Ceremony and reception help!!!!

crystalsoongooden

Hello everyone
I'm in desperate need of help!!!!
I'm having the hardest time looking for an venue for my vintage theme wedding for approx 85 guest June 2016. I don't want the same ol banquet hall or same ol banquet food we would love bbq.I would love to find something unique and vintage and bring out our personalities and of course we're on a budget $5000 for ceremony and reception and food I'm looking for an outdoor ceremony venue and something in doors for the reception. I would prefer a venue where we can bring our caterers but I'm open to venue caterers. The area I'm looking into is downriver where I'm located (Trenton, SOUTHGATE, Wyandotte etc) and east side (warren, Sterling Heights, st. Clair shore etc.) where my fiancée is located even Livonia, Plymouth, southfield area too. I'm looking into the burgh historical park in Southfield right now BUT I'm having a hard time reaching out to someone with information https://www.cityofsouthfield.com/CityDepartments/LZ/ParksRecreation/RentalOpportunities/BurghHistoricalPark/tabid/928/Default.aspx
if anyone have suggestions please let me know! We would love to find our venue before the end of the year as venues are being booked.

Sue-n-Kevin

If you are looking for a historical site, I'd highly recommend Greenmead Village which is in Livonia. It's a city owned park, and you could probably do that within your budget. I think the rental cost(for residents) when we married in August 2011 was $1000 for the banquet hall and another $300 for their lovely non-denominational chapel. They have absolutely FABULOUS gardens for an outdoor ceremony which doesn't cost you more, but you may have to hire a wedding coordinator to get the chairs set up outdoors because they won't do it. The chapel is great for a rain backup plan if needed. It's at the intersection of Newburg Rd and 8 Mile in Livonia.........about 1/2 mile east of I-275

 Link here:

http://www.ci.livonia.mi.us/tabid/189/Departments/Community Resources/Greenmead/NewburgIntersection.aspx

You have to bring in EVERYTHING except tables & chairs. They have a dance floor you can rent, I think it was $60. Their max capacity is 100 for both the chapel and hall. 

The caterers where we had tastings were Joe's Produce in LIvonia and Holiday Market in Royal Oak. Both were excellent, we happened to go with Holiday Market just based on the feel of them, nothing more. We had high end food and they also supplied the wedding cake, linens, china, glassware, eating utensils. Our price was $4400 (including an amazing cake!) for 73 people. But, we had a beef tenderloin platter with grilled veggies (expensive), Chicken Piccata, red potatoes with rosemary and parmesan, Michigan salad, a Pasta dish, an ice cream bar set up in the evening..........they even picked up Bates Burgers for a late night snack for us! Depending on the menu you want I'm sure you could get it for cheaper. 

The big thing to remember when you don't want "cookie cutter" venues is that EVERYTHING has to be brought in and kept warm, served or cleaned up, and you are supplying all the items that make a wedding.......alcohol, a bartender, and all the things I mentioned above. Staffing alone cost us $995 for the chef on site, manager and 3 staff. 

In the end, if your dream wedding is to NOT be cookie cutter, then everything else you need to hire will be expensive. It's not really a cost saver to go "non-cookie-cutter". It's more about the vision for your wedding. 

We only had beer & wine and a signature drink. We got the beer & wine from Champane's Wine Cellars in Warren (13 Mile between Van Dyke and Mound). In Michigan, there are state prices for liquor, so you can't comparison shop because they all charge the same. But, beer and wine will be competitively priced and they had the largest selection for the price point we wanted. We got 24 bottles of reds, whites, sparkling and dessert wines for $220. I told them I didn't want to spend more than $10 per bottle on average...........some were more, some less. 

Trust me, I did a TON OF research for MONTHS before our wedding. The Knot is the best place for ideas, but to be honest, I found so much simply by googling. Their vendor tab (at the top) is a place to see ratings. 

I am now working with my son and his fiance who live in DC and are planning a wedding for next summer here in Michigan. They chose Belle Isle Casino, which in the past didn't get great marks, but now that the state owns it, it would "appear" to be running better. By the time he reached someone EVERY Saturday in 2015 is booked between May and the end of September, they ended up with a Friday. And there was no discount for that Friday, still $1400. But it fits their vision, so it's not my concern, LOL. 

I also found this when they were looking, but wasn't their "vision". It is historic and rustic, but I think every Saturday next summer is also booked. Not sure how far out 2016 is booked. 

Packard Proving Grounds in Shelby Twp. 

http://packardevents.org/weddings/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Packard-Proving-Grounds-Historic-Site/113306305392346

Their picture gallery: http://packardevents.org/inspiration/

crystalsoongooden

Hello Sue thank you so much for replying to me. 

I have looked into Greenmead village in Livonia and love it but I didn't like the all restrictions they had. The lady forgot her name who showed us around was super nice and sweet. I am looking for something historic and rustic just running into so many problems. The date for my wedding is already booked at the Packard in Shelby township and I looked at the Piquette Plant downtown Detroit to expensive. I have been looking on the blogs and been doing ton of research as well. I have looked into the belle isle casino and also the flower garden on the list just not my top pick I just want to be different I dont want the be the same bride, Thanks for all your advice soon as we find something I will let you know!!

Sue-n-Kevin

What restrictions did they have that bothered you? I only remember one restriction and it was that if you used real candles they had to be inside a votive holder, with the wick at least 1/2 inch below the top of the glass votive holder. Maybe they've added more over the years, it has been over 3 years since we got married, but that was all I remember. We just used glass votives on top of tall candle stands with flat tops and had them "high up" on the table. 

Good luck in your search. 

crystalsoongooden

I really wanted an aisle runner and she said you couldn't have one.
I didn't like for the reception she said due to space I couldn't have my bridal party sitting with me.
I also didn't like you have to pay extra for the dance floor.
Don't get me wrong beautifullllll venue would have been amazing for my vintage wedding and I fell in love with and the lady forgot her name she was so nice and very helpful I just felt like I would be making sure everything and everyone was following the rules I wouldn't have a good time and my fiancée liked it but he didn't love it.
ummm it was one more thing I didn't like can't remember the candles wasn't a deal breaker like the other things I named.

Thank you I found a venue for my reception that we booked this past weekend. One thing I can scratch off my list!!!!