WeddingDay Pro Spotlight: Morgan Fisher of The Ballroom at CityFlatsHotel

In the bustling center of Grand Rapids, you can find a historic and breathtaking venue to fulfill your elegant wedding dreams. All the team members at The Ballroom at CityFlatsHotel are focused on helping you best tell your story through the amenities they offer. Every couple is unique, so each wedding should be unique as well!

Whether it’s taking advantage of some of the fine dining CityFlatsHotel offers or letting your guests partake in a tater tot bar to end the night, The Ballroom at CityFlatsHotel has so many options to customize your wedding to fit your personality. You can even block out rooms and make the most of exploring all the sights around Grand Rapids. Morgan Fisher, Hospitality Director of The Ballroom at CityFlatsHotel, shares all the things that make this venue special and why she would love to help you successfully host your big day!

Tell us a little about the history of CityFlatsHotel as a hotel and venue.

"The Ballroom at CityFlatsHotel is located adjacent to the hotel in the Old Michigan National Bank building. This gorgeous, historic space offers couples a grand setting with vaulted ceilings, marble columns and a sweeping staircase. It was built in the 1920s and can host up to 200 guests. We also offer a more intimate events space on the ground floor of CityFlatsHotel. Formerly the home of the popular Louis Benton Steakhouse, Events at CityFlatsHotel is an excellent option for smaller weddings (up to 150) searching for a modern atmosphere. It’s also an excellent setting for rehearsal dinners, morning-after brunches and bridal showers. As for our hotel, we are a locally-owned boutique hotel. Our 48 guest rooms are each uniquely designed with eco-friendliness in mind. We joined Choice Hotels Ascend Collection this summer."

Why should a couple get married here? What attracts couples to your venue?

"Our space is the perfect mixture of historic opulence and modern comfort. When couples walk up the grand staircase and gaze into the venue they are in awe of its beauty. We often hear, 'the photos don’t do it justice.' The Ballroom features 1920’s Italian Renaissance styling with elaborate details that include ornate, walnut woodworking, wrought iron railings, marble floors and hand painted ceilings. In addition to our beautiful venues, our location is just unbeatable. Grand Rapids has become a Midwest destination thanks to its award-winning restaurants and breweries, cultural museums and entertainment venues. We are fortunate to be in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, so, when your guests are not celebrating, they will have plenty to do just outside our door! We also have the added convenience of hotel room blocks available on-site for your guests, making our venue the perfect one-stop-shop." 

Give us an overview of your services. What makes your business unique?

"We want to make the planning process easy and streamlined for our couples. We know what a busy season of life you’re in! Our event coordinators take great pride in getting to know our couples and helping them bring their wedding visions to life. With the inclusions of linens, chiavari chairs and full place settings, along with in-house food and beverage catering (and everything needed to be dinner-ready), our team is knowledgeable about event execution and timing and assists couples in creating day-of timelines and layouts, which for many are daunting tasks. We offer unlimited communication to our couples and flexibility with special requests and our coordinators stay on-site during the entire duration of the event to ensure everything runs seamlessly. Also, on-site is the Parlour, a full-service beauty salon that can assist with all of your wedding party’s styling needs (so, pop that champagne and sit back)!" 

CityFlatsHotel is located in a bustling part of the city. What nearby activities make it a memorable stay? 

"Only a few minutes walk away is Rosa Parks Circle, where visitors can enjoy free concerts in the summer and, in the winter, it bustles with ice-skaters of all ages! Nightlife abounds with a dueling piano bar, night clubs and music venues within walking distance! For those seeking arts and culture, they can easily walk to the Public Museum, the Grand Rapids Art Museum or the Grand Rapids Children Museum. And, for any visitors who wish to stay closer to their accommodations, we have the fabulous CitySēn Lounge located on our ground floor, serving up global-inspired cuisine and handcrafted cocktails." 

What benefits can a bridal party receive when booking with CityFlatsHotel?

"Since the Ballroom is adjacent to our hotel, we have the added convenience of hotel room blocks available on-site for your guests, making our venue the perfect one-stop-shop. Groups hosting their event in-house even receive discounted rates on hotel stays! Keeping guests in one location leaves more time for fun and less time spent traveling."

Do you work with preferred vendors or offer your own exclusive services (catering, rentals, etc.)?

"While we provide items like linens, full place settings and beautiful chiavari chairs, we welcome other vendors to take care of your décor, floral, photography and entertainment services. We have a list of talented vendors that we love to work with and highly recommend." 

Tell us about your favorite part of your job. What keeps it fun for you? 

"I absolutely adore all of the couples I work with. It is fun getting to know them and seeing their wedding visions come to life. Although there are many favored traditions, every wedding is different and I love seeing each couple’s personal and unique ideas bring excitement to their guests." 

What do you love about the industry you work in?

"I love seeing trends evolve in the wedding industry. Wedding colors are becoming more bold, traditional elements such as the bouquet and garter toss are becoming a thing of the past, even the traditional cake cutting is no longer on every couples’ agenda."

What’s the most common question you get from couples? What’s your answer to it?

"Since we provide in-house catering and bar services, many couples often want to know what items on the menu are our favorites. I love our bruschetta chicken with creamy pesto sauce and parmesan cheese. Yum! But my absolute favorite menu items that guests pick are late night snacks! Homemade pizza and pretzel bites with beer cheese are hard to pass up after letting loose on the dance floor. Guests may not remember the little details that you’ll stress over for your wedding such as the perfect favor or embossed cocktail napkins, but they will remember the food and drinks. So, instead of spending time and money on the little things, invest in the deliciousness and serve up a tater tot bar at 10pm!"

What are the best tips you have for helping couples prepare for their big day? Any other words of wisdom to share?

"My best advice for couples planning their weddings is to enjoy the experience and don’t sweat the small stuff. Wedding planning can be stressful, but it should also be fun! Don’t get caught up in having the perfect Pinterest-worthy wedding. Decide on the elements that are most important to you and tailor your wedding around those ideas, showcasing who you are as a couple."

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