Lodging
There are lots of hotel options in Grand Rapids. If you'd like fewer options, there are 6 hotels close to the airport that can all be accessed at www.hotelsgrandrapidsmichigan.com.
Local food
Grand Rapids has some pretty amazing restaurants. Here are our favorites:
Bombay Cuisine Indian, Buffet, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free Friendly, Vegan Friendly, Take Out
Brick Road Pizza We are a family owned and operated business. We try to engage in activities that consume fewer resources and produce less harmful waste. Our restaurant advocates the use of locally produced food and goods. We pride ourselves on our wide variety of gourmet pizzas which we make to order your way, using the best meats and cheeses we can find, including “free range” turkey and pork sausage. We also have a large vegan menu that is always changing as we create new recipes made from non-animal derived ingredients, such as soy or gluten.
Cherry Deli Cherry Deli is committed to local and fresh products, as well as environmentally friendly food. All of our sandwiches & salads are named after Grand Rapids area streets, parks, & monuments. We have a large selection of vegan options, as well as gluten-free bread! Come down and check out a Cherry Hill institution.
Erb Thai At Erb Thai, we provide traditional Thai dishes for modern lifestyles specializing in dietary needs like gluten-free, MSG-free, vegan and vegetarian. We do this by focusing on maintaining authentic Thai tastes through infusions of special spices and unique herbs.
Harmony Brewing Harmony Brewing Company is a friendly neighborhood brew pub in Eastown. Harmony sits in an ideal spot but when we first laid eyes on the place it was an old party store that had sat abandoned for over ten years. Through much labor and love and a lot more labor we reclaimed this little place and now it is a cozy space filled with natural light and the smells of wood smoke and malt. We brew small batches of well-balanced beer. Brewing this way allows us to react seasonally and respond the tastes of our Beer Lovin’ community. We apply that same sense of craft to our rustic wood fired pizzas. Our dough is made from scratch every day, then artfully topped with fresh, creative ingredients and fired in a 700-degree, wood burning oven. The result is pizza perfection.
Marie Catrib's With a twist of Lebanese, a hit of Yooper and a yen for unique pastries, Marie brings her love here to Grand Rapids. Our idea from day one has been to create, produce and serve super great, full-flavored food that has a beginning, middle, and finish to every bite. Everything at Marie Catrib’s is ruled by taste.
San Chez Upscale food, big city atmosphere, casual attire. Cuisine of Spain with a Latin and Cuban flair. Specializing in Tapas, Sangria, Sherries, Ports and wonderful wine list.
Shiraz Grille Shiraz Grille offers ethnic Persian cuisine for those in search of an authentic cultural experience apart from the every day. Please join us for exquisite food, personable service, and a memorable dining experience.
Terra A locally sourced farm-to-table restaurant. Inspired, handcrafted foods that nurture both body and community. At Terra, we follow our passions – and the seasons – for only the freshest, health-filled ingredients from the region’s most dedicated growers.
Wolfgang's The best breakfast in Grand Rapids. Quirky, packed, but always worth the wait.
Local brews
Grand Rapids is a recent hot spot for microbreweries. Here are some of our favorite craft breweries you should check out:
Hopcat has been designated the #1 brewpub in the nation and for the last several years the #3 beer bar on earth.
Brewery Vivant was one of Midwest Living's top 25 new places in 2012.
And yes, there are beer tours to the top craft breweries.
Events
The wedding happens to coincide with Tulip Time, a big festival in a town an hour away. You could check it out before the wedding--that morning there's a bike race, 5K/10K run, arts & crafts fair, quilt show, kids' carnival, petting zoo, dancing in wooden shoes, and a kid-friendly painting class.
