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@auburnfan009: I think it depends on how long your ceremony is going to be. If you're just having the vows and it's only going to be 15 minutes it's a very different scenario than an hour long ceremony with readings, soloist, etc. Also, I'd plan on having a chair for any guest over 70.
Personally, I would not want to stand for a ceremony lasting more than 10 minutes. I also wouldn't want my grandma, other elderly relatives, or very pregnant bridesmaid to stand either. Even if it's a brief ceremony, say from 5pm to 5:15 pm, I'd likely arrive a bit prior to 5pm so as not to be late. That could end up being a good 30 minutes in 3 inch heels, know what I mean?
I would either rent those white folding chairs- that way the rental company would be responsible for set up and break down. Or, ask the restaurant if they can set up extra chairs and if they would charge for that.
Oh, and I LOOOOOVE Maggiano's. I think their food is delish :) The Malbec is wonderful if you're serving wine for your guests.
Agreed with @Cappugcino. As long as the ceremony is short and there are chairs for elderly/handicapped people, then I think you're good. If you go much longer than 15 minutes, you'd need to get chairs.
@Cappugcino: Thank you so much! It will be short sweet and to the point! I don't want to bore anyone! lol
That sounds like such a sweet wedding! I think it'll turn out awesome! Congrats!!
We ended up with standing ceremony on accident. We rented chairs but they never showed. Everyone actually said that since the ceremony was so short, they thought standing worked much better in the end and nobody complained.
@auburnfan009: If it's short, then I'd say standing is fine, but I'd assign a couple groomsman to move a handful of chairs for elderly guests :)
@DaneLady: Unfortunately they won't let us rent chairs from another company... the only option is to take the chairs from the tables... they won't even let us pay for extra chairs either. So we are in a rock and a hard place... I am thinking maybe we use the chairs from the tables and then put the chairs back after the ceremony. I don't want anyone to be uncomfortable.
I have been to two weddings where most guests stood for the ceremony and it was fine. (In fact, we are planning to do the same!) Both couples provided limited seating for elderly relatives and close family and kept the ceremony itself short.
My best friend got married at a gazebo at the beach and had no chairs, people sorta huddled around. I was MOH so didn't bother me but just remember it seeming kinda caotic having people stand around waiting for it to start, then not being able to really see as everyone squished in closer
I had an outdoor wedding, with a short ceremony. We had seating for immediate family and older guests, and standing for the rest. We did have a delay in starting, since there were some cars that had to be moved last minute. There ceremony was maybe 15 minutes - vows and ring exchange - and guests didn't seem to mind. We didn't have room for enough chairs for all the guests, but wanted to get married by the waterfall, so we made it work. No one complained, even to other family members. There were benches and such nearby for the pre- and post-ceremony times.
If it's short and sweet, and chairs are available for older guests, I'd definitely go for it. Plus if it's in a restaurant, then guests can probably find a place to sit if there is a delay? Something to think about in the planning. I agree moving chairs back and forth would probably be chaotic.
Since many guests will arrive 1/2 hour early, would they be standing around the dance floor while they wait for the ceremony to start? Would they be sitting at the tables and then you'd ask them to come gather around the dance floor for the ceremony?
I think people expect to stand and mingle during a cocktail hour, but standing during a ceremony could get uncomfortable. If there is a separate bar area or somewhere to have guests go to during cocktail hour while the chairs are moved around the tables that would be best.
I had to stand at a wedding once but it was only because the......preist?minister? - the guy at the front - simply FORGOT to tell everyone to sit down. It was a Greek Orthodox wedding and it took at least an hour and it SUCKED. No one sat and we whispered about it and eventually some of the elderly people had to sit down but they felt badly about it. Also, said guy at the front didn't speak any English, which is totally fine (although the bride speaks only English) and also kept forgetting how many times they had already walked around this thing that they had to walk around and they ended up circling the thing forever since he lost count.
ANYway, long rambling story short, if it's a short ceremony it might be fine! Chairs would be much nicer but if it's just not possible, then keep it short and offer chairs for those who really need them.
I stood at the last wedding I attended and there were no problems. There were a few seats for the elderly and infirm, but it seems like most non-religious ceremonies are somewhere around 15 minutes, which is fine. Our wedding ceremony is going to be about that long, and we'll have a chair for my elderly grandmother, but that's pretty much it.
I'd try and find a way to seat people, not just for comfort, but also because shorter people might not be able to see if there are taller people standing in front of them.
One of my BMs had everyone stand at her wedding. It was a short ceremony, about 20 minutes, but the standing made it really hard for anyone to see. I didn't love the idea!
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Hi Bees! Fiance and I have decided on a very intimate wedding. Our first date was at Maggianos Little Italy and is also our favorite restaurant. We were told that we can have the ceremony on the dance floor however, our guests will have to stand... If you had to stand during a cermony would you feel uncomfortable? We don't think it would be a problem but I really wanted a little bit of insight. We want to do a candlelit ceremony and then the guests can go over to their tables for cocktail hour.
They also gave us the option of taking the chairs from around the tables and setting them up for the ceremony and then putting them back after... however, I am afraid that is going to cause a lot of chaos. I definitely need some insight!
Thank you (: