2008 September | 12k Wedding Blog

I Need A Back-up Venue for My Back-up Venue!

September 29, 2008 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Venue

So, remember when I said I was just going to have to compromise and have a wedding outside the city? Well turns out, I had another thing coming.

I sent an email to our back-up venue yesterday, with intentions on calling with a follow-up today. I asked what exactly I needed to do to reserve the space. Well today I get the cheeriest Monday morning message from their event coordinator.

The message went something like this:

“Hi, This is ______ calling from _______. I got your message and I just wanted to let you know that you’d need to provide the $500 deposit and come in and sign the contract.”

So far so good. She continues,

“Also, I need to tell you that the chapel that you saw when you came to visit will no longer be available to rent. You do still have the option of having your wedding outdoors or in the same room as the reception. I apologize, but the boss would like to generate more revenue my making that area available for rent by another party.”

At this point, my jaw drops, when I realize, I need a back-up for my back-up! I don’t want an outdoor wedding and I don’t want to compromise on that because I HATE being cold and uncomfortable and Michigan weather is notorious for being unreliable. It’d be just my luck Old Man Winter decides to rear his ugly head in the middle of the summer. The room where the reception would be held is okay for a reception, but it looks like a glorified version of our high-school cafetorium and not very nice for a ceremony.

So not only am I back to square one, but I’m back to square 0, because my back-up plan is a no-go.

What’s a girl to do? The best advice I can give myself right now is that “Everything Happens for a Reason”. It’ll work out, one way or another.

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Technorati Tags: Ceremony, Reception, Venue

The Economy and Your Wedding

September 29, 2008 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Behind the Scenes, DIY

In these uncertain economic times, it’s nice to have a wise word on where one’s wedding fits in the whole scheme of things. Check out this post from the DIY Bride on The Economy and Your Wedding. Kinda helps put things in perspective.

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Technorati Tags: Budget, economy, Wedding

Little Black (Bridesmaid) Dresses?

September 28, 2008 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Wedding Party

So, while I’m on the hunt for the most perfect ivory dress of all time, I realize I might need to think a little more like Meg at A Practical Wedding. While ivory bridesmaid dresses seemed like a really good idea after I saw them in someone else’s wedding, I lost sight of reality.

Here are the issues:

Ivory is difficult to find after Labor Day
I don’t know what color shoes I’d want my girls to wear
Whatever shade of ivory I end up finding might end up looking bogus next to the ivory of my dress
Dressmakers don’t seem to care to make many ivory dresses

Now, here’s why I’m thinking of having my girls wear black dresses:

Black dresses are in abundance
Easier for them to re-wear the dress
Everyone can wear their own black shoes
Black is generally flattering on everyone
Black is classic

If really necessary, maybe we can add an different color tie/belt/sash. But I think black will be the way to go.

I think my favorite dress is the one on the left in the bottom row. The best part though- all of the dresses in my sample block are less than $180, and one of them is only $95!

Can you guess which one?

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Technorati Tags: Black, Bridesmaid Dress, Bridesmaids, Dresses

An Open Letter to Those Responsible for Detroit Venues

September 27, 2008 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Venue

Dear Event Coordinators/Owners/Managers,

I was born and raised in the City of Detroit and I truly adore the culture and experience the city has to offer. I would have loved to incorporate my love of Detroit with the celebration of my love for my fiance at our marriage next summer.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like that’s going to be a possibility. Apparently, we don’t make enough money and we have too many close friends and family members. That’s what it boils down to.

For the venues that are too small, I can’t blame you for the decisions of the engineers who built the buildings. However, for the venues that are too expensive, I do have a few words for you.

In these tough financial times, felt especially in Detroit, it really is strange to me that a wedding venue would bear such a high cost. Because I am primarily interested in cultural institutions and buildings in Downtown and Midtown, I understand having to cover the cost of lost revenue from admission fees. But a wedding takes place after hours, when admissions wouldn’t normally be charged. The venue rental at your establishment should be lowered.

Also, one should not be forced to use the single caterer you happen to be chummy with. If you must force me to use a certain caterer, as a common courtesy, it would be nice of you to offer a few different catering options at different price points. I’m sorry but $70+ per person plus 6% tax and 22% gratuity is just a little ridiculous.

As much as I would love to support my city and spend my money within city limits, it appears all of you have made this an impossibility.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,

Ms. 12k

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Technorati Tags: Caterer, Ceremony, Detroit, Reception, Venue

Venue Disappointment

September 27, 2008 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Venue

Well, just as I’d figured, the Detroit Science Center, the venue we went to see this morning was too good to be true.

I was all geeked up because it was big enough to hold our guest count, affordable and in the city of Detroit. Silly me!

Apparently, there is no space available to hold 200 guests in one room. Either we could have guests split up in different areas or we could have a strolling reception. Neither of which I want.

