Wedding Reception Forum

Broadway themed reception - help

Hello,
my FI and I are both big Broadway and theatre fans (or at least, he became one after meeting me), and we were thinking of having some Broadway-themed snippets in our wedding. Since we got engaged on a Broadway stage in NYC (without the audience and such), we were thinking of using a map of the theatres as our seating plan, and naming the tables with names of Broadway theatres (for example, Lunt-Fontanne, Imperial, Majestic, Booth and so on). 
We were thinking of printing really good pictures of the marquees we have and building some sort of miniature marquees for each table (kinda like this, which is in Chicago but it gives an idea).

How do you suggest we put the signs on the table? We have to attach them to something so they stand. Are we insane and it's way too complicated? Should I go look at lanterns and candles?

Thanks for any input!

Re: Broadway themed reception - help

  • Well, most guests are indifferent to themes or table-naming schemes, and making it unnecessarily hard for your guests to find their seats because they have to consult charts and maps to figure out what tables they're seated at isn't a good idea.  So I'm not a fan of naming the tables after the Broadway theatres.  Just use a sequential numbering system with escort cards instead.

    If the Broadway theme is important to you, can you use elements of that elsewhere in your décor?

  • Hello,
    my FI and I are both big Broadway and theatre fans (or at least, he became one after meeting me), and we were thinking of having some Broadway-themed snippets in our wedding.Are we insane and it's way too complicated?

    You're not insane.  Yes, it's a little complicated.  So - go for it!  You'll figure it out.  
  • Hello,
    my FI and I are both big Broadway and theatre fans (or at least, he became one after meeting me), and we were thinking of having some Broadway-themed snippets in our wedding. Since we got engaged on a Broadway stage in NYC (without the audience and such), we were thinking of using a map of the theatres as our seating plan, and naming the tables with names of Broadway theatres (for example, Lunt-Fontanne, Imperial, Majestic, Booth and so on). 
    We were thinking of printing really good pictures of the marquees we have and building some sort of miniature marquees for each table (kinda like this, which is in Chicago but it gives an idea).

    How do you suggest we put the signs on the table? We have to attach them to something so they stand. Are we insane and it's way too complicated? Should I go look at lanterns and candles?

    Thanks for any input!
    It's fine if you want to include Broadway elements, but I wouldn't make that how you name the tables.    Or do "Phantom of the Opera - 1" and "Chicago - 2", "Wicked - 3", etc.
  • Personally, I dislike themed weddings.  I think themes lessen the importance of what is actually taking place - two people getting married.  It's your wedding, not a prom.  JMHO.
    httpiimgurcomTCCjW0wjpg
  • CMGragain said:
    Personally, I dislike themed weddings.  I think themes lessen the importance of what is actually taking place - two people getting married.  It's your wedding, not a prom.  JMHO.
    Eh, while I am not a fan of elaborate themes, little touches here and there at the reception is not a bad thing.  I mean I got married in a football stadium, had a football to take pictures with and named our tables after our local football players.  Do you think that diminished the importance of what just took place?  I certainly don't.  But my ceremony was kept neutral.  It isn't like OPs ceremony is going to be decked out in Broadway crap (and if it is OP, please reconsider). Because that is when two people are getting married, at the ceremony.  The reception is just a party.

    OP, it is fine to include your interests into the decor of your reception.  But I wouldn't label a theme for your wedding, because I find that couples get too caught up in everything matching their theme and getting stressed out about then just picking things that they love.  So keep things simple with little touches here and there.

  • CMGragain said:
    Personally, I dislike themed weddings.  I think themes lessen the importance of what is actually taking place - two people getting married.  It's your wedding, not a prom.  JMHO.
    Oh, there's no theme! I just wanted to name the tables something other than "1-2-3..." because I find it boring, and Broadway is something my FI and I have in common. We're having a Catholic ceremony followed by a dinner and dancing. No specific theme, it was just a personal touch I wanted to add to the tables, but I'm not even sure we'll do that. We're getting married on June 18, 2016, so we still have time to consider. I realize now the title of the thread is not correct, but I wasn't feeling creative with it.

    Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I don't want to name the tables like shows, so we'll see what comes out of it. An option would be to put the table number or name in Playbill-like front pages framed. We'll see!!
  • CMGragain said:
    Personally, I dislike themed weddings.  I think themes lessen the importance of what is actually taking place - two people getting married.  It's your wedding, not a prom.  JMHO.
    Oh, there's no theme! I just wanted to name the tables something other than "1-2-3..." because I find it boring, and Broadway is something my FI and I have in common. We're having a Catholic ceremony followed by a dinner and dancing. No specific theme, it was just a personal touch I wanted to add to the tables, but I'm not even sure we'll do that. We're getting married on June 18, 2016, so we still have time to consider. I realize now the title of the thread is not correct, but I wasn't feeling creative with it.

    Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I don't want to name the tables like shows, so we'll see what comes out of it. An option would be to put the table number or name in Playbill-like front pages framed. We'll see!!
    I like this option!  But I advise sticking to numbers.  It's easier for guests to find their tables when they are sequentially numbered without having to check some chart to find out first what the name of their table is and then having to find that table.
  • CMGragain said:
    Personally, I dislike themed weddings.  I think themes lessen the importance of what is actually taking place - two people getting married.  It's your wedding, not a prom.  JMHO.
    Oh, there's no theme! I just wanted to name the tables something other than "1-2-3..." because I find it boring, and Broadway is something my FI and I have in common. We're having a Catholic ceremony followed by a dinner and dancing. No specific theme, it was just a personal touch I wanted to add to the tables, but I'm not even sure we'll do that. We're getting married on June 18, 2016, so we still have time to consider. I realize now the title of the thread is not correct, but I wasn't feeling creative with it.

    Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I don't want to name the tables like shows, so we'll see what comes out of it. An option would be to put the table number or name in Playbill-like front pages framed. We'll see!!
    Yeah, but as a guest it's far easier for me to pick up my escort card and then go find Table 1, rather than having to roam around trying to find Radio City Music Hall.

    Just keep it simple and use numbers for the tables, but also have a few framed images of the individual theaters or the theater marquees on the tables as part of your centerpieces.

    Keep in mind, while your theme may be sentimental and meanignful to you, it will not be for your guests.  It's just going to be another design element as part of the overall decor of your reception.

    "Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."


  • CMGragain said:
    Personally, I dislike themed weddings.  I think themes lessen the importance of what is actually taking place - two people getting married.  It's your wedding, not a prom.  JMHO.
    Oh, there's no theme! I just wanted to name the tables something other than "1-2-3..." because I find it boring, and Broadway is something my FI and I have in common. We're having a Catholic ceremony followed by a dinner and dancing. No specific theme, it was just a personal touch I wanted to add to the tables, but I'm not even sure we'll do that. We're getting married on June 18, 2016, so we still have time to consider. I realize now the title of the thread is not correct, but I wasn't feeling creative with it.

    Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I don't want to name the tables like shows, so we'll see what comes out of it. An option would be to put the table number or name in Playbill-like front pages framed. We'll see!!
    Yeah, but as a guest it's far easier for me to pick up my escort card and then go find Table 1, rather than having to roam around trying to find Radio City Music Hall.

    Just keep it simple and use numbers for the tables, but also have a few framed images of the individual theaters or the theater marquees on the tables as part of your centerpieces.

    Keep in mind, while your theme may be sentimental and meanignful to you, it will not be for your guests.  It's just going to be another design element as part of the overall decor of your reception.
    This would be okay.  So, the table sign might say "1 - Radio City Music Hall.  Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Its nickname is theShowplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city. Its interior was declared a city landmark in 1978." and add a picture of the two of you in front of Radio City Music Hall.  You can have a front and a back, one with the information (I got that from wikipedia), and the other side with the photo.
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