A sweet 16 or a quinceañera is usually the biggest party a family throws before a wedding: a grand entrance, a first dance, a full meal and a lot of relatives. If you are picturing it with the Detroit River in the window, here is how planning one at Silver Shores works.
Start with the guest count
The room follows the guest list. The ballroom is climate-controlled and seats up to 150, with floor-to-ceiling glass along the river. The riverside pavilion seats up to 550 in the open air, and together the two spaces host up to 700. If your guest list includes the full court and extended family, the pavilion is usually the better fit.
Check the day-of-week minimum early
The number worth knowing before you fall in love with a date is the guest minimum, because it changes with the day of the week: 50 guests Monday through Thursday, 170 on Fridays, 225 on Saturdays, and on Sundays 50 for a morning event or 110 in the evening. Counts can be flexible at certain times of the year, so if your number sits close to a line, call and ask about your date.
The entrance, the dance, the cake
The moments that matter happen on the dance floor with the river behind it: the court’s entrance, the first dance, the toast and the cake. We only host one celebration per day, so the shoreline is yours for the whole event, with no other party arriving as yours winds down.
Food for a big family
Everything is cooked by our in-house executive chef, served the way you want it: stations, buffet, family style or plated. Halal menus are available on request, and the menu can be built around family favorites. See our catering for what the kitchen does.
Book Saturdays early
Saturdays are the first dates to go, and Silver Shores is currently booking into the 2028 season. If you have a specific weekend in mind, especially in spring or summer, check it as early as you can.
Check your date
Send us your date and guest count, or call (734) 246-4800. We reply within 24 hours with availability and next steps, and tours run daily, 9am to 5pm.