The Union Pavilion at Railside

Updated January 26, 2024

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About This Vendor

West Michigan's Premier Indoor & Outdoor Venue

The Union Pavilion at Railside is a country club-style wedding venue located just 15 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids. Built on the grounds of the Railside Golf Club in Byron Center, MI, The Union boasts expansive views year round with beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces to host your celebration. Designed to comfortably accommodate up to 250 guests, The Union is ideal for medium and large events. The one-of-a-kind indoor/outdoor ballroom is drenched in natural light and features vaulted ceilings, stone fireplace, chandeliers, 12-foot windows, exposed wood beams, dance floor and a full bar. Ceremonies are held on the manicured lawn which features a cedar pergola as the focal point. The Union's executive chef and expert wedding coordinator are adept at tending to every detail and always aim to exceed expectations. Parking, WiFi access and ADA accessibility are included.

Amenities & Details

Ceremony Area, Covered Outdoors Space, Dressing Room, Handicap Accessible, Indoor Event Space, Liability Insurance, Outdoor Event Space, Reception Area, Wireless Internet

Guest Capacity

Up to 250

Ceremony Types

Interfaith Ceremony, Non-Religious Ceremony, Religious Ceremony, Vow Renewal Ceremony

Venue Service Offerings

Bar & Drinks, Bar Rental, Cakes & Desserts, Food & Catering, Planning, Rentals & Equipment, Service Staff

Settings

Backyard, Ballroom, Country Club, Garden, Trees

Business Attributes

Pricing for The Union Pavilion at Railside

Option	Value
Starting Cost	Affordable
Cost Starting
Price Range
Couples Usually Spend
Peak Season Months
Peak Season Cost
Peak Season Reception Cost
Peak Season Ceremony Cost
Peak Season Bar Service Cost
OffSeason Months
OffSeason Cost
OffSeason Reception Cost
OffSeason Ceremony Cost
OffSeason BarService Cost

Browse The Union Pavilion at Railside pricing PDF below for sample services and estimates.

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The Union Pavilion at Railside Reviews

Niki Wolber (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

We got married about a month ago and are so pleased with The Union Pavilion at Railside. It is such a beautiful venue and we are so glad we chose this location for our reception! The food was great, staff was friendly, and the planning process and support from Railside went really smoothly. We had nice weather so we were able to enjoy the outdoor area for cocktail hour and the reception which was so nice!
Reviewed on 31-08-2023

Anna L (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

Railside was amazing for our wedding venue! Truly the prettiest venue we looked at. They have a beautiful interior in their Pavilion and we loved using the bridal suite. The ceremony area was. a perfect mix of the outdoors but also paved so guests could make it to the site without sinking a heel into the ground. They were easy to work with and made everything work for our dream day! Would highly recommend.
Reviewed on 06-10-2023

Paige F (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

Railside was perfect! We were so happy with everything on our wedding day. The venue is beautiful and the food was fantastic! So glad we went with this venue!!
Reviewed on 22-09-2023

Kelly Batzloff (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 17-09-2022
If you need a wedding venue, look no further!!! this is your place!! the venue is absolutely stunning, the food is phenomenal, Donna just crushes it at setting up the best day ever, and Sarah our day of coordinator was so great! I have gone to weddings where there is a lot of waiting and it can kind of drag on. not here!!! everything was smooth sailing and organized!! I highly recommend this venue!!
Reviewed on 19-09-2022

Alex Ligman (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-07-2022
As a wedding coordinator, I have to say, this venue was great to work with! The staff was all very helpful and kind throughout the planning process. The grounds are kept in great shape and the building was great as well! I cant wait to be back at Railside for another wedding!
Reviewed on 31-08-2022

Amber Randle (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-04-2022
Railside was the perfect venue for our wedding! The food is amazing, the staff are wonderful, and the venue is beautiful! Donna was very communicative and she was able to accommodate everything that I wanted!
Reviewed on 30-04-2022

