WARREN — With the finishing touches complete on his new $2 million investment in Warren, entrepreneur Nicholas Lavdas and his wife, Maria, welcomed a host of VIP guests to their former home on July 29.

Michigan Lt. Gov. John Cherry served as the officiant for Lavdas’ private reception and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new White House Wedding Chapel, on 13 Mile Road west of Mound.

The nearly 6,000-square-foot home opened as a chapel last October and has been steadily hosting weddings ever since. With landscaped gardens, fountains and completely renovated interior spaces — including separate rooms for the bride and the groom — Lavdas said the chapel, now completed, is every bit what he had envisioned for the structure.

“Awesome. Beautiful. Gorgeous. The comments were wonderful,” Lavdas said. “When you put on an event like this, you’re always nervous that something could go wrong. I was thrilled.”

Other guests included Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith, Macomb County Treasurer Ted Wahby, and a host of other business and political figures.

 — Brian C. Louwers