Have you been invited to a wedding weekend in Grand Rapids? Lucky you – you’ll be celebrating your loved one’s marriage in a grand vacation spot!
Named one of America’s Best Towns to Visit by CNN, the country’s Best Right-Size City by Forbes and the #1 U.S. City on the Rise by LinkedIn, Grand Rapids offers visitors a diverse mix of impressive attractions and experiences coupled with small-town hospitality and ease. It’s a place where travel is easier, dollars go further and memories are made sweeter.
Here are some tips and travel advice to make the most out of your Grand Rapids stay.
Guest Itineraries for Grand Rapids Weddings
A typical wedding weekend itinerary might look something like this:
Day One (Arrival): A casual welcome party or drinks reception where guests settle in and say hello.
Day Two (Activities and Rehearsal): Daytime group outings followed by the rehearsal dinner.
Day Three (The Main Event): The wedding ceremony, reception dinner and a late-night afterparty.
Day Four (Departure): A casual farewell brunch to say goodbye before everyone travels home.
That can leave you with a fair amount of free time:
Day One: After the welcome party. A typical welcome party runs from 6-8pm, so guests who aren’t too tired from traveling can enjoy Grand Rapids nightlife.
Day Two: Before the rehearsal dinner. If you aren’t invited to the rehearsal dinner, you’ll have all day to experience Grand Rapids for yourself, though some couples may arrange group activities for the morning and afternoon. You may also be invited to a rehearsal dinner afterparty.
Day Three: Before the ceremony. According to theknot.com, the most common wedding start times are in the afternoon between the hours of 2pm and 5pm and in the evening between 5pm and 7pm. Either way, that leaves guests who aren’t in the wedding party have plenty of time to explore Grand Rapids before getting ready for the big event.
Day Four: After the farewell brunch. Depending on when your flight departs or how long it will take you to drive back home, you may have additional time to squeeze out a last bit of fun in Grand Rapids. Of course, you can always choose to extend your stay for a day or so more to make it a true vacation.
Below are a few ideas for filling your Grand Rapids free time, on your own or with other guests. These itineraries are organized around distinctive Grand Rapids assets and incorporate many top attractions and experiences. Of course, you can mix and match suggestions from different itineraries for a more rounded picture of Grand Rapids.
Explore Grand Rapids' scenic riverfront, where winding trails, downtown views and riverside gathering spaces create the perfect backdrop for wedding weekend memories.
Photo by Brian Kelly for ExperienceGR
Downtown Itinerary for Wedding Guests
Many weekend weddings take place entirely within the confines of compact downtown Grand Rapids, where more than 300 restaurants, shops, cultural attractions and entertainment venues are within a 10-minute walk of 13 downtown hotels. Here’s an itinerary that hits many downtown high points:
Day One:
Walk to downtown’s Bridge Street Entertainment District after the welcome party. Within a half-mile stretch, you can visit three breweries, two dive bars, an upscale cocktail lounge, a Detroit-themed sports bar, a rooftop bar and more.
Start the morning with locally roasted coffee and pastries at Madcap Coffee or Lantern Coffee Bar and Lounge before snapping selfies around downtown. Popular photo ops include The Blue Bridge over the Grand River; Canal Park, with its stunning river overlooks; La Grande Vitesse, a massive, bright red steel sculpture by famed artist Alexander Calder, and Rosa Parks Circle, a sculpture/community plaza designed by renowned artist and architect Maya Lin. Explore 20+ artisan food vendors and restaurants at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, grabbing a snack before returning to your hotel to prepare for the wedding.
Day Four:
Wind down from the weekend with a relaxing round of indoor mini golf at Big Mini Putt Club or a beer and a board game at House Rules – they have 600+ games to choose from.
Craft Beverage Itinerary for Wedding Guests
Grand Rapids has been the reigning Beer City USA titleholder since 2012 and has more recently been named America’s Craft Beverage Capital by USA Today. This itinerary will introduce you to a diverse array of local beers, ciders, spirits and more:
Stop into Foxtail Coffee Co. or Morning Ritual Coffee Bar for some java and a pastry to nosh on while you walk around downtown and admire the street murals, sculptures, historic buildings and Grand River. Then it’s lunch at Founders Brewing Company, the city’s largest and most acclaimed brewery, where you can arrange a behind-the-scenes tour before or after your meal. Book the Great Lakes Pub Cruiser (accommodating 7-16 people) or Hopscycle (2-6 people) for a pedal-powered afternoon our of downtown’s River North bars and restaurants, including City Built Brewing Co. Enjoy a light dinner at HopCat, consistently ranked among the country’s best beer bars.
