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Could you rent a photo booth?
Or DIY a photo booth station?
We had one at our wedding and everyone loved it!!
I think this might start quite a discussion here. If you have guests coming that are "looking" for alcohol, don't worry about distracting them with cake and candy.. just let them be and try not to worry about them. The people who want to be there to celebrate your wedding won't need anything to distract them.. they will be happy enough just to celebrate.
I think with no dancing (or, I'm assuming, other music?) at all, six hours might be a little long. But I like the idea of a DIY photo booth!
First off, don't worry. Every wedding I went to before I was 23 was in a fellowship hall at church without dancing or drinking. It will be lovely, and everyone will have a great time. I think 2-8 might be a little long, though, unless you are having a long sit down dinner (and maybe even then). If you are just doing a punch/appetizer/dessert reception I think 2-3 hours will be plenty for the reception.
You might want to search posts for "the shoe game" which would be fun to play. And really, people will be thrilled to just hang out with you and celebrate your day!
I dont think you need to distract them from no alcohol.. I would say however, you need to do something to entertain your guests for 6 hours... There needs to be some "celebration" not just eating and looking at eachother...
Yeah, I agree it's going to be really tough to distract them with details if they are looking for a party. I think activity related details, like the photo-booth suggested, is your best bet. They are going to have to adapt to the fact that it isn't a typical party - maybe letting people know ahead of time will ward off any grumblers. But people who really want to celebrate you won't have a problem. Maybe games?
The people that want to be there, will be there to celebrate with you. The people who are looking for a party, might leave early when they realize there is no drinking or dancing, but you shouldn't worry about them. Enjoy the time with those that are there for you.
@Statutory Grape: i second this...you may want to shorten it or come up with more activities to fill the time if there is no music or dancing.
I agree with PPs that 6 hours without dancing or drinking might be too long. Does the hall open up to a yard? Lawn games (croquet, bocce, etc.) might be fun. I just think you need something for people to do besides eat and talk. Sure, some people are going to be fine with that, but others will likely get bored after a period of time.
@elephant: my thoughts exactly
but i agree with PP that 5-6 hours may be a little long--maybe shorten it by an hour or two. i also love the DIY photo both idea.
I think just good olde get together and chatting will take place through out the whole night! Make sure guests have plenty of non alcoholic drinks and snacks! I would spread the food and dessert out. Are you having a first dance?
I would do family photos throughout the night too. That way every side of the family can get together for photos. Make sure guests sign the guest book and maybe do a "wishing tree" or something more interactive.
@Rgeddy: i love the wishing tree idea! and also crafts or games for the kids might be fun! just simple things like coloring or necklace making...
Ya I don't know how long it will be, I’m fine with it being a short reception. I am just ready to be married! On the invites I have that the ceremony will start at 2 and reception to follow. I am also having a coffee bar instead of a cocktail hour. So if the ceremony is 45min and then we will go take pictures, we are looking at getting to the reception at 330ish. There will be a buffet dinner and maybe a slide show, also I want to do the shoe game, it looked cute. It’s a little stressful when you’re getting a lot of flak for not throwing a party for everyone, even one of my bridesmaids threw a fit about it! The photo booth is a good idea! How do you do a DIY photo booth?
oh there will be other music in the background. I am trying to find acoustic music, but I don't want it to sound to rocker, (even though I love Journey!). Any suggestions on good lovey acoustic music?
@Cheesegirl: You could be sneaky and try Vitamin String Quartet--they do string quartet versions of a ton of songs (many of them rock). Would your church be okay with that?
oo the shoe game would be really cute! I agree it'd be nice to have some background music - even ipod speakers for accent music would be nice. Could be classical or something italian luncheon ish.
@Cheesegirl:for diy photo booth instruction:
http://offbeatbride.com/2010/08/diy-photo-booth
photoboothsign-200x200.jpg (11.4 KB, 36 downloads) 1 year old
IDK if they would, but I am going to try. Luckly I am friends with the patsor's kids, who are all around my age, so I just send it to them and they tell me if I can get it past the pastor or not. I'm excited! I might actually get my journey song in!
@Cheesegirl: Don't worry!!! Your guests are there to celebrate you and your marriage.
This is very common in my area (I'm from central Pa) and most weddings around here have no alcohol and no dancing. I was going to suggest having some sort of games. Maybe that allow people to get to know eachother or the couple better. I also think slideshows work out well at a wedding like this. A photobooth, as others suggested, would also be great!
If you can (and you may have already) let people know by word of mouth that there will be no drinking. That way they will know what to expect and be there for the right reasons.
I would actually NOT warn people about the no alcohol policy. My cousin is on the event staff for a reception hall, and says that whenever they have a "dry" wedding, people always ALWAYS sneak booze in, and it causes problems. If you could see this being a problem with anyone you are inviting, i'd keep the info on the down-low.
People know that we there is no drinking, yet they still are throwing a fit about it. Oh well, I can't wait to get married!
I think as long as you set up the space as a dinner party and treat it that way- no one will mind that they're just mingling... conversation is entertainment. I think 4 hours tops would be sufficient. Maybe even a 3 hour reception after the ceremony. You have some great ideas. Good luck!
