It has been nearly one year since becoming engaged and I have a wedding date, city, possible venue, possible wedding gown, budget (that keeps changing)…and that’s it! As I sit here on the floor of my apartment with piles of brochures and fliers surrounding me, I decide to grab a calculator and start doing a little math: Venue Rental + Tables/Chairs/Linen + Appetizers + Dinner + Beverage = WHAT?
I immediately stand up, walk to the fridge and grab a cold beer.
My mind starts filling with questions and I have to remind myself to breathe. If I use a hotel or banquet facility, they will include the waiters, dishes, linen etc, in the price per person, but what if I end up in a location that I need to find a caterer? What do they include? I have never had to hire a caterer before and have no idea what they include in their price. Do they bring their own dishes or do I have to rent those too? I immediately started emailing some from the brochures sitting on my floor.
Originally I started this blog to discuss the venues I have visited in the Lansing area and what I either liked or disliked about them – but I fear that the venue is now the least of my worries!
Everyone knows that wedding planning is stressful, and weddings are expensive but I am planning my Lansing wedding from New Jersey! Let me explain: I met my fiance as his band was passing through Grand Rapids, MI – he fell in love immediately and wouldn’t let me get away! I moved to New Jersey and after 2 years of him being the most amazing boyfriend ever, he becomes the most amazing FIANCE ever! He knew I wanted to get married in Michigan and agreed to it right away (after all, he did make me move to New Jersey, it’s the least he could do!)
Now I am planning my wedding long distance!
Thankfully my mom is still living in the Lansing area and was able to attend a couple of bridal shows for me, gathering information and mailing it all to me (already separated in envelopes and labeled). As I pull the folders off my shelf and start going through each large envelope, the dollar signs start popping up in brain. I start trashing the limo brochures (the wedding and reception are in the same location, so that would be a waste of money), more expensive photographers, all of the videographers, venues that I have zero interest in and bridal boutiques (as I have almost made up my mind about a gown here in New Jersey). My brochure piles are getting a little smaller now but my head is starting to hurt. Time for another beer??
I am pretty sure I completed my guest list…unless I make any new friends in the next year, and I have added everyone (including a plus 1 for the singles) into my TheKnot.com account. I added my current budget in too and was surprised to see how much (or should I say little) I “should” spend on things like my wedding ring. These are all things I have not yet thought about for my wedding. When I think of my wedding budget I really only THINK about the reception, but there is more to a wedding, isn’t there?
…invitations, thank you’s, tuxedo, gown, Wedding Officiant, wedding bands, gifts for parents, bridesmaids and groomsmen, wait…do I have to rent lighting or extra linen? Who is cleaning up all the decorations? I guess it all depends on the venue I choose! And now I have to start back at square one and choose a venue before anything else.
Side Note: A friend suggested I take a look at offbeatbride.com, so I did. I immediately see an amazing idea that ties in with our save the dates! I text my fiance and he loves the idea – okay, one more thing “crossed” off the list.
These are the Lansing Area venues that we’ve narrowed it down to so far.
Kellogg Center:
Kellogg Center – East Lansing, MI
Be careful with this one. MSU Football comes before your special day. The venue is nice. The sales woman was nice. They have different options, different size rooms, outdoor space and sleeping rooms all available for you, which is great! However, the prices of the sleeping rooms skyrocket on MSU home game weekends, even if you’re there for a wedding. The teams apparently use the same rooms you would use for your receptions and will only be available once the teams have vacated the rooms. Overall the Kellogg Center is fine, but not for me (and not during Football season!)
Lansing Center Riverfront – Downtown Lansing, MI
The Lansing Center:
Great! This was one of our top choices. The woman who showed us around was incredibly nice and helpful (thanks Penny). They have several locations for a wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, and a reception. The location is perfect for guests to stay at the Radisson Hotel (they have a covered crosswalk between the Lansing Center and the Radisson!) The ballroom is gorgeous and the pricing is not bad at all. It is not private, there may be other weddings – but it is still a great space. We still have this venue on our list of ‘maybes’.
- Raidsson Hotel Ballroom – Lansing, MI
Radisson Hotel – Downtown:
My sister was married here 10+ years ago, so I thought I would take a look. The lady who showed us around was very nice and knowledgeable. They have different areas for the bride and groom to change, and guests could just stay within the hotel (which is a huge plus for all of our NJ guests). But there wasn’t anything extra special for me personally. It’s a fine venue and I know very popular; just not right for us.
