Set up/reception food advice...

califowls

Hello everyone!  This is my first post on here, even though I've been surfing for quite a while. My story goes like this...

I wasn't much of a dater and decided to try the online thing last year around this time.  I met someone, we talked on the phone, and discovered we both knew some of the same people even though we have never lived in the same town.  I'm from Amarillo and he's from Louisiana but lives in Odessa.  Anyway, we hit it off, and I moved to Odessa to live with my grandmother so that we could really see where it would go.  I guess it went well, because he proposed to me on my birthday.  So now I have a wedding to plan!

I was hoping to have some advice about how much time it takes to set up a wedding.  I booked my ceremony/reception at Winfrey Point on White Rock Lake in Dallas, because we thought it would be a great in-between meeting place for both of our families.  It was all booked up for Saturdays in the summer, but we chose to do a Sunday afternoon wedding.

Since we decided to do that, I was wondering if anyone had any advice about set up times.  We booked the place from 8am to 6pm, and I would like to have the wedding outside right at noon.  For the reception, I had this idea to do "upscale backyard affair" with a gourmet burger bar and fancier versions of things you would eat at a cookout.  The problem with that is the time.

Will I have enough time to set everything up in just four hours?  I was thinking of hiring some people to do the set up, but I just don't know if I am being realistic at all.  If it's not enough time, I will have to move the ceremony back to 1 or 2, and I am afraid it will be too hot outside to do it there, and then my food idea won't be feasible either.  2:30 is too weird of a time to offer real food, in my opinion.  Any thoughts?

fallbride1109

A Sunday afternoon wedding outside at noon in July??  Yikes!  It will be really, really hot.

I am friends with a Winfrey bride on FB so I will see if she will come answer you if no one else does.  If you have the budget for a day-of coordinator, you might want to consider that also. 

califowls

Thanks for the help.  If the ceremony is at noon, and then the reception is inside, do you really think it will be that bad?  If so, I might try to think of other options.  We will probably hire someone to do the day-of coordinating so that I will not be stressed about it.  I think if I can do it simply enough, maybe set up that day won't be so bad.  I was hoping to connect with someone else that has had a wedding at Winfrey Point.  If your friend has any ideas, I would really appreciate it.  Thanks so much!

courtski2004

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_set-upreception-food-advice?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:58b58ea8-5eee-41a9-a4fc-1e13440e311cPost:f1f655ce-1c10-48fc-98c3-51c5551387f6">Re: Set up/reception food advice...</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks for the help.  If the ceremony is at noon, and then the reception is inside, do you really think it will be that bad?  If so, I might try to think of other options.  Posted by califowls@hotmail.com[/QUOTE]

It will be hot. I remember driving to work at 9 AM this summer and the temp was already pushing 90 some days. If people are arriving at 11:30 for the noon ceremony, they will be out in the heat for at least 45 minutes--and that is if you have a short and sweet ceremony. If you choose to go this route, make sure to provide fans and bottled water for your guests, and maybe an air-conditioned area for elderly guests and small children so they don't have to be out in the heat for as long.
I recommend hiring a coordinator that can handle all of the set-up and tear-down. I think three to four hours is enough time. That is the last thing I would have cared to do on my wedding day. Once they know what your vision is, they will help to bring it to life--and it is well worth it.

Jay&Marissa

Yeah...I would not do an outdoor ceremony at noon in July. Or really anytime in July.  Also, I'm not sure how great the A/C at Winfrey Point is. It might be fine, but it is an old building.

professorscience

A/C at Winfrey is fine -- we were quite cold at a wedding in September, but I would also like to request on behalf of your guests that you not have an outdoor July wedding.  That's just brutal.

califowls

What if we use the porch area as a refreshment/reception for when guests arrive?  Then we direct everyone outside for the ceremony, and then back inside right after the ceremony is over?  I know it sounds silly, but you know what it's like when you have this vision of you wedding.  You unscathingly adhere to what it is that you want!  I want it outside, under a tree, and I wish it would be at sunset, but I can give that up as long as it's outside.  Thoughts?

bsn1752

I think no matter how you slice it, dice it or package it - an outdoor wedding in Texas, in the summer is a bad idea.  Refreshments, porches, trees... none of that make a difference IMO.  It's too hot and not fair to your guests.

bsn1752

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_set-upreception-food-advice?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:58b58ea8-5eee-41a9-a4fc-1e13440e311cPost:6ca8652e-44af-4570-83db-f746a87eea9c">Re: Set up/reception food advice...</a>:
[QUOTE]What if we use the porch area as a refreshment/reception for when guests arrive?  Then we direct everyone outside for the ceremony, and then back inside right after the ceremony is over?  I know it sounds silly, but you know what it's like when you have this vision of you wedding.  You unscathingly adhere to what it is that you want!  I want it outside, under a tree, and I wish it would be at sunset, but I can give that up as long as it's outside.  Thoughts?
Posted by califowls@hotmail.com[/QUOTE]

<div>If you aren't willing to give up an outdoor wedding, then move the wedding date.</div>

Kaliella

I second, third, etc. what everyone else has said.  My dad and stepmom had a late June wedding outside a few years ago (in Salado--I live in Atlanta now but am from Texas).  Even though we were in the shade, it was in the mid or high 90s that day and was terribly uncomfortable.  Please don't do that to yourself or your guests!  You and your groom will sweat like nobody's business in your attire, and it's just not worth being uncomfortable for your wedding.