Visit the Grand Rapids Downtown Market after brunch to browse 20+ artisan food vendors and restaurants, including High Tide, where you pick up some locally crafted Brix soda.
Outdoor Itinerary for Wedding Guests
You can engage in all sorts of outdoor adventures just minutes from the big-city culture of downtown Grand Rapids. That convenience is one reason Grand Rapids was named America’s #3 Most Outdoor-Friendly City. This itinerary keeps you out and active in between wedding festivities:
Day One:
Get your legs pumping after the welcome dinner by strolling the downtown Grand Rapids Riverwalk and the lighted pedestrian bridges over the Grand River. Keep your phone at the ready to snap great photos of the river and the city skyline.
Day Two:
Grab breakfast at or near your hotel before an early tee time at The Mines, a hilly golf course built above historic gypsum mines, just five minutes from downtown. Or tackle the even hillier disc golf course at Johnson Park, five minutes from The Mines. After your round, head to Millennium Park, halfway between the golf courses, to explore 18 miles of paved trails through forests, meadows and wetlands. Then rent a canoe, kayak or paddleboard to cruise two Millennium Park lakes. Get lunch at Westside Social Tavern, seven minutes away. Spend the afternoon on another local golf course – there are more than 30 within a 30-minute drive – or rent a bike from Grand Rapids Bicycle Co. and hit any of 16 close-by mountain bike trails.
Day Three:
Make your way to Saugatuck Dunes State Park, about 35 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, to hike through woods and 200-foot-tall sand dunes on the way to a secluded Lake Michigan swimming beach. There are four trails ranging from 2.5 to 5.5 miles, and three are rated strenuous. Visit charming downtown Saugatuck after your adventure to browse local boutiques and art galleries, and have lunch at one of the resort town’s culinary hot spots. Head back to your hotel to get ready for the wedding and reception.
USA Today put Grand Raids on its list of the 10 Best Cities Where You Can See Amazing Art – and you’ll see why when you follow this itinerary:
Day One:
Stroll the streets and bridges of downtown Grand Rapids after the welcome dinner to view dozens of street murals, outdoor sculptures, painted electrical boxes and painted ticket booths.
Day Two:
Grab breakfast at or near your hotel before heading to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, 10 minutes from downtown, to spend 3-4 hours exploring 158 acres of breathtaking art and nature. Have lunch at the Gardens’ James & Shirley Balk Café before embarking for Uptown Grand Rapids and a self-guided tour of Uptown murals. Browse the walkable neighborhood’s local boutiques, art galleries, antique shops and specialty shops. Enjoy dinner at Chez Olga, a Caribbean restaurant whose building is a unique work of art.
Day Three:
Start the day with a light breakfast at downtown’s PaLatte Coffee & Art, which showcases the work of local artists along with delicious beverages and pastries. Walk 10 minutes to the Grand Rapids Art Museum to view some of the country’s best touring art exhibitions and pieces from their permanent collection. Enjoy lunch at San Chez a Tapas Bistro, a five-minute walk away, whose colorful interior is lined with eclectic artwork. Walk off lunch with a 10-minute stroll to The Blue Bridge, a picturesque pedestrian bridge over the Grand River. Cross the bridge to see 20+ Downtown-West sculptures. If you still have time before the wedding, visit the Grand Rapids Public Museum for a look at three murals that tell stories of the Anishinaabe, the original people of this place.
Day Four:
After the farewell brunch, walk the streets of downtown-adjacent Heritage Hill to see hundreds of historic mansions dating back to 1843. Take a free guided tour of Heritage Hill’s Meyer May House, a meticulously restored Frank Lloyd Wright design built in 1908-1909.
Explore kid-centric art spaces, nature spots, entertainment centers and more in Grand Rapids.
