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@beachchicbride: No, people might be confused..but Im sure theyll get over it once they see the food :)
The only issue I have is that while the coktail hour normally occupies the guests during post ceremonial pics, there really isn't anything I have planned for them to do now. I was thinking of maybe having them start dinner as soon as they get back? Any suggestions?
So, they get to the location and start having some nibblies and drinks, then the ceremony happens and then everyone gets to walk over to the reception site. Correct. I think that sounds lovely and fine. Just to make sure everyone knows the deal put out a little sign, a program or a mention on website if you are having one. For post ceremony picture time you could set out a type of game (quiz about you guys as a couple? ) and/or have a photobooth (homemade works fine) or a game that fits with your boardwalk theme. Signage helps everyone to know what they can/should do so they don't feel awkward.
@goldendreams:Yup that's the plan! I guess as long as there are food and drinks involved people really wont mind. I really like the idea of having a little quiz of us or a boardwalk themed game! thanks so much for the input.
And I plan on having some sort of sign made up so that when guests enter the reception they know what is going on.
Thanks ladies! I am always open to any more ideas or comments. :)
Wouldn't bother me at all. Sounds like fun. Your guests will not be confused as most tend to go with the flow.
I think as long as you keep people entertained you will be fine!!
The cocktail hour, and then ceremony and then reception sounds great!! its different. and everything will have something for everyone to do!
We did cocktails before the ceremony for a few reasons and people really enjoyed it. We did put on the invitation:
5:00 Cocktails and Hors D'oeuvres
6:00 Ceremony
Dinner and Dancing to follow
That way people knew what to expect. Also, it gave a good buffer time so if people were running late or got stuck in traffic, there wasn't any anxiety about missing the ceremony.
I don't think it's annoying at all--not sure why it would be. Make sure the programs reflect the timeline and you'll be fine! Sounds like so much fun!
We are doing cocktails and photos pre-ceremony at 4/4:30, the ceremony at 5:30, and dinner at 6.
@CanAmBride: The whole traffic thing is a biggie. I know on the weekends the traffic to the shore is horrible! It even delayed FI and I two and half hours while looking at reception venues eeek! So having that buffer time makes more comfortable with guests being able to make it :)
@Miss Longcoat: Thanks! I just wasnt sure if guests would not like arriving at the reception, walking to the ceremony and going back into the recpetion hall. It's not a far walk at all but I know some people don't like to move too much.
@Jinxstar:I guess I am more traditional and don't want FI to see me before the actual ceremony.
Which beach and Boardwalk? There's a few things I'd consider,first being where will the cocktail hour be and will the venue go along with it? You won't be able to have any glass on the beach, and have you found out about having music or electricity available for your processional, and even chairs?
We already have the cocktail hour set up with the reception hall and they are willing to let us do this. After all we paid them to have the reception hall for 6 hours to what we want with it. And the bar was closing for an hour anyway so it actually works out nicely.
And FI and decided to have a friend of ours who is amazing at acoustic guitar play for our wedding. We won't be too close up to the water where you wont be able to hear. and if we think he (and/or the pastor) needs an extra umph we have a generator and plenty of mics/cords as FI has been involved with bands and musical stuff for years.
I only ask since I live in NJ and tried to plan a beach wedding on LBI a few years ago. There were only a few places that allowed it, and all kinds of issues in getting it organized. Some needed permits, some talked us out of it because of the crashing waves drowing out the sounds, some wouldn't allow chairs other than beach chairs,etc...
We then moved to Avalon with an oceanfront venue who did weddings all the time. We had them let us know when they had one scheduled so we could go down and see how they did it. It was hilarious (sadly) watching the GM set up this rickety arch and attempt to decorate it, and all the kids on the beach swarming around to watch. People even pulled up their beach chairs and umbrellas to be closer to see everything, and some even walked in between the bride and her BP as they walked down. It was late in the day (5ish) but it was still plenty crowded with beach goers, and all we could picture was how many bathing suits ended up being in the bride's pictures.
The backup plan for bad weather was in a small room in the hotel with no windows either, but my daughter wanted it anyway. We ended up canceling and she postponed the wedding for a year.
