Port 393 From A Photographer's Perspective

Hi there, my name is Larissa and I am a Michigan Wedding Photographer based out of the West Michigan area. I've been photographing love stories since 2017, and recently had a chance to visit Port 393 in Holland, MI to photograph a summer wedding, and wanted to give my take on photographing at the venue.

Dark moody living room with tufted brown leather Chesterfield sofa, arched mirror, velvet chair, and lush indoor plants.

Getting Ready Space: The Cove House

I absolutely adored this getting ready space. There are two rooms, and each has their own entrance onto the patio. The "groom" suite is dressed up in a darker wall color & luxury leather furniture. The girl's space is white based, which is perfect for a more "bridal" feel. One of my favorite parts of the bridal suite is the private dressing room that works great for a bridal reveal with the double barn doors. Both spaces share a kitchenette.

A colorful wedding bouquet with orange, white, and blue flowers resting on a mint green X-base ottoman in a corner.

A Summer Evening Wedding Ceremony On The Rooftop


What you should know: it is BRIGHT, and if it is summer, it will likely be hot. Be sure to keep your ceremony short and sweet if you opt for a summer wedding at Port 393. Otherwise, we never know what Michigan throws at us weather-wise. Be prepared to move your ceremony indoors if Michigan calls for it. A fall or early spring wedding here would be absolutely beautiful lighting. I would also love to photograph a Tulip Time Wedding, as I grew up in this area.

Bride in white gown walks down outdoor aisle with flower girl under string lights at sunny wedding ceremony.

Portrait Locations At And Near Port 393

The property at Port 393 is somewhat limited. Hiring a photographer with extensive flash knowledge could yield beautiful images indoors, as the bar truly has that luxury vibe. The rooftop is another excellent choice for photos if time allows. I have another wedding here soon, and plan to do portraits outside of the Cove House as well. There are a couple of nearby parks. My couple for this wedding chose to drive across the street to Kollen Park, where there is access to Lake Macatawa. I will be honest, the blue railings in this park make it a choice I would tend to avoid. A skilled photographer and photoshop can get the job done though!

Bride and groom embrace facing a serene lake on their wedding day, bride wearing a flowing white gown with long train.
Elegant wedding reception hall with black Chiavari chairs, white linens, and colorful floral centerpieces featuring orange and blue blooms.
Elegant wedding reception table with gold vase floral centerpiece featuring peach and pink blooms, black candles, and white linens.
Elegant round wedding reception table with white linen, gold cutlery, white plates, and a peach and blue floral centerpiece.

Add This To Your Timeline - A Private First Dance

The sunsets here are beautiful. My couple chose to end the celebration at a reasonable hour, and cleared out the rooftop for a private first dance, This made for some stunning images. I tried to give them their space and used my zoom to get the photo below.

Bride and groom share first dance on rooftop venue under string lights at sunset.