Non-Traditional/Non-Banquet Hall Reception Ideas

mrsknific

Hi guys!

I'm recently engaged and looking for somewhere to have my reception anywhere on the east side of Michigan!

After about a week of endless searching I cant find anything that is "us". We really like places with character and personality...a standard hall is nothing we have ever imagined celebrating in.

I'm having a dickens of a time finding a venue that beautiful/historic/vintage in a good area...pretty much anything but a golf course or hall!

Ideally I would LOVE to rent out an old mansion or historic site and have the wedding and reception in the same place. Some places I've seen and fell in love with (ex: Meadowbrook) are just too darn pricey!

I prefer not to have a totally outdoor event. 

Budget: no more that 10,000 on venue, food and drink (ideally a place that allows you to supply your own caterer)

Guest List: est 100-130 people

Date: est Sept 2015

I have scoured the internet looking for places in the Detroit/Lansing/Port Huron/ Flint area and I have decided that I need help!!!

Any and all suggestions would be so helpful!

Thank you so much!

Sue-n-Kevin

We got married at Greenmead Village in Livonia. It's got the historic look, has an old home turned into a banquet facility, and an old chapel. The problem is that the max capacity is 100 for both. I suspect the chapel may hold more than 100, and they will allow you to set up a tent next to the banquet/home. We invited 100 and were going to have to set up the tent for possibly the dance floor, but we only had 73 "yes" responses.  

It's a public park in Livonia, open daily if you want to look at it. It's at the intersection of 8 Mile & Newburgh Rds, just east of I-275, so it's well situated. Rental fees back in 2011 were I think $700 for the hall and $300 for the chapel for Livonia residents (which my husband was at the time). I have no idea what they are now. However, for the fee they supply the tables & chairs, buildings, and I think the dance floor may have been $150 to rent. You have to bring in your own linens, food & alcohol. We had Holiday Market as our caterer and they also supplied the cake and linens (I think all of that for 73 people was $4800 and the food and cake were FABULOUS), we had beer & wine and a signature drink. I got the beer & wine at Champane's Wine Cellars in Warren (13 Mile west of Van Dyke), flowers from Costco ($400 for white rose package for bouquets, bouts & corsages), loose flowers from Costco for centerpieces (96 long stem white vendella roses, 80 stems of white Asiatic lillies, and 2 large babys breath bunches for $173). The entire wedding was under $7500, so just over $100 per person for everything. 

If you can keep the guest list down, this may be an option for you. Link to info & pics here:

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

Vivandiere8

check out Indian Spring Metro Park Environmental Discovery Center. We had our reception there and it was beautiful and so different. Everyone kept asking how I found such a great place! You really have to visit it to see!

CheezayBoxGurl

troy historic village is pretty affordable for the ceremony they have choice of indoor or outdoor but the reception would have to be outside and tented

mrsknific

Well I figured I would update since I have found my venue!!!

if you are looking for a unique and historic reception and ceremony location check out the Packard Proving Grounds in Shelby township!

It is beyond amazing there and the coordinator, Mary-Anne has been nothing but AMAZING to work with!!!!

Check it out here --> http://packardevents.org/

I hope this helps someone!!