  Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 940 Registered: 03-2008 |
My Fiancee and I are getting married next Summer, and we have been looking at locations around town. We planned on having the ceremony at the Belle Isle Conservatory. However, I'm not sure it is big enough. We are figuring about 300 people will be attending, but that is a rough estimate still. I have some questions though. 1. Can the garden handle a crowd that big? It's looking like we already have ceremony space. So that is not really an issue. However, I am still curious what the capacity of the Casino is as well. 2. When is the garden in full bloom? 3. This last one is a big one. We are possibly reconsidering City ran locations all together. The reason we are worried, is because of how many negative reviews we are finding. One review can be found here: http://www.weddingwire.com/ven dor/VendorViewRating?vid=7054a adf78a81c1e. Is it really that bad? Does anyone have reviews or advice they can offer? I need some peace of mind. If anyone can offer some advice, it would be greatly appreciated. Those reviews really got us worried. It is already an issue for our parents to be holding this in the city at all. The last thing we want is hearing "I told you so" a million times, or worse, a major disaster because of poor service. Sadly, it is going to be hard to find a place large enough that we can afford. Every other space has large problems too. I'm beginning to worry that it may not be possible to have our wedding in the city. | ||
Davemarc Member Username: Davemarc Post Number: 46 Registered: 06-2008 |
Sean,We got married at historic trinity.Its a beautiful church,and they can do kind of a non-denominational wedding.when we got married(1995)it was 700.00.Its a pretty secure location,for non-city friendly family members.secure fenced parking.We had 250 people and there was plenty of room.Good luck!I'll see if I have any inside pics. | ||
Frankg Member Username: Frankg Post Number: 347 Registered: 08-2007 |
If you rent the Casino, rent only the top floor. That way you are only charged for the top floor but nobody else can rent the bottom floor while you have the top floor rented. I believe 300 shouldn't be any problem for the Casino. I know this because we were planning a family reunion a couple years ago. Unfortunately, there were a few family members who wouldn't travel south of 8 Mile Road so we had to change locations. I think the Casino rents for something like $600 for a 6 or 8 hour block, and $150 per hour after that. A two-hour setup is also included for free. Kitchen use costs more, too, although you could probably use it and as long as you clean it up it probably wouldn't be a problem. There are also some kind of advance payments, you'll end up paying about half of the cost well in advance. Also, there is some kind of advance reservation system that you have to put in your reservation request by a certain date (in May?) if you want to guarantee a certain date. The Detroit Yacht Club on Belle Isle is pretty good, my cousin got married there a couple years ago. The main problem we had with it is no air conditioning in the main hall, and we were planning a July family reunion. But other times of the year the heat isn't bad at all, especially with the hall being on the second floor with big open windows and a river breeze. With 300 I think you'd need the bigger hall, and couldn't use the smaller air-conditioned hall. There is also some degree of security, too, with one entrance for parking with a security guard. I believe catering is part of the package deal at the DYC, I think they charge for food and drinks but not the hall? Or something like that. Anyway, my cousin's wedding was great there. | ||
Servite76 Member Username: Servite76 Post Number: 45 Registered: 02-2008 |
Sean, I attended a wedding a few years back at the Detroit Zoo. The ceremony was held in the butterfly exhibit. It actually holds quite a few people. The reception was also held there, complete with band and the food was excellent. I believe there were something like 200 people there. I'm not sure about 300 for capacity. It was a beautiful setting for a wedding. | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 944 Registered: 03-2008 |
What a fun headache this is turning into. Talking to more people who had the pleasure of dealing with the people running the conservatory has really made her... and by proxy her mother... turn against the whole Belle Isle location all together (originally her idea). The nail in the coffin was when she contacted them. To start with, she was greeted by a recording that said to call back during the business hours between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. It was nine when she called, and kept trying on each hour. When she finally did talk to someone, they could not give her any information. They promised to call back, but never did (this happened more than once). Thanks for the help guys, but the questions are no longer relevant. She is 100% convinced that anything dealing with facilities run by the city will end up a disaster. This city... sometimes... I love it, but... grrrr! Sigh.... Who the (expletive) is in charge of parks and rec? I need a scapegoat to hate right now. | ||
Servite76 Member Username: Servite76 Post Number: 46 Registered: 02-2008 |
Sean, I'm not sure who's in charge, but I'm gonna take a wild guess and say one of Kwame's relatives or maybe someone from Cass Tech. Just a hunch!! | ||
Frankg Member Username: Frankg Post Number: 353 Registered: 08-2007 |
I had some problems setting the Casino up too, dealing with the staff. You need to ask to speak with Ron Graham himself. He is "The Man" and can make anything happen for you on Belle Isle. When he speaks, the rest of the staff listen. | ||
