Designed by Smith, Hinchman and Grylls in 1927 for Detroit's Women's Colony Club, the building survived the original club's closing, a UAW tenancy, and Detroit Police Academy use before Charles Forbes restored it in the 1980s. Louis XVI decor, a third-floor Grand Ballroom, and a fourth-floor Petite Ballroom now hold weddings in rooms that otherwise read like a 1929 film set.
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A Georgian Landmark
Smith, Hinchman and Grylls designed the Colony Club in 1927 as one of four women's clubs anchoring what is now Detroit's Entertainment District; it opened as the Women's Colony Club of Detroit in 1929 and was built by Walbridge-Aldinger. The Georgian Revival shell holds Louis XVI-style interior decor, high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a set of period chandeliers with unmistakable 1920s character. Project String Quartet has played Detroit weddings for over a decade, and The Colony Club is among the most distinctive rooms in the city.
The Grand Ballroom sits on the third floor: 3,960 square feet of main floor plus a 1,300-square-foot mezzanine overlooking the ballroom, together holding up to 350. The Petite Ballroom one floor up is the more intimate room at 100 to 120 guests. Both rooms read as deeply 1920s the moment you walk in, which changes what repertoire feels right, Gatsby-era arrangements and cinematic ballroom pieces sit as naturally here as Bach. Our founder, Rebecca Hamilton, is conservatory-trained and sets the standard for every ensemble, bringing the same rigor to a Petite Ballroom ceremony as to the Grand Ballroom at full capacity. Across 200+ Midwest weddings and a 5.0 Google rating, the most common request in a room like this is our Bridgerton-style pop arrangements woven between classical processionals.
Practical Notes
We set up under the mezzanine overhang at the stage end of the Grand Ballroom. The overhang acts as a natural acoustic shell that anchors the sound forward toward guests rather than losing it upward into the high ceiling. Mezzanine-seated ceremonies still hear the quartet clearly from above because of the geometry.
The fourth-floor Petite Ballroom has a tighter footprint and a shorter reverb tail. We play with slightly more sustain here, leaning into the bow to make up for the acoustics that the larger Grand Ballroom is providing for free.
The Colony Club books a lot of full-band receptions, and the Grand Ballroom stage footprint is already allocated in the day's floor plan. We coordinate with the band during load-in so our ceremony position does not conflict with their risers, and announcements or readings can run through the house PA while we play acoustically. Not sure how a quartet fits alongside other entertainment? Our string quartet vs. DJ guide walks through the decision.
Ensemble Fit
Violin + Cello
Appropriate for a private lounge dinner or a rehearsal dinner in one of the smaller club rooms. The ballrooms themselves are both too tall for a duo.
Request QuoteViolin, Violin + Cello
The right scale for the Petite Ballroom at 120 guests and for Grand Ballroom ceremonies at the smaller end (under 150 seated). The viola bridges the cello and violin warmly in the Louis XVI interiors.
Request Quote2 Violins + Viola + Cello
The move for the Grand Ballroom at full 350-guest capacity, especially with the mezzanine occupied. The 1920s-cinematic repertoire couples often request here, Gatsby arrangements, sweeping film scores, sounds best with four voices. Browse our full music library to see what fits a room like this.
Request QuoteColony Club ceremonies book 12 to 18 months out. Send your date now and we'll confirm availability within one business day.
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Tell us about your event at The Colony Club and we'll send a personalized quote.
Send us the date, the ballroom, and whether you have a reception band booked. Coordinating stage-share for the Grand Ballroom is easier if we know ahead.
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