The After Party: Planning the Reception

Brandon Hubbard, Staff Writer

With the exception of your parents and those who enjoy a good cry, people come to a wedding for the reception.

For the couple, combining their dreams and considering the convenience of their guests, those both near and far, is part of the reception-planning process.

As host to 80 weddings a year, Tracy Russold, the group sales manager for Boyne Mountain, Boyne Highlands and the Inn at Bay Harbor, handles some of the largest weddings in Northern Michigan.

But when it comes to planning a reception, she knows how to combine the vision of the bride with something extra for the guest.

For example, this past July at Boyne Highlands, Russold planned a unique wedding and reception for a couple with a beach theme. Riding the chairlift to the top of the hill, the guests were surprised at the summit by a set of flip-flops and a glass of champagne.

Russold said painted driftwood signs pointed the way to the chapel and, afterward, the guests rode the chairlift back down for a night of dancing and dining at the Country Club of Boyne.

For her brides, she said creating a backdrop and atmosphere for the reception is the most important element. “The perfect setting is understanding what the bride envisions and making it come true,” Russold said.

Price & Location

Renting a venue for a reception is among the most costly portions of the wedding-day budget. There are deposits, food costs, cleanup fees or a single lump sum due up front. But that shouldn’t discourage you from holding the reception that you want; instead, think around the fees.

While your vision is important, don’t get locked into one destination. Choose several places that would be acceptable, scout them out, compare prices and ask tons of questions.

Many places rent for a lower cost on a Friday evening, for instance. Other locations give discounts for renting dance floors, bartenders, disc jockeys and catering on location.

Asking about alternatives that may reduce the cost can pay off big.

For example, at the Odawa Casino Resort in Petoskey, there are seven banquet halls and a 500-person Ovation Hall that all provide customizable packages for hotel rooms, a dance floor, gaming and catering service.

Ericca Hovie, the convention sales coordinator at the resort, said that buying amenities as packages can greatly reduce the price of a reception.

The Ovation Hall — a concert hall-size theater that requires a year-in-advance reservation — specifically costs $2,000 to rent for a day. However, if the resort food and beverage services are used as the caterer, the price drops by up to $1,000 depending on the amount spent.

Hovie said other services, such as the casino and hotel’s 24-hour shuttle, make having a reception at a resort a safe and convenient option.

The Numbers Count

While there are plenty of big destinations for your reception, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is right for your wedding party. Hovie cautions people about renting an overly large location for their reception.

“You don’t want to have 200 people and have it look like no one showed up,” she said.

Instead, she suggests looking at the guest list and trying to choose appropriately.

Also, consider your guest list and layout of the reception destination. For instance, grandparents and children don’t want to be stuck in the middle of a dance floor, Hovie said, so be sure to include ample space for tables.

Ultimately, the goal is to provide an attractive setting that keeps people entertained and enables them to feel close to the couple they came to celebrate.

Area Reception and Rehearsal Dinner Locations

Big receptions: 200-plus guests

- Boyne USA resorts (800) Go-Boyne (862-6963), www.boyneweddings.com
- Odawa Casino Resort and Hotel, (877) 442-6464
- Emmet County’s Community Building, 347-6536
- Castle Farms, Charlevoix, 237-0884
- Nub’s Nob, Harbor Springs, 526-2131
- Mackinaw Reception and Conference Center, (231) 436-5247
- Knights of Columbus Hall, 347-4461

Medium-Sized Parties: 100-200

- Inn at Bay Harbor – A Renaissance Golf Resort, Bay Harbor, (800) 862-6963
- Stafford’s Hospitality: Perry Hotel, Bay View Inn, The Pier, Weathervane, 347-4000
- Teddy Griffin’s Road House, Harbor Springs, 526-7805
- Mahogany’s at the Charlevoix Country Club, 9600 Clubhouse Dr., 547-9796

Small Groups: Under 100

- The Terrace Inn, Bay View, 347-2410
- Emmet County’s Parks and Recreation, several sites including Camp Pet-O-Sega on Pickerel Lake, 347-6536

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