Last minute venue change?

Oakland county is a pretty expensive area and there's not a whole lot of "backyard" feeling places since it's really city down there.

You're looking for an outdoors place, mostly? What about a golf course or something? I know there are lots of those down there. If you're looking for a barn or something, you might need to go a bit north. I know someone from high school who did her photos at Yates cider mill though, you could always do something like that.

Loved the barn idea, but realized I had to go too far out. Actually, our ceremony is outside at our church (weather pending), and the grounds are absolutely beautiful. However, I just didn't want the typical golf course or wedding hall for reception.

I have never tried to make a big change like this, but can sort of relate to how you are feeling, i think. I live in the city an hour and a half away from my hometown, and really wanted to host my wedding here. The options in my time frame and for the size i needed ended up being 3x as much money as if i hosted in my hometown. This was really a non-decision. That being said i did really struggle with so much anxiety about hosting something so important to me somewhere i am not super familiar with anymore and that i sort of don't like. I had a long talk with myself an found a venue that is charming and sort of sweet, but still will allow me to have the style of wedding I wanted. Can you think of ways to incorporate the parts of a back yard wedding into your current space? Can you choose more natural or lighthearted decorations, or can you choose your decor to be deeply personal so that you can have the intimacy of a back yard wedding. Your venue, as I am sure you know, will take so much stress out of the logistics of your day, perhaps you can really think of what it is about a backyard wedding that you love and bring it inside. It could be as easy as using globe string lights, potted plants, and long tables if you can. If you feel in your heart that this isn't going to work for you, you can always look at your options, but try not to lose sight of logistics. I hope that whatever you end up choosing becomes the wedding of your dreams.

What about Rochester Hills museum at van hoosen farm? I think they have a barn and outdoor options.

We also loved Great Lakes Culinary Center. The indoor part is very loft but they have an outdoor veggie garden that feels like a backyard. The food is supposed to be amazing. Also think longacre house has an outdoor area and it's next to a park. We looked at way too many venues

Thank you for the suggestions. Museum was too small :-( our guest count kept going up. 175 now. I'm emailing Great Lakes. I dismissed it earlier because of the city. Our ceremony is in Troy, so I guess that drive isn't so bad. Challenge is availability... and already having a deposit down on another venue. Gosh, I hope I'm not the only who is gong crazy since day 1 :-(

With a great big guest list like that and a much smaller than average budget, I really think you need to stick with the place where you have put down a deposit. Obviously you liked it enough to choose it in the first place; stop second guessing an move on to the next vendors.

More ideas: longacre house in Farmington (very affordable). Troy has like a historic village off wattles but have no idea how wedding suitable it is. Stoney Creek anything? Also you didn't want country club but pine trace / shepherds hollow has like a get married in the middle of the woods setup that looked pretty cool. But to everyone's point - it's getting pretty tight timing wise to change direction for a sept wedding. Maybe you can decorate your current venue to reflect your taste more?

I got engaged in October of 2016, and booked a venue the next month. I then switched to a new venue at the beginning of March. In the process I also reduced my guest list from over 100 to 25- so a lot of major changes! Luckily, I didn't have to change my wedding date, and all of my vendors have been perfectly happy to accommodate my wedding at the new location, albeit I have now acquired some travel fees. Making a change is definitely doable though!

ETA I just noticed your guest list is 175. It would be much easier to find a new venue with a reduced guest list. If you aren't up for reducing it, I would stay with the venue you have now.

Great Lakes will probably be tight for 175 ppl unless you do indoor / outdoor option. We have a small wedding so I mostly looked at smaller venues. I've heard really good things about Great Lakes.