I sort of asked a similar question but I need to word it better;

Which would you choose?

1. Up North- 4 hours away from my family, 8 hours away from my fiance’s family. (Everyone in both families goes up north at least once of year.) We’re all outdoor/hunting people.
Pros: Lodge/Reception/Ceremony on the same grounds (.00/night), club is closed within gates so driving is minimal. Golf course, archery/shooting range, skeet and trap, beach, fishing, hiking, four wheelers, dirt bikes, boating. Family will most likely we taking a weekend off because of the drive, so there will be plenty of things to do together, since we don’t see my fiance’s family- they live in Ohio, we’re michigan. Food is wonderful and is only -/plate, but without alcohol- which they charge al lot for.

Cons: Not as formal as I’ve always wanted. People will be slightly separated during reception- main ball room (fights only like 9 tables), a bar room off the side completely by it’s self, and the slightly higher room with only a large doorway to see out into the ball room. If it rains, there is no where to have the ceremony in a appropriate place except next to the fire place with wild game on the walls. (We don’t really want to get married in a church.) Also (Everyone tells me this is no big deal, but I think it is) when we’re done eating, we’d need to get rid of the tables (which we’ll need to rent) to clear for the dance floor.

2. Venue near my home. Pros; Alcohol is included with price/plate (33.50), hall will set up and take down decorations- they told us to just show up with our stuff and come back for the wedding. They will provide chairs, linens, scarfs and little white lights, china, silverware, cake cutting, glass to enclose any centerpieces we choose with candles, 5 1/2 hour bar, champagne for the bridal tables, chair covers, and table. Also- they someone on staff who makes cakes at discounted rate. Ceremony will take place out through the ball where they have a gazebo and they set up the chairs and provide clergy for 0 extra. If it rains, they will move everything inside for no extra cost. Owner coordinates everything on the day of the wedding, right down to providing a card box. She’ll work with our band, photographer, etc. AND my aunt and several friends were married there to attest that this place is actually real, lol. Reception hall has More than enough room to have the dance floor free from tables, and has a stage for the bridal party and then the band.

Cons: Lodging is probably 40-50 dollars more per night off site. Price/plate is somewhat more expensive. (30.55 although that includes everything mentioned above, including alcohol) People would have to drive from the reception to they’re lodging. Depending on when people choose to arrive from Ohio, we might not get to spend extra time with the family.

Some things to add- my fiancee and I aren’t able to contribute much. We have credit card debt, still paying for an apt, and a little bit of school loans :( and we’re going to finance the honeymoon. But we’d like to pay and upgrade the bar and menu to pick up some of the cost, and if we meet our quest list quota, we’ll pay for any extra friends we may have.

Final note- My parent’s are the only ones paying for the actual wedding.

So, if you were us- which would you choose? We’re leaning towards the place closest to us, because it’s more convenient and we both love the hall.




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