A little help from my Knottie friends

Kerrigrrl

Greetings fellow Knotties!  Let me start by saying I'm so excited that Fi and I made the final decision on our photographer!  Everything is almost done!
Here is my dilemma.  We are getting married October 13th in Wyandotte, MI.  The ceremony will be outside on the Detroit Riverfront in a very big pavillion/gazebo.  My Mother/ MIL are telling me to get a back up ceremony venue because Michigan weather is oh so predictable...yeah right .  Neither of us belong to a church, FI is not religious at all, and quite frankly the budget is
being stretched a little too close for comfort.  We are anticipating about 50-75 people to attend.  Any suggestions as to what we should do.  The reception will be held in a small hall across the street, and the possiblity of having it there is impossible for they will be setting up that morning and there is nowhere to put anything (chair and table wise).  Any help, thoughts, input is greatly appreciated!

Sue-n-Kevin

I agree a back up is probably needed. Since the outdoor ceremony site is across the street from the hall, could you rent a tent as a backup? Tent rental to cover 50-75 people is probably about $300. You can't do it on a "maybe" basis, you either pay to have it there or not. October can be great, or it could be windy and rainy, especially on the riverfront.

Some people have the hall set up just in case, then the guests would stay there. I've seen many posts on the Knot about people who have the room set up for the ceremony, then the tables and chairs can be moved to their reception arrangement..........talk to your venue further to see if this is an option, it might cost a bit more to have the people there to move things around, but less than a tent rental.

MMRoberts11

I agree, definitely have a back up plan.  I think anything outside should always have a back up for Michigan. 

Sue gave you the two alternatives that I could think of.

baileyleev

Is it possible just to have it in the reception space (just as it would be set up for the reception) i.e. everyone just sits at their tables and have an arch or something set up near the front to host the ceremony? That way you don't have to worry about a different set up/moving chairs and tables after...just a though. There have been quite a few knotties that did this instead of a ceremony space, and really it would just be a back up plan...

ermjdecember2015

Lovely Michigan weather! Ive seen so many cute rainy day wedding pictures with umbrellas, just in case! But there are places in Wyandotte to look into just incase. I know the Wyandotte boat club may be able to pull something together, or any of the hotels around there.

Kerrigrrl

Thanks for the feedback ladies!  The tent rental is not necessary because it will be under a HUGE gazebo!  We can fit about 50-60 under there.  I guess I'm more worried about hurricane like winds and rain, or dare I say it...SNOW!  You never know in Michigan in October.  This winter I think I used my snowblower twice!  I will look into the reception area possibly doing this for me, or the boat club.  Thanks again!