How to do combined wedding/reception???

aevans2012

Hi all! Any suggestions on how to do a combined wedding/reception? I've just started the planning process, but I found a venue I love -- it just requires a little creativity. It's a rectangular room with an urban/classic appeal (exposed brick, fancy-schmancy lighting, etc). I'm also wanting a unique, intimate, fun event. The thoughts we are having at the moment are to have our guests sit at round and rectangular tables during the ceremony and transition to a dessert bar reception. Initial thoughts for Sunday afternoon wedding: Guests arrive for hors d'œuvres, get their seats; play slideshow; song; processional; vows, etc; song to send us out and get people up; dessert bar; rearrrange some tables for dancing. Thoughts? Problems I haven't thought of? Ways to execute this is a fun, uncomplicated, easy way??? Thanks for your help!!

trix1223

I think if your party extends at all into the dinner hour, then you need to have than light apps before the ceremony and dessert after.I don't think I'd have the people eating before the ceremony.  If they're seated at tables eating, will they still continue to "nibble" during your ceremony, or will you have the tables cleared before the ceremony and then re-set afterward for desserts?  I'm not sure that I'd like the look of tables at my ceremony filled with the aftermath of people eating.  It would certainly limit the angle that the photographer has for photos.And again, if you expect people to stay and dance, particularly if it falls during mealtime, you really need to feed them more than desserts.

mouse10031978

We are doing something similar to this, but in a barn, as there no space or manpower for a change over.  I actually kind of like the idea now.  We are having people seated at tables during the ceremony.  Then there will be a cocktail hour where people can mingle and move about the room, but still have their "home base' at their seat.  We will then move into the reception and dinner, etc, after that.  We are making sure to have our officiant make some announcements about what is happening next and things like that since people will not be used to this format just so people know what is going on.  We are debating opening the bar right away for the ceremony as well- why not?! 

aevans2012

Thanks for your thoughts, ladies! I am planning to have the tables cleared before the ceremony starts, so hopefully that would not be a distraction in the photos. I am trying to decide what an acceptable time to begin/end would be if we go with just the hors d'œuvres/desserts idea. We have started entertaining the idea of having dinner instead... I don't know. Anyone else want to plan this thing for me?? haha

mouse10031978

I am not sure if this helps, but we are doing people siting at tables for the ceremony (all clear except for the centerpieces).  Ceremony from 4-4:30.  Then officiant will make an announcement that cocktail hour will begin and the bar is open, people can mingle, etc.  This will go from 4:30-5:30 while we take a few last pics (we are doing most of the pics beforehand) and thencome in to mingle and talk with everyone.  Buffet dinner seved from 5:30-7:00.  Reception and dancing from 7-11.  Hope that helps! 

aevans2012

Yes, this does help, thank you! Question/thought: as we were planning, we were thinking it would be helpful for our guests to have something to take to the table first (a la food) to make them more comfortable with an unusual seating arrangement -- being at tables for a ceremony. Are you telling your guests beforehand they will be at tables, or just trusting they will go with the flow? I'm not going to start hand-holding, but I also don't want to throw people completely off! Also, because of the unusual space, we are considering getting married in the round, with our guests' tables in two semi-circles around us... thoughts??

mouse10031978

As for guiding to their seats, we are not having any food right away  (Do you think this would create any extra noise too?).  We are assigning tables just as you might at a reception (but not assigning seats).  Each table will have a number to make it less confusing. There will be escort cards as they walk in.  I think I am going to have some cousins or friends' kids pass out programs and explain to anyone who is confused how the seating arrangements work.  They can also serve as "ushers" and help people find their table. 

mouse10031978

Oh to answer your second question, I think that is totally up to you.  If you think this will make it easier for people to see, ten maybe it would work.  It would definitely be unique!    Our venue has a stage where the ceremony will take place so obviously all table will just face the stage.  Is it possible to then use that middle space as the dance floor for the reception then? 

tommyandy

An 8pm ceremony would be a good time for this type of thing. Maybe you could have high/tall cocktail tables instead of dinner tables. I would put the tables against the walls for the ceremony & move them out for the reception. 8pm means everyone will eat dinner before they get there & you can have just desserts, drinks & coffee at the reception. Maybe a coffee bar ala starbux? Without having to pay for a full dinner you can go with a larger selection of goodies & top shelf liquor or maybe a second bartender. I would serve a cocktail or champagne as people arrived.

aevans2012

Maybe you ladies should just join me at the venue and help me figure it all out!! haha I would LOVE to do an 8pm wedding, but I am also liking the idea of a Sunday wedding (which would also significantly cut the cost of this beautiful site), so I wouldn't think I should make the event so late in the evening... plus, its about an hour away from a large portion of my guests' home. I went back to the venue over the weekend and looked at it again, this time with my mom and future mother-in-law. They also loved it and had some more creative ideas for how to make the space work. One idea was to have some tables already set up in an area that isn't in the main space, then have everyone seated like a "normal" wedding. At the end, as everyone is filing out to greet me and my new hubby (!) and get some food, we would have people in place to bring the tables in. Because I'm wanting very minimalist, simple decor, I think it would work. My only problem is, just how much time would that actually take, because I'm concerned people could be left to stand around and wait and I do NOT want that to happen, of course! Another idea that was discussed was to put several big screen tvs around the venue (the venue itself already provides 3) with the ceremony on it. This way everyone would have an upclose view. Problem would be that some would not be able to actually view the wedding live. I'm concerned plenty of people could be offended at this. Or maybe appreciative of an upclose view, knowing we were so closeby anyway... I'm rambling... Thanks for your thoughts and considerations for my issues when you are busy planning your own days!! Any thoughts you could offer will be most helpful! Thanks ladies!!