Venue Layout Help

lilmiss_34

Ok, I need everyone's opinion again.

FI, his parents, and I went to visit the venue yesterday to show them and discuss layout. It was decided that the tables and dance floor would be in the main room, and the gift table, bar, evening food, and photobooth would be in the foyer just off of the main room.

I'm not too sure about some of those items not being in the main room. What do you all think? This layout was at the suggestion of the hotel wedding coordinator, who said that is how it is usually done. Prior to talking to her, I thought FI and I both wanted to keep as much as possible in the main room. But then when speaking with the coordinator he said he didn't 'have' to have those things in the main room, that it was just me who was set on that.

This all just happened yesterday, so maybe I'm just still adjusting to the change of what I imagined it to be, but I do feel the layout is kind of wrong. So what do you all think?

julbgordo

I think having them separate is fine as long as everything is fairly close together.  I also think it depends on how large the main room is.  If it would be a tight fit to have everything in there, then keep the extras outside of the main room.  If there is plenty of room for everything, I personally would try to have it all in the main room.  Either way, I don't see any issues with it and I would trust the venue coordinator.

dlmoone6

I think I would like the bar in the main room- what do you think?

WEEZIE918

How far apart are the room?  If you put everything in the main room will it be crowded?  I think I might want the bar in the same room, although my bar isn't in the same room...it's right next to it and I'm ok with it.  Actually, the area we are having our photobooth is kinda off to the side near where the cake is going to be.  I'm kinda glad it's a little away from the dance floor area, but it's not far and we should still get the feeling that everything is going on in the same general area.

lilmiss_34

People will walk into the foyer first, and then the main room for dining/dancing is connected to it through a set of double doors. I would prefer that at least the bar and food be in the main room, but it would be crowded to bring these things into the main room. It would also be nice to have the photobooth in the main room, but I could do without.

MsJuneBride2012

I agree with you and your FI that as much as possible should be kept in the main room. First and foremost, some of those things (mainly the bar and the photobooth) coud  possibly compete with the dance floor for people's attention, and the main room may look empty at times. Also, will anyone be watching the gift table if it's not in the main room? I've just heard so many horror stories about gifts being stolen. At any rate, if it's an issue of space, maybe try to have one or a few of those things in the main room.

diamondx423

I really prefer the bar in the ballroom if its possible

TeamMoriarty

it sounds pretty normal to me for these things to be separate- i've been to several weddings like that.  people will go wherever the bar is, trust me!  as to the gifts though, if your venue will have other people not from your wedding there, i would ask for that table to be in your room.  i agree with msjunebride2012 about the stole gifts.

lilmiss_34

Thanks for the opinions ladies! 

Unless my guest count goes down, it's looking like I likely wont be able to get even one more item in the main room. What's odd is that FI says he actually wants the bar out in the foyer and he was only fighting for these things because he thought that's what I wanted, but he doesn't actually care. Which is pretty much his opinion on most wedding things.

In regards to the gifts, I was worried about that, but the coordinator told me that after the reception gets going, she, along with someone we choose, will load up the gifts and take them to our room.

So it's seeming that if at all possible, I should get the bar into the man room, because otherwise, it will pull people out of the main room too much?

 I'm become such a little stress ball when my plans have to be changed.

MMRoberts11

I think the food and the photobooth in a separate room are a good idea but personally (and from stories) I would put everything else in the main room.  People will be where the bar is and I would put gifts in the main room just to limit anything happening to them.

courtneyclare103

My layout uses multiple rooms, but the two "extra rooms" (there is one, huge main room and two smaller rooms) overlook the main room with big, open windows. We're having:

Main room: majority of seating, dance floor, bar, cake table, band
Extra room 1: buffet
Extra room 2: extra seating (will be a good place for those that would rather sit and chat after dinner than dance since it won't be in the same room as the band, but large, open windows overlook the main room, so they can still see in the main room if they want)

We're also having the sign in table in the foyer and the restrooms are around the corner. I was worried about people not being able to find everything, so I'm ordering directional signs off of etsy and may even make a small, cute map on vistaprint and put one on each table so that people can find their way around. If you're worried about people not noticing something that is in the main room, you could do something similar.