fisher Building (one of the great industrial architect Albert Kahn’s most renowned masterpieces) inspired most of the design details,” Jen continues. “We tried to play into the gold details and marble arches throughout. The colors and design of the hand-painted frescos on the ceiling were reflected on the tablescape and the color palette.”
The maximalist backdrop framing the featured liquor wowed anyone who stopped at the bar for a drink. An arch of lush foliage adorned with pink, purple, blush and yellow roses was suspended over the table and featured hanging gold stars in varying sizes and heights. Similarly, the grand finale of the newlyweds’ food service was a two-tier, deep-blue wedding cake showcasing intricate gold detailing and hand-painted scenes to mirror the venue’s frescos and ornate gilding. “We loved how every design element was connected to the physical elements throughout the building.”
After dancing the evening away with their guests, the newlyweds share their advice for incoming couples planning their weddings. “Take a moment with your partner and visualize yourself as a guest at your own wedding, taking in every detail. When you plan, you sometimes take the labor that goes into all the planning for granted.”