I just love a wedding in the heart of downtown Detroit. The cityscape, the historic buildings, the architecture – all of those details add a sense of place to an occasion as special as this.
But Anthology Events at Book Tower? Now that’s a wedding venue that will forever live rent-free in my head… and hopefully in yours by the time you’re done reading this!
There’s just something about the rich teal walls, the Conservatory-style glass ceiling, and the way the light filters in just so. It feels like a moment in time that you don’t dare let pass you by. Pair all of that with the warmth of mocha mousse tones, and you have yourself a wedding that isn’t just on-trend. It’s on-feeling.
If you love the mocha-themed wedding scheme but want to make it completely your own (and elegant at the same time!), this is for you.
Vendors | Venue: Anthology Events at Book Tower | Designer + Planner: Opulent Planning and Design | Decor Rentals: Opulent Planning and Design | Florist: Design Quintessentials | Invite Suite: The Paper Creation | Tableware: Special Occasions | Cake: Cami’s Creations | Bridal Dress: Marchesa Bridal | Second Bridal Dress: Adrianna Papell | Jewelry: Tappers
Setting the scene with an iconic Detroit wedding venue
So maybe it’s not your typical industrial-esque wedding venue that you’d find in Michigan (a welcome change of scene, anyone?), but the Book Tower still plays beautifully into the history of the city.
Yes, it’s been remodeled, but every detail of the Conservatory Ballroom feels like an intentional call back to 1920s downtown Detroit, when The Book Tower once reigned as the city’s tallest building.
It’s all those little touches that every bride notices– the cane back chairs, the ribbed glass chandeliers, the natural light. It all feels so thoughtful, so purposeful. One glance and you know this isn’t a historic wedding venue refurbished only to look good. It’s been curated to make you and your guests feel something.
A space that puts the guest experience first makes all the difference in the sentimentality of the photos. And I’m not just saying that as a wedding photographer. As a former bride, I know what it’s like to want your guests to feel at ease and present with you in the space you’ve chosen for your ‘I do’ day – squeezing your shoulder, holding your hand, sharing your tears.
And then to see that reflected back in your photos? That’s something irreplaceable right there.
When your wedding venue matches the devotion you have for the people closest to you – and them for you – it changes everything.
That’s EXACTLY the one-of-a-kind setting you want in a trendy, luxury wedding that also honors the people who have shaped you, the love that surrounds you, and the tender moments that will become part of your family’s story forever.
Mocha wedding but make it bold
I love a good neutral, but I’m always here for couples choosing a color palette because its boldness reflects something deeper. The warmth, the richness, the feeling it evokes—the way it preserves the essence of the day in photographs.
(Choosing a trend not for the trend’s sake, but because it makes sense to who you are? Now that’s something I can get behind.)
The color palette of this mocha-themed wedding brought so much depth to the reception details – light touches of mocha tones layered into the tablescapes, complementary Parquet floors grounding the space, contrasting florals in bold romantic hues that brought so much vibrancy into it all.
This reception was proof that there are ways to dress mocha mousse up to make it meaningful to you.
A fresh take on a wedding classic: the espresso martini tower
You could go with what you know, or you could explore a trend that adds a certain luxe flair… a trend that I fully support, by the way.
The espresso martini tower wasn’t just on-theme. It was the kind of detail that makes loved ones pause and smile as they watch you giggle with giddiness, marrying the love of your life.
And with custom drink toppers and perfectly styled glassware, it became one of those small but unforgettable decisions that made the day feel so effortlessly refined.
From the texture of the linens and the twisted mocha-toned candles to the gold cutlery and matching vintage candlesticks, the entire reception was a testament to what happens when you curate an experience over an aesthetic.
Make your mocha-themed wedding yours
Trends will inevitably come and go, but the way your wedding feels AND what it means to the loved ones you share it with.. that’s what lasts.
The blend of mocha tones with bold florals that mirror your own vibrant personality, the espresso martini tower and surprise dress change that shifts the room from elegant to fun… it’s all part of the story you’ll carry forward.
It’s these touches that make even the most elegant, luxurious, five-star wedding venue feel like home to the people you love, wrapping them in the same warmth they have for you.
Those are the legacies worth leaving behind.
And if you’re looking for a photographer who will capture every tear and belly laugh while you soak it in… you’ve found her.
