Hi... please provide any thoughts/suggestions if you can.
I plan to have my ceremony and reception at the same location. Due to the auspicious time of the day, we were planning to have an earlier ceremony than previously decided (like 2pm vs. 3:30pm). With that in mind, there will be a 2+ hour gap in between the ceremony/cocktails and reception. In that period of time, I was thinking everyone can leave for a bit, enjoy the city and then come back for the dinner/reception afterwards.
Would that be too weird since the ceremony/reception is at the same place? What would be a good way to let the guests know so it doesn't seem too awkward (having them leave and come back again)? Should I include that in the invite or by word of mouth... please help!
I don't know how to handle that. i would avoid the gap if at all possible. could you move up your reception? or have some activities at the place (lawn games? cocktails?). i couldn't really imagine leaving the ceremony and then coming back two hours later to the same spot. two hours is not a whole lot of time. where would they go for the two hours? is there someplace nearby they could hang out? i would guess most people would use that two hours to either eat or drink. so when they get back be prepared that they may be drunk/full/or both. i am having my ceremony and reception at the same place so i am trying to think logistically how i would get people to do this and i can't really work it out. plus you need to think of the transition time: it will take people x amount of time to get there cars, get somewhere else, park, do something else, drive back, park, get back to the reception site. i will try to brainstorm for you.
I"m not sure how much "enjoying the city" you can do in less than two hours... Like spruce says, if the guests have to drive somewhere, they don't have much time. Maybe they could walk, if you're right downtown, but that's not always great if they are pretty dressed up. I totally would plant myself somewhere and get a drink. And maybe an appetizer. And would probably get to the reception late... either because of the service at the bar, or because of parking issues, or traffic issues. It would be better to provide something for people to do on the premises.
I would definately include the information in the invitation. Otherwise I would think people would be pretty annoyed to find out at the time.
Also, I don't know what your guest list looks like. I have a lot of elderly relatives, and getting them from one location to another is a chore. Kicking them out and having them come back in two hours, or expecting them to take a little walk to see the sights would be completely out of the question.
We have a similar time gap... although maybe not as large. My fiance and I are considering providing several lawn games (like horseshoes and croquet) and some board games (like checkers and dominos) to help guests pass the time while we take photos and before dinner is served. It might not work depending on the feel of your location and wedding, but it seems to fit perfectly for our quiet Southern BBQ reception. Consider some entertainment for those who don't want to/can't leave and let them know that the choice is theirs.
I think that's a really good option - I can see my guests having a ball with that. Something active for the younger folks, something not so active and place to sit for the older folks. You can give them lemonade and sweet tea and it will be a really great afternoon. It will feel like part of the celebration, which is really what you want.
i would def suggest providing some sort of activity.... b/c if you don't ppl will just skip the ceremony. it would be helpful to know where the wedding is located - ie. downtown of a major city or in the suburbs? Also, keep in mind that your guests would be dressed up for your wedding so killing 2 hours at a casual place may not work. Is there anyway you can close the time gap?
I have the same schedule...wedding has to be at 11am, and I wanted an evening reception, so that's scheduled for 6:30pm. We are having lunch immediately following the wedding, and will just let everyone relax in the interim. Could you perhaps move the ceremony earlier, so there is a wider gap and just let your guests decide what to do for themselves? Or even have some light refreshments following the ceremony? I would say don't organize a winery tour...you don't want your guests too tipsy before the reception starts!
Hi... please provide any thoughts/suggestions if you can.
I plan to have my ceremony and reception at the same location. Due to the auspicious time of the day, we were planning to have an earlier ceremony than previously decided (like 2pm vs. 3:30pm). With that in mind, there will be a 2+ hour gap in between the ceremony/cocktails and reception. In that period of time, I was thinking everyone can leave for a bit, enjoy the city and then come back for the dinner/reception afterwards.
Would that be too weird since the ceremony/reception is at the same place? What would be a good way to let the guests know so it doesn't seem too awkward (having them leave and come back again)? Should I include that in the invite or by word of mouth... please help!
Thanks in advance!
posted by ms-c 10 posts 9 months agoI don't know how to handle that. i would avoid the gap if at all possible. could you move up your reception? or have some activities at the place (lawn games? cocktails?). i couldn't really imagine leaving the ceremony and then coming back two hours later to the same spot. two hours is not a whole lot of time. where would they go for the two hours? is there someplace nearby they could hang out? i would guess most people would use that two hours to either eat or drink. so when they get back be prepared that they may be drunk/full/or both. i am having my ceremony and reception at the same place so i am trying to think logistically how i would get people to do this and i can't really work it out. plus you need to think of the transition time: it will take people x amount of time to get there cars, get somewhere else, park, do something else, drive back, park, get back to the reception site. i will try to brainstorm for you.
posted by spruce08 45 posts 9 months agoI"m not sure how much "enjoying the city" you can do in less than two hours... Like spruce says, if the guests have to drive somewhere, they don't have much time. Maybe they could walk, if you're right downtown, but that's not always great if they are pretty dressed up. I totally would plant myself somewhere and get a drink. And maybe an appetizer. And would probably get to the reception late... either because of the service at the bar, or because of parking issues, or traffic issues. It would be better to provide something for people to do on the premises.
I would definately include the information in the invitation. Otherwise I would think people would be pretty annoyed to find out at the time.
Also, I don't know what your guest list looks like. I have a lot of elderly relatives, and getting them from one location to another is a chore. Kicking them out and having them come back in two hours, or expecting them to take a little walk to see the sights would be completely out of the question.
posted by suzanno 1,953 posts 9 months agoWe have a similar time gap... although maybe not as large. My fiance and I are considering providing several lawn games (like horseshoes and croquet) and some board games (like checkers and dominos) to help guests pass the time while we take photos and before dinner is served. It might not work depending on the feel of your location and wedding, but it seems to fit perfectly for our quiet Southern BBQ reception. Consider some entertainment for those who don't want to/can't leave and let them know that the choice is theirs.
posted by Jenningsblue 72 posts 9 months agoI think that's a really good option - I can see my guests having a ball with that. Something active for the younger folks, something not so active and place to sit for the older folks. You can give them lemonade and sweet tea and it will be a really great afternoon. It will feel like part of the celebration, which is really what you want.
posted by suzanno 1,953 posts 9 months agoi would def suggest providing some sort of activity.... b/c if you don't ppl will just skip the ceremony. it would be helpful to know where the wedding is located - ie. downtown of a major city or in the suburbs? Also, keep in mind that your guests would be dressed up for your wedding so killing 2 hours at a casual place may not work. Is there anyway you can close the time gap?
posted by Amy 209 posts 9 months agothe location will be in napa... so i was thinking they could check out a vineyard for the time in between....
how would the games/other entertainment work? i wouldn't want them to be bored but i wouldn't know how to keep everyone entertained everyone as well
thanks for the suggestions... please keep it coming!
posted by ms-c 10 posts 9 months agoI have the same schedule...wedding has to be at 11am, and I wanted an evening reception, so that's scheduled for 6:30pm. We are having lunch immediately following the wedding, and will just let everyone relax in the interim. Could you perhaps move the ceremony earlier, so there is a wider gap and just let your guests decide what to do for themselves? Or even have some light refreshments following the ceremony? I would say don't organize a winery tour...you don't want your guests too tipsy before the reception starts!
posted by drprepper 56 posts 9 months ago