BYO Blanket ceremony?

sdunaway10

We are having a short ceremony outside and are having the reception in a barn. Trying to keep the theme true. Can't find any benches for the ceremony and the chair rental and delivery costs are crazy. What's your thoughts on having blankets out for a kind of picnic ceremony? We could have chairs for the older guests + we could have our caterer set out or pass out lemonade to the guests. See the link below.

http://www.weddingbee.com/2007/10/18/it-almost-didnt-happen/

It would save us a ton and go w/ our theme.

Thanks!

GoBucksOH

What would you do if it rains?

sdunaway10

if it rains we have to take Everything indoors to the reception/barn...which i hope doesn't happen. But thought the blankets could be cute if i make sure guests know this will be a very casual wedding.

Constance2012

I think its a cute idea! We thought about having ours in a similar way, we were just going to have some chairs and then blankets already laid out... but we had to pick a different location!

GoBucksOH

If you had to go indoors to the barn, are there chairs in there or would the guests use blankets to sit on the floor of the barn?

Limegrove

What about bales of hay with the blankets on them? If its a barn they might already have some?

sdunaway10

no, if it's pushed inside they will have to sit at the tables b/c the venue is only large enough for the reception. I do love the hay bale idea but this isn't an active farm so there is no hay bales near by. I am also trying to keep from having to ask a  family member from having to help setup and take down chairs b/c everything is DIY. The  blankets seem like they could be much easier. + I would have lemonade for ppl when they arrive and I'm going to have someone playing music to make it feel more casual and picnic-like. It should only be 30min max b/c our wedding will be short.
 

sloanaw

i think it is cute. i would just make sure that the guests knew what to expect. i just mean as far as what to wear still. if you still want them in formalish attire or whatnot. i think that it would be sweet and fun though

cincyjessie

I definitely think you should let the guests know what to expect so they can dress appropriately, etc.  And if you do go that route, I would suggest getting some cheap tarps from Dollar Tree to prevent mud or moisture soaking through the blankets and getting on guests. 

Since you're doing a rustic barn theme, what about the Five Mile Chapel?  It's inexpensive and could definitely go with a rustic theme.  Here's the link

http://fivemilechapel.org/

Good luck!

spazticrexe

You should get the chairs. You have no idea what kind of ailments your guests might have. If you can't afford the chairs you should not have planned this particular ceremony venue.

It may also be useful to see these responses to a similar question:
http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_outdoor-weddings_chairs-chairs_.0

sdunaway10

the Five Mile chapel is super cute but about 50min from my venue. I have actually looked for a place up closer to Hamilton but it will need to be close b/c my family and his doesn't want to drive to a dif. location.

I'm going to poll some of the ppl I'm inviting to see if they are OK w/ an assortment of chairs/blankets.

Thanks

Stacey

spazticrexe

Sorry if I sounded a bit grumpy before when I posted 

...but I was thinking that even though they might not have hay there, I bet you could get some bales from a nearby farm. I wouldn't expect they'd be too expensive. I think that the bales with blankets would be very nice. I'd just make sure that you let people know the set-up via word of mouth so that anyone who has a hay allergy can plan accordingly.