I just got engaged a little over a week ago, and my fiance and I are starting to look at options... we're planning for Spring 2013, probably around March or April, and we want something small. No more than 30 people. And we don't really want a traditional reception, since I think both of us would want to run away and escape halfway through... something with just people hanging out and talking and eating is more of our style.
The problem that I'm running into is two-fold. 1) I have bad hayfever/pollen/grass allergies, so that limits the idea of an outdoor wedding.... plus the weather in Michigan is so unpredicable that time of year. 2) The idea of renting out the back room of a restaurant kinda makes me uneasy since the only real restaurants that I eat at are small japanese places and that wouldn't go over well with my family, plus the places I go to tend not to have rooms to rent.
So I'm looking for advice... are they are neat, non-traditional places for weddings/gatherings that are indoor? We have a budget of about $2500-$3000 for the wedding/reception so that leaves out the Zoo, and I want something that's not the same old reception hall or church, but is still pretty. I already have the person who's officiating lined up as well as music, but I still need a site!
I know I'm probably asking for a lot, but I figure that it can't help to brainstorm on here a little bit.