Gem Theatre
Select services venue
The venue will provide the space, plus a few extras.
Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing
Starting at $15,000
Packages
Prices start at $142
Guest capacity
Up to 250 seated guests
About this venue
With dramatic character and storied history, the historic Gem Theatre is one of the most sought-after event venues in the city. Located in the heart of Downtown Detroit on Madison Avenue, the building features ornate Spanish & Art Deco architecture, warm dining rooms and an exquisitely landscaped garden patio.
Our event spaces
- Century Club
- Century Theatre
- Century Dining Room
- The Gem Theatre
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Gem Theatre packages
THE MADISON PACKAGE
50-250 guests
Peak pricing $142
Off-peak pricing $142
Description
Includes: Three Passed Appetizers; Salad Course; Entrée Course; 4.5 hours of premium bar service, champagne toast for head table, gourmet coffee & tea station, chiavari chairs, full length linen, napkins, door host, coat check (weather permitting), wedding suite, parking and cake service. Pre-event services include: floor plan, menu tasting, and a dedicated Event Manager.
THE GRAND PACKAGE
50-250 guests
Peak pricing $152
Off-peak pricing $152
Description
Includes: Four Passed Appetizers; Salad Course; Entrée Course; Late Night Station; 4.5 hours of premium bar service, champagne toast for all guests, deluxe coffee & tea station, chiavari chairs, full length linen, napkins, door host, coat check (weather permitting), wedding suite, parking, and cake service. Pre-event services include: floor plan, menu tasting, and a dedicated Event Manager.
THE VERSAILLES PACKAGE
50-250 guests
Peak pricing $189
Off-peak pricing $189
Description
Includes: Lamb Chop Station; Jumbo Shrimp Display; Two Passed Appetizers; Pasta Course; Salad Course; Entrée Course; Late Night Station; 4.5 hours of premium bar service, wine pour w/ dinner, champagne toast for all guests, deluxe coffee & tea station served w/ a fresh fruit display, chiavari chairs, full length linen, napkins, door host, coat check (weather permitting), wedding suite, parking, and cake service. Pre-event services include: floor plan, menu tasting, and a dedicated Event Manager.
THE PARK AVENUE BUFFET
50-250 guests
Peak pricing $149
Off-peak pricing $149
Description
Includes: Three Passed Appetizers; Choice of Salad; 3 Proteins; Pasta; Potatoes; Vegetables; Desserts; 4.5 hours of premium bar service, champagne toast for all guests, gourmet coffee & tea station, chiavari chairs, full length linen, napkins, door host, coat check (weather permitting), wedding suite, parking, and cake service. Pre-event services include: floor plan, menu tasting, and a dedicated Event Manager.
Available services that can be provided by Gem Theatre
Services & amenities
- Bar services
- Catering services
- Clean up
- Dance floor
- Dressing room / Bridal Suite
- Event coordinator
- Event staff
- Liability insurance
- Lighting/Sound
- Service staff
- Set up
- Wedding cake services
- Wifi
Transportation & access
- Self parking - free
Rentals
- Sound / AV
Reviews
Write a review5.0 out of 5
1 review
No Complaints
The Gem Theater was a dream! It was classic in every sense. The service was great from start to finish and we really could have asked for a more complete venue.
Preferred vendors of Gem Theatre
More wedding services from Gem Theatre
May, June, July, August, September, October, and December.
January, February, March, April and November.
Parking and wheelchair access.
Audio equipment, chairs, furniture, lighting, and tables.
Once you have your date and venue picked out, your sales manager will create a contract and proposal. The contract confirms your event date, time frame, venue, minimum spend requirement, deposit schedule and general estimate. To lock in your event, we require the signed contract and proposal, along with a $5,000 deposit.
We accept cash, check, card payments or ACH/wire transfers. Any card transaction is subject to a 3% processing fee added at the time of payment. Checks should be made out to either Twentieth Century Inc. (Gem Weddings) or Colony Club Entertainment (Colony Club Weddings). We can accept personal checks for all payments except the final payment which would require a certified check (cashiers check or money order). Any physical payments should be brought to the Gem Theatre Event Offices at 333 Madison Avenue.
Since we have an amazing in-house catering team, we do not allow outside catering. You are able to bring in a wedding cake from a licensed bakery. Any food or beverage vendors such as a specialty late night station, dessert, cappuccino cart, etc. must be approved by your sales manager prior to contracting that vendor and may be subject to an outside vendor fee.
Absolutely! We recommend asking during your RSVP process as you will need these details with your final count. Our Chef and his team will provide specialty meals for those guests in need as long as we know ahead of time. During the event, we will do our best to accommodate “on the spot” requests, but there will be delays to prepare something special so the more we know ahead of time, the more seamless dining experience for all guests. *Special Note: Our kitchen does not cook with any nut oils and all chicken and beef entrees are Halal
Forbes Hospitality does not permit the packaging and removal of any food or beverage that is not consumed during the scheduled event, except wedding cake. If you’d like to take leftover cake home, please ask your bakery to provide a box as we do not have boxes on-site.
