BRIGHT HOUSE STUDIO

1612 E Centre Ave, Portage, MI
269-830-9308
Typically Responds within 12 hours
Capacity: 50 people

About BRIGHT HOUSE STUDIO

We are a unique & intimate Art Studio & Event Venue, for hosting your bright ideas & making them really SHINE! From small weddings & receptions, to bridal & baby showers, holiday parties, birthdays, anniversaries, retirement parties, memorial services, open house graduation parties, business meetings/team builders, and even classes. Our goal is to personalize your event as much as possible. BRIGHT HOUSE is a connected smart home, with customizable lighting both inside & out. Philips Hue and Govee lighting allow us to cast a mood tailored just for you. Our PA system, and HD Projector with 110 inch viewing area can sync to a smart phone for unlimited customized presentations & entertainment during your event. There's a food prep area with a full size fridge, microwave, blender, heated chafing dishes, two chilled 3 gallon beverage dispensers & a small ice bucket. A selection of tables & various seating arrangements can be decided upon during your tour. We can accommodate an audience of up to 65 guests, or table dining for up to 40 guests using both both round and long tables. For classes we have 10 individual task tables/desks that can seat up to 4 people each, depending on what you'll be using them for. And the best part, when your event ends just take home what you bring in if you still need it and leave ALL the cleaning to us, which is included in the price!" We will even wash the dishes that you bring with you & have them ready for you when you're leaving for an additional fee depending on the amount of time & detail required.

Event Pricing

Base weekend rate
Attendees: 0-45 | $100 - $150 /hour
Pricing for all event types
Base weekday rate
Attendees: 0-50 | $75 - $100 /hour
Pricing for parties and meetings only
Base wedding, holiday or formal event rate on weekends
Attendees: 0-40 | $150 /hour
Pricing for weddings and parties only
Outdoor photo shoots ONLY.
Attendees: 0-50 | $50 /hour
Pricing for all event types
Key: Not Available

Availability

Last Updated: 12/10/2024

Event Spaces

BRIGHT HOUSE STUDIO entire main floor
Outdoor gazebo & pond with a bridge & waterfall (mainly used for photo-shoots)

Recommendations

Unique and Exciting Event Space - An Eventective User from Kalamazoo, MI

Bright House Studio is a hidden gem in the Kalamazoo/Portage area. We rented space on a weekday for my sister's birthday party. We were so pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the house and their ability to personalize it to match just about any theme. The host was so helpful and accommodating! Their communication is great! I threw this together at the last minute and they did everything they could to make it even more exciting than I could imagine. The space has so many unique aspects and the lighting is so cool inside. We booked during the Halloween season, so it's perfect if you ever have that as a theme. They have the ability to transform it for any occasion. The host even put together a photo slideshow to be displayed on the wall and made us feel so welcome! We absolutely loved our experience here and look forward to our next opportunity to rent this beautiful space!

Special, thoughtful and top notch!! - An Eventective User from Dowagiac, MI

I recently hosted my 2nd event at Bright House Studio! It was for my dad's 60th surprise birthday party and it went flawlessly! I can't rave about the owners enough! They go above and beyond to make sure your event or celebration is special. Bryan even created a video for me of pics of my dad over the years and it was so nice. I sent him a link to a digital album of the photos I wanted to use and he did all the work! My dad loved it so much that he wanted a copy of it! Bryan even sent me a link to download the video so that my dad could have a copy. Bryan also made sure that everything was fit to our theme, and added extra thoughtful details that I never would have thought of! He even helped me set up and put together a balloon arch! Just amazing and special is all I can say! Book with them and you won't be disappointed! They will always have my business because of their amazing customer service!

Perfect setting and great support for a baby shower - An Eventective User from Bright House Studio Portage MI

I appreciated the varied rooms in the house, beautiful grounds, great communication, attention to details, and tips, assistance and flexibility Bryan contributed to the event. Gina and Bryan know how to make it happen. Thank you!

Management Response
It's so nice being acknowledged for how much we care & strive to make your experience at BRIGHT HOUSE pleasantly memorable & as stress free as possible. We hope to be the first place you think of for your future events. Thanks so much for taking time to write such an excellent review. We really appreciate it.
Absolutely perfect place for any small event! - An Eventective User from Three Rivers, MI

We have had two events at Bright House a gender reveal and a graduation open house both were absolutely perfect! Bryan helped make both events a total success and made sure everything was perfect! He helped with making sure decor was all done as we wanted as well as ensuring seating and table arrangements were set up to best fit our needs. I would highly recommend the is space for anyone looking to host your next event they take all the stress out of it so you can enjoy it as well as your guests and will try to help accommodate in any way they can to ensure your event is perfect! Thank you again!

Management Response
Wow! Well, you can't get better than that! It's so wonderful to know that we are achieving our goals of exceeding expectations! Thanks for taking the time to write a review & let us & others know about your "perfect" BRIGHT HOUSE experiences!
So amazing - An Eventective User

Held a celebration of life for my dad and I didn't want it to feel like a funeral and it was so amazing and the vibes were great. The process was really nice, Gina and Bryan were so helpful, amazing, and friendly. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone and everyone for whatever event you would want to have.