Detroitbred Member Username: Detroitbred Post Number: 6 Registered: 06-2008 |
Some friends have a son getting married on august 9th coming up. They looked into the Conservatory but they were difficult to deal with and they didn't persue it. Their son is having the ceremony and reception both at the Gem Theatre. From what I have been told, they have been wonderful to deal with, very helpful and professional. They had food tasting recently and it was all delicious...hard to choose. The staff there has gone out of there way to be accommodating. They will have about 400 guests so I know space is no problem. | ||
Django Member Username: Django Post Number: 1117 Registered: 10-2003 |
Sean, my Cousin is planning on using the Yacht club on Belle Isle for her wedding. If that's a possibility for you I could hook you two up on facebook, Maybe you could help eachother out with info and stuff. | ||
Plymouthres Member Username: Plymouthres Post Number: 612 Registered: 02-2007 |
Servite/Sean- Nice guess. His name is Lawrence Hemingway and he runs Rec.. Good luck, he graduated high school with Kwame...... | ||
Reddog289 Member Username: Reddog289 Post Number: 411 Registered: 08-2007 |
Having been to a wedding on Belle Isle 16 yrs ago it was nicer then i expected, didn,t know of any problems the happy couple went through having it there. | ||
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors Post Number: 964 Registered: 11-2005 |
sean we are both planning similar weddings and I can compare notes with you if you would like I also Have a better # for the conservatory I got I believe. Josephrashid@gmail.com | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 965 Registered: 03-2008 |
Thanks for all the help everyone! I will try the numbers and tips you guys gave. See how it goes. Davemarc, unfortunately church's are out. some family members have some very.... I'll say interesting beliefs. Plus, her and I aren't to into the idea also. Frankg & Django, we've looked into The Yacht Club a little, there were a lot of problems with dates and such. Servite76, I remember seeing pictures online from the zoo, very nice place. Honestly, the only reason I didn't look into it further, was because I didn't know how I was going to present the idea to her (or anyone else). It's a zoo? It just sounds strange. We will be bringing in our own caterer and chef/baker (whatever the proper title is). This eliminates a ton of options. Ren Cen and most of the large halls and theaters have things in place to essentially make sure people use their caterer. Most of that has been worked out though. The problem is where to hold the ceremony. Price is also not irrelevant, but we don't want to get married at a drive-thru either.  Urban, I'd love to. I'll be sending an E-mail shortly. | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 4224 Registered: 11-2005 |
Sean -I was just reading my newsletter from the Detroit Historical Society and it mentioned you can have a reception at the Dossin Museum on Belle Isle. (or at the main museum) http://www.detroithistorical.o rg/hostanevent/services.asp quote: | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 4237 Registered: 11-2005 |
Bump for Sean. | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 986 Registered: 03-2008 |
Thank you so very much Pam! | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 997 Registered: 03-2008 |
Pam, So, they have a actual old style street? that would be amazing. I've been in all the Detroit museums, but my memory is a little fuzzy. I think I've been to to many. An interesting side not; Millender Center is offering their ballroom for peanuts if we rent with them. They also offered to rent out the models to guests for the price of a standard room. Very nice people. Very nice place. | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 4243 Registered: 11-2005 |
quote: Yes, in the basement of the Historical museum in the cultural center. The Dossin museum on Belle Isle does not have one, but it is right near the conservatory. Here is a pic: http://michpics.wordpress.com/ 2007/05/21/celebrating-360-deg rees-of-michigan-week-at-the-d ossin-great-lakes-museum/ | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 1000 Registered: 03-2008 |
Beautiful! Thank you soooooo much! I did not even know Belle Isle had a museum. Wow! Thank you again! I will show this to her, and see what she thinks. Thanks! | ||
Orange_barrel Member Username: Orange_barrel Post Number: 42 Registered: 02-2008 |
My wife and I got married at the conservatory in 2005. We had the ceremony in the show room at the back, which has an altar-like appearance to it. We had 60 guests in attendance; I doubt you could fit more than 80 or so in that space. Maybe you could have the ceremony outside the Conservatory? I think I remember them having an area outside for that... | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 1380 Registered: 01-2007 |
Psst...don't do it... | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 1004 Registered: 03-2008 |
Yes, it would be outside. Bulletmagnet? At the conservatory or the Museum? Why? | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 1005 Registered: 03-2008 |
So long as you didn't mean don't get married. The Girly and I go together like peanut butter and banana, eggs and maple syrup, macaroni and cheese, or ketchup and goldfish crackers. I'm happy! It just can't get any better... it can only be maintained! Edit: Spelling (Message edited by sean_of_detroit on July 05, 2008) | ||
Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 2429 Registered: 01-2006 |
Sean, I think that IS what Bulletmagnet meant. Why doom a beautiful relationship by burdening it with the intolerable weight of obligatory foreverness? | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 1008 Registered: 03-2008 |