James Heys (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-09-2021
We booked the Union Pavillion at Railside Golf Club for our wedding. The venue space is absolutely beautiful! Amidst the ups and downs of COVID, the staff at Railside was very accommodating. Although communication was sometimes a little delayed in the weeks prior to the event, we couldn't have been more pleased with how our event turned out. The coordinator for the day-of was excellent and our guests were well taken care of throughout the night. I couldn't recommend Railside more to anyone planning a wedding in their event space!
Reviewed on 27-09-2021

Lynn Dal Pra (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-06-2021
Railside is a stunning venue! We did our ceremony and reception at Railside and are so impressed with the facility. Donna was incredible in keeping everything organized and was so kind to us throughout our planning. Thank you Railside!
Reviewed on 11-06-2021

Rachael Kruisenga (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-07-2020
The Union Pavilion at Railside is a DREAM!! It is absolutely gorgeous! Their outdoor ceremony is the picture perfect place to get married. If you want outdoors + air conditioning (because you LOVE to dance... like me😛) this is the place for you. An entire wall can open to the outdoors. Most importantly, Donna is AMAZING to work with! She is insanely fast at responding to emails and/or phone calls. She will make sure your day runs smoothly and is happy to help in any way. If I could give Donna, her staff, and the Union Pavilion 10 stars I would! They are hands down the BEST venue to work with when planning your special day!
Reviewed on 05-11-2020

Chelby Overweg (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 31-12-2019
Very clean and updated venue! Food and drinks were great. Communication could be worked on, but overall was a great venue. I liked that its not decorated super trendy and the outside would be beautiful to have your reception at if you get married in a season that allowed it.
Reviewed on 13-03-2020

Amanda Sebright (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 19-10-2019
We had the PERFECT wedding day at The Union! The team was fabulous from start to finish. Donna was a pleasure to work with, very quick to respond to emails and so helpful planning along the way. Their onsite team was great as well! The food was AMAZING, we received so many compliments about our wedding from food, venue & staff.
Reviewed on 12-12-2019

Elise Hartman (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 28-09-2019
We fell in love with The Union Pavilion before it was even built, and it did not disappoint on our big day! Donna and her team were so helpful during the months of planning, and the day ran SO smoothly. This space fit our wedding aesthetic perfectly (honestly even without your own decor it'd be beautiful), our guests raved about the food, and we loved being able to open the \"garage\" doors. Honestly, it was everything we dreamed it would be! Highly recommend!
Reviewed on 10-11-2019

Abby Nuenke (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-08-2019
We couldn't have asked for a better experience. Railside did such an amazing job. Donna was always so accommodating - she gave us multiple tours as they were completing Union Pavilion, answered many emails in a timely manner, and worked so hard to make sure the day of the wedding went so smoothly. Everyone was so profession and everything was very well put together. I strongly recommend this venue. We were one of the first weddings at the new Union Pavilion it was so beautiful and just so unique. Our guests had so many amazing things to say as well.
Reviewed on 25-10-2019

Megan Hicks (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-06-2019
I got to have the wedding of my dreams at Railside! We were one of the first weddings at the Union Pavilion, and it was absolutely gorgeous! The staff made the whole wedding process easy and effortless, which is a huge blessing when there are so many details that need to be in place. I would highly recommend having your wedding and reception at Railside, you won't regret it.
Reviewed on 23-08-2019

Christena Gaunichaux (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 07-09-2018
Railside was great the whole time I was planning my wedding! Donna was awesome every step of the way and took care of all our questions and needs. So much is included too for what you are paying for! I highly recommend railside as a venue for your wedding!!
Reviewed on 21-09-2018

Alisha Van Epps (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-07-2017
Beautiful location for an outdoor tented reception! Room to get ready, great photo spots, get to take out the golf carts, awesome food!
Reviewed on 07-11-2017

Jenelle Ensing (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 19-05-2017
Railside helps take the stress out of planning! They took care of everything and Donna Dokl is an expert on all things wedding. We were very pleased with how smoothly everything went!
Reviewed on 14-06-2017

Gilbert Conley (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 20-05-2017
The Railside Golf Club is truly a dream come true venue. We had our reception in the outdoor tent in May and it was still a great venue. The heaters kept all of us toasty and the lighting is very romantic. Staff was professional and helpful. Donna was our coordinator and she did a fantastic job at answering questions and making sure everything ran smoothly. She is quick to respond and flexible with any request. My husband and I could not have asked for a more beautiful venue or a more wonderful staff.
Reviewed on 01-06-2017

