Things for our guests to do between ceremony and reception

heatherdutcher

i all,
We are having our ceremony and reception at the same place.  Our ceremony will end around 3ish (we will then depart for pictures) and the reception will start around 5.  The guests are free to roam within the foyer of the hall but that's about it.  I'm worried people will get bored in that time frame.  We have a photo booth but it's not available until later in the night.  We aren't having h'ordeuvres served due to budget restraints and the bar doesn't open until 5pm (we can have it open earlier and end earlier or pay extra $$ per person but again, budget).  Any ideas that we can have the guests do while they are waiting for us?
We are having our pictures done near by and am hoping to be back sooner than 5 but I also don't want to rush our picture time.
Thanks for your ideas everyone.

Mrs.B6302007

Honestly, I would get rid of the photo booth and use that money to host a CH. Your guests' comfort is more important than a photo booth.

heatherdutcher

Unfortunately, the booth is paid for and is non-refundable and I really didn't think about the gap until after it had been paid for.  I was an excited bride who made too many decisions in the first few weeks!  To have the bar open earlier is an additional $15 per person (eek).  Do you think non-alcoholic drinks and snacks would be ok until the reception starts and the bar opens??

AdeleDazeem

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_things-guests-between-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:89ca4acf-f506-4ace-bbac-e7ef5cc07a0bPost:db1b3eb6-9e76-4311-a533-6a15472058ac">Re: Things for our guests to do between ceremony and reception</a>:
[QUOTE]Do you think non-alcoholic drinks and snacks would be ok until the reception starts and the bar opens??
Posted by heatherdutcher[/QUOTE]

Yup!

heatherdutcher

Thank you everyone  - I will make some changes in the food/drink department.  Any ideas as to what they can actually "do" during this time?  Or is adding the food and drink enough until we get back?

AdeleDazeem

Food and drink should be fine!  People love to mingle and chat with those they haven't seen in awhile.

Background music is also a plus, but you can use an iPod for that if you'd like!

NOLAbridealmost

It's a great idea to host some light snacks and non-alcohol drinks + iPod during the gap.  But perhaps an even better (and cheaper!) idea might be to eliminate the gap entirely.

Have you considered doing a 'first look' to get most of the photos out of the way beforehand?  We did that and it only ended up taking about 15 minutes to get the large group family shots after the ceremony and then we were on our way to the reception. Easy peezy. 

banana468

Ditto NOLA.

gailpete

I would also make sure there is seating available for the 2 hours.  Even with drinks and snacks, I would be very unhappy if I had to stand around in heels for 2 hours.

alithebride

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_things-guests-between-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:89ca4acf-f506-4ace-bbac-e7ef5cc07a0bPost:6e28c5a4-af53-4474-9d48-b26a54d6d800">Re: Things for our guests to do between ceremony and reception</a>:
[QUOTE]I would also make sure there is seating available for the 2 hours.  Even with drinks and snacks, I would be very unhappy if I had to stand around in heels for 2 hours.
Posted by gailpete[/QUOTE]
agreed.
you can also put out your guest book for people to sign or frames iwth family members etc..
i agree though-2 hours of standing around is thumbs down. take as many photos as you can before the ceremony and cut your gap down by 50%.