Non traditional invitations

Jtownsend3414

We are having a very non traditional wedding with the exchange of vows at the reception. I want to do some fun invitations (I already have the paper). I'm just not sure what I should write. Since we are getting married at the reception I want a way for people to know when "the show" is about to start. Something like "When _______ song plays please take your seat". Should this be put on the invitation or the program? Do I even have to have programs? I'm on a pretty tight budget. Does anyone have any links they would be willing to share that have some creative wedding invitation ideas? Or any ideas on fun ways to word the invitations? I've seen some that say "food and merriment to follow" and I was thinking of something like "drinks and merriment to occur before, during and after".
Thanks for everyone's help!!!!

brielleinlove

Wait, what?  I'm so confused.  Do you mean that you are having your ceremony in the same place as your reception (very common today BTW) or that you are going to stand up in the middle of dinner or something and exchange your vows?

I would rethink this if you mean the latter.  It is going to confuse your guests, be a headache for your venue, and likely the thing everyone will remember about your wedding is that you were that peculiar couple who didn't exchange their vows until the salad course.

s-aries8990

I would state when the "cocktail" start time is (because i really DON'T think you should serve dinner before hand- it'll get way too confusing), when the ceremony starts, and then "food and merriment to follow" I'd list the prelude song in the program and make it a well known song so people will recognize it.

Also I'd ask a few ushers to help escort people to their seats once the ceremony is about to begin.

I'm also confused as to your set-up, as Brielle asked, is it going to be between the dinner tables?

AddieCake

Why would you not just start immediately?  Plenty of people get married in the same room as the reception, and it doesn't mean they got married "at the reception." This just seems really confusing. Marry, then celebrate. 

Jtownsend3414

I'm not actually serving dinner just a few appetizers so no we wouldn't be getting married in the middle of the salad course. I know it's not ideal but we wanted to do something different. We are having a dj and they usually give some guidance to guests on what's going on during "normal"receptions so we"ll just have him do the same for the ceremony part. I'm still working on all the details to make things run as smooth as possible, which if it doesn't then that's ok because at the end of it I get to be married to the love of my life.

brielleinlove

If you don't care if things run smoothly or not, why are you asking for opinions?

Here are just a few of the issues I see cropping up with your proposed scenario:

1. People arrive and start eating and mingling. The appointed time for the ceremony arrives, but everyone is having too much fun catching up with friends and relatives.  The ceremony doesn't start on time, causing backups for everything else you have planned for the event.

2. People arrive and start eating and mingling.  The appointed time for the ceremony arrives, but some guests aren't in the area.  They've gone to the bathroom, went to a quieter area to sit and chat with Great Aunt Myrtle, or what have you.  Some of your guests miss out on the ceremony... and believe me, you'll hear about it.

3. People are confused when they receive the invitation.  "Wait, what does she mean by this?  Does the appetizer hour at 5:30 before the ceremony mean that the wedding doesn't really start until 6:30, when they'll have their ceremony?"  These guests may miss out on part of your wedding by misunderstanding the confusing invitation.

There is a reason that there is an order to these events.  Adhering to that order makes things easier and less stressful for you AND your guests.  I would strongly urge you to reconsider this "vows in the middle of the festivities" business.