Nestled just outside of Ann Arbor, Sutton Barn combines thoughtful amenities with a rustic barn setting for a day that is anything but simple! This award-winning venue has everything you could need for your venue, from picture-perfect get-ready spaces to rolling backdrops just beyond your altar. As a Michigan wedding photographer, I get the chance to work with couples at some of the best venues in the entire state. Here’s what you can expect with a Sutton Barn wedding.
About The Sutton Barn Wedding Venue
6484 Sutton Road, Whitmore Lake, Michigan 48199
When the Ianni family purchased a property in 2015, they knew they were in for a world of renovations. The main building on the property was lackluster with outdated paneling and aged drop ceilings. What they didn’t expect, however, was to find an absolute hidden gem. As they started to work, they found a wonderfully rustic barn hidden beneath all the recent additions. Over the next three years, they worked to restore the Sutton Barn to its original charm, creating a stunning wedding venue along the way!
When you choose this spot for your wedding, you will be standing in the midst of important Michigan history. Beyond the Ianni family, this property spent over a century sustaining state residents while housing Great Lakes pioneers. It even got its name from the original owner, Benjamin Sutton, a man who would eventually serve as one of the state’s first legislators. Today, the land has been incorporated into the Rolling Hills Golf Course, giving you your own private oasis surrounded by nothing but green!
Details of the Grounds
The Ianni family has worked hard to provide a space ideal for every second of your wedding day at Sutton Barn! Before your ceremony begins, you can spend some time in the Sutton House, where you can get ready. This space has been set aside for bridal parties, giving you an open floor plan with vanity mirrors and a private dressing room. Once you are done with all those finishing touches, you can head out to the patio for some pics as well as champagne with your besties!
For your ceremony, you can exchange your vows outside overlooking the water. This area is the perfect combination of scenic yet untamed, with a thick layer of perennials and grasses surrounding the water. You will have a paved path that will serve as your aisle. The venue also has a log arbor you can stand beneath. While there’s not much you will have to do for decorations, a little bit of drapery and flowers will take it to the next level! The venue also offers a gazebo by the water that you can use for this portion of your day. Your officiant can stand beneath the archway while your wedding party stands in front on either side.
Everything After Your Dream Sutton Barn Wedding Ceremony
Once you have exchanged your vows, your wedding guests can head back to the barn, where they can have cocktails out on the Sutton Barn terrace. The building offers a covered area perfect for warmer summer days. You can set up lawn games in the yard surrounding the space so your guests have a great way to spend time as you take your portraits.
For your reception, you will have several options. You can use the barn for an open-air reception, hosting your dinner inside the rustic setting before it’s time for dancing on the neighboring covered patio. With log beams and exposed stones, it’s the ideal setting for a country wedding! The venue also lets you set up an event tent out in the yard. This setting is a little more refined, but you will still get some excellent views of the surrounding property! You can set this up on the concrete so you have a built-in dance floor. Many couples also choose to add some bistro lighting to make it cozy yet bright. With Sutton Barn, you will have enough space for up to 200 guests.
Photography Opportunities
With Sutton Barn, you are going to have countless wedding portrait opportunities. The Sutton House is a brand new addition and has been decorated to give you a photo-worthy backdrop as you get ready. Then, once you are done, you can head outside and get some group pictures with the fields as your backdrop. Many couples choose to use the barn for their first look portraits, but you can also use the weeping willows or the edge of the water. Once you have finished with your vows, you will be able to use the surrounding fields as your backdrop for your group portraits. The venue also offers a small wooden bridge ideal for getting pictures with your wedding party, with you in the center.
Wedding Details
At Sutton Barn, they adore going out of their way to bring you a day you will never forget! Their rentals come with all the necessary supplies, including the tables, chairs, the dinner tent, and whiskey barrels. You will be able to use the site for your rehearsal dinner and have access to the house throughout that evening. The venue is going to take care of all the drinks and will have several bar packages you can choose from. When it comes to your food, you are going to have total freedom! The venue has a list of preferred vendors they have loved over the years, including catering companies and food trucks. If you have a spot you love that is not on the list, they will let you use them. Additionally, the venue can supply you with golf carts throughout the day to assist guests with mobility concerns.
I Can’t Say Enough About How Beautiful The Sutton Barn Wedding Venue Can Be
If you have been looking for the perfect rustic venue for your Ann Arbor wedding, I just know you are going to fall in love with a Sutton Barn wedding! With this venue, you are about to have a day you will never forget.
Once you have your venue, it’s time to find your photographer. That’s where I come in! I am a Michigan wedding photographer, and I adore working with my clients to document every second of their celebration. If you would like to see if my style is a match for yours, let’s chat about it! Send me a message today to find out more!