Jessica Montroy (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 07-10-2016
Railside did a wonderful job hosting our wedding on October 7th. They are extremely accommodating and everything turned out beautiful.
Reviewed on 20-10-2016

Natasha Lemmen (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-09-2016
This venue was great! The prep work from Donna was good- she always responded to my questions timely. The day of, Corine was with us and I got SO many complements on how amazing she was working the event and keeping things going. Thank you for making our day so special!
Reviewed on 25-09-2016

Erin Keyzer (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-09-2016
The venue is beautiful and the people were easy to work with and friendly. They accommodated our needs and wants and helped make the night beautiful.
Reviewed on 21-09-2016

Adelyn Curphey (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 04-09-2016
We had our absolute dream wedding at Railside this September. Donna was a pleasure to work with, she was very prompt and helpful in responses as we planned and sent many emails along the way. The day of the wedding she and her assistant Marisa did a great job keeping everything in order. The food was delicious given price point, everyone was extremely professional and courteous. We couldn't have been happier! Thank you Railside!
Reviewed on 14-09-2016

Megan Newhouse (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-07-2016
Our day was fantastic and almost flawless thanks to Railside. The event organizer assistant was fantastic and made our big date wonderful. WARNING: They double booked our date and didn't tell us until several months later and we had to reschedule. We stuck with Railside but were very frustrated by the experience and the main event planner. No matter where you have your wedding, make sure you quadruple check everything. They paid the room fee because of the misunderstanding, but regardless it was frustrating. We were frustrated by the organization of the main event planner so make sure to stay on top of things and ask lots of questions. I would also ask what she needs from you for the day of way ahead of time because she was very last minute asking for things and was also frustrating. Despite some frustrations, the day of made up for everything because it was truly fabulous. They took care of problems that we had, helped up with anything we needed, waited on us amazingly while getting ready and made the event go great. The food was great. The day went so smoothly. Railside was awesome, just stay on top of your planning and advocate for yourself, which you should do anyway while wedding planning. We did the Friday night package and I highly recommend it!
Reviewed on 12-07-2016

Jilynn Leeuw (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 08-08-2015
I used Railside for a reception venue. They had really great service all the way through the planning stages and on our wedding day. They were very helpful with any questions I had. They also were very up front about costs and there were no added extra costs for things like colored linens. They were very easy to work with and very accommodating. They let us use a lot of their supplies as well. All our guests thought the venue was beautiful and the service was great. A great place all around!
Reviewed on 03-09-2015

Jamie Dryer (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-06-2014
Railside did an amazing job with our wedding. The food was amazing and the golf course is beautiful for pictures. We also did our ceremony there and the gazebo is beautiful with or without decorations. Donna and Hailey were always available to answer any questions that we had. Our wedding day turned out beautiful and was completely stress free!!! We would recommend Railside to anyone getting married.
Reviewed on 12-07-2014

Katie Livingston (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-09-2013
Overall, we were exceptionally satisfied with Railside and their services. They were very accommodating and willing to meet our needs and desires. There were little to no issues or misunderstandings between the staff and my husband and me. The golf course is beautiful inside and out and I would highly recommend this venue to anyone! We thoroughly enjoyed taking pictures out on the course and away from the wedding site. The tent where we had the reception was wonderful and had plenty of space for our guests to dance and walk around. The food was delicious and brought out to tables promptly. I would definitely recommend purchasing plated dinners so guests do not have to wait an incredibly long time! We also really enjoyed the course letting us light off chinese lanterns at night before we left. It was a perfect ending!
Reviewed on 06-10-2013

Kelli Klamer (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 08-09-2012
Some miscommunications planning and being switched to Joan half way through the planning and having to re-plan several things. There were a few minor details that were disappointing, however overall it was great and the food was great as well!
Reviewed on 23-10-2012