Ravine, I can't tell you that. I so wish I could, but you wouldn't believe me. You just haven't felt it yet. Either that, or it's just not for you. It's not for everyone, or every relationship. But I just know it's right, and I think she does too. It also makes sense from other angles. When I'm around others... how can I put it... there are other fish out there that can fly in the sky, but none of them are her. I can't explain it more clearly. I used to not believe it either. Some guys like to play games, and sleep with whoever, or whatnot. I just can't be satisfied by that. It's not what I want to do. I feel like I'm just selfishly wasting time when I spend a second of my short life chasing cheap perfume. I just don't understand those who can do it. I don't see how commitment dooms a relationship either. Just so long as you and her are comfortable keeping things interesting... hehe Why do you think it's so bad? It may not be for you, but what makes it such a bad thing? I have a hard time seeing things from that point of view... I just assume I don't feel the same way I guess. How does it doom a good relationship? | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 1063 Registered: 03-2008 |
Urban, you got mail. | ||
D_mcc Member Username: D_mcc Post Number: 933 Registered: 12-2007 |
SoD Did you consider the Opera House? At least I believe its in the Opera House They have a nice hall outside the theatre that they use for chamber preformances...My little sister looked into it, but chose to go another route. | ||
Lakesuperior Member Username: Lakesuperior Post Number: 220 Registered: 06-2005 |
this info might be too late, but for the record: two of my friends had weddings on belle isle within the past 18 months. one at scott fountain and the other in the garden at the conservatory with her reception at the saarinen pavilion. both were lovely affairs and my friends did not have trouble working with the belle isle people. my friends work in fundraising and have lots of experience staging big events and they were perfectly happy with the level of service they received. just my two cents! good luck! | ||
Lakesuperior Member Username: Lakesuperior Post Number: 221 Registered: 06-2005 |
Oh, and I think D_mcc is talking about the DSO, not MOT. The DSO has a couple smaller spaces available for weddings and such. You can also get married on the Orchestra Hall stage! | ||
D_mcc Member Username: D_mcc Post Number: 944 Registered: 12-2007 |
Thanks LakeS...I knew it was one of the places...the DSO spaces were pretty incredible | ||
Gencinjay Member Username: Gencinjay Post Number: 15 Registered: 03-2008 |
One of my employees was just a bridal party member last weekend at the conservatory. Here are her thoughts: They won't allow that many people inside so if it rains 2/3 of your guests won't be able to see anything. There were no bathrooms. They were directed to the portajohns across the parking lot. There were no changing rooms so the parties had to arrive ready to go. Top all that off with the lack of customer service they appear to provide and it says stay away to me. | ||
Servite76 Member Username: Servite76 Post Number: 50 Registered: 02-2008 |
Sean, looks like you've gotten quite a bit of advise from some nice board members. After reading all the responses, how does your fiancee still feel about this? I'm not speaking for the board, but I think there are a few of us that would like to hear from her. | ||
Msamslex Member Username: Msamslex Post Number: 56 Registered: 06-2007 |
Some years ago I went to a wedding that was held at the garden next to the conservatory. The conservatory was behind us and I seem to remember a row of hedges where we all lined up along the grass to see the procession. It was in June and on this particular day the temp was almost 100. We were out in the sun with no shade. I grabbed my umbrella out of the car for cover but with the high temp it did no good. And to top it all off there was a picnic area right next to where the wedding was being held, with a shelter and a family reunion going on full blast. People, music blaring, and BBQ smoke everywhere. There was a harpist and I think violins for the wedding music. Imagine wedding music competing with party music. We had to compete for parking with the reunion crowd or park further away and this was no day for a long walk in the heat. I felt so bad for the elderly that were there. We had to stand through the whole ceremony. Of course I know you can't predict the weather for outdoor weddings and I don't know what kind of thought went into the planning, but the extreme heat was too much. The reception was held at a hall somewhere which I know the guests were relieved to get to some AC. | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 1088 Registered: 03-2008 |
Servite76, Yes, the advice from everyone was awesome (Thank you again everybody, we appreciate it times ten). I read the responses to her the other night. The decision is going to be based on how hard they are to work with really. So far, she really still wants to do it. We drove over there to check it out. She really fell in love with it, and so did I. So, we are going for it. However, where not going to pull teeth to do it. We have tried to call the every single day this week, at least twice each day (during their posted business hours). So far no one has answered. I have left messages, but no one has returned my calls. I have tried other numbers, I get through, but someone always tells me (usually after being on a hold for awhile) to call the number that I have been calling. I have a couple of other numbers that I got from people on here via E-mail. I'm going to try those tomorrow morning. Otherwise, I'll give it a few more tries, and if I still can't get anywhere, we will probably move on. We'll probably look into the museum next. I mentioned that to