I just wish I would have known that before I got all excited traipsed my behind down there for a site visit.

I was even willing to over look the fact that it took the event coordinator 2 months to finally get back to me and she was still 15 minutes late to our appointment today, with no apologies for her tardiness. All of that aside, I was still excited to look at the space. But in the end it didn’t matter, because it just won’t work.

On their website, it says the Detroit Science “has weddings down to a science”. Pffffttttt – I’m not buying it.

Since my deadline is only 3 days away, I’ve got some big, disappointing compromises to make.

Stay tuned.

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Technorati Tags: Affordable, Caterer, Detroit, Inexpensive, science center, Venue

Wheat Grass Example

September 25, 2008 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Reception

Wheat Grass Centerpiece Example

One of my bridesmaids – she likes to refer to herself as Young Me’ – sent me this picture of a wheat grass centerpiece. I like it because it so simple (that’s me) but still bold (that’s me too). The site it comes from even provides instructions to grow your own wheatgrass centerpiece.

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Technorati Tags: Centerpiece, Decor, Reception, Wheat Grass

The Deadline is Looming, but We Have a Good Prospect

September 20, 2008 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Venue

The venue I thought might be available for a Friday, of course isn’t.

But I may have found something even better.

The newest venue/object of my affection:

can hold up to 300 people for strolling reception and sit down dinner
is available on a Saturday next summer
has 3 different choices for caterers, with varying price levels
is in Midtown Detroit
is full of character
is affordable!

I’ve been there before, but of course not in the context of planning a wedding. So we’re gonna go take a look at it next weekend.

You know the routine – fingers crossed!

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Technorati Tags: Caterer, Ceremony, Detroit, midtown, midtown detroit, Reception, Venue, Wedding

Friday Anyone?

September 15, 2008 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Venue

As much as I don’t want to, it looks like I may need to compromise on my Saturday preference. There’s a place I have in mind that allows outside caterers, is big enough and can hold the wedding and the reception. Problem is, they don’t have any Saturdays available next year…at all.

Despite the disappointment, I think I can get over it. I’d much rather have to compromise on the day of the week, instead of compromising on the budget, or cutting the guest list.

So basically, the ceremony would start around 7 and the reception will immediately follow. Since they’re held in the same place, there is no wasted travel time.

What do you guys think? Friday okay?

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Technorati Tags: Caterer, Ceremony, Detroit, Dinner, Food, friday, Reception, saturday, Venue

New Venue Tactics

September 13, 2008 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Venue

Ok. First of all, thank you everyone for your suggestions about venues. I’ve looked into all of them but I still don’t have a venue. So, I’m thinking of changing our tactics. We’ve already cut the guest list, I think as much as we’re willing to.

Here are some things we might try next:

Have the ceremony and reception at two different places
Find a restaurant to have the reception at
Think of any people I know personally who own a big space and are willing to let us use it
Have the ceremony and/or reception outdoors

Stuff we don’t want to budge on:

Having dinner as opposed to lunch
Having an open bar
Staying within our budget
Having the wedding on a Saturday

This is more of a task than I ever could have imagined. In a city like Detroit, where the economy is is limping and the cost of living isn’t really that high, wedding venues should not be as expensive as they are.

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Technorati Tags: Caterer, Ceremony, Detroit, Dinner, Reception, restaurant, Venue, venues

Wedding Flowers Backup Plan

September 11, 2008 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: DIY, Flowers

I haven’t looked into the cost of flowers yet. Honestly, I’m scared to. Florists will probably be just as expensive and overpriced as the venues and caterers I’m looking at now. I think I have a backup plan though:

membership warehouse club

Hear me out before you judge.

I don’t think we’re going to have flower centerpieces for the reception tables. I’ll use something else there; maybe wheat grass. So that means the flowers will mostly be for our bouquets and boutonnieres.

I’ve seen a lot of bouquets I love and a lot I could really do without. I think i definitely want one with a wrapped handle, but I haven’t decided if want it to be solid white, a different solid color, or many different colors.

I’ve read other brides talk about going the diy route and getting their flowers from the local flower warehouse in their city. As far as I know, Detroit is lacking in that area. We do have the Eastern Market, a large farmer’s market with fresh produce, plants and flowers. Problem with that is, the Eastern Market is only open Saturday morning. There’s no way I’ll be able to put together bouquets the morning of my wedding. I would much rather do them the night before.

So, I think that I’m going to check out one of the big warehouse clubs. I already have a membership and I’m pretty sure it’d be a pretty good discount. I’m not getting my hopes up about the variety; that may just be a sacrifice I’ll have to make.

I’d thought about this before, but was re-inspired (that’s definitely a real word) by these DIY Wedding Flower Tips.

Do any of you know of a place in the Detroit-Ann Arbor area where I can bulk flowers on the cheap on a Friday?

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