Luxury Engagement at Shinola Hotel | Detroit Wedding Inspiration
Meeting up with Maddie + Graham in Detroit to shoot their Shinola Hotel engagement session was the most fabulous time. I absolutely fell in love with this boutique hotel we shot at, and am crossing my fingers that I get to come back to photograph a Shinola Hotel wedding sometime soon ✨But for now, I hope you enjoy this delightful, timeless, and ever-luxurious engagement session with Maddie and Graham in downtown Detroit!
Maddie + Graham’s Luxury Engagement at Shinola Hotel
A luxury engagement in downtown Detroit
When Maddie and Graham were describing their vision to me for their engagement photos, I knew right off the bat that we were going to have SO much fun getting creative with a bit of a high-end city vibe. If you have ever spent even a moment scrolling through my blog or Instagram feed, then you’ll probably know that while I love a good outdoorsy session, luxury is where my heart lies. I adore getting to photograph couples who’ve spent time planning out their classiest attire; who are equally as inspired by art and fashion as I am; who love getting creative with their accessories; who think outside of the box when they envision their dream portraits. In this case, Maddie and Graham wanted a high-end engagement shoot, where they could dress their best, sip on sparkling mimosas & handcrafted cocktails, and enjoy the magic of the big city—and I said that sounded like a dream come true to me 😉
Looking for more high-end Detroit engagement inspiration like this? Take a peek at Collin + Gabriella’s Luxury Downtown Engagement Photos at the Detroit Athletic Club!
Bridal-inspired portraits at Shinola Hotel
Our shoot began at the gorgeous Shinola Hotel, a timeless, effortlessly luxurious boutique hotel in downtown Detroit. I am OBSESSED with taking engagement photos & bridal portraits at high-end hotels like Shinola—10/10 recommend booking a romantic suite for your wedding night where you can snap some cozy, intimate, maybe even sultry portraits at the end of the evening 🔥
For our first set of engagement portraits at Shinola, Maddie and Graham opted for a wedding-inspired look, going with a classic pairing of deep navy + bridal white. Maddie wore the most gorgeous, chic dress by Jenny Yoo; the Ella, a piece from their Little White Dress collection. Made of luxe taffeta fabric and featuring a plunging V neck, an elegant tulip-shaped skirt, and a dramatic sash bow tied at the lower back, this dress took a perfect short + sweet approach to a Maddie’s subtle bridal look. And with the addition of her glistening pearl jewelry by Aveil Brides + a pair of elegant white stilettos? Whewww this gal knew what she was doing! So did Graham by her side, who was dressed in a classic navy suit, worn with a pale blue button-up and set of brown velvet loafers. These two bombshells absolutely showed up and showed off—I swear, I barely had to do anything on my side of the camera to make them look like the most fabulous celebrities in all of Detroit.
I’ve included more info about weddings at Shinola Hotel toward the end of this blog, so if you’re considering this magnificent hotel as a venue for your special day, keep on reading ✨
Afternoon cocktails at the Apparatus Room
From Shinola, we made our way to the Apparatus Room; a chic contemporary restaurant at the Detroit Foundation Hotel. Maddie and Graham savored a couple of ice cold cocktails in the stunning bar area, seated in a pair of worn leather seats beneath an endless array of vibrant market lights. They looked so natural and comfortable just enjoying each other’s presence in this setting, I almost felt as though I was interrupting some sort of romantic restaurant date! Love loved the way the skirt of Maddie’s dress draped over the edge of the seat as they enjoyed their drinks, and the lighting was simply to die for.
High-end Gucci engagement photos
I told you this was a luxury engagement, did I not? It only made sense that we end Maddie and Graham’s session in front of a high-end fashion store in the middle of the city 💎My jaw dropped as soon as the pair walked out in their last set of outfits, looking absolutely killer in stark black and white! Maddie wore the most classy jumpsuit, with a repeated honeycomb pattern, a chic halter neck, and a pair of strappy black sandals that matched her gold + black purse. Graham came out in all black, from his button-up long-sleeve all the way down to his trousers, only changing pace with a set of bright white sneakers. These two looked absolutely fire just casually walking around the city, strolling past Gucci as if it were an everyday occurrence 🛍️What a fitting end to the most glamorous day in Detroit—I am counting down the days until I get to photograph Maddie and Graham’s wedding, which I know is going to be just as fabulous as this day was!
About Shinola Hotel, a Boutique Detroit Wedding Venue
Before I leave you, I wanted to share a little more information about Shinola Hotel, as it’s one of my favorite Detroit wedding venues and I’d be shocked if you didn’t fall head-over-heels in love with it through Maddie + Graham’s photos 😉 Shinola is the definition of timeless luxury, set in the heart of the city with a unique collection of thoughtful, curated spaces for celebrations and stays of all kinds. Whether you and your love are envisioning an intimate dinner party atmosphere with only your closest loved ones, or you’re dreaming of hosting a grand celebration with every one of your friends and family members, Shinola can accommodate whatever your unique event may look like! The on-site event specialists are fabulous and are ready to help you seamlessly tie together every little detail of your wedding, and to ensure every moment of your celebration is elegant, unique, and unforgettable. I can’t recommend this hotel enough if you’re looking for a stunning wedding venue in Detroit; reach out to the hotel here to submit an inquiry and start planning your special day 🥂
Shinola Hotel Engagement & Wedding Photographer
And if you do find yourself planning your Detroit engagement or wedding at Shinola Hotel, I would absolutely love to help you every step of the way + document your one of a kind celebration! Get in touch with me here, and let’s create some magic together 🤍
If you’re as obsessed with these luxury vibes as I am, then I know you’ll be so inspired by the engagements and weddings featured below!