My other daughter's wedding was on the Bay on LBI last May with the reception at the adjoining yacht club, so it was completely private. No issues with sounds or having power available or setting up chairs, plus they had a full parking lot adjacent so there was plenty of room.
Just wanted to give you some information in case there are things you haven't considered, but it sounds like you have it all worked out. Good luck!
Not sure why that would be annoying... sounds like a fun wedding experience to me. :)
@smyley: Thank you so much for the input! I had actually wanted the wedding to be in LBI as a private wedding but it was a little out of our budget range so we are having it in wildwood because my family has a home there. We have found that having it later in the day will help with beach goers and gawkers and it is kind of offset of the normal walkway people will be using to access the beach.
We did recently talk with the township about specific permits for Wildwood proper. We don't need a permit but we need insurance if we are going to have chirs or any type of tent/canopy. This I found a little strange condidering people bring both of those things to the beach everyday. But it is fine with me because it really doesn't end up being that much money since we have to purchase insurance for the ballroom in the convention center anyway.
The only thing I would say is that you might have a lot less people at the cocktail hour than you would expect. I would think that there would be a good amount of people who would just show up in time for the ceremony. But in the end, that's not a big deal.
I think it sounds great!
For some reason my guests just helped themselves to the bar & apps prior to the ceremony, so I was a bit surprised to see people holding wine glasses as I walked down the aisle, lol!
@AnnieAAA: haha that is kind of funny. I guess you had some hungry guests on your hands ;)
I would have only been slightly annoyed if it were hours before the set time, lol.
@beachchicbride: A week before me! And my family's summer home is in Wildwood. I'll have to keep an eye out for you. :) Just wanted to make sure I read it right that you are going with Wildwood. Convention Center is good. Went to bridal show there.
NOT at all! do it! just make sure if there is a large timespan inbetween to have food! haha.. :) funny.. we are actually thinking of skipping the cocktail hour and taking our pictures before!
@beachchicbride: I like that! I would just make sure that the guests know about the time lapse and that they don't have to arrive at 4. Maybe on your wedding website, in welcome bags, etc?
@beachchicbride: You're on the beach, there is no such thing as being annoying. Everything is ok at the beach. What's more beautiful in this world than the beach, food and alcohol? lol Your guest will be happy.
@armywifetobe12: yup Wildwood, NJ! That's so funny. What a small world. They are having a bridal show there again this march I think.
@Soladylike: Good point! Everything is 100 times better at the beach. Another reason why FI and I chose a beach wedding :)
I wouldn't be annoyed. I'd be a bit confused at first because the norm is that you have the ceremony then cocktail hour, but as long as you either spread the word about your schedule or make sure your waiters/caterer can field questions like "did I miss the ceremony?" or "whats going on?", I think you'll be fine!!
Sounds fine to me! If anything, people might be confused.. but not annoyed. I think people (as in, me.. haha) are only annoyed if they are waiting around for long periods of time with no food/drinks! As long as people know what's going on, it sounds like a good plan.
@abbie017: Thanks! I think I have decided to have programs for guests as soon as they enter with a schedule and possibly even a big DIY chalk board/sign for those guests who don't look in the programs. I also already put it on our wedding website to get people acquanted with the idea in advanced so they know what they are going to be getting themselves into.
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Ok, so when FI and booked our reception and decided on a ceremony time we hadn't truly thought out our feelings about it being on the beach. Originally we had decided that in order to be fair to our guests to have an earliear recpetion since most would be traveling pretty good distances. So we booked the reeption for 4 and decided that we could have the ceremony around 2:30/3:00. But the more we thought about it the less we like it. We kept thinking about how crowded the beach will be during that time of day.
So, since we have a 6 hours for the reception we are going to do something a little different. We are going to keep the cocktail hour from 4-5 but have the ceremony at 5:15. This way we can have the ceremony when A LOT less people will be on the beach.
BTW: the ceremony site is right off the boadwalk from the reception location so it is only a two minute walk (if that!).
So, Bees, does this seem to be more of an annoyance even though it makes FI and I happier about the wedding as a whole?