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I’ve avoided this subject for a bit because it’s the only part of the wedding with which I’m a little disappointed. When we first started planning our Bloomington wedding, we really wanted to have the reception here:
It’s the Tudor Room at the IMU. I’ve had many a Sunday brunch here and just pretty much assumed there would be no issue. Well, there was an issue: our reception is only going to have 50-60 people. They were unwilling to book the room for such a small party. I. was. peeved.
So we looked elsewhere for a venue on campus and found the Neal Marshall Black Cultural Center.
Or, more specifically, here in the Grand Hall, minus the chairs:
The windows were amazing. I felt like it was a room that could take nearly any decoration. We reserved it a full year in advance.
Unfortunately one of the downsides of getting married on a campus is not every facility is truly equipped to handle a wedding reception. The coordinator here lost my original date request and refused to draw up a contract. He said he didn’t “do” deposits. Well, a few months later and a nightmare or two about losing the room, we called him again. He had upped the room rate a few hundred dollars and said that there was no dancing, as of last week when he got the floors cleaned. We would have to rent a dance floor.
Um, what?
I was already having venue-induced night terrors; I could not, emotionally, deal with this situation. We went to my caterer, who handles all of the rooms at the Indiana Memorial Union, and she offered what she could: the Frangipani Room and the University Club.
The University Club is a small-ish room (unfortunately can’t find a reasonably-sized photo), that’s fairly traditional. There’s a lot of wallpaper and red furniture, which doesn’t jive with me. It’s a cool room, but not right for our wedding.
Which only leaves the Frangipani:
This is by no means my ideal. At all. It’s not the Tudor Room with amazing architecture. It’s not the Grand Hall with gorgeous natural light. But it has a contract, dancing, and a non-flakey coordinator. For my sanity, a pretty reception room was a sacrifice I was willing to make.
It’s not all hopeless. IU has a beautiful campus and the ceremony site is lovely. We’ll get amazing outdoor shots and the photographer can just take those pretty detail shots…
Did you make any sacrifices in your wedding for the sake of sleeping at night?
That’s so frustrating. 
We’re skipping venue drama and having it at my parents’ house. (Ok, I kid myself over that. Having a wedding at home is ridiculously a pain in the ass, but it’ll be awesome).
Aw you poor thing, I faced a similar ordeal about 2 months before the wedding. I had managed til then to keep my bridezilla under control but the guy I had talk to months before (that said I had to wait til 2 months before i could reserve a certain spot in the park), last minute tried to screw me over. So I unleashed her and ended up getting the location for free LOL
Umm, I think I might have had a nervous breakdown if faced with someone so unprofessional/such a stressful situation!
But I think your reception will still be beautiful. I just love a nice college campus.
That would have probably put me over the edge. Seriously…what a sucky situation. I’m glad you found someone better to work with!
ugh, what a headache! though can you imagine sticking with grand hall and having to deal with the coordinator? i’d much rather go another route like you did!
aww, that sucks:( I had some similar problems, I like the big grand architecture but all those types of places did not like my small guest list. Boooo!
sleeping at night is very important. you gotta do what you gotta do for your sanity, even if it takes some sacrifice. i have no doubt that you will whip that room into the reception hall of your dreams!
Ah, but I bet that sacrifice of an awesome room vs. secure, safe, trust worthy coordinator is so worth it in the end.
Very frustrating, but thanks for posting all the pics of IU….makes me really miss it!
That sucks that you had to sacrifice, but the security of a good coordinator and a contract is definitely worth it!
I also am a big fan of your favorite room in the IMU! I spent many of nights studying away by the fire place! I am so excited to see your pictures around campus!!!
I’ve just booked my reception site, UNSEEN.
Actually that’s not true, apparently I had my sorority formal there in 2002 but I had blocked that from my mind…anywho, def. not the ideal way to book a place, but I’m not sure when I’ll be back in VA and we didn’t want to get left with nothing!! I’m sure your room will turn out quite lovely in the end Ribbons! And such a bee-utiful campus! We’re thinking of doing pics on campus too, heck I’ve had thoughts of actually getting married on our campus…we shall see.
My fiancee and I searched high and low for a reception site after he vetoed my dream location. After ooking at 15 places, we have come full circle. We ended up at my ORIGINAL place.
Ugh! It’ll still look lovely, but how frustrating! You’ll just get to decorate the heck out of it!
I don’t think you had to compromise- I think it’ll look great!
It sounds like you made the right decision. I agree that you can make that room look gorgeous–it just might take a little more creativity.
I love all of these spots on campus. The Tudor room reminds me of Harry Potter! It’s funny, I was just talking to a friend about how the Frangipani room would be a beautiful spot to have a wedding reception. You can decorate it however you want and make it totally “you”. I think you made an excellent decision!
I am so excited to read your blogs! I’m an Indiana girl who is a HUGE IU fan and have made many trips down to that campus (no, I didn’t go to college there, but had many friends who did and IU blood runs in my family). Sad the other rooms didn’t work out, but this will save you much frustration!
Wondering where you can have a reception for under $50 per head in the NY or CT area? I have my own florist, my own caterer, my own photographer, and my own cake designer….. so, I want a place with no lock ins……. Ideas anyone?
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Mrs. Ribbons, Washington D.C./Bloomington, IN Age and Occupation: 23, Research Associate for an international development firm Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Proposal Coordinator for contractor Engagement Date: May 2, 2008 Wedding Date: June 2010 Venue: Indiana Memorial Union About Me: I'm an Indiana transplant living in DC with my fiance and our pretty kitty. I enjoy the color pink, I'm obsessed with the Dior New Look and tulle, and I heart my level 80 paladin. I'm a sucker for bad TV, literary theory, and cakes of all persuasion. I also happen to be marrying the cutest closet nerd around! It's all about Bloomington for us because it's where we met -- on the college paper. If there's a theme for our small summertime wedding, it's Dior meets Dorothy Draper on a lark in Bloomington; think poofy, plus graphic prints, bold colors, and a whole lot of prettiness.
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