Wedding Reception Forum

Reception and Ceremony in the same location?

Has anyone had their reception and ceremony in the same place? Did it make things easier? We are thinking of renting a ballroom and having the ceremony and reception in it. 
Thanks!
Melissa

Re: Reception and Ceremony in the same location?

  • I'm having my ceremony and reception in the same place.  I think it all depends on what the layout of the venue is.  Ask the coordinator for ideas.  I'm sure they have encountered all types of scenarios.

    And my guess is that it again will depend on the layout and your plans whether or not it will indeed be easier.
  • I'm having both at the same place.  I think it will be easier because people will only have to travel to one place.  We just kinda figured that people would probably only attend the ceremony if they had to go to two different places.

    Leigh Anne & Billy
    *October 2nd, 2010*
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  • I did.   I'm not sure the guests really cared (they are use to church weddings, so different venues was normal).   But it was nice for them to be able to hit the bar only minutes after the ceremony.  They seems to like that.







    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • I prefer one location and we are having ceremony and reception at the same venue.  It's nice to just walk from one area to the next andrather than wait for bride & groom to finish pictures at ceremony site for their exit and then drive to another location.
  • Yes we are having everything at the same location as well. A lot of our guests have told us they love the idea. It also saved us money since we don't have to rent limos or transporation for us and the bridal party.
  • Im going to..I think it's going to be so much easier, the guests go for cocktails in the adjacent room that is set up just for them, we get our pics made and after that hour we are announced! Nothing easier, no traffic, weather., just a smooth transistion from ceremony to reception!!
  • We have alot of out of town guest. So we decided to go with the same location for everything.  Talk to you planning people and see if they can either section off part of the room for just the ceremony, or how long of a turn around time there will be to switch from ceremony to party room!
  • We have decided to have the ceremony and reception in the same place and we have gotten some great feedback from our guest especially the one that are from over seas and across the states. We also decided to have our pictures done at the same place, while everyone is enjoying cocktail hour we will be enjoying our picures. During that time we are going to have a steel pan band play to entertain our guest. It saves you alot of money now a days you need permits to take photos in certain places, and the rental of transportaion is not needed.
  • We are having our ceremony and reception at the same venue as well.  It is saving us a lot of money and it is easier for our guests as most of them are coming from across the states. 
  • I am also considering having my ceremony and reception at the same location. I am however concerned about the "flip" time! How were y'all able to flip the room in a short amount of time, and have it looking fabulous? Most weddings I have been to have set up the reception either the day before, or for the majority of the wedding day. How is it possible to do the switch without completely stressing everyone involved?
  • Caterers are pretty accustomed to it, I think.  We are having the ceremony outside, cocktail hour on the porch while they finish setting up indoors, and reception indoors and on the porches.  If it rains, I trust the caterer to handle having everything indoors because they do a lot of weddings at our venue.

    If you are having everything in one room, have the guests seated at their tables for the ceremony.  If the tables are roughly on either side of the room, there should be an aisle in between (this can double as a dance floor if large enough).  Or move to another room for cocktail hour while the room is flipped.
  • We're actually having everything in the same room.  The caterers and bartender will come in and set up beforehand, and everyone will just gather at the window for the very brief ceremony.  Then we'll actually go out into the hall and do the formal shots, and the bar and app buffet will be opened.  Since our wedding is family/WP only, just about every guest will need to be in at least one formal shot, so we'll just call people into the hallway as we need them, then go right back to the party once they're done.
    This is a neglected planning bio.
    This is a belated married bio, with no reviews yet because I'm lazy.

    image
    Sometimes I feel like people think that brides are delicate little flower princesses who get all dressed up and pretty for one special moment of their dreams, when really they're just normal people who just happen to be getting married. Things shouldn't have to be sugar-coated for grown-ass women. -mstar284
  • We have 2 separate areas.  One is for the Ceremony with is in the Amplitheater/Botanical Garden and our reception is in the Banquet Room.  Our only issue is that we can't get in to the areas to decorate until the day of and not until after 530 for the wedding to decorate.

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