Would it be tacky?

friendlypeanut · October 2009

We found the perfect venue at a great price but it is looking a little small. It's an old victorian farmhouse and we want to have the ceremony there too. It just doesnt look like there is enough room for 150 ceremony chairs and reception seating. Would it be tacky to have the guests sit at the tables during the ceremony?

ffmaid · October 2009

No as long as they have a seat for both the ceremoney and reception

duckie1905 · October 2009

As long as they have somewhere to sit it is perfectly acceptable to have them seated at tables for the ceremony.

Alpine Engaged · October 2009

I don't think that's tacky at all.

mbcdefg · October 2009

Not tacky in the least.

mikesboo23 · October 2009

Not at all, plus remember that not everyone you invite will attend. We invited 87 and right now it looks like only 50 are coming.

JHuffy · October 2009

We know people who had a "cer-reption" (ceremony and reception combined). They had the tables set and small mints and similar things on the tables for their guests so that the guests just stayed at the same table during the ceremony and for the reception. They guests there loved it and some of them asked us to do ours the same way!

rubber_chicken · October 2009

another option that works if you're having a cocktail hour:have the reception tables set up, but without chairs. set the chairs up on the dance floor to create a ceremony space. then while everyone's at the cocktail hour (preferably in another room, or outside in a garden or on the porch or something), the staff will move the chairs to the reception tables.

starandstephen · October 2009

It isnt tacky at all, all weddings are different, ppl will embrace something different.Have the VIP guests in the chairs though, especially if you have out of town guests. **Dont tell your guests about your "dilemma" and how you fixed it though, theyll just think you "meant" it to be that way.

may2010wedding · October 2009

It would not be tacky at all. Seeing as they will have a place to sit for both events they are fine.

katelyn_alameda · October 2009

we are doing it! tacky or not, its just how we have to do it. and a lot of my guests have LOVED the idea

babylizz · October 2009

I think the whole moving chairs idea is tacky. Guests will see the tables anyway, then will linger in the space and see people moving chairs. I'm doing it too...and because we're only using one set of chairs, we're able to afford to buy chair covers from ebay (they can then be sold later for MUCH cheaper than renting). We have rented a local garden center and are having the ceremony and reception in the one large hall there. We will be setting up the tables with an aisle down the middle of them, then we will say our vows at one end of the room (where the dance floor will be later). Things to consider: family seating- we're doing a seating chart to ensure the fam has the front row/table seating your seating- make sure to decide where you will be sitting for the reception (middle of the room or up front by the fam, and remember this table will then be empty during the ceremony) Timeline when cer/reception are in same place -We're going straight from ceremony to reception. After the vows, we will walk back down the 'aisle' and the officiant will ask our guests to meet us at the back of the 'aisle' for a receiving line. Once we greet guests, we'll sneak out for pictures and allow the guests to go ahead and eat/mingle until we return. The food will be set up near where we will be having the receiving line. When we return from pics, we'll go straight into first dance, then we'll get some grub, then we'll do the cake-cutting. We're having a DIY (food, drinks, silk flowers, music), $3000 bugdet, 2pm wedding...and we're breaking from some major traditions, including how early to send the invites!! POINT-BEING, do what makes you happy and what you can afford. With enough planning, anything can look elegant and welcoming for your guests. (We're also having a Cookie Cake for a groom's cake...the FMIL talked us out of us getting the Cookie Co to make a tiered/stacked cookie cake for the wedding cake....just remember to have fun with it and make it personal!!!)

MeganH2010 · October 2009

I just went to a wedding where we sat at our tables for the reception and ceremony. They had a very short non-denominational ceremony. I think most everyone had a great view, and those that did not, were offered the chairs right behind the alter. Good Luck, the place sounds beautiful!

amac25 · October 2009

We're going to have to have some people standing in the back for the ceremony because of some wonky logistics in the plaza where our ceremony will be. I've seen pictures and heard stories of other people doing this there and it all worked out great. I think the trick will be to keep the ceremony short and sweet.

sbf2 · October 2009

Everyone on this board has had the opposite opinion, but I recently went to a wedding where we sat at tables for the ceremony. Not only was it awkward to watch people eat bread and drink their water during the ceremony, but I thought it took away from the importance of the day. The ceremony is what the wedding is about...not the reception. By doing this you make the reception the most important part, removing the sacredness of what the two of you are actually committing to.I would recommend finding a second site (or room) for the ceremony, or set up a tent outside. Or perhaps be traditional and find a chapel to hold the ceremony.

smg09 · October 2009

agreed...not tacky but i also agree that the ceremony is the most important part so maybe dont have things on the tables for the guests to figit with/be distracted by. i 100% understand 1 room and 1 set of chairs! people who spend money on 2 sets of chairs are wasting so much money! my ceremony is at the gazebo at a county estate/park and the reception is on the patio (about 50ft away) there so my uncles have volunteered to move chairs while everyone else is exploring the garden/taking family pics. honestly if someone is upset/distracted by us saving money then we probably didnt invite them

Future Mrs. Lindstrom · October 2009

I don't think its tacky. When my husband's cousin got married they had to do a last minute change to having everyone sit at their table as the weather was unseasonably hot and the ceremoy area had no shade what-so-ever. They just put chairs for the parents at the front fo where the alter was moved.It was supposed to be about 65 and partly cloudy...it was 95 & full sun!

jjax214 · October 2009

lol I hope not because that what I'm doing - except I do have immediate family sitting to form a small aisle.

beachgirli075 · October 2009

Not tacky at all! My brother in law had his wedding in the foyer of a church, ceremony and reception. It was so much easier than going from one location to another, especially with a larger group of people. They had round tables set on each side of the aisle, and they werent directly lined up, kind of offset. So everyone could see the bride coming down the aisle and the ceremony up front. The food was in the back of the room, and they had a cake table in the front. And the WPs table was in front of the dance floor. The way they had it set up and decorated, made it very nice and functional. And it wasnt all crammed together either. The church had a very nice garden courtyard for their pictures. Everything turned out very nice. You can do it, just really think about how to set it up so it all works out easily.

Would it be tacky?

Re: Would it be tacky?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards