Please help!

Re: Please help!

• Dreamergirl8812 member

  

  February 2015 edited February 2015

  Alsmith625 said:

  Were having a short 5 hour total ceremony and reception including decorating, getting ready, and pictures.  A very small 50 people or less, We are not serving alcohol but I was thinking having  the ceremony and then having a brunch following. Im unsure about having dancing, or a first dance? Will there be enough time for that? It will be an outdoor ceremony at a barn type venue. please help me I need any suggestions or ideas on what to do! 

  I don't understand the decorating part. The venue gives you 5 hours, including set up?
  
  Ceremony is about 30 mins, cocktail hour is up to an hour but is only needed if you are taking pictures during that time. And cocktail hour doesn't need booze, just refreshments. Brunch is a great idea, as long as it's at the right time of day. You should still have a couple of hours after to fill.
  
  I don't know about dancing in the middle of the day without alcohol though. Can you elaborate? What time is the wedding? What is your budget like? Why are you having a dry wedding (no judgement, just wondering)?
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

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• CMGragain member

  

  February 2015

  Think about serving mimosas (half orange juice/half champagne).  They were very popular at daughter's brunch reception. and you can get away with the cheap stuff if you are mixing it with o.j.
  

  

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• Alsmith625 member

  

  February 2015

  I think I've decided to just do away with dancing all together, We didn't really want it anyways. Were not big dancers. yes 5 hours including set up, Im just trying to figure out how to manage getting ready and setting up within that time frame. There is a place there for me to get ready, but I just want to make sure I have enough time for everything.  We are going to have a very simple Just cake and punch, With some snacks like cheese & cracker platter (cut up block cheese), veggie tray, fruit bowl or platter, peanuts ...and possibly some petite pimento cheese sandwiches. We can't have any alcohol there at all so what would be a good alternative?

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• AddieCake member

  

  February 2015

  Iced tea, soda, punch, coffee, lemonade. Any beverage is an alternative to alcohol.

  What did you think would happen if you walked up to a group of internet strangers and told them to get shoehorned by their lady doc?~StageManager14

  

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• JoanE2012 member

  

  February 2015

  Alsmith625 said:

  I think I've decided to just do away with dancing all together, We didn't really want it anyways. Were not big dancers. yes 5 hours including set up, Im just trying to figure out how to manage getting ready and setting up within that time frame. There is a place there for me to get ready, but I just want to make sure I have enough time for everything.  We are going to have a very simple Just cake and punch, With some snacks like cheese & cracker platter (cut up block cheese), veggie tray, fruit bowl or platter, peanuts ...and possibly some petite pimento cheese sandwiches. We can't have any alcohol there at all so what would be a good alternative?

  What time is your ceremony?  You mention serving brunch, but the foods you are serving don't sound like brunch.  Most are just snacks.  You definitely need something more substantial if you are crossing a meal time.

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• southernbelle0915 mod

  

  February 2015

  Alsmith625 said:

  I think I've decided to just do away with dancing all together, We didn't really want it anyways. Were not big dancers. yes 5 hours including set up, Im just trying to figure out how to manage getting ready and setting up within that time frame. There is a place there for me to get ready, but I just want to make sure I have enough time for everything.  We are going to have a very simple Just cake and punch, With some snacks like cheese & cracker platter (cut up block cheese), veggie tray, fruit bowl or platter, peanuts ...and possibly some petite pimento cheese sandwiches. We can't have any alcohol there at all so what would be a good alternative?

  This sounds like a fine menu plus beverages (lemonade, coffee, punch, bottled water). But if you do this, you just have to avoid meal time. Its doable. I'd do a 2:00pm ceremony with 2:30-5pm reception. 1 hour for set up, 1 hour for tear down.

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• Alsmith625 member

  

  February 2015

  I think that would be a great time frame for us thank you. 

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• MandyMost member

  

  February 2015

  I was also envisioning a timeline like above. You can get the venue from 1pm-6pm, and use an hour on each end for set up and tear down, so your event is from 2-5pm. 2pm ceremony and 2:30-5pm reception. 

  
  

  If I were you, I would make sure you have someone else doing the actual physical set-up and tear down, not you. You should be getting ready yourself, and then likely taking pictures from 1-1:30pm at least, before the ceremony (the half hour before the ceremony you'll probably want to freshen up and take a breath). You can take more pictures after the ceremony from 2:30-3pm, and then join the reception from 3-5pm. (Note that while you're taking pictures, your guests should be socializing with each other while eating and drinking something). If you're doing any toasts they could happen at 3pm as you join the reception, as well as the cake cutting. That would give enough time for the cake to be served before the end of the event. 

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