Management Response
We appreciate you & this lovely review so much. It's celebrations like yours that make this biz extra special. We're so pleased to know that we helped to make such a tough time in your life a bit better.
Wonderful venue for a celebration! - An Eventective User

I have booked Bright House Studio for an office Christmas party, husband's 45th birthday and daughter's 12th birthday. Each event was so nice. I really loved the decor and lighting for each event. The house is so inviting and cozy. Each experience was wonderful, and I highly recommend this venue. Staff is very friendly and have a great eye for detail.

Management Response
Wow another excellent review! We're so grateful for all of clients who take the time to inspire others in this way. Our main source of new clients has been by word of mouth referrals & guests at other events who then book their own. Which says a lot about our commitment to exceed expectations & make the experience from start to finish as stress free as possible. Sure feeels goood... ??
2024 HS Graduation - An Eventective User from Portage, MI

This space was amazing! Absolutely perfect for what we needed. Gina was amazing at communication throughout the entire process. Bryan went above and beyond to accommodate our event. He made sure that everything was exactly how we wanted it to be. Thank you so much Bryan and Gina.

Management Response
It's so uplifting & reassuring to keep getting such great reviews like this! We're so pleased to know that our efforts to exceed your expectations are being noticed & appreciated. We look forward to being the first place you think of for your small & private events in the future. Thanks again for choosing BRIGHT HOUSE & for letting others know that you made the right choice!
Amazing! Will be booking with them again! - An Eventective User from Dowagiac, MI

I highly, highly recommend Bright House Studio for your next small event! The property and building are beautiful, and super clean! I hosted a baby shower at Bright House Studio this past weekend and everything was perfect! Bryan and Gina are so accommodating and great to work with! Book your next event with them, you will not be disappointed!! We are already planning our next event at Bright House Studio!

Management Response
YAY!!! Another success story! We are sooo delighted to keep getting one stellar review after another. It's just Bryan & me making all of it happen & without him it would never work. I'm so fortunate to have such a super hero as a partner! The kind hearted younger brother I've wished I had all my life. Being a perfectionist like me, he always goes way above and beyond with everything he does & it sure has been noticed & appreciated by our guests! This is another great example. Thanks so much for taking the time to let us know we've exceeded your expectations & to Inspire others to consider our beautiful BRIGHT HOUSE for their intimate private events as well! These reviews are vitally important to the success of our business. We sure do appreciate it & look forward to having you back for your next celebration soon!
Perfect bridal shower venue! - An Eventective User from Portage, MI

Bright House was a fabulous location for the bridal shower that I hosted for my niece. Gina and Bryan were very helpful throughout the entire process! Bryan was present the day of the shower and was extremely accommodating and helpful! The venue was clean and spacious! We loved that we could change the color of the lighting through out the venue and easily stream in music. I would recommend this venue for anyone looking for a place to host a party or an event!

Management Response
It's always so delightful to hear such pleasant reviews & to know that our guests are appreciating our beautiful treasure BRIGHT HOUSE & our hospitality! Thanks a bunch for taking the time to let us & others know how much you enjoyed the experience!
Wonderful Venue! - An Eventective User

Praises for this event space! Hosted a bridal shower here for 30 people. Gina took away any stress, as she was super prompt in responding to questions and worked with me every step of the way. Place is VERY clean and has a nice assortment of different rooms that we used for food, beverages, dessert station, plus the main large area for guests. Bryan was on site during setup and day of, he had wonderful suggestions for how the space could best accommodate our guests. Have a projector, sound system and fun lighting that he tailored to the shower. Outdoor area had a beautiful waterfall that was great for photos! Had many attendees singing praises for the space, and I was absolutely thrilled to work with such professional people! Give them a try; you won’t be disappointed!

Management Response
Thank you for your kind words. We’re glad that your event was a success and thank you for allowing us to be part of it.
Great Bridal Shower! - An Eventective User

Loved hosting our event here, Gina and Bryan were great to work with and super accommodating and flexible!

Management Response
It's always such a pleasure to know we're appreciated for our specialty services, our hospitality & the unique features we offer at BRIGHT HOUSE, our beautiful old treasure. We hope to be the first place that comes to mind when you're ready to celebrate life again!
BEST VENUE IN THE AREA - An Eventective User from Kalamazoo MI

I would give this place of business a 10000 star rating if I could , from start to finish was a great experience , booking was easy with fast response time , the Management team is the best they really know the true meaning of turning your event how you want and Bryan was truly wonderful in helping out with anything we needed done and Gina , Accommodations to make your event flow as easy as possible both do their best to meet those in anyway they can I have booked parties/events in the most popular places and never felt as satisfied as I did how I did with Bright House Studio I would recommend them to anyone looking to have a nice gathering, meeting space , small party etc.. Thank you BRIGHT HOUSE STUDIO we love you : ) Airanna Myles

Management Response
We're both tearful with gratitude & almost speechless for a change! Wow! It doesn't get better than that! We're so pleased to see that the personalization aspect of our services is being recognized & appreciated. We look forward to continuing to expand our knowledge & services.
PERFECTION - An Eventective User from Constantine, MI

THE VENUE: We held my daughters baby shower here and the space is so perfect. The large gathering space was set up lovely and there is a large kitchen area for food prep. The lounge area is great for one on one conversations and the dining area made a great Euchre Table. :) THE HOSTS: ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Brian and Gina were so attentive to every detail. They are responsive and so invested in making sure your event goes off perfectly. Thank you for an amazing day!

