new here! looking for a smaller venue ++

12kWedding

Hi guys,

This is my first post! Yeehaw!! Newly engaged, but haven't set a date yet.

I'm Indian and wanting to go against the grain and host a *smaller* Indian wedding somewhere in the Metro Detroit area.

I get the feeling that a small group (of around 50 guests) would get lost in a big banquet hall. So I'm up for suggestions....my absolute dream location would be something that attempts to bring the outdoors inside, like the atrium in the Detroit Institute of Arts (already checked there, they don't allow weddings. boo).

Also, I'd like to serve Indian food, so somewhere that would allow a caterer would be good. Seems like a tall order. Any ideas?

Milsey32

Iroquis Club in Bloomfield Hills can accommodate up to 175, I think, but I live near it and think it's too small for that many people. 50 people + a dance floor (if you want dancing... which I've known Indian weddings to have) & possibly a buffet table (if you want buffet) would fit nicely.

I don't know where in the Detroit location you're located and how far you're willing to travel, so it's just a suggestion. 

Btw, this is really random but I had mutton for the first time yesterday and since you said you were Indian, I felt like sharing! :-)

Best of luck! xo

MMRoberts11

That's interesting that the DIA doesn't do weddings.... I thought they did.  I even looked into having my reception there but it just wasn't in my budget.  For outdoorsy indoor things what about the botanical garden at U of M or Belle Isle has a place.  I know you can even do things at the Detroit Zoo.

ksmith719

I, too, looked into the DIA and they won't allow ceremonies, "religious or civil" on-site.  The Belle Isle Conservatory is really nice, but I have read a few horror stories about the reservation process.  There is a hall in Southfield, called the skyline club (I think), that is on the top floor of the Southfield town center.  I believe they hold 125 people, but with a dance floor 50 people may work nicely.  It is also nice because all the walls are floor to ceiling glass walls, which gives a great view.  I also heard the Detroit Science Center can accommodate smaller weddings and may work for you.  The Detroit zoo would work too because they work with smaller weddings and you can use the butterfly garden!

12kWedding

Thanks for the ideas --- yes, ksmith719 is right, the DIA doesn't allow religious ceremonies. I suppose I could hold just the reception there, but it would be a lot of shuffling and I'd rather have the ceremony and reception in the same place to avoid any stress.

I've been reading the vendor reviews and it seems there are some horror stories regarding belle isle. I think I'll play it safe and look at what else I can find. Keep the ideas coming though!

zulamay

There is an Atrium in the Southfield Westin that feels like a garden but you are indoors. It's a large space, but the way the tables would be set up for guests makes it feel smaller.  They did an Indian wedding and showed me pictures, and it was beautiful. 

janicejab

The Matthaei Botical Gardens in Ann Arbor, MI.

Sue-n-Kevin

The atrium that Zulamay mentions is lovely, it's actually between the Westin and one of the Town Center towers. I used to work at the Town Center, and it's very "outdoory" looking. Not sure of the rental costs though. Also not sure of outside catering.

The Sky Club mentioned by ksmith719 is also at the Town Center in Southfield, very nice facility, but top floor, not on the ground. I'm pretty sure you have to use their caterer though. Very nice views of the area.  

The "glass house" at Metro Beach is all glass walls, at Metro Beach (16 Mile on Lake St Clair). There's a post farther below about this.

We are getting married at Greenmead Village, a small historic village in Livonia at the corner of Newburgh and 8 Mile Rd. They have a non-denominational chapel and a banquet hall that each holds 100. If you wanted to have a tent reception, they allow tents as well. VERY nice grounds, lots of flowers for 3 of the seasons. You have to bring in your own caterer, they don't have food service, but they do have a "caterer's kitchen" that allows for keeping food hot or cold, just can't cook there. There is a link to it in my bio below, check the vendor tab.

I'm sure you'll get other recommendations as well.

12kWedding

zulamay- i checked out the website and the westin southfield looks nice! hope it's not too costly, i'll have to look into it.

sue-n-kevin: do u mind sharing how much greenmead village wound up costing? i've never heard of it before today.

Sue-n-Kevin

Greenmead Village is a city owned park in Livonia. They have different costs for the chapel and banquet hall separately, then together. Livonia residents (which my fiance is) pays a bit less. When we booked, the use of the chapel and banquet hall (and the grounds next to the banquet hall where we are setting up a tent) were $1000, the price for a city resident. I don't think they have gone up much. They also charge you 10% of the "catering costs", ie the food (not alcohol) budget. For the food for our reception it will be an additional $300.

As a city park it's open all the time from sunrise to sunset. To see the chapel area you can enter from the Newburgh side, just south of 8 Mile rd and drive past the beige house in front of you, into the back/center of the property. Winter is probably a not a great time to see it. But our engagement pics were taken there if you check my bio below.

Send me a private message (click on "Private message" under this post) if you want any additional info. Happy to share, it's a really lovely park.