Dorrie and Derek

Our Story


If you love an old-fashioned love story, this one’s for you.

Shortly after our mutual friends Bri and Joey moved to Louisville from Michigan in 2019, they realized they had a guy in mind from back home they wanted to introduce to Dorrie. Spoiler alert: it was Derek. Just like her mom Betsy nearly four decades prior, so too would Dorrie meet a man from Detroit.

Bri and Joey introduced us, and in October 2021, we texted for the first time. A few days later, we decided to chat over video. It was love at first FaceTime.

Before you can pronounce Louisville correctly (Lou-uh-vul, for you Michiganders), we were traveling North and South to see each other whenever we had the chance. Finally, Dorrie made the move to Michigan in June 2022. We have been inseparable ever since, and now live together in Birmingham, Michigan.

On a beautiful Friday late afternoon on April 14, 2023, Derek asked Dorrie to marry him at Quarton Lake, one of our favorite places to stroll, just outside of downtown Birmingham. Our wedding weekend festivities will take place just feet from this proposal site, and from where we reside together. We cannot wait to share in our celebration with you this September!

The Wedding

The Townsend Hotel

Saturday, September 7, 2024
Six o’clock in the evening
Dinner and Dancing to Follow
Black Tie

Travel

We recommend flying into Detroit Metro Airport, which is located 29 miles from Birmingham, Michigan. Our wedding festivities are located in downtown Birmingham, a charming district filled with restaurants, shops, and parks.

*While you are more than welcome to rent a vehicle, please note that all wedding events are located within walking distance of room blocks at The Townsend Hotel and the Daxton Hotel. Ubers are readily available from Detroit Metro Airport and in and around downtown Birmingham. Metro Cars is a well-established, private car service in the area should you choose to pre-book a car to and from the airport.

Accommodations

We have a limited number of rooms reserved at the following hotels:

The Townsend Hotel
https://www.townsendhotel.com/
Address: 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, Michigan, 48009
*The Townsend Hotel is also our wedding venue

The Daxton Hotel
https://daxtonhotel.com/
Address: 298 S Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, Michigan 48009
*The Daxton Hotel is a 5 minute walk to our wedding venue and next door to our rehearsal dinner venue

Detroit Marriott Troy
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/dtttt-detroit-marriott-troy/photos/
Address: 200 W Big Beaver Road, Troy, Michigan 48084
*The Troy Marriott is a 4.5 mile drive to downtown Birmingham


Click Here for the Townsend Hotel Wedding Block Click Here for the Daxton Hotel Wedding Block Click Here for the Detroit Marriott Troy Wedding Block

Exploring Birmingham & Metro Detroit

Downtown Birmingham- Our neighborhood where you will find great local shopping, restaurants and some of our favorite parks.

Commonwealth Cafe- Our favorite Downtown Birmingham brunch spot. Our go-to’s are the shiitake omelet and the breakfast burrito. For drinks we recommend the oat milk latte or the cinnamon plum iced tea.

Social- Great spot for breakfast and lunch in Downtown Birmingham. We love the make your own skillet and salads.

Custard & Co- Our favorite walk-up window soft serve shop in Royal Oak. Try our Michigan favorite, the Boston Cooler, made with Vernors and vanilla soft serve.

Eli's Mediterranean Grill- Delicious Mediterranean food located in Downtown Birmingham.

Stage Deli- Classic Jewish delicatessen located in West Bloomfield.

Steve’s Deli- Classic Jewish delicatessen located in Bloomfield Hills.

Cranbrook Art Museum and campus grounds- One of our favorite places to walk and admire nature, art and architecture. The museum makes for a great afternoon activity.

Detroit Institute of Arts Museum (The DIA)- World-renown art museum located in Midtown Detroit.

Franklin Cider Mill- Open all fall, this is a do-not-miss spot for warm cider and donuts.

Birmingham Farmer’s Market- An easy walk from The Townsend Hotel and Daxton Hotel. The farmers market is open Sundays from 9am-2pm.

Motown Museum- Our wedding band will certainly remind you that you’re visiting Motown, but in case you can’t get enough, go downtown to experience a piece of Detroit history.

The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village- A great afternoon activity where you can learn about American innovations and inventions.

Somerset Mall- Upscale shopping mall 3 miles from Downtown Birmingham where you will find some of our favorite stores.

Thank You

Your presence at our wedding weekend is the greatest gift, but should you choose to send us a present, we are registered online at Slowdance and Williams Sonoma, and in store and online at Zieban Mare (Franklin, MI).

Visit Slowdance RegistryVisit Williams Sonoma Registry Visit Zieban Mare Registry