No outside alcohol is allowed in any of our venues. This includes any alcohol the wedding party may have brought with them from the party bus or limo. Any outside alcohol brought in will be confiscated. Other policies: we do not serve shots. No alcohol can be brought in as favors.
Forbes Hospitality does provide a preferred vendor list to all booked couples; however you are welcome to bring in your own vendors. Our list is highly recommended as it is a comprehensive list of vendors who are here quite often, who know our rules and how we operate, and can offer specific suggestions based on our venues. All vendors have access to the building up to three hours before the event start time.
We do not allow outside dance floors to be brought in as they mark up and potentially ruin the existing hard wood floors. Dance floor adhesive wraps are also not permitted at either venue. We do not allow anything to be taped or adhered to the floors or walls.
We do allow indoor sparkler machines that don’t use real flame, as well as the low lying fog (not a fog haze machine).
Yes! We do allow candles as long as they are enclosed in glass and we try to limit candles to three per table, especially in the summer months. We do not allow real flame or glass to be set on the floor for a ceremony or reception.
Nothing can be affixed to anything on property, including floors, walls, chandeliers, light fixtures or pillars. Any signage or flower walls must be free standing. Confetti, glitter, bubbles, loose petals and similar items are also prohibited. Remember, all décor must be removed within one hour after the conclusion of the event.
Both venues include on-site parking at the garage located directly behind each venue. Gem Theatre weddings utilize the Gem Garage at 1901 Brush Street and Colony Club weddings utilize the Comerica Garage at 50 W. Montcalm. Guests will have a very short walk from the garage to the front doors of the venue. We do not allow valet at any venue.
Yes, guests are able to leave their vehicles overnight as needed, however both garages are not secure overnight and it’s up to the guests own liability.
We love dogs!! They’re more than welcome to attend or be part of the ceremony portion of the event. Ceremony only! No pets are permitted within the building during the cocktail hour or reception.
We include 5.5 hours for a reception (includes cocktail hour), with an extra half hour if the ceremony is on-site. You’ll have access to the building, along with all vendors, at least three hours before the start time. You also have up to one hour after the event concludes to load out. The average start time for a ceremony or reception is typically within 5:00pm-6:00pm. Midnight is the absolute latest end time we can offer (except for New Years Eve weddings).
That’s correct! The 4.5 hour bar is typically split between cocktail hour and the reception. It’s open for one hour for the cocktail hour, we’ll then close the bar to have guests move to their seats for dinner, and then proceed with some of the traditional reception formalities, such as wedding party introductions, cake cutting, speeches & toasts. On average the bar is closed for one hour and will then be open for the rest of the evening. The bar closure time can be flexible, but must close for at least a half hour in between.
Yes! Both the Gem Theatre and Colony Club have updated HVAC units to keep the temperature controlled all year round. We will also provide a complimentary coat check attendant for any event that weather permits.
60” round tables and a select amount of rectangle tables, along with Chiavari chairs are included with all weddings and events. We also include black or ivory floor length linen, as well as black or ivory napkins. Upgraded napkin colors are available to be added through your sales manager. Outside rental items, such as rental linens, tables, chairs, charger plates, etc. must be approved by the sales manager and delivered at least 48 hours before the day of the wedding.
Yes! Both venues have guest elevators that reach each floor. There are no stairs required to enter the Colony Club front doors and the Gem Theatre has a designated entrance to accommodate any guest that may not be able to use the front stairs.
While this is always something to consider looking into, we do not require liability or event insurance. Forbes Hospitality has their own insurance and there is a $500 security deposit added to each contract to cover incidentals. If not used, this security deposit will be refunded to you after the event.
Ceremony rehearsals cannot be booked until 2-4 weeks out from the wedding and are subject to change based on our event calendar. Rehearsals will likely take place on the Wednesday or Thursday before your wedding as we typically are booked Friday through Sunday for private events. Rehearsals are scheduled for 1 hour and lead by your venue manager and officiant. A rehearsal at the venue is neither required nor necessary unless it’s helpful to the couple.
A day of coordinator or wedding planner is not included or required. There is a venue manager that will be assigned to each couple the week of the wedding and will be the on-site contact throughout the wedding day. The venue manager will be able to assist with some setup items, like place cards, card box, guest book, etc. but will not setup any décor, centerpieces, photobooths, etc. Each couple is responsible for their setup or hiring a florist, decorator or day of coordinator to setup their specialty items.
Please make sure you are certain before signing the contract – all deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.
At the Gem Theatre, you’ll have the building all to yourself whether you’re utilizing each of the spaces or not. At the Colony Club, we have two ballrooms on separate floors; the Grand Ballroom on the 3rd floor & mezzanine level, and the Petite Ballroom on the 4th floor. There is the likely possibility that there could be two events on the same day, however we will stagger the start times by at least an hour to avoid all guests entering at the same time. We do offer a building buyout option which would include both ballrooms and provides exclusive access.
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