Since acquiring ownership of Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth in 2021, the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation has led a $50 million renovation to add extravagant event spaces, a high-end golf course, and a wine bar to the venue, while also updating existing spaces, such as the private bridal suites, to tap into the modern luxury market.
The resort, which was founded as the Saint John’s Provincial Seminary in 1948, hosts more than 250 weddings a year. One of the biggest draws is that it’s an all-in-one experience. Catholic weddings take place in the Saints Mary and Joseph Chapel, a Roman Catholic Chapel operated by the Archdiocese of Detroit. The chapel is designed in the Umbrian tradition and features wooden beams, Botticini marble statues, marble floors, and breathtaking mosaics. For non-Catholic ceremonies all other spaces are available. The most popular is the newly opened Garden Pavilion, featuring glass NanoWalls that open to create an indoor/outdoor experience.
Currently, four ballrooms accommodate different party sizes, including the Mosaic, Provincial, Atrium, and Grand Ballroom, all of which feature 20-to-30-foot ceilings. These spaces have been given a head-to-toe makeover, with new crystal chandeliers, carpet, heavy drapery, and shimmery wallpaper. The Mosaic and Provincial can seat 150 guests while the Atrium can seat up to 325; the Grand Ballroom, a 6,800 square foot space, can host weddings with as many as 430 guests.
The Monarch ballroom will open by 2025 and be the largest event space at the resort. At 17,000-square-feet, up to 900 wedding guests will have available seating. “The details in this room are going to be unbelievable,” says Fadi Sibani, director of sales and marketing. “This is going to be one of the most amazing ballrooms in all of Michigan.” It will feature glass skylights and a 200-foot glass wall that opens to a 7,000-square-foot courtyard. The ballroom is part of a three-story structure, with a cocktail hour space available on the second floor and another event space on the third.
Once everyone is ready for pictures, any location across the resort is considered a photogenic backdrop, especially the Waterfall Garden, which looks magical year-round with fall leaves, winter flurries, or summer rays. At the end of the night, 118 guest rooms are available for overnight stays, including four luxury rooms, such as the two lofted presidential suites, both featuring a deep soaking tub that overlooks the golf course. With so much to enjoy, guests can expect a top-quality experience not found elsewhere in metro Detroit. “Saint John’s Resort is southeast Michigan’s only luxury resort,” Sibani said. “Our tagline is Detroit’s Destination Resort.”
Golf and the Grotto
In April, guests (and the public) will have the opportunity to put their golfing skills to the test when The Cardinal at Saint John’s 18-hole, par 72 golf course opens, becoming the first high-end public golf course to open in metro Detroit in 20 years. There is also a par 3 short-course, inspired by architect Ray Hearn’s time in the British Isles and a 1.6-acre natural grass putting course which shares similarities to the Himalayas course at St. Andrews in Scotland.
Those who want to keep the night going can stop by the Wine Grotto, which opened last September and offers a cozy and casual bar experience. The menu of flatbreads, shareables, and desserts is listed with a suggested wine pairing, like the wagyu meatballs with burrata and warm focaccia to be enjoyed with the Sirius Bordeaux rouge — a red French wine. “It’s a great place to grab a glass of wine and enjoy different types of cuisines,” says Sibani, mentioning that there are designated spaces within the bar where couples can hold wedding rehearsals.
