HELP!!

smsimps09

Anybody, please! I am having my reception and ceremony in the same room of a building. As of now, during the ceremony guests will already be seated at the tables they will eat at. No refreshments or snacks will be available during the ceremony. I am not sure how to do a 'grand enterance' because we'll basically have to walk out then walk right back in. There will be no waiting period between the ceremony and when the reception begins (my fiance and I hate going to weddings where we have to wait 2-3 while the couple is taking pictures..) Is there a good way to do this? Also, when do I do the cake cutting? Is it really necessary to get our photographer to take pictures if family members have cameras? Because in his contract it says that cake pictures must be taken withing 15 minutes of the couples arrival. I'm in desperate need of any help or ideas! Thanks!

OliveOilsMom

It wouldn't be a grand entrance, but you can have your DJ immediately start in the announcement of Mr & Mrs John Doe as you turn to walk back down the aisle.  This can then lead directly into your first dance and right after the dance, you can go over and cut the cake.  Then take your seats for dinner.  Your guests would be seated at their tables the whole time.

I do find it odd that your photographer's contract has a provision about when the cake gets cut.  And that it needs to be cut so quickly!  Lastly, I would have a chat with FI about whether he wants to smash the cake in your face.  If you have to cut your cake that early in the day and he smashes the cake in your face, you could be gone for upwards of 30 minutes fixing your make up and hair.

vbjoanna

Two thoughts -- First, there's no rule that says you have to leave, so you don't NEED to have a grand entrance. Second, just because you're not leaving for a ton of photos doesn't mean you can't stay out of the room for some amount of time -- giggling, sharing some kisses, telling each other how wonderful they are -- so that you don't have to turn around and walk right back in.

At our wedding a week ago or so, we had a ceremony and light refreshments at one location. We walked out after the ceremony and were SO thankful for a few minutes to ourselves. We'd been so excited to see each other and hadn't been together since the rehearsal dinner the night before and really appreciated the time to say hello to each other and giggle together. We each drank some water, I showed him the bouquet, which he hadn't seen, I told him I got us a wedding present of our names and wedding date engraved on a brick at a local museum we love, and we basically stared at each other and giggled the rest of the time. We were maybe gone 10-15 minutes. We didn't get announced back in, but we did pause at the doorway (where people could see us) and then walked in right to our first dance. The time we were gone was also used to move chairs around and to set out some appetizers and desserts, so our guests weren't just staring off into space. Will you have some appetizers served, or will the bar open up right after the ceremony? That's a good enough reason to stay gone for 15 minutes -- let everyone get a few apps or something to drink and settle back down, then come back in.

Is your photographer not staying for the whole reception? I think the cake clause is weird, too, but if you don't want to cut the cake when the photographer wants you to cut the cake, I'm sure you can ask someone with a camera to be the designated lens that you both look into. People came over to watch us cut our cake, but I also think that it's not necessarily that big of a spectator moment - I'm sure I haven't seen anyone cut the cake at most weddings I've been to. So if you cut the cake and each have a bite and none of your guests are watching, I don't know that it would be that big of a deal. Or you could make an announcement -- I think our DOC went around to the various tables and told people we'd be cutting the cake, which is the only reason anyone was around to watch it.

amanda1611t

Im a photographer and I know first hand that if the photographer is telling you when the cake photos must be done that is  a BAD SIGN

Some photographers who have no courtesy will demand their timeline be used.

this is because he isnt going to stay for your whole wedding. He told you he would, but probably after the first half hour or hour of your reception he is out of there will the key shots,

confront him about this