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Guests Stand?

dorica887dorica887 member
First Anniversary First Comment
in Wedding Vows & Ceremony Discussions

Hi all!

I am planning an outdoor garden ceremony for May 2015 (hopefully no rain!).
My question is, because of the shape of the garden area we may not be able to provide 140 seats for all of our guests.
The ceremony should be no more than 15 minutes (civil marriage done by my FI's uncle).
So is it ok to have some people stand?

Thanks for the advice!

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Re: Guests Stand?

  • KatWAGKatWAG member
    First Anniversary First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its
    dorica887 said:

    Hi all!

    I am planning an outdoor garden ceremony for May 2015 (hopefully no rain!).
    My question is, because of the shape of the garden area we may not be able to provide 140 seats for all of our guests.
    The ceremony should be no more than 15 minutes (civil marriage done by my FI's uncle).
    So is it ok to have some people stand?

    Thanks for the advice!

    Definitely not. You need a seat for every butt. Sounds like you need a new ceremont site.
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  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
    First Anniversary First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its
    dorica887 said:

    Hi all!

    I am planning an outdoor garden ceremony for May 2015 (hopefully no rain!).
    My question is, because of the shape of the garden area we may not be able to provide 140 seats for all of our guests.
    The ceremony should be no more than 15 minutes (civil marriage done by my FI's uncle).
    So is it ok to have some people stand?

    Thanks for the advice!

    Every guest should have a seat.  You say the ceremony is only going to be 15 minutes.  Some people show up about 15-30 minutes prior to the ceremony so that will mean that they are standing for 30-45 minutes.  And I don't know about you but standing in grass in heels for any length of time is not my idea of a good time.

    If the ceremony space will not hold enough seats for your guests then you either need to find a new ceremony space or cut your guest list.

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  • climbingsingleclimbingsingle member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its
    No, it's not OK to have people stand. You need a seat for every guest. As a PP said, most people will be arriving at least 15 minutes before the ceremony even starts. 
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  • ei34ei34 member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its

    I don't think it's okay to plan for some guests to have to stand, no matter how brief the ceremony.  While it wouldn't kill any of your (younger, healthy) guests to stand for 15 minutes, as some guests do during cocktail hour, I wouldn't intentionally plan a wedding knowing that some guests will have to stand.

    Garden ceremonies are lovely, I hope you'll be able to work out some sort of seating alternative with the planner.

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  • KatWAGKatWAG member
    First Anniversary First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its
    I also hope you have a back- up plan for rain.
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  • dorica887dorica887 member
    First Anniversary First Comment

    Thanks very much for all the feedback.
    The venue has told me 150 seats should fit, but I'm not 100% sure.

    We have an alternative for both outdoors as well as indoors at the same location. But would love to try and have the garden ceremony.

    Again, I really appreciate the responses, I hadn't really thought about the 15-30 minutes early and then most likely a little more standing for cocktail hour.

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  • pinkshorts27pinkshorts27 member
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    Yup, I agree with all of the other posters, I would be upset to have to stand. 

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  • HisGirlFriday13HisGirlFriday13 member
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    Every seat needs a butt. Either find a new site or cut the guest list.
    Anniversary

    image
    I'm gonna go with 'not my circus, not my monkeys.'
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  • TeddiD34TeddiD34 member
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    Nope

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  • mlg78mlg78 member
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    I've attended 3 weddings in the last few years that were outdoors with a lack of seating. Do you know how much it sucks to stand there in heels that are sinking into the grass when you can't sit down? Don't do this.
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  • Jen4948Jen4948 member
    First Anniversary First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its
    I would hate to stand, even for 15 minutes, at a wedding.  Everyone needs a seat.  If the venue you want to use doesn't allow for that, you need to find a different venue or cut your guest list.
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  • Cookie PusherCookie Pusher member
    First Anniversary First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its
    As someone who is very short (even in very high heels), standing in grass is not awesome. I can never ever manage to stand in a spot where I can see AND where FI (who is tall) isn't blocking someone else's view.
    ~*~*~*~*~

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  • grumbledoregrumbledore member
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    Also, aside from it being physically uncomfortable for your guests, consider whether they will be able to see if they are all standing. Definitely not a good idea.

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  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
    First Anniversary First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its
    @dorica887 - for your wedding party members think about getting them something hard to stand on whether that be large pavement stones or pieces of wood cut into a shape.  That way when they are standing there (mainly the girls) they won't be sinking into the grass.

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  • cowgirl8238cowgirl8238 member
    First Anniversary First Comment 5 Love Its First Answer
    Maggie0829 said:
    @dorica887 - for your wedding party members think about getting them something hard to stand on whether that be large pavement stones or pieces of wood cut into a shape.  That way when they are standing there (mainly the girls) they won't be sinking into the grass.


    I love this idea!!

    I am lucky in that the venue we picked has a "Stadium Style" seating with little pavement stones to define the rows.  It means the aisle has steps (The sides do not for anyone who has trouble with steps and our wheelchair bound friend) and that each row of seats is flat and a little elevated.  For us it just worked out the best and allows plenty or room for everyone to see.  Also the "alter" area is brick so none of the girls or boys have to stand on grass.

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