What can guest do while we are taking pictures?!?!?

alliebear18

Hi Y'all, me and my fiance are having our ceremony and reception at our church. Due to a small budget we are having a 'dessert/appitizer reception'.  I don't want my fiance to see me until Im walking down the aile, so taking photos together before the ceremony is out of the question. What can we do to entertain our guest for an hour??????

misshart00

Have a non alcoholic cocktail hour. You could have soda and fun punches.

OliveOilsMom

Take as many photos as you can before.  You and your BP, FI and his GM, etc and then go right into your reception.  I would imagine that it would not be a very long reception since its only light appetizers and dessert.  So after everyone has left the reception, then you can go have the rest of your pictures taken.

artbyallie

As long as guests can go straight from the ceremony to the reception (and as long as neither overlaps a meal time, so either 2-3pm OR after 8pm), you'll be fine. The guests just need to be fed, and not have to wait somewhere for the reception to begin.

harper0813

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_what-can-guest-do-while-we-are-taking-pictures?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:10Discussion:630f3424-b2c5-47cf-b27f-1725dde2858cPost:d246fe81-a43b-4aaa-9bd6-d52119f7242e">Re: What can guest do while we are taking pictures?!?!?</a>:
[QUOTE]Nothing, honestly.  Your wedding sounds very similar to mine and I suggest you do what we did, which was to take all the photos that didn't involve bothe of us together before the ceremony, thenhave guests go ahead and start eating (we had finger foods), and cut your photo list WAY down to something you can do in 20 minutes.  Guests are not going to be okay waiting for an hour for you to get there just to then hang around and eat some muchies.  You'll see them start leaving as soon as they've said congratulations.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

<div>I'm curious to see what posters here have to say about a ceremony/reception being held in the same room. The venue needs an hour to flip the room before the reception, and the event being held on the second story of a mansion, there is plenty of room for cocktail hour and seating for everyone on the first floor. Is this considered rude by your standards?</div>

MsYeck

Like someone else said do all the pictures that can be done before the ceremony. My sister did that and it took like only about 30 minutes to do the rest afterwards.

harper0813

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_what-can-guest-do-while-we-are-taking-pictures?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:10Discussion:630f3424-b2c5-47cf-b27f-1725dde2858cPost:285dcf9c-b20f-4b64-a58e-5455c1903575">Re: What can guest do while we are taking pictures?!?!?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: What can guest do while we are taking pictures?!?!? : Personally, I wouldn't flip the room.  I would get married with the room set up for the reception and guests seated at their tables.  That is actually my favorite new wedding trend.  However, as long as you are properly hosting your guests during the hour and serving a meal at the reception, I think it's fine.  Not ideal, but fine. The problem with OP's plan is that, like mine, the reception itself is kind of one big "cocktail hour".  There is a big difference between spending an hour eating appetizers and drinking before a 3-4 event that includes dinner and dancing, and spending an hour eating finger foods waiting to then spend another 2 hours eating cake.  
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

<div>That makes sense. Thanks for answering my question, Stage!</div>

Jessa617

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_what-can-guest-do-while-we-are-taking-pictures?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:10Discussion:630f3424-b2c5-47cf-b27f-1725dde2858cPost:285dcf9c-b20f-4b64-a58e-5455c1903575">Re: What can guest do while we are taking pictures?!?!?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: What can guest do while we are taking pictures?!?!? : Personally, I wouldn't flip the room.  I would get married with the room set up for the reception and guests seated at their tables.  <strong>That is actually my favorite new wedding trend.</strong>  However, as long as you are properly hosting your guests during the hour and serving a meal at the reception, I think it's fine.  Not ideal, but fine. The problem with OP's plan is that, like mine, the reception itself is kind of one big "cocktail hour".  There is a big difference between spending an hour eating appetizers and drinking before a 3-4 event that includes dinner and dancing, and spending an hour eating finger foods waiting to then spend another 2 hours eating cake.  
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

This is actually a trend?? This is how my wedding is set up but only by circumstance.

Jessa617

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_what-can-guest-do-while-we-are-taking-pictures?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:10Discussion:630f3424-b2c5-47cf-b27f-1725dde2858cPost:b24d84ac-884c-4a14-ba3a-b475af3dd6c1">What can guest do while we are taking pictures?!?!?</a>:
[QUOTE]Hi Y'all, me and my fiance are having our ceremony and reception at our church. Due to a small budget we are having a 'dessert/appitizer reception'.  I don't want my fiance to see me until Im walking down the aile, so taking photos together before the ceremony is out of the question. What can we do to entertain our guest for an hour??????
Posted by alliebear18[/QUOTE]

I agree with other posters. Because there is no dinner and no cocktail hour, I would suggest taking as many photos as you can prior to the ceremony. Then do just you and groom and both families together after the ceremony.

I know you said you absolutely did not want to let your groom see you before the ceremony but have you thought of a "first look" shoot? This way you can get ALL of the photos done prior to the ceremony. Your photographer will still be able to capture the look on your FI face when he sees you for the first time. It also helps to calm the nerves during the actual ceremony.

TheBaysideBride

haha they can...go find a secret spot to get busy!! totally kidding but your subject line made me laugh they can stretch their legs and mingle, the pics will be over before you know it.