Editor’s Choice Award: Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center Helps Couples Plan Their Dream Weddings in the Michigan Countryside

The Short Version: Couples often choose Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center for weddings and receptions because of its beautiful venues and scenic views of the countryside. Located just outside Detroit, Michigan, Fox Hills hosts around 500 events a year, including hundreds of weddings. Its elegant spaces cater to couples with a wide range of budgets and styles, including contemporary, rustic, and airy options. A wedding specialist works personally with couples to help the celebration match their vision. For its commitment to ensuring special, picturesque weddings, Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center has earned our Editor’s Choice Award.

Premier wedding planning website The Knot recently revealed what its editors say are this year’s top wedding trends, and it looks like most couples are interested in upholding traditions — but with a twist. Some couples want to reduce their carbon footprint, burn palo santo incense sticks, or even cover their wedding cakes with fresh, edible flowers.

But one thing remains the same when it comes to wedding planning: Couples want the day to reflect their relationship.

Rebecca Ameel, the Wedding Specialist at the Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center for the last seven years, has seen hundreds of weddings. She told us that, even with all the trends and traditions, each has been unique.

“All of our clients are so awesome; they keep me refreshed,” Rebecca said. “At the end of the day, we’re proud that we can be part of someone’s special, personal moment.”

Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center offers couples stunning views of the Michigan countryside.

The family-owned banquet center is located not far from Detroit, Michigan, in the countryside city of Plymouth. It offers three distinct facilities and ceremony spaces, and has packages for almost every budget and style.

While it holds events throughout the year, the center’s peak wedding season runs from May to mid-October. Couples often choose Fox Hills for its natural, peaceful atmosphere that can be modern, elegant, rustic, and fun. The center also simplifies planning with a list of recommended vendors and an experienced food and beverage team to help on the big day. That helps take a little bit of stress out of the process.

Fox Hills offers three distinct venues for rent. Its largest is called the Golden Fox and has seating for up to 500 people. The modern room has a crystal chandelier, cream-colored wallpaper, and dark carpets to complete the clean, elegant look. Its wraparound deck overlooks the property’s championship golf course. Couples also have the option to hold their ceremony in the outdoor gazebo located nearby.

Next is the Fox Classic, the original clubhouse that was built in 1927 and was already on the property when Fox Hills opened 45 years ago. Since then, the owners have updated Fox Classic to allow seating for up to 175 people.

With its large, roaring fireplace, the venue has a warm, rustic feel and is especially popular for fall and winter weddings.

When the weather is lovely, the Fox Classic also has an outdoor area that couples enjoy. The picturesque gazebo offers a beautiful backdrop for their ceremony, or Fox Hills offers an arch that is located on the golf course overlooking the lake.

The Fox Hills team helps couples achieve their wedding vision and stay on budget.

“It’s nice to accommodate the smaller weddings as well,” Rebecca said. “It’s fun to bring guests on tours to see which space they like and what would be a good fit for them.”

The final space at Fox Hills is also the newest. Called the Summerhouse, it is eight years old and was at one point an existing pavilion on the property.

Because Fox Hills got so many requests for outdoor living-style weddings, it decided to renovate the space and build bathrooms, a bridal suite, and add rain protection to make it enjoyable in any season.

The Summerhouse is especially popular with brides who want to customize their ceremonies and receptions.

“It’s been really popular with a lot of DIY brides,” Rebecca said. “They see a vision and like to carry it out, whatever that may be for them.”

On average, the couples who come to Fox Hills are between 25 and 35, but their budgets and visions may be dramatically different. Rebecca said the facility has options for people with ceremony and reception budgets as low as $6,000 and as high as $30,000.

Daytime weddings are popular at Fox Hills during warmer months.

Because the property is located outside of the city, it is on the more affordable side of that range. In downtown Detroit, families often pay double or triple what they’d pay for the venue at Fox Hills.

“With our three different venues, it’s so varied,” she said. “The Golden Fox is the highest price, then the Summerhouse and then the Fox Classic is the lower price point. And we have such a range of clientele.”

The venues also provide food and beverage options. Each year, it hosts a massive tasting event for couples and their families. The event offers tastings of everything on its menu to make it easy for couples to decide what they’d like to serve guests.

Of course, the earlier a couple calls Fox Hills, the more likely their venue of choice, date, and time are available. Rebecca said she’s even scheduled many daytime weddings throughout the years.

“I like the daytime weddings,” she said. “It’s something different and fun.”

Rebecca said she remembers the first wedding she booked at Fox Hills seven years ago.

Rebecca doesn’t typically attend the weddings, as the couple will be working closely with the food and beverage staff on the day of the event. But, for that first wedding, she stood in the background to see how the reception would turn out.

“I remember it was a proud moment,” she said. “I was a part of something special for them. I realized I loved this job and this position. It makes me happy that I can play a small part in that special day.”

All these years later, she is still as excited for the next couple to be married at Fox Hills as she was for the first one. Of course, she’s just part of a large team — including the grounds staff, food and beverage service, and the sales team — that aims to ensure that everything goes perfectly on a wedding day at Fox Hills.