Old Temple Club:
Old Temple Club – Old Town Lansing, MI
Perfect, but not for everyone. I first heard of the Old Temple Club when I contacted someone in Old Town for ideas. We stopped by to see it and the space is amazing – a lot can be done with it. There is a sort of balcony, or second floor that looks down on the main room, with 2 bars, bathrooms, changing rooms and a space for a stage. Now I am not your typical bride and I am not getting hitched in a church, so the Temple Club is so beautiful and perfect for my fiancé and I. HOWEVER…they are in the process of renovating and paint is peeling from the walls! With all this said, we fell in love as soon as we walking into the building! I have had a couple of struggles getting this place secured to be our location (they have changed the scope of the venue and have a minimum overall purchase for Saturday nights of $25,000 for larger events instead of weddings), so we have decided to change the date of the wedding so we are not bound with that crazy minimum. We will meet with them again when we are in town this September! (Wish us luck).
- Lansing Lexington Hotel – Lansing, MI
Lansing Lexington Hotel:
One word: Chandeliers! This hotel and its ballroom are stunning. My main issue was the location they reserve for the ceremony: A lobby hallway. Though private and beautiful, it is still a hallway area, which doesn’t feel right to me. The hotel has great features (basketball court, swimming pool, games, etc), but it has been out shined by the Old Temple Club!
Grand Ledge Opera House – Grand Ledge, MI
The Grand Ledge Opera House:
A little pricier than I expected to rent, but private. If you rent the entire Opera House, you have a ballroom for the ceremony, then the guests would move to another room for cocktail hour while the ballroom is switched over for the reception. It’s a great space and still high on our list of possibilities. It is different than your typical hotel or conference center and definitely worth taking a look at when you start your wedding planning.
Perspective 2 Studio:
Perspective 2 Studio – Old Town Lansing, MI
This is another location I came across first from the folks that work in Old Town, and then again through friends who live locally. It is a unique studio space with an urban feel, exposed brick and bright wall colors. Beautiful! (and definitely unique). I am not sure that Perspective 2 will be large enough for what I am looking for unfortunately, because I really do like it. The ceremony space (Studio B) only fits 100 people maximum, and the ceremony/reception both in ‘Studio A’ might be a tight fit (165 maximum). It is on a main road in Old Town with large windows facing the road, so people could see in, that is something to consider as well. Overall a great and unique location.
These are only the venues I have visited, and there are so many more in the area. Are there any I haven’t mentioned that you loved (or hated?)
Once I get past the somewhat stressful task of choosing the perfect venue, I will write more blogs to, hopefully, help others through this time! Happy Wedding Planning!
Great list! I’ve photographed weddings at all those places, except the Temple Club, but I went to concerts there back in the day (5 years ago?) that’s so cool they’re doing weddings now! The English Inn a half hour south of Lansing is one great place that could be a good addition to this list, did you consider it?
Brett – I have heard great things about the English Inn & know someone who has settled on them as their wedding venue! I feel like its a bit too far away from Lansing for my liking. My parents are from Holt and I don’t want them to have to travel
Thanks so much for your comments…I might do a photographers list in the future too when I start looking, could I get your contact information?
Laura,
Rob and I are also working Brett as our photographer. If you haven’t already started talking to him, do it now. He’s very professional and personable. You’ll be very happy.
Oh, and the English Inn is fairly close to Holt. Its really not that far. Its right outside Eaton Rapids.
Jesse,
Thanks for the tip, but he never sent me over his contact info. Could you share that with me at some point? I plan to secure my date, location and wedding officiant when I am in Lansing this September and then branch out from there.
Nice blog, Laura! You reminded me that I’ve been to the Kellogg Center for a wedding. It was nice – but it was also not during football season
So you’re changing the date afterall to get the Temple Club? I’ve heard of other vendors (such as photographers of course) offering better deals on non-Saturday weddings.
Yes Katie – we hope to settle things this Sept when we are back in town to secure the Temple Club as our location. At first I was very mad about their change in scope for events on Saturdays, but our wedding will be on a holiday weekend so many of the out of town guests will have Monday off from work anyway!
Hi! I am so curious about what ended up happening with the Old Temple Club?! I would LOVE to get married there. Did it work out? Did you say it is $25,000 every Saturday or just certain Saturdays? Email me if you can! Thanks, dilyn.duffey@gmail.com
I did not end up at The Old Temple Club. Every time I emailed the man they were still waiting on the bank for the load to begin the renovation. Last time I spoke with Sam, it was Sept 14th (less than 1 year from my wedding date) and we decided to look else wear.
They may have made progress since September, and I would recommend contacting Sam about it: shortsamuel@gmail.com
The space is fantastic and we really would have loved to get married/have the reception there but could not wait around and let everything else get booked – just in case the renovation did not pull through as planned.
Regarding Saturday rentals, Sam told me that “The $25,000 is a minimum – meaning you would have to spend $25,000 through us on whatever you would like (alcohol, decorations, ceremony, et cetera). You would be getting services and goods for your money – not spend it all on room fee’s.”
They seem to hope for larger events on Saturdays (like concerts), and plan to rent the 2nd floor out on Fri & Sun for just a few thousand as the room rental. I don’t remember the exact amount he quoted me.
What day is your wedding?
Keep me posted. I am curious to see if they have made any progress.