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All kinds of questions!!

Kristina CT Kristina CT member
First Anniversary First Comment
in Louisiana-New Orleans
Hey everyone,

More questions... I hope you all can help. 

1) Reception style dinner:  what the heck is this?  From what I've read, it seems to be the norm down south, or at least in NOLA.  I've never even heard of such a thing at a wedding, where there aren't enough seats for everyone?  So what does everyone else do, they just stand around?!  I'm afraid that our guests will think that we just planned poorly and didn't reserve a big enough room/tables/chairs..how do we work with this?

2) Band/jazz trio:  Ideally, we'd like a band that can be all things for us - play a few songs at the ceremony (or at least one member of the band), then play at the reception - mostly new orleans type music but a few "faster, danceable songs", and then finally lead us on a second line parade.  Any ideas, or advice?

3) Second line parade:  we're planning on the ceremony in jackson square, and reception at muriels.  After Muriels, we thought we'd invite our guests back to Pat O's or Napolean House or Lafitte's for some drinks.  Would you do the second line parade between the ceremony and reception (even though we'll end up in the same spot), or after the reception?

THANK YOU ALL :-)

Kristina
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Re: All kinds of questions!!

  • wmh6wmh6 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    1)  We had a buffet at our reception.  We had tables with enough chairs for all guests.  We did not have assigned seating though.  The guests just sat wherever.  That is how the majority of the receptions are that I have attended.  We also had some taller tables in an area for those who wanted to grab a drink and mingle after eating dinner.

    2)  We had a DJ at our reception so I had a trio to play before and during the ceremony.  If our budget would have allowed, we definitely would have had a band at the reception also so your vision is perfectly fine.  I'm not much help with suggestions though since I didn't really research this in my planning.

    3)  The second line can be done at either time.  One thing to think about...since your guests are OOT, they may be more comfortable and loosened up if you do it after the reception.  If they are outgoing, they may get into it right away before having drinks though.  We just did our second line around the reception room towards the end of the night.
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  • NOLAbridealmostNOLAbridealmost member
    5 Love Its Name Dropper Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    A reception style reception is basically a pseudo-buffet reception. The hallmarks: 1) no assigned seating, but enough tables and chairs for everyone if people happened to want to sit at the same time, and 2) the food is available the WHOLE TIME. As people arrive: the food is available. 10 minutes before the end: the food is still available. It's what makes it different than a "traditional" buffet because there is no "Table 2, go now" sort of thing.  A lot of people throw in tray passed hors d'oeuvres throughout.  There is usually not a cocktail hour in the traditional sense because the food and bar are just THERE.  

    You'll never want to go back! =) 
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  • wmh6wmh6 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_louisiana-new-orleans_kinds-of-questions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:84Discussion:c6400064-4f7a-480a-b2fa-ccae48b897b4Post:ff1043a6-88d7-48c2-9236-7de1cddc790e">Re: All kinds of questions!!</a>:
    [QUOTE]A reception style reception is basically a pseudo-buffet reception. The hallmarks: 1) no assigned seating, but enough tables and chairs for everyone if people happened to want to sit at the same time, and 2) the food is available the WHOLE TIME. As people arrive: the food is available. 10 minutes before the end: the food is still available. It's what makes it different than a "traditional" buffet because there is no "Table 2, go now" sort of thing.  A lot of people throw in tray passed hors d'oeuvres throughout.  There is usually not a cocktail hour in the traditional sense because the food and bar are just THERE.   You'll never want to go back! =) 
    Posted by NOLAbridealmost[/QUOTE]

    This is exactly how ours was...she just explained it a lot better than I did. <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" />
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  • louisianabluelouisianablue member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I think most of the reception style weddings I've been to have not had a seat for every person.  I'm planning to have 300 people at my wedding and definitely don't plan to have tables and chairs for 300 people.  People stand around the bar or on the dance floor.

