Outdoor wedding....stressed!!!

carebearlovebernie · July 2014

divas

lyndausvi · July 2014

Seat for every butt. I always arrive 10-15 minutes early, so 20-30 would be more like 30-45 minutes. Rent some chairs.

carebearlovebernie · July 2014

Ugh, I would love to! But we have maxed out our budget.

Maggie0829 · July 2014

carebearlovebernie said:

Hi everyone!! I have been a regular over at Wedding Bee for a while now, and a friend of mine suggested that I join The Knot too!! I'm so excited to be a part of your community!

So here is my question! I am having an outdoor wedding in September at a beautiful park! Our ceremony is short - like 20-30 minutes! Seating is in the form of benches, and the benches seat about 30 people, but we are inviting 58! I don't think everyone will need to or want to sit, but in case they do, would putting some picnic blankets on the ground be okay? Or is there a better way to do it?

Thank you lovely ladies for your insight!!

You need to have a seat for every butt. And picnic blankets do not constitute a seat. You need to rent chairs to accommodate the other 28 guests. What you need to remember is that not every can or want to sit on the ground nor do they want to stand for an extended period of time. Some people have back or knee problems, pregnant women, older guests, etc will all want a seat. Heck, even myself who have no issues and can stand just fine without pain for 30+ minutes would want to sit. Also, any guests in a short dress will not be comfortable sitting on a blanket. And finally, remember that your guests will be at your ceremony venue for longer then just your ceremony. Most will arrive about 15-20 minutes before your ceremony so they could be standing for almost an hour if not more.

misshart00 · July 2014

Yes. Seat for every butt. Some people may need a seat even if you don't know it. For example, I'm pregnant but not showing. I can't stand in one spot for more than about 15 minutes. Wait until you get RSVPs back, then rent chairs over 30 people.

carebearlovebernie · July 2014

Luckily our guests are all able-bodied, so I'm not worried about that, but thank you Maggie! I guess if people want to sit, I need to know how to make that happen without spending money on it!

[Deleted User] · July 2014

I'm echoing PPs. Chairs for every butt. I definitely wouldn't want to sit on a blanket. Chair rentals (at least here in my area) are $2 a seat if you're picking out the white chairs so you may be able to get off spending less an $100?

Maggie0829 · July 2014

carebearlovebernie said:

Ugh, I would love to! But we have maxed out our budget.

Then you need to eliminate something. Down size your flowers, eliminate favors, cut back on alcohol (have a limited beer and wine bar instead of a full bar), cut back on your wedding party gift budgets, etc, etc. But you need to find the money to rent the extra chairs.

climbingsingle · July 2014

This can't be real. You're joking, right?

You need a seat for every guest. And by that, I mean a chair. Not a blanket on the ground. Would you want to sit on the ground in your wedding dress?

misshart00 · July 2014

Or call a local church and see if they have any folding chairs you can borrow for the wedding.

carebearlovebernie · July 2014

I've looked around and they are just too much! We can't do extra chairs. We do have kids coming, who can probably sit on their parents laps, so that frees up a bit more space!

[Deleted User] · July 2014

You need a seat for every butt. I look healthy but my knees hate me when I've been standing too long. And if I got to your wedding early and had to stand around in heels beforehand and for the entire ceremony, I wouldn't stick around for too much of your reception because I'd be in too much pain to move. Start putting quarters and dollars into a jar and save up to rent chairs. Or maybe you can borrow them from a church for a deal.

carebearlovebernie · July 2014

I know that I and a lot of my friends would not mind sitting on picnic blankets! I really like the folksy feel of it! Again, no money for extra seats, and no money to borrow from other areas. It's all pretty bare bones to begin with! No flowers, the WP gifts are their jewelry so can't nix that, just craft beer!

lyndausvi · July 2014

How many people are in your wedding party? That will cut a few seats down.

Maggie0829 · July 2014

carebearlovebernie said:

I know that I and a lot of my friends would not mind sitting on picnic blankets! I really like the folksy feel of it! Again, no money for extra seats, and no money to borrow from other areas. It's all pretty bare bones to begin with! No flowers, the WP gifts are their jewelry so can't nix that, just craft beer!

Then I guess you need to cut the guest list to 30.

misshart00 · July 2014

Serious question: if you knew you're guests "wouldn't mind sitting on picnic blankets," why did you bother asking?

