Ceremony and reception in the same place. Coordination?

Re: Ceremony and reception in the same place. Coordination?

• cafarrie member

  

  November 2014

  could you just have the reception tables set up already and people can sit in their chairs for the ceremony?  No need to rearrange everything?  

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• penguin44 member

  

  November 2014

  cafarrie said:

  could you just have the reception tables set up already and people can sit in their chairs for the ceremony?  No need to rearrange everything?  

  
  I would suggest this as well. If you don't have room to have chairs set up for the ceremony and reception, setting up for the reception is fine.

  Also, what's your rain plan?

  

  
  

  
  

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• MandyMost member

  

  November 2014

  If you have room to have the area set up for a typical reception (tales with chairs around them, and a dance floor) then you likely have enough space to put the chairs on the dance floor for the ceremony, and then have them moved to be around the tables for the reception. That's what we're doing. While we have a separate area for a cocktail hour, I've been to weddings that don't. As the ceremony ends people get up and migrate to a bar, or to a side table where to pick up an escort card, or a food display. With good hired help, before anyone even realized anything was moved the chairs will be all around the tables, and people can begin to take their reception seats whenever they'd like during the cocktail hour (although most people will mingle until they're told to sit down). 

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• JoanE2012 member

  

  November 2014

  Knottie43634435 said:

  Hi all,

  
  

  We are planning to get married in my parent's backyard, but we would also like to have the reception there. It's a good sized yard, but the lawn is really only the only place for a group of people to congregate. We are inviting about 100 people. Right now, we are planning to set up the ceremony on the lawn, and we'd like to be able to then rearrange everything for the reception with tables and chairs. We want to avoid enlisting our guests to do manual labor during the switch, but we're looking for ideas to get everything rearranged while not inconveniencing any of our guests. We are not opposed to hiring some help, but any suggestions for what our guests could do during the set up phase? 

  
  

  Thanks!

  Definitely don't have your guests do manual labor.  Hire people to do this.  You might be able to hire some college kids.

  
  

  During the setup phase, your guests can enjoy cocktail hour.  Put out some hors d'oeuvres and drinks and let guests mingle.

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• tammym1001 member

  

  November 2014

  We had our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all in the same room. We set up our dinner tables and guests just sat at their tables for the ceremony. As soon as the ceremony was over they were able to get up and enjoy cocktail hour while we took pictures. It worked out perfectly and nothing had to be moved around and set up. I was very much against tables and chairs needing to be set up or taken down while my guests were trying to enjoy themselves. Not only was that not aesthetically pleasing to me, but knowing my guests they would jump in to help and I didn't want them doing that. 

  
  

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• redoryx member

  

  November 2014

  One of the best weddings I went to had a cocktail hour before the ceremony while they were takign pictures and everyone just sat right at their table they'd be at for the evening. The couple then had their ceremony on the dance floor surrounded by the tables and then the reception started. There was no need to move things around or inconvience any guests or anything. It was all held in the same room and it was great.

  

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• atlastmrsg member

  

  November 2014

  Have ceremony in front yard.  Then have guests walk around to back yard for the reception.  Have two sets of chairs so nothing has to be moved.

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• Knottie43634435 member

  

  November 2014

  Thanks for the suggestions! These have been very helpful. I think we are going to set up the ceremony as we would for the reception to avoid all the changing. Thanks!

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