rehearsal dinner downtown

[hybridy]

So the fiancé and I are planning a Detroit wedding for Oct 2010. We’re having the ceremony at Marygrove and we’d like to stay downtown for the rehearsal dinner. I was thinking Slow’s because of the casual vibe and delicious fare, but their location is on the small side and we may have upwards of 20 or more for dinner. I know of their catering venture, but not sure if it’ll be up in time. Any ideas for casual dinner/small banquet locations would be appreciated. Thanks
ps-to all the southen fans out there. he's doing our photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/southen/4008098891/

[detroitbred]

Went to a wedding a year ago and the rehersal dinner was upstairs at Hockeytown....good food, great service, etc. They did a very nice job for my friends, grooms parents.

[Neilr]

Congratulations [[or Best Wishes, depending)! Have you considered Sinbad's? They can easily handle a group of 20. There's the main dining room, the adjacent dining area, and the upstairs private dining room. I've attended and hosted parties there and can recommend the food, the accommodations, and the service.

http://www.sindbads.com/flash/index.html

[Gannon]

Why not cater to a large room you can rent? By then, Slows will be...up to speed...with catering. Ahem.

Perhaps rent a few rooms in the Hilton Garden over on Gratiot...and one of their meeting rooms.

[65memories]

I agree with neilr...Sindbads would be my choice also. Good food and a private room are available. They are very accomodating.

[Gistok]

Hybridy.... Congrats!!!

But I have to say that I'm currently LMAO.....

We've often disagreed in the past about architectural ornamentation... which I love and you hate...

So it's just a little bit of Schadenfreude that you happen to be getting married in probably the most overdecorated neo-Tudor Gothic college complex in Michigan.... straight out of medieval Oxford England.... Marygrove College!

Sorry... I couldn't help myself..... best of luck to both of you....

P.S. Great choice on using Ryan Southen as your photographer.... he hasn't posted here in a while.

[Sarah]

Why not Traffic Jam and Snug? It's huge and they do have a separate room that is probably perfect for the size group. Congrats!

[Waltbaby01]

Sinbad's has my vote.

[gnome]

So the fiancé and I are planning a Detroit wedding for Oct 2010. We’re having the ceremony at Marygrove and we’d like to stay downtown for the rehearsal dinner. ... .

Do I understand that you'll be having your wedding rehersal at Marygrove on 6 Mile and you then want 20 people to drive downtown for the dinner? That's at least 5 cars, maybe 7 in mini parade driving to a location in a city the guests don't know, is that right?

Guests that might not be all that groovy on the positive Detroit vibe we all have 'round these parts, is that right? And you are going to become part of a family and this is what will introduce your decision making process to them, is that right?

Listen man, the last guy you want to piss off is her father. If he is not down with driving his wife through the hood - like you have to do get to Sinbads - pick something much blander. Like Dick O'Dowd's in Birmingham. It's nice, safe and you and her Dad can get off on the right foot.

Some urban adventure with carloads of incontenent aunts might make for great tv, but in reality you don't want anyone to really remember the rehersal dinner, the event - the focus - is the bride and her parents. If you keep them and their comfort in mind you will have a long and happy marriage.

Letting people lost in Detroit is going to leave the exact wrong impression.

Now, maybe I read your post all wrong and both families are filled with geratric hipsters who think nothing of throwing down in the hood. Then by all means take them where ever you like, but if there is even a hint that grandma and grandpa are going to get lost, ... re-think your objective.

[Hamtragedy]

gnome, it's not that bad. We had ours at Marygrove in Oct, then drove down the Lodge, in the dark mind you, to Atlas. The Renaissance Marriot has decent group rates, where most of the rehearsal dinner guests stayed, and cab fare was about 6 bucks.

[Det_ard]

Union Street's room to the right might work. Good food/drinks.

[Toolbox]

How about a place in Mexicantown for food. Do you know anyone who could sponsor you at the DAC or the Renaissance Club.


Ryan will not let you down with photos. He was Urbantiki's assistant at our wedding and did not dissapoint with some great shots

[detroitbob]

Angelina's Bistro, Madison Theatre Building...room for 20 or more and great food, They will menu plan for you...great food and service. Parking via valet or Opera House garage 1 block away.

[DetroitScooter]

I second Angelina's. Ate there a couple of weeks ago and it was outstanding. Great service, excellent food and a remarkable location.

[DetroitPlanner]

Is Laffery's still good? That is not too far from Marygrove at Seven and Telegraph. Still in the City.

I would agree that Downtown venues may not be best for all the reasons cited by gnome.

I do have a question/suggestion that might make Downtown more feasible. Where are the hotel rooms? You might want to piggyback on that site so folks won't have to trapse all over the place. If you're using Southfield, you might be better off having dinner out there.

[hybridy]

Hybridy.... Congrats!!!

But I have to say that I'm currently LMAO.....

We've often disagreed in the past about architectural ornamentation... which I love and you hate...

So it's just a little bit of Schadenfreude that you happen to be getting married in probably the most overdecorated neo-Tudor Gothic college complex in Michigan.... straight out of medieval Oxford England.... Marygrove College!

Sorry... I couldn't help myself..... best of luck to both of you....

P.S. Great choice on using Ryan Southen as your photographer.... he hasn't posted here in a while.

