Hey there -
My wedding was originally supposed to be a backyard wedding at my FMIL's house. About a week after invitations went out, there was an.. interesting.. event that forced us to relocate the wedding. The wedding is Oct 1 and this event took place in mid-August. We were lucky enough to find a venue that we could afford (even though a venue wasn't in our budget) and sent out Change of Venue cards the day after booking.
Unfortunately, we were originally supposed to have two floors at this new venue, but we were recently informed that we would only have access to one floor. We just got this news. And it's too late to find another venue, nor can we afford another venue.
Our guest list was created when we were having a backyard wedding. We invited 110, knowing that we could easily accommodate everyone. The problem is that now we have a different venue and we are now down to just one room.
So far we're expecting 69 guests to be attendance (I never thought I'd be so grateful for "Regretfully Decline" RSVPs).
We have to hold the ceremony and reception in the same room. We have enough room to set up the ceremony chairs and have tables set up for ~50 people. The room is on the 3rd floor of a walk-up. So asking guests to vacate the room for a quick room flip would mean everyone would have to walk down stairs and stand on a main road in Newark, NJ (I live here.. and I don't even want to do that).
My question: Would it be too disruptive to set up the remaining tables while guests were still in the room? We would need to set up about 3 more tables where the ceremony chairs would be set up.
And obviously.. if I could go back in time and plan accordingly, I would do so. But I'm wondering if anyone has dealt with this, or has ideas on how to keep guests happy during this process.
Re: Setting up tables with Guests in the room
Unfortunately, there wouldn't be enough space to create an aisle with tables on both sides.
That's what I was thinking. I could open the bar (which is on the opposite side of the room. And we are having hot hors d'oeuvres passed around at that time too.
Props for being so roll-with-the-punches considering your setbacks. Nice breath of fresh air from the posters we get having a meltdown over having to invite two extra people or something like that
And thank you. It's been a fun ride figuring out this wedding stuff! I just needed some reassurance on this point.
This shows how narrow the room is. We really only have room to have a long table. Which worked perfectly when we were having the ceremony in the other room.
This is the widest part of the room. Which is where we wanted the ceremony to take place.
In order to have enough room for all the ceremony chairs, there can't be any tables at all in that area. Not even pushed against the wall. So we would have to have one table against the wall. And the other table right up against it. Although I suppose that wouldn't look bad.
We're setting up the tables the night before. And then I am hiring two people to come in and help with getting the vendors upstairs and moving chairs. So I was thinking about having them help with the tables as well.
PPs have given some great advice. I also don't think it would take long or be a big deal to have staff or people you've hired set up three tables. It sounds like most of your guests will be down at the other end getting their cocktails around that time anyway.
Despite some of the challenges you're facing with it, your venue looks beautiful! I like the exposed brick walls.
I agree- start your cocktail hour, ideally on the other end of the room and guests will wander over and be out of the way.
If there is anywhere you can leave the tables already set up (if you even have room to carry them in that way!), have your linens already on the table ready to go. Centerpieces, dishware and cutlery in a box ready to go.
3 tables won't take long at all.
ETA: Oops, I didn't read the rest of the responses before replying. Your space is gorgeous, and PPs gave you some great ideas.
I may be misunderstanding you, but if most of the dinner seating is one long table with chairs on either side, can you take the chairs from one side, push the table all the way to the wall, make small rows of two chairs for the ceremony, and have the aisle be on the side of the room away from the table, along the wall? That way, set-up for the reception would just be picking up one column of chairs, pushing the table out, and then setting the chairs up on the other side of the table, and setting up the other 3 tables, and viola. I agree with PP's, this could happen quickly and easily during cocktail hour, especially since you took the initiative of hiring additional set-up.
Finally caught a break!