Management Response
Seeing another stellar review sure feels great! We're happy to hear about another successful party! Thanx a bunch for choosing BRIGHT HOUSE to celebrate life! Please consider us again in the future & let us know if there's anything we can do even better. We strive to be the place to go when you're seeking maximum privacy for your celebrations & meetings. We also welcome classes & all sorts of unique activities! So get creative & use BRIGHT HOUSE to promote your bright ideas!
Venue is absolutely stunning! - An Eventective User from Kalamazoo, MI

I booked Bright House Studio for my husband's 45th birthday party after attending an office Christmas party at the venue. I was so pleased with both of my experiences. The venue is so cozy, warm and inviting. This is a wonderful and versatile space for any occasion. I especially loved all of the colorful illuminations after dusk.

Management Response
We sure do appreciate such an excellent review! It's so helpful to know how pleased you were with your experiences at BRIGHT HOUSE. We hope you choose us again for your celebrations in the future. May 2024 be abundant with blessings for all of us!
Gender Reveal - An Eventective User

We had an awesome time. The place was beautiful and very convenient.

Management Response
We sure do appreciate all of the great reviews. We hope you'll find more ways to enjoy our lovely space in the future.
Great place to have an event! - An Eventective User

Wonderful people, so helpful! A beautiful venue! Everyone who attended was complimenting the Studio!

Management Response
It's so nice to see such satisfied guests. Thanx a bunch for taking the time to write a review about your experience at BRIGHT HOUSE. We hope you'll be back to enjoy it again soon!
UNIQUE AND COZY! - An Eventective User from Marne, MI

We hosted a Halloween themed Baby Shower in the evening. The programable lighting and sound system set the mood. We set up tables for 30 and it was a little snug. It worked out well to use the hearth for gifts, the bar for food and the stage for gift opening. The wall by the fireplace made a nice photo backdrop with the decorations we brought. I thought an hour wouldn't be enough time to set up, but it was plenty. The food prep area was conveniently close, but separate enough to keep the messy stuff away from the party. The amenities in the bathroom were appreciated and a fun topic of conversation (go check them out.) Gina made access to the building easy and she was helpful with all of the booking arrangements. There were amenities we didn't get to use: the fireplace, the projector, the outdoor areas, but I can see how great they would have been for a different party. Would rent again.

Management Response
Thanx so much for the fantastic review. We are so pleased to know you enjoyed your time at BRIGHT HOUSE & may consider us again in the future. We're always excited to get that party started & to help make all your bright ideas really shine!
Absolutely LOVED the venue! - An Eventective User from Three Rivers, MI

I booked Bright House Studio for my daughter's baby shower. Gina and Bryan are SO helpful and accommodating! We had an unexpected loss and had to move days like a week and a half before the event, luckily there was nothing booked and Gina had to issue moving me days. I had a really late night the night before the shower and Bryan helped me unload all the boxes into the house and ended up putting together our big play pen for the babies for me while I put together the balloon arch/banner area! They were both ready and willing at any time to answer any questions I had or change the floor plan etc. We all had a good time. It's very affordable compared to some other places I checked into. I would definitely recommend Bright House Studio to anyone hosting any get together.

Management Response
Gosh we sure do appreciate such a stellar commentary! So glad everything went well & you'd consider returning for future events! It's great compliments like this that can help us to succeed in this competitive market. We look forward to becoming the place to be in Portage when you're looking for an intimate & accommodating venue for small private parties & special occasions.
Babyshower - An Eventective User from Portage mi

They was so good to us the place was more then expected they gentlemen help us out so much with seting up ND alot extra was so amazing the house is so beautiful I will be back there for my venue amd family gathering we appreciate you guys so much you definitely see the McElvain family again

Management Response
That's really great to hear! And it helps us to get noticed & attract new clients. Word of mouth referrals are the best form of advertisement so we're very grateful that you took the time to write such an impressive review about us & our beautiful BRIGHT HOUSE.
Venue Types
Amenities
  • ADA/ACA Accessible
  • Fully Equipped Kitchen
  • Outdoor Function Area
  • Outside Catering Allowed
  • Waterview
  • Wireless Internet/Wi-Fi
Features
  • Max Number of People for an Event: 50
  • Number of Event/Function Spaces: 1
  • Special Features: Stage with microphone, smart colored lighting both inside & out, projector that syncs with most smart phones, 110" viewing wall, gas fireplace , outdoor grilling space, indoor/outdoor photo shoot options, total privacy & ambiance.
  • Total Meeting Room Space (Square Feet): 900
  • Year Renovated: 23