Family Fun Activities for Grand Rapids Wedding Guests
If you’re traveling with children, you’ll be happy to know that Grand Rapids is spectacularly family-friendly. It’s been named the #1 Best Place to Raise a Family and one of the Top 5 Places for an Enriching Family Trip. Here’s a sample family fun itinerary that will keep both kids and adults entertained:
Day One:
If the kids aren’t yet ready for bed after the welcome party, the family can see a movie at Celebration Cinema in downtown Grand Rapids or try their hand at duckpin bowling – featuring smaller balls and three rolls per frame – at downtown’s Woodrows.
Day Two:
Enjoy a hearty breakfast at The Westsider Café, known for its generous portions, Polish specialties and kid’s menu. From there, it’s just a five-minute drive to John Ball Zoo, home to 2,000+ animals, camel rides, a sky trails ropes course, zip line and more. After the Zoo, it’s another five-minute drive to downtown Grand Rapids and a lunch of hot dogs and hamburgers at One Stop Coney Shop. One block away is the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, a hands-on learning and play space for kids ages 2-10. Older kids will love the Grand Rapids Public Museum, just across the Grand River in downtown – be sure to ride the 1928 Spillman Carousel before you leave. You’ll likely still have time before the rehearsal dinner afterparty to watch salmon and steelhead leap up the downtown Fish Ladder or visit downtown’s Canal Park for river outlooks and a universally accessible playground.
Day Three:
Have breakfast at Morning Belle - East Beltline, which features a dedicated “Little Gardener’s Menu” along with a full selection of breakfast and brunch selections (including cocktails for Mom and Dad). Morning Belle is a five-minute drive from Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, whose many themed gardens include the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden, a hands-on garden experience where younger kids can dig for fossils, launch boats in a mini-replica of the Great Lakes, explore a treehouse village and more. Older kids are particularly fond of the tropical conservatory, carnivorous plant house and Michigan Farm Garden, a step back into time to a 1930s farm. Then, it’s a 15-minute drive to Main Event, a family fun center with arcade games, bowling, laser tag, mini golf and more – including an on-site café for lunch.
Day Four:
If your farewell brunch is downtown, spend some time afterward on the family-friendly Downtown Dragonflies Scavenger Hunt. If brunch is elsewhere, explore a local park afterward – there’s one just minutes from anywhere you are.
Receive admission into many attractions around Grand Rapids as well as additional exclusive discounts with our Attraction Pass now with adult, children and senior pricing.
In addition to the attractions featured in the guest itineraries above, Grand Rapids is a great place for:
Agritourism
Visit Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm (open year-round) or Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery (open June-December) for a taste of the area’s world-class growing conditions. Sample made-on-the-farm craft beverages and baked goods, shop farm markets, pick your own apples and more. Fall wedding? These and other local farms offer corn mazes, wagon rides, petting zoos and harvest festivals.
Live Music
Downtown GR’s Van Andel Arena and the outdoor Acrisure Amphitheater bring the biggest names in music and comedy to Grand Rapids. At 12,000+ capacity each, they’re the largest of 100+ local live music venues, which run the gamut from concert halls and coffeehouses to museums and nightclubs.
This free service will get you within a few steps of most of the city's downtown attractions.
Transportation for Grand Rapids Wedding Guests
Getting to Grand Rapids is easy. The city sits at the junction of major highways, within a day’s drive of half the U.S. population. If you’re traveling by air, you’ll fly into Gerald R. Ford International Airport, named the Easiest Airport Journey in North America. It’s just a 16-minute drive from the airport to downtown Grand Rapids if you rent a car or take a rideshare – slightly longer if hop on The Rapid bus, which runs to the airport Monday-Friday.
The award-winning Rapid Bus system is also a great way to get around Grand Rapids, with 25+ bus routes connecting downtown GR to numerous city neighborhoods and suburbs. Adult fare is just $1.75. The Rapid’s bright pink DASH bus circulates around downtown Grand Rapids every eight minutes – and it’s FREE to ride.
You can rent electric vehicles by the hour through DART Carshare for trips up to 150 miles, and rent e-bikes and e-scooters to travel a 12-square mile radius in and around downtown.
Click here for an overview of all transportation options, with maps.
