Is this stupid? PIP

daftmagpie

Ok so we're having an intimate (50 people) garden ceremony. The ceremony site has two pergolisis that overlook Niagara Falls but the down side, the garden slopes downward away from the pergolisis. Toward that round area on the street corner. We want to have the ceremony in one of the pergolisis.

I reallllyyyy dont want to spend the $$ on renting chairs. PLUS we have the ceremony site from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. We are hoping for no set up and a 6:15 start for the ceremony. What I was thinking of doing is laying quilts out on the grass for people to sit on if they dont want to stand. Our ceremony is only about 20-25 minutes long. Something like this is what i was thinking...

I'm also wearing a tea length gown so its pretty fun and casual and we chave a vintage theme. I have about a dozen quilts my great gram and my great aunts quilted when I was a kid I could use for this. Is this stupid and awkward or can I make it work?

spalko

I think it would be a good idea for the type of ceremony you are describing. I just worry that if you have elderly guests attending your wedding whether or not they will be able to get up from sitting on the ground or even down on the ground to sit. Also, they might not be able to stand for that long. If you do have grandparents or guests with special needs it might be nice to have a few chairs available for them (maybe you could borrow them from a church or from another guest for the ceremony). Just have reserved signs on them so other 'ground capable' guests don't steal them.

Also, I hate to be a negative nancy, but what happens if the weather isn't in your favor that day? Or some guests choose to sit and other stand but them standing ends up blocking those that are sitting. I really do sound like a sour puss, I don't mean to but these might be some things you've overlooked in the planning process!

Let us know what you decide!!

lsvensson

Agree with PP-- it sounds like it would make for a nice, relaxed vibe, but I would worry about all of the logistical inconveniences that come with it--elderly guests, people having to sit on the grass in their dresses etc (not on the grass, directly, but still), the possibility of the ground being wet if it happened to rain the day before, etc...

leahstinson

Go with it! I have been to a wedding and I loved it. They had a row of chairs on the side for elderly guests and it worked great. 

mandi921vh

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_may-2012-weddings_this-stupid-pip?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:f0ca0bc1-9255-4120-8042-b40e7f3e99c5Discussion:4868e5ab-749a-4bb2-9f13-35caae0f9e8fPost:7add364c-3f6b-4d38-b84c-f957b6294cb7">Re: Is this stupid? PIP</a>:
[QUOTE]Agree with PP-- it sounds like it would make for a nice, relaxed vibe, but I would worry about all of the logistical inconveniences that come with it--elderly guests, people having to sit on the grass in their dresses etc (not on the grass, directly, but still), the possibility of the ground being wet if it happened to rain the day before, etc...
Posted by lsvensson[/QUOTE]

<div>I was thinking about these possible issues too...</div>

FutureMrsSheeler

It sounds nice.. but I agree with spalko. I would think of all those things before making a final decision.

aleighk1

No, every butt needs a chair. Even if it's bales of hay or benches or something. There needs to be chairs.

pantherRN

Every butt needs a chair, even if your ceremony is 5 minutes.

toothpastechica

i like the idea....but i gotta agree with everyone whos mentioned the logistics...
We dont have enough chairs for everyone at our ceremony (its a historic church that technically only fits 100 and we have 140 on the guest list...hoping some dont come....) so what we are doing is having a very short (15-20 minute) ceremony and there will be seats reserved for family, elderly and families with small children and after that its a first come first serve basis....stand in the back if you dont get a chair...hopefully we have some amazing ushers!

toothpastechica

all that was to say my opinion...(not that im right) would be to have chairs for the elderly/families with kids and make everyone else stand...but that can only be done with a short ceremony

Pod0512

While that picture you posted is pretty, I don't think it would be comfortable for your guests, and it's just not proper etiquette.  I would not enjoy standing for 20 minutes in heels, and I would not enjoy trying to get up and down off the ground in a nice dress, not to mention my grandma would be physically unable to do either.

pantherRN

I'll say it again, regardless of age, ceremony length, if the sun is green that day, every butt needs a chair.

Toothpastechica, just because you're going to invite more people that your venue can hold, doesn't mean you can make the "extras" stand in the back. It's quite rude. You really should consider renting extra chairs or benches or looking at a different venue.

Pod0512

Oh, geez, I didn't read that.

Ditto Panther, you should rethink your plan for the church, Toothpaste.

toothpastechica

im getting married in the church my mom got married in, im not giving that up. We are having a casual wedding, and my family isnt as stuck up as most of yours apparently