Aleisha Bailey (bride) 1 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-09-2012
I was very disappointed in EVERYTHING that Railside provided. Where do I start-the food umm....not even the same stuff we tasted. Some pork portions was not done and it was served to my guests. The beef was over cooked and unedible. Only half the vegetarian orders were actually served. The birdal party and I got locked out of the locker rooms-where we were suppose to get ready--and they new that--it was in the contract. Many other things that were in the contract didn't happen-I was soooo disappointed!!!
Reviewed on 18-10-2012

Lindsey Shephard (bride) 2 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-09-2012
We had our ceremony & reception at Railside. I relied on reviews to make decisions when planning our wedding & felt that I should provide an honest review of our experience. We signed up w/ Allyson who soon after went on maternity leave & we ended up working w/ Jason & Joan. From the beginning working w/ Joan was difficult & we were surprised with the lack of quality customer service from someone in a customer service based industry. We set up a time to meet w/ Joan & she didn’t show (after making it seem like we were inconveniencing her b/c we couldn’t meet before 6 pm). She did apologize but followed this up by not being responsive to our emails or phone calls & I often felt like I had to chase her down to get info. Eventually Jason said to use him as a contact b/c we were having issues w/ the level of service from Joan. He was helpful & attentive & we felt much more comfortable w/ his help. \rOne week before the wedding we talked to Joan & she mentioned that a local noise ordinance wouldn’t allow music to be played past 11 (in our contract we were told we could play music until 12). While we understood this wasn’t their decision we couldn’t believe they didn’t tell us earlier so we could contact our DJ to make schedule changes. A major change like this should be communicated to a customer asap! \rWe tried to pay the majority of the balance a week before the wedding (w/ the remainder to be paid closer to the date). We had to follow-up multiple times with Jason trying to get a payment taken. Finally, the morning of the big day the payment was completed which left the balance & arrangements were discussed w/ Jason. 30 minutes into our reception, Joan interrupted & asked the groom for the rest of the payment! The whole situation was offensive considering it was our reception & the hoops we jumped through to resolve the issue earlier. \rThe ceremony took place on the driving range & it was a beautiful location. However, there was a golfer using it during the ceremony. (Jason later explained that the range was closed but that no one enforces the rule). As a selling point to booking, we were also told we could use the locker room for our belongings & we found out on the wedding day that we couldn’t leave our things in the locker room (another unmentioned policy change). \rThe reception went well. The outdoor tent is large & spacious w/ great views. The buffet dinner was well-received by guests & the food was good. However, the wait staff was a little overzealous & many guests had food taken away prematurely w/out being asked if we were finished. We also had several complaints about Joan being rude to guests! \rSorry for the lengthy review but I wanted to give an honest summary of our experience. We can neither recommend for or against having your wedding at Railside. The venue itself was gorgeous but the last-minute changes & staff interactions w/ guests were subpar. If you have a lot of time or a wedding planner that can keep up w/all the details ensuring they don't blindside you w/anything last minture-the venue is a good option. But if you're trying to plan your own wedding & have little freetime I would suggest looking for a venue that is a bit more experienced & can help you feel confident in your planning! (We did follow-up w/ Jason to share our concerns prior to posting this review & felt that we were given a lot of excuses...but they did say they'll be making some changes so hopefully they'll be a better venue in the future).
Reviewed on 14-10-2012

29 Reviews, with a Rating of 4.66 out of 5.0

Contact Info for The Union Pavilion at Railside

Contact	Value
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/theunionpavilion/
X (Twitter)	The Union Pavilion at Railside
Pinterest	The Union Pavilion at Railside
Instagram	unionatrailside
Website	unionatrailside.com
Phone	(616) 878-1140
Address	2500 76th Street SW, Byron Center, MI, 49315
Email	kristie@railsidegolf.com

The Union Pavilion at Railside on the map

Meet the The Union Pavilion at Railside Team

Kristie Emmons The Union Pavilion at Railside Manager

Kristie Emmons (Manager)

Kristie has over 20 years of event planning experience in Grand Rapids and throughout the Midwest. Her vast experience allows her to visualize every facet of an event incorporating overall design, food, beverage, and unique event details. She works with brides and their families to ensure all aspects of their very special day are perfect.

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