How do we keep our guests entertained?

Knottie84346993

Edit: I've never been to a wedding before, and now I'm trying to plan my own, so I'm kind of doing this blind. Sorry, I just came up with a rough timeline on what I thought sounded right, but I gather this isn't quite right.

00kim00

Knottie84346993 said:

Hi,

We are getting married on a Saturday at 2pm, and I'm trying to figure out how our day will pan out.

The way I see it is as follows:

2-3pm Ceremony
3:30pm Guests arrive at reception venue
4:30pm Food
5:30pm Speeches

Then we've got two hours before the DJ turns up! So what do we do? It's not a venue with an outdoor section, so we can't do anything outside. And I don't want people leaving before the night gets going, but we can't really afford to shell out for more entertainment in those two hours.

Any ideas anyone please?

Thanks!

I hope "guests arrive at venue" actually means "light refreshments/cocktail hour" and then"food" means dinner so guests aren't hungrily waiting for you. Honestly, 4 hours after arriving at the reception venue, I'm on my way home (if not home already) regardless of whether or not the "night got going" yet. If you'd like your guests to enjoy the DJ, start the music around 5:00-5:30. And nix the speeches. A couple of short (1 minute or so) toasts can be done during dinner if someone volunteers, but people didn't come to sit through speeches

jacques27

Ditto what 00kim00 said.  Also, you're feeding people dinner at 4:30, then expecting them to stick around until after 7:30 to dance?  I hope you're also planning to have food and drink available through that time period, too, because eating dinner at 4:30, I'm probably going to be hungry again at 7:30 and if there's no food available then I'm definitely not sticking around much longer after dancing because dancing makes me hungry and thirsty.  You have a long day for people planned - too long.  Because people will probably eat lunch around 12, start getting ready for your wedding at 12:30, need to drive to your venue assuming everyone is local, and you're expecting them to stick around until 7:30 plus several hours for dancing?  That's 8+ hours devoted to your wedding.

Truthfully, with your plan, I'm heading out of there after dinner.  I'm not sticking around for two hours for a DJ to dance, I don't care if you have face painters, palm readers, a strip show, and a concert to keep me entertained for that two hour time period.

It sounds like you want an evening raucous dancing party of a wedding, but that's the not the wedding your timeline or your budget can afford.  Either the front end needs to be moved later (Ceremony at 4:00, Cocktail hour at 5:30 if it takes a half hour to drive to the reception otherwise immediately following the reception, dinner at 6:30 with toasts during diner, DJ and dancing at 7:30), or the back end needs to be moved up (Ceremony at 2:00, Cocktail hour at 3:30 if it really takes a half hour to drive to the reception otherwise immediately following the reception, toasts and other intro/bouquet/cake-cutting/whatever if you want it at 4:30, dinner at 4:45, DJ and Dancing at 5:45 and end around 9).  

If you really aren't ready to end the night, then spread by word of mouth that you're going to hang out at a bar afterward and people are welcome to meet you there, but you can't have a gap expecting people to hang out to have the kind of party you envision.

redoryx

So are you not having any music at all, not even background music of some kind, for the entire reception until the DJ shows up? I've never been to a wedding where the DJ arrived that late to the party, they are usually there the entire time. And even once the DJ shows up, it's going to take him/her time to set up his equipment so you might not get anything started until closer to 8. By that point your guests have been there for over 4 hours. 

I agree with PPs, nix the speeches. They aren't speeches they are toasts and shouldn't take more than 5-10 minutes total AND they can be given during the dinner. Then see if your DJ can show up earlier.

artbyallie

Why did you hire your DJ for after dinner? They should be set up and playing music when your guests arrive at the reception.

Maggie0829

Wait, your DJ is not showing up until 7:30?  What the hell kind of planning is that?  Sorry but after the toasts (not speeches, no one wants to sit through speeches) I am not going to sit around for 2 hours to wait for your DJ to set up and start playing music.  In fact, I would pretty much think that your wedding was done and over with after the toasts were given.  There is really not much you can do that would make me want to sit around and wait for the dancing to start, because at that point I will be completely over your wedding.

mikenberger

So you'll have no music playing at all? Or even a set up to show that music may be coming at a later time?

Can't see anyway that this can fail.

AddieCake

You need some kind of music the whole time. I agree with Kim. 4 hours is plenty of time for me, and I would be heading on home, especially if there wasn't any music. And I don't even dance.

fwtx5815

I know you came here looking for free ways to entertain your guests (honestly don't know if that's even possible for 2 whole hours without spending money) but the actual solution to your problem is to revamp your timeline. Previous posters have given good suggestions on how to do this.

MairePoppy

You should rework that time line. Most wedding last a total of 5 - 6 hours from beginning to end.

so 2 - 3 Ceremony

     3:30 Cocktail or social hour - light snacks and beverages should be served. Dj should be set up and playing background music.

     4:30 Introduction of the wedding party, parents and bride and groom. First dance

     4:45 Dinner is served.

     5:15 Toasts, not speeches, if anyone volunteers

     5:30 Cut the cake end get the guests out on the dance floor. You don't want to keep your guests sitting at their tables too long. They'll get bored.

     7:00 Bride/father dance, Groom/mother dance and get your guests back out on the dance floor until the party ends about 8:30.

Don't be embarrassed. Many brides have never been to a wedding before their own. You should go over your time line with your dj.

Knottie84346993 said:

Edit: I've never been to a wedding before, and now I'm trying to plan my own, so I'm kind of doing this blind. Sorry, I just came up with a rough timeline on what I thought sounded right, but I gather this isn't quite right

Maggie0829

Knottie84346993 said:

Edit: I've never been to a wedding before, and now I'm trying to plan my own, so I'm kind of doing this blind. Sorry, I just came up with a rough timeline on what I thought sounded right, but I gather this isn't quite right.

Really not trying to be snarky, but this is when common sense comes into play.  Common sense would tell you that having your DJ come two hours after dinner is over with is probably not the best idea.

ashley8918

mikenberger said:

So you'll have no music playing at all? Or even a set up to show that music may be coming at a later time?

Can't see anyway that this can fail.

I can't help thinking of this gif every time I see the thread title, hahaha

southernbelle0915

Ditto @MariePoppy.

Don't be embarrassed. (Most) people are here to help you. We all needed help when planning our own weddings.