Detroit is ranked No. 18 on a list of the 25 most expensive cities to hire wedding service providers in the U.S., based on prices quoted on Thumbtack, a website designed to find qualified professionals.

An average cost to have a wedding in Detroit, excluding items such as venue, dress and rings, is $11,819, with an average of $3,426 on catering, $135 on makeup and $885 on wedding planning.

According to their website, The Knot is the nation’s largest source for wedding news and inspiration, and currently there are 544 wedding reception venues in or near Detroit.

According to its website, Meadow Brook Hall’s historic setting, distinct gardens and four-star service and cuisine have made them an award-winning venue.

In regards to planning a wedding at Meadow Brook Hall, Shannon O’Berski, director of marketing and community relations, said you first meet with your event manager to plan a menu, timeline and to determine your vendors to coordinate the “day of” details. 

According to Meadow Brook Hall’s website, no matter the wedding theme, the wedding party and guests will enjoy the unique features of the hall and its service.

O’Berski said the majority of the wedding ceremonies take place in the Pegasus Garden with a reception in the Garden Tent.  Also, the cocktail hour portion will take place on the Loggia Terrace if weather permits. 

“A Meadow Brook wedding is truly like no other,” O’Berski said. “The bride and groom have exclusive use of the hall for the evening, which makes the experience quite unique.”

“The evening also includes self-guided tours of the hall during cocktail hours,” she said. “Indoor weddings during the holidays are also gaining popularity and are quite beautiful.”

The cost of a wedding at Meadow Brook Hall varies based on number of guests, time of year, and other factors. It doesn’t offer packages like most places, so it’s hard to provide an estimate. However, OU alumni receive 10 percent off the museum rental fee.

In June 2012, Kaniqua Daniel-Welch and Stefen Welch took advantage of being OU alumni by getting married in the Pegasus Garden.

“We met at Oakland University and our very first class together was Music 100,” Daniel-Welch said via email. “And we’ve been great friends (and fellow lovers of great music) ever since.”

Because they met here, it was important to them to have their ceremony and reception here. The reception was the Oakland Center Banquet Rooms.

“We planned for 18 months starting with monthly meetings, then we transitioned to weekly meetings with our wedding planner closer to the date,” she said. “Think of planning the most exciting event of your life! Well, this is the one. So there’s lots of attention to detail with this exciting process.”

According to Daniel-Welch, costs can vary depending on the size of the wedding.

The most expensive things at their wedding were food, photography and videography. 

“The photos and videos capture all of those precious moments and are the most valuable keepsakes you’ll have to remember your special day,” she said. 

“It was the best day of our lives. One that we wish we could replay over and over and over again. We had so much fun planning and enjoying the day and we had a great team of people around us to make sure it was awesome.”

Potential sidebar: According to the MBH website, A museum rental includes:

• A unique setting that allows your guests to stroll all public areas of the estate and gardens
  • Complimentary services of the wedding coordinator, including a private consultation
  • Exceptional dining and four-star, concierge-style management
  • One-hour rehearsal for those having their ceremony at the hall
  • For outdoor weddings, each vendor will have access to the tent and gardens 1-2 hours before the ceremony or reception begins to allow ample time for individual deliveries and setup
  • An optional tour during the cocktail hour to answer questions and offer interesting details about the rooms, art and architecture of Meadow Brook Hall
  • White linen napkins, tablecloths (mid-length) and table skirting
  • China, flatware and glass stemware
  • Setup, breakdown and cleanup of all Meadow Brook Hall equipment