Maybe you could do an adult scavenger hunt. When I was on a cruise they had one and it was absolutely hilarious!!! You have people team up in 3's or 4's and you pass out cardboard numbers to each team. Your husband and you could be the MC's and they have to do things like "Find a man's shoe without laces in it", they have to bring it to you and show you their number. You do a bunch of those hunts and give teams points. This could be a lot of fun for everyone.
Or if your church permits it you could do a murder mystery game.
I have another idea, you could have some of the married couples in your family tell the story of their wedding day.
I don't think anything is going to distract guests enough to not realize there's no drinking/dancing. It's perfectly okay to go with that sort of reception, but I really don't think it needs to be 6 hours long. Are you planning on serving dinner? I think light apps and cake/punch reception would be perfect in this situation. That sort of reception really doesn't need to be more than a few hours.
Countless people get married with no drinking or dancing at all. If anyone isn't able to enjoy themselves without either of those or has the balls to complain to anyone, they are the ones with the problem, not you. The rest won't care since they are there to see you get married and partake in whatever hospitality you offer. However if you are not having dancing, then your reception will only last 3 hrs max. You can have dancing at a different venue from your ceremony site, following a cake reception at the fellowship hall, which is very commonly done as well. Most guests are perfectly happy being able to socialize with others without the need for dancing, etc.
But if your guests are not able to focus on anything beyond the party/drinking that they prefer, then unfortunately there is nothing you can do to "distract" them if that is the only thing they are interested in.
I Spy/scavenger hunt wedding game.. people can take pictures of a list of items with digital cameras, and the winners could get a prize.
Newlywed game.. You and your husband could compete against other couples (married 10, 25, 50 years) to answer questions about each other.
We are having drinking (beer and wine) and dancing. However, during my Happy Hour I plan to have old fashioned garden games- croquet, horsehoe ( one of the things my love asked for) and huge bubble makers for the kids. I think this will help entertain kids of all ages and make for great pictures. If you have some type of theame, however loose, mabey that would help you get ideas. Photo booths are always a hit.
Are there activities that you and your FI really enjoy that you could use this celebration to share with all of your loved ones?
Good luck!
I would definitely prepare yourself for your reception to be short, which isn't bad! We had a brunch reception that was about three hours long - short and sweet. Are you having a full dinner? That will obviously keep people occupied and they will happy to enjoy a delicious free meal! But after dinner everyone will probably head out regardless of other activities, so I would just go ahead and plan for that.
Have you thought about having an after party? That way your "party hardy" friends can have a plan for where they can drink and dance. It's a good option for your friends that come from out of town and want to continue celebrating.
I didnt read all of the above posts, but here are my thoughts:
Ifyour guests know ahead of time that it will be a church reception (you dont even need to verbally tell them, it will be on the invitation) they should be prepared for no dancing/music.
I dont think its necessary to cover up the fact that there is no dj or drinking, I think other fun things can go in place. Like a DIY photobooth, or a rented one. Maybe a different type of guest book, like one where guests write wishes for you, or write on patches for a quilt, etc, that will take up some time. Would it be possible to play some classical music on an ipod or something just for background noise?
I wouldnt worry too much about it, just have the reception you and FH wants to have. I'm sure everyone who attends will enjoy themselves and be happy to celebrate with you :)
thik that most games at weddings are kinda lame. i would shorten the reception and maybe invite some of your best closests friends to meet you at a club for dancing for an afterparty.
All wonderful ideas ladies! I am thinking about shorteing the guest list to only family and friends, that way the people who really want to be there, will be. Thanks again! Now I am not so worried about this wedding.
how was the wedding?!? i am in the same boat as you were, my wedding is in May. I also had people do a double take (WHAT!!?) no dancing? no alcohol? lol im afraid people will be bored or think its lame...but hopefully not since its a small wedding with just my family and close friends.
Did you say you were serving a meal or if it's just cake and punch?
If there is no meal six hours is a long time- without dancing and drinking I would expect people to start heading out after cake and punch.
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So my FI and I are not having dancing at our wedding. We are getting married in our church and having our reception in the fellowship hall. This is a brand new beautiful building and in fact we will be the firsts to get married there. :) Anyway, I love to dance, but there are some things I need to comply with in order to get married in our church and have the reception there. First off is there is no dancing or drinking. Then the dresses must be modest, no cleavage and no open backs or bare shoulders. And last there cannot be any rock and roll music or rap played. All of these things I have worked with and the wedding will be beautiful! BUT we were partiers before we stopped drinking, so that means like 75% of the guests are focused on the party aspect of the wedding and not the wedding. SO how can I distract them from the fact that everyone isn’t getting wasted? I have cupcakes for cake, a candy buffet, and maybe a chocolate fountain? I think that the more I distract the guest by the details, the more they might not notice that it isn’t your usual party-hardy wedding. Any other ideas to keep people from being bored? Also the wedding is going to be from 2pm- to 7 or 8ish, is that too long?