Anyone want to help me word how to tell guests to stay in their pews?

drdifabio

After the ceremony, we want to have guests stay in their pews so that Joe and I can come back in and usher guests out pew by pew. This will be in lieu of a receiving line but we want guest to know to stay put so we are thinking of putting something in our program telling them to stay where they are.

Has anyone done this or have good wording for it?

We are thinking something like:

Please remain in your pews after the ceremony.
Danielle and Joe will return to greet guests.

But I don't think it sounds quite right.
Any thoughts?

EDIT: We did ask our priest about just saying something at the end and he told us he didnt want to do that and that we should just put something in our program.

I Want Cake

Maybe change "great" to "greet"?  You wouldn't want to exclude those who aren't great.  J/K

I think what you've got sounds fine.  You could even have the priest announce that after you've kissed.

bellaxanthe

I just went to one last weekend where the officiant asked everyone to please be seated after the wedding party had walked out.  It was obvious then that we were being "dismissed" by row by the ushers. I worry that simply putting it in the program it may get missed by a lot of people.

drdifabio

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_anyone-want-word-tell-guests-stay-their-pews?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:81Discussion:57a5974b-ffcc-491a-8bd7-67e5608ac2eePost:a1607a3c-a29b-439d-96d5-6e945878953c">Re: Anyone want to help me word how to tell guests to stay in their pews?</a>:
[QUOTE]Maybe change "great" to "greet"?  You wouldn't want to exclude those who aren't great.  J/K I think what you've got sounds fine.  You could even have the priest announce that after you've kissed.
Posted by I Want Cake[/QUOTE]

Opps! Thanks! :)

And yeah we did ask our priest to announce it and he didnt seem to like that idea and asked if we could just put it in the program so I guess we are going that direction.

wittyschaffy

Joe and Danielle would like to greet you personally before you leave the church.  Please remain seated after the bridal party recesses and they'll return to the sanctuary to dismiss pews.

Or something like that??  Or maybe even cut it off after the bridal party recesses part?

Enchanted616

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_anyone-want-word-tell-guests-stay-their-pews?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:81Discussion:57a5974b-ffcc-491a-8bd7-67e5608ac2eePost:e7dd89c8-e964-477e-b95f-bf71c72fc586">Re: Anyone want to help me word how to tell guests to stay in their pews?</a>:
[QUOTE]Joe and Danielle would like to greet you personally before you leave the church.  Please remain seated after the bridal party recesses and they'll return to the sanctuary to dismiss pews.
Posted by wittyschaffy[/QUOTE]

I really like this. 

LolaBelle515

One suggestion to help folks actually follow this since many folks won't see it in the program:

: Have your ushers come up to the front and stand by the pews so that people don't start to walk out and leave. Also, tell your friends about it in advance so that many people there will know personally that they're supposed to wait for you.

drdifabio

Thanks ladies that is very helpful!!!

kristigiles

We greeted everyone and ushered them out like you are going to do and we didn't mention it or write it anywhere.  We made sure to head right back in as soon as the wedding party was out.  It worked out really smoothly!  And it was FAST which was such a plus!

debbieupper

It's kind of bizarre that your priest would refuse to do that. If you would feel more comfortable with him announcing it, he should do it. Personally, when FI and I were considering this option, our officiant suggested he announce it. I think a lot of people would miss it in the program -- not everyone reads those things, and then you'd have awkwardness when some people get up to leave and others are still sitting. Could you ask him again with more directness? I.e. "We have discussed this and decided we would really like you to do this...". It's not a big deal, so I don't see why he wouldn't.

Another tid-bit - we decided against us dismissing rows just because it would take quite a while and people will feel rushed. I think it's okay if you have a small wedding, but ours is 200 people and everyone is itching to get up and visit, find their friends, grab a drink, etc.  We ended up going with an off-to-the side receiving line so people can choose to skip it and beeline it to the beer if they would rather, OR they can go grab a drink and come back and visit then. Just another option.

Mrs TK

I think its pretty standard to be ushered out by either the bride/groom or the ushers.  I don't think i've been to a wedding where it's been announced or in the program.