    Am I committing a huge faux pas?
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  • Kristina CT Kristina CT member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    See I don't necessarily think it's that big of a deal (the reception style event with limited seating), but my fiance is concerned about what his family might think.  I suggested that we just explain it to them beforehand, but his fear is that his family (all from Poland) may not understand and will instead think that we ran out of money or didn't book a big enough spot.. It's actually kind of funny to me to imagine their confusion and the idea that they may think it was an accident.

    I don't think its a faux pas, especially if you're going to have alot of dancing, and even less so if you can explain to those who might be confused that its intended to be this way ;-) 
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  • wmh6wmh6 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_louisiana-new-orleans_kinds-of-questions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:84Discussion:c6400064-4f7a-480a-b2fa-ccae48b897b4Post:a7188c2d-2731-476a-af17-c3895db148b0">Re: All kinds of questions!!</a>:
    [QUOTE]I think most of the reception style weddings I've been to have not had a seat for every person.  I'm planning to have 300 people at my wedding and definitely don't plan to have tables and chairs for 300 people.  People stand around the bar or on the dance floor. Am I committing a huge faux pas?
    Posted by louisianablue[/QUOTE]

    I don't think so.  I have been to receptions before where I had to stand because there wasn't enough seating.  Pretty much all of our guest list was OOT.  We invited around 288, had around 100 RSVP, and then about 80 or so showed up.  Since we only had 100 yes RSVP's, we had enough seating.  If all of our guests would have come, we probably wouldn't have had enough seats.  Once the party gets started, everyone is dancing anyway.
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  • NOLAbridealmostNOLAbridealmost member
    5 Love Its Name Dropper Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    If you don't want seating for everyone, that should be okay. You can probably get away with 75% seating available, but I'd suggest offering a coat/bag check.  At least that will give guests a place to put their stuff if they don't have a "home base" at a seat of their own. 

    I still suggest seating for everyone just in case everyone wants to sit during the toasts. etc. 
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  • sammyjamessammyjames
    First Comment
    edited December 2011

    Hahaha, I love it.  To be fair, I had never heard of a sit-down dinner at a wedding until TLC's wedding shows.  Buffets are great because people can get what they want, do what they want, etc.  It's less structured.


    About seating, I wouldn't stress--you'll have people mingling, people on the dance floor, etc.  Usually, not everyone will be sitting down at once.  I think you'll be fine.  :) 

    My instinct is to second line from the ceremony to the reception, because people might leave the reception early or not go to drinks after.  So if you want the most people involved, I'd do it then.

    Good luck!! 

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  • RYLZRYLZ member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    East coast guests might find it unusual to attend a 4, 5 hour wedding without a permanent seat, and at times, no seat at all.
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  • asbrickhWed126694asbrickhWed126694 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011

    I understand where you are coming from.  I am from New Orleans so a reception style dinner is usual to me.  But my FI is from Colorado he did not think the guests on his side would understand why we didn't have enough seats for everyone.  So we are meeting in the middle.  It'll be reception style, no assigned seats and food/ drinks all night....but everyone one will have room for a seat or a place at a highbar.  :)


    Also - second line. Because so many of our guest are coming from OOT, and are new to this, we are doing it after the reception.  Hopefully a few drinks will loosen them up.


    Good Luck!!!


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  • kerrie86kerrie86 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I agree with most of the previous posts. In Louisiana, the reception style dinner is the norm. Usually there aren't enough seats for everyone- How else are you supposed to get to talk to everyone at the reception? (as opposed to just the people at your table..) I guess it's just a tradition around here- I too never heard of a sit down dinner until I saw them on tv!!! I guess it's nice, but it seems very stuffy compared to what I'm used to.

    As far as a second line band, The Storyville Jazz Band is doing my wedding-
    The "full" band is 6 people for second line type stuff & a little bit of other music if you wanted.
    If you want 1 or 2 people to play at the church service, they can do 2 for 150.00.
    (processional/recessional- ex. panis angelicus, trumpet tune, trumpet voluntary, wedding march, jesu joy of mans desire, etc)

    Contact Alex Holmes, mholmes35@cox.net 
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