After the ceremony

vfriday

It seems I have a dilema.  My ceremony is at 6pm and I have scheduled our cocktail reception (in-suite) for 7:30pm.  I wanted to leave an hour between the ceremony and reception so that FI and I could do pics and then join the party.  Our package at Mandalay Bay includes the in suite reception and it is only 2 hours long so we didn't want to miss any of it.  I didn't factor in that I might need to give my guests some suggestions for using their time from 6:30-7:30.  The self sufficient person in me would just hit a penny slot machine to kill time.  Do you all have any suggestions or am I just over thinking?

Sin715

I think you are being a thoughtful host but I also think people won't mind at all! They will probably go have a drink or a quick gamble....I wouldn't worry about them.

direy25

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_after-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:842b6bed-2e56-471f-9296-972e62e253fePost:09d5f88f-155a-4523-b107-f05d3f69f4c4">Re: After the ceremony</a>:
[QUOTE]I think you are being a thoughtful host but I also think people won't mind at all! They will probably go have a drink or a quick gamble....I wouldn't worry about them.
Posted by Sin715[/QUOTE]
Ditto this.  If it were 2 hours or more I'd maybe be a bit more concerned but really an hour isn't that long. 

aegrish

if it were a traditional wedding it'd be different, but on the strip especially there is always something to occupy guests time and they may appreciate the little break to go off on their own.  We have about an hour in between our cermony and reception too.  I agree with OP they can hit the penny slots if need be.

smokeybailey

I would be concerned with guests getting involved with something.  TBH if I hit a craps or BJ table and it's hot, I'll be hard pressed to go up to the suite on time.  It is SO easy to lose track of time.  I've played for over 6 hours straight before and didn't even realize that it was time for our dinner until my mother literally dragged me away.  It's easy to lose track of time if you are having drinks at a bar too.

What about those who don't gamble or don't want to hang out in a bar?  Is it at all possible to keep the group together and allow them into the suite before you arrive so they are all corralled?  Perhaps you can give the key to someone to let everyone in?

erinkay81

I think you are fine too. I know many of my girlfriends will go back to their rooms to freshen up. And the guests know we only have a two hour open bar so they will be there on time. I think if you make this clear, people will be there. Unlike a traditional wedding that goes on for six hours, our shorter in-suites will hopefully be somewhere people want to be at the whole time. But I would agree that giving someone the key is a good idea. You could have a few bottles of wine and some cold beer for people to help themselves to. The only thing that may be weird is the caterer and barternder setting up while guests are there. Just a thought.

vfriday

Hospitality will let themselves in at 6:30 and the bartender will be on duty by 7:30.  My future SIL and boyfriend will be there at 7 to let the guests in so we should be okay in terms of access to the suite.   Glad to know that I am not expecting too much of my guests.  thanks ladies.