her, and we both liked that idea too. We want to give the conservatory a few more tries first. I'll E-mail her the link to this page, or try and get her to post when she has a chance. She's kind of a busy person though... She does all the orders for her/our site every day (packaging, shipping, inventory, etc.), has another job, is planning a wedding, looking for a new place (with me in The D), visits the gym every evening (or uses the Wii), and is a semi professional bowler. The amount of things she gets done in 24 hours really puts me to shame... seriously, you wouldn't believe it. She also manages to maintain a social life (something I have a hard time doing). She visits here occasionally, but usually only when I tell her about something. She does really want to come to the social events with me though. I know she also appreciates all the advice you guys are giving us too. She's from the Saginaw area, and kind of new to Detroit... | ||
Hamtragedy Member Username: Hamtragedy Post Number: 204 Registered: 10-2007 |
Let's see, since March, (assuming the first) and now it's July....1000 plus posts, that's something like 10 a day (and you don't know the old Detroit street in the Historical Museum??•••••.Sean, I like reading some of your shorter posts......but I couldn't agree with you more.....You really need to get out more often. BTW We're looking at Marygrove. My only stipulation was somewhere in the city limits. My sister's was at the Casino ten years ago, right after the renovation. Service was adequate. | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 1109 Registered: 03-2008 |
I was wrong... I have not been to a large portion of our museums... I've never been to the historical museum. In fact, I've only been to the DIA and Science Museum... back in elementary school a extremely long time ago (MAYBE the historical museum too, but I can't really remember clearly). To be honest, the only option is to go alone. No one my age wants to go to a museum. Well... except me. I'm such a loser, I know... LOL. My fiancee is younger than me, and not really interested in it either. Anyway, it shouldn't surprise you that I haven't gotten to know the more "cultured" side of Detroit. For one I'm relatively young (I think). Doesn't it strike you as odd that I have been living in the city for over five years now (something like five or six, not sure), and I haven't met a single person on this board (until recently)? I mean... I have never met someone outside of here that even knows what DetroitYES.com was until I told them about it. It seriously blows my mind. This city is clearly bigger than it seems. Anyway, I do need to get out more, and that is one of a ton of reasons I'm here talking to you now. I have been to every festival in Hart Plaza and the suburbs at least once. Does that count for anything? I really wanted to get to know more about the city, and more importantly, to become part of this community. I am designing a couple websites now... which is why I'm always on the computer (oddly, this time last year, I hadn't owned a computer in about a year). I do try to let everyone know often that I am young, and not by any means a expert on Detroit. I'm trying to make friends, and get a couple of (extremely) small businesses going. I did post my story on here once. It was awhile ago, and I forget how many people visit this site I guess. I am just a former suburbanite (not by any means wealthy) that got attracted to Detroit... and was lucky enough to find a girl who really liked the city life too. I know I have a long way to go, and appreciate everyone's patients with me. A couple people in another thread told me I was acting like a know-it-all and such. I don't mean to come across as that either. I have been lurking for a very long time on this site, and learned a lot about the city... well honestly, from some of you guys. I'm often just repeating answers to repetitive questions, and re-posting data and reports that I got from people here. Most everything talked about here except for development updates has been talked about before. LOL, how many transit topics are active right now? Perfect example there. If you Googled my full name, nothing would come up. I am a nobody, and that is fine. Our goal is to help the cause, and simply live our lives in Detroit. (Message edited by Sean_of_Detroit on July 12, 2008) | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 1110 Registered: 03-2008 |
You know... I have a memory of an old street in a museum like it used to be. I didn't know it was in Detroit though. That is probably it! | ||
Hamtragedy Member Username: Hamtragedy Post Number: 206 Registered: 10-2007 |
One degree of separation. That's Detroit. All you gotta do is meet more and more people here, and sure enough, he knows your buddy or your sister or your fiance thru a completely different group of people. Fascinating people, most of them. And not all of them from here, just social beings with a pulse and a conscience. Keep it up, and Cheers. You better not respond before last call either or else you're not getting out. Me, I gotta go get the chick-a-dees from Majestic in a few, then hit the last call joints in Hamtown. | ||
Toybreaker Member Username: Toybreaker Post Number: 60 Registered: 01-2005 |
Thanks for posting about this - I'll be looking into Detroit wedding locations as well soon. I had been planning on doing it back on the East Coast where by family still lived, but they just up and moved to Florida last weekend (no thank you.) So now it's going to be where we live! ;) Hopefully we won't have to scramble too much, looking for next early/mid May. | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 1162 Registered: 03-2008 |
Kally (My Fiancee) is supposedly going to be making a DYES name/account this week. Just thought I'd let you guys know. |