ShesSoCold · July 2014

Why did you ask about this if you refuse to address it?

OnionBreath · July 2014

Why are you asking the question if you are only okay with the answer that tells you it's okay to use blankets?

If you don't care about what people suggest, why not just do it?

FWIW, I'm able-bodied, but I would judge the option of standing or sitting on the ground and I would think you were cheap-o....and I wouldn't tell you so because I have more tact.

[Deleted User] · July 2014

Guess you're going to have to start eating ramen for every meal in order save enough money to rent chairs.

carebearlovebernie · July 2014

misshart00 said:

Serious question: if you knew you're guests "wouldn't mind sitting on picnic blankets," why did you bother asking?

Fair question. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing an obvious (FREE) option. I can't borrow from a church as I do not agree with churches and have very strong convictions about this.

saacjw · July 2014

carebearlovebernie said:

Ugh, I would love to! But we have maxed out our budget.

Either find a place in the budget to cut (things like programs or favors are easy) or find a way to borrow chairs for free. You could see if friends have lawn chairs that you could collect and set up when the benches are set up, like those fold up chairs that people bring camping, or even card table chairs. Just be sure to label them so you know whose chair belongs to whom.

Personally, I would HATE to sit on a picnic blanket at a wedding. A) I always wear a dress, so the getting up and down can be awkward

I have hip issues resulting from an old sports injury, so sitting in positions where my hip is angled certain ways causes it to go numb and hurt. You'd never know it looking at me, since I'm young and in reasonable shape, but the numb hip happens if I sit on the ground without sitting spread eagle, which I can't do in a dress.

OnionBreath · July 2014

Wedding jewelry isn't really a "gift".

carebearlovebernie · July 2014

Hmm, I really appreciate everyone's responses! Thank you, and have a good day!

carebearlovebernie · July 2014

Umm, the jewelry is a gift because I paid for it for them!

southernbelle0915 · July 2014

carebearlovebernie said:

Ugh, I would love to! But we have maxed out our budget. Then you need to adjust. Decorations are optional, seats for your guests are not. We're talking 28 chairs here - if you pick them up and drop them off yourself, it won't run you more than $50 from any average rental company.

carebearlovebernie said:

Luckily our guests are all able-bodied, so I'm not worried about that, but thank you Maggie! I guess if people want to sit, I need to know how to make that happen without spending money on it! I am able bodied and fit but it doesn't mean I want to stand outside in heels for your 30 minute ceremony. It would put a sour taste in my mouth right from the get-go and, after being hosted like crap, I'd probably leave the reception early.

carebearlovebernie said:

I've looked around and they are just too much! We can't do extra chairs. We do have kids coming, who can probably sit on their parents laps, so that frees up a bit more space! You CAN. I believe in you! You just have to move around priorities. Return the shoes you bought and wear something you already have, return some decorations, downgrade your menu/linens/etc, nix the alcohol, forget fondant on your cake... If none of that is an option, ask your family if there are any odd jobs you can do for them and earn it. This will not cost you more than $50 ($100 with set up/tear down) and there is literally no excuse to not have these.

MUD. But I'll play JIC.

Maggie0829 · July 2014

@carebearlovebernie - okay here is the answer you really want..."Go ahead and use the blankets! Oh how cute and folksy! I am sure the parents don't mind Little Susie and Johnny having to sit on their laps because there is not enough chairs. They love you and will totes be cool with the fact that you aren't providing enough seating. I am also sure that Grandma Rose will have no issues with standing for an hour even though she just had hip surgery because she loves you so much!"

So since you really didn't want our advice or opinions just do what you want to do.

[Deleted User] · July 2014

Good job quoting, Maggie. She DD'd, called us divas, and went running back to WW.

[Deleted User] · July 2014

If you're completely maxed out on your budget, ask around to see if you can borrow chairs from maybe a local community center. Does the park offer chairs?

carebearlovebernie · July 2014

Cool, thanks Maggie. Have a WONDERFUL day!

misshart00 · July 2014

Also think MUD. Too many hot button issues and came from wedding bee.

Maggie0829 · July 2014

adk19 said:

Good job quoting, Maggie. She DD'd, called us divas, and went running back to WW.

Yeah I am thinking this was a set-up type of post. I guess WB needed some new "drama from TK" to gossip about.

Outdoor wedding....stressed!!!

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