Back-up venue for the back-up 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

7 Comments so far

Hey, by any chance was the venue you had issues with Silver Garden in Southfield? I had a meeting with the Director there after falling in love with the place when I attended a wedding ceremony & reception there last month and was told the same exact thing. I mean literally verbatim! The “boss” wants to generate more revenue there so they can only have the reception there in the hall or do the ceremony & reception in the same room which is a horrible idea in my opinion. I guess there was some sort of policy change there beginning Sept 2008 and I too am back to square one. Let’s hang in there! I am still seeking a venue for Sept 2009 wedding ceremony & reception site.

Hey Rockstar,
You’re right about the venue. Mary was just as nice about it and I don’t blame her at all. Still though, it is a bogus policy.

I feel like you and I are leading parallel lives right now! Our venue search has been similarly frustrating – places we love being too expensive, etc. We found out our backup needs a backup, too, because they won’t let us have our ceremony there. What the heck, wedding industry!?

Wow, I agree with Marianne. I have been having a really tough time with finding an affordable venue. Everything that looks like it will be a great price…after adding tax & gratuity, ends up being expensive again. At least I know that I am not alone in this!

Hmm… I just thought of an awesome business idea. There appears to be a need for great (affordable) wedding venues. That can’t be hard to manage, right??

Corn, quit your job and let’s start this business right away!

Have you looked at Cranbrook or the Birmingham Community House?

I compromised a little by having my ceremony and reception at two different places. We booked Cranbrook House for the ceremony only. It’s absolutely gorgeous but too expensive for us to consider doing the reception there too, so this way we get the kind of ceremony we want, and a great location for photos. Then we’re moving to a local athletic club for the reception, which cost-wise, is a lifesaver. I did end up choosing one with decor that is nice and up to date, so once I add my finishing touches, we’ll have a reception that still looks unique.

I know you’ve had to compromise your dream of doing a real Detroit hometown wedding, but if the cost of Silver Garden for your reception is reasonable enough, can you still find a ceremony location that might be a little out of the ordinary (for a ceremony), but really say Detroit to you, your fiance and your guests?

And some other ideas…have you checked out Henry Ford or Henry Ford Estate? Chrysler has a museum next to their HQ in Auburn Hills and they supposedly do events. The link to the auto industry might give it enough of a Detroit feel without being in Detroit.

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