True true - we were thinking Gesu-which is more my style, but there are rules and regulations and u have to be a member. Marygrove doesn't require any of those things. Plus we're keeping it to 250 people so Marygrove is the perfect intimate setting.

[Sarah]

I haven't been in awhile but Laffery's was still good two years ago.

[hybridy]

Do I understand that you'll be having your wedding rehersal at Marygrove on 6 Mile and you then want 20 people to drive downtown for the dinner? That's at least 5 cars, maybe 7 in mini parade driving to a location in a city the guests don't know, is that right?

Guests that might not be all that groovy on the positive Detroit vibe we all have 'round these parts, is that right? And you are going to become part of a family and this is what will introduce your decision making process to them, is that right?

Listen man, the last guy you want to piss off is her father. If he is not down with driving his wife through the hood - like you have to do get to Sinbads - pick something much blander. Like Dick O'Dowd's in Birmingham. It's nice, safe and you and her Dad can get off on the right foot.

Some urban adventure with carloads of incontenent aunts might make for great tv, but in reality you don't want anyone to really remember the rehersal dinner, the event - the focus - is the bride and her parents. If you keep them and their comfort in mind you will have a long and happy marriage.

Letting people lost in Detroit is going to leave the exact wrong impression.

Now, maybe I read your post all wrong and both families are filled with geratric hipsters who think nothing of throwing down in the hood. Then by all means take them where ever you like, but if there is even a hint that grandma and grandpa are going to get lost, ... re-think your objective.

Gnome, thanks for the tips. Luckily I have a great relationship with the future in-laws, thus far. I often take her in-laws and her grandparents downtown to see the sites. [[Campus Martius, Midtown, Indian Village, Casinos, Brush Park). Her grandpa was a foreman at the Conner Creek Power Plant, so he likes to go back to the East Side. They hadn't been downtown since the riots, so it took some getting used to. They're more than familiar with the good parts of the city with the bad in between, but downtown is an option. I just want to gather info to take to the family. Thanks

[gnome]

Hybridy- All that sounds good, having a great relationship with the in-laws is critical to having a happy wife and a happy wife is a happy life.

I just bring up the logistics aspect because pointing out landmarks to a carload of folks is entirely different from a caravan of cars. Unless every driver in the caravan can keep up with the group, someone is going to get stuck at a traffic light.

If that person is from Ubly or Petoskey or Brighton, the notion of being separated from the group will cause anxiety ... if not for the driver, then for Aunt Myrtie in the passenger seat. The end result will be that Aunt Myrtie going to remember feeling trapped and lost, hence your intended goal of having a lovely time will be in jeopardy.

Detroit has unique and wonderful people and some of those unique folks like to stand on the side of the road and request donations to their medicine funds. Another much loved aspect of Detroit is the left turn. Around here we have no problem going north the go south, but in other parts of Michigan that custom is as foreign as thinking that a fruit pie, chips and grape pop constitutes a balanced meal. You need to insulate your guests from those Detroit singularities.

An idea to solve that possible problem is to have a party bus pick up your group at their hotel, take them to marygrove, the rehearsal dinner and then back to the hotel. Or enlist your groomsmen to climb behind the various steering wheels and operate as chauffeurs/tour guides.

[Novine]

Who stops at lights in Detroit?

[eastsidechris]

We had our rehersal dinner at Traffic Jam. Our group went to a private room in the back. We were able to choose several items off of their regular menu to put on a special menu for the rehersal dinner. Oh, and they even made my groom's cake for us to eat there. The guests were very pleased with everything, and so were we.

[catch22]

Is Laffery's still good? That is not too far from Marygrove at Seven and Telegraph. Still in the City.

Laffery's is out. They are closing at the end of the month.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...REE/912019995#

[ct_alum]

Gnome:

Ever hear of MapQuest? How about GPS? Even an idiot in-law should be able to follow pre-printed directions provided by the groom or voice commands from a GPS. You seem to go to great lengths to discourage people visiting Detroit from actually setting foot in Detroit proper - Why?

[gnome]

CTA, I thought I was clear, but since you're a DPS grad, I'll slow it down a tad.

Not everyone is savvy to the numerous oddities that comprise the roadways in our lovely city. From left hand exits off of insanely fast freeways, to Detroit left turns, to the numbing weirdness of one-way streets - Detroit isn't the easiest place to drive. Also, not everyone thinks that tags on buildings are just local color; in fact, some people consider graffiti to be vile and an expression of hostility. Likewise, in most parts of the country, people pushing shopping carts filled with everything they own is unusual. Really. So too is the sight of people begging for change at the top of exit ramps; it may be common here, but it is not common in other parts of the state and country. Go visit Traverse City or Grand Rapids, you might be surprised but it is true.

To that end - you still with me CTA - Hybridy has been charged with finding a place to host his rehearsal dinner and while many others have contributed valuable opinions and have provided their own positive experiences with a number of locales; I thought bringing up logistics might factor into his decision making process. Now, it seems you disagree, fine. Maybe you think tagging is beautiful and your old school looks much better now with a little spray paint and broken windows, or maybe you think the drug addled are charming accouterments to the urban fabric. I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion, you are welcome to yours, please be so kind as to allow Hybridy to consider the feelings of his out-of-town guests.

[andybsg]

Traffic Jam #1

Roma Cafe #2

Angelina's #3

Avoid Sinbads, just not special enough