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Outdoor ceremony dilemma!

efred520efred520 member
10 Comments
in Outdoor Weddings
Hello all,

I'm getting married next August (8/26/2011) at a golf club outside of Philly.  My venue has an incredible patio that would be stunning for a ceremony, however only about half of my guests would be seated.  The rest of the guests would be standing on an upper portion of the patio to watch the ceremony. 

We do have the option of having the ceremony indoors in the ballroom, then going into other rooms and using the patio for cocktail hour while the ballroom is prepared for the reception.  Everyone will have a seat and it's air conditioned.

My question is---is it cheesy to have half of my guests standing for the ceremony?  It won't be long...maybe 20 minutes.  There is a chance the heat could be pretty oppressive on the wedding day, but the ceremony will be in the evening (maybe 6pm) and everyone who is standing would be on a covered portion of the patio. 

What would you do?  Go for the less scenic ballroom where everyone is in the AC and seated?  Or go for the more scenic outdoor area where heat MAY play a factor and some guests will be standing?
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Re: Outdoor ceremony dilemma!

  • danieliza1127danieliza1127 member
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    I think I would have the cocktail hour on the patio instead of the ceremony.  We got married outside on a patio at a venue on August 30th at 6pm, and it was HOT.  No to mention that even though your ceremony is 20 minutes long, people arrive early and so could end up standing over 30-45 minutes depending on how early they showed up. 

    I would use the patio for pictures and/or cocktails so that your guests can be seated and comfortable before and during the ceremony.
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  • efred520efred520 member
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    Good points.  Our "cocktail hour" is 90 minutes long, so I guess people will get their use of the patio, and I would also hate to waste any of that time with people from the venue breaking down the chairs from the ceremony and such.

    Thanks for your help :)
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  • Anna_EmigAnna_Emig
    100 Comments
    I would have the ceremony indoors. I am 5 feet, and I think I would be sad if I would attend a wedding and wouldn't be able to see a thing because someone taller than me is standing in front of me. You probably will still have the chance to take pictures outside and I think it would be nice to have the cocktail hour outdoors.
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  • kelseymwkelseymw
    500 Comments
    We had an outdoor ceremony and if I could do it all over again, I would've done it indoors. It was SO hot, it was all H and I could think about the whole time. Afterwards, we looked at each other and said "I don't remember what just happened but it's freaking hot, let's go inside!" I also remember looking out to my guests and seeing them all fanning themselves like crazy. I've always dreamed of a beautiful outdoor wedding, so I was stubborn on keeping it outdoors.

    Also, every guest should have a seat. I contemplated not renting enough chairs for our ceremony (just a limited amount for parents, grandparents, elderly, etc) because I thought it'd just be 10 minutes and was it really worth all that money? But the answer was yes, it was. Like a PP said, guests will arrive early so they'll be sitting down for more than just that short ceremony time. Also, no one wants to stand. It's uncomfortable and the view isn't great.
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  • grrracegrrrace member
    100 Comments
    I live outside Philly! Where are you guys getting married?
    :)

    I would go for indoors also. Philly in August is brutal!! 

    We're having an outdoor ceremony on the coast of Maine in August and I'm even nervous it will be too hot up there... 
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  • jennymassagejennymassage
    10 Comments
    If you are still set on outdoors I have been watching platnum weddings and My fair wedding so getting good ideas. On my fair wedding they had a small place with areas that not all would be seated and able to see. They did stadium like seating, so they made platforms and had tables set up then another higher platform and so on...it was really cool looking. If early comers are there they can wait in air conditioning until the wedding is about to start...just if you are set on an outdoor otherwise the coctail hour woud be cool out there but need a place for people to get in air if needed since it is 90 min...you could also print your wedding outline on fans or a few pages that can be fanned out and used if they need to cool down, I would also set out coolers with ice cold water this may help
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