<p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; margin: 0px">I'm having my wedding and reception in the same location. We are expecting about 50 guests. It will be a winter wedding along the Oregon coast. I've been spending way too much time trying to figure out the logistics of a few things... I could really use some feedback<p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; margin: 0px">.<p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; margin: 0px">#1- Tapas or seated meal? The location is in a 5,000 sqft. suite filled with whimsical art in every nook and cranny. It's quiet spectacular and there's a lot to see and enjoy there. Having only heavy appetizers for guests as they walk around the suite would work beautifully EXCEPT I really want to create my dang centerpieces and have assigned seating in long family style tables (even if it's just a short period of time). However sitting at an assigned table could feel confined. How can I pull off both? Because the weather outside will be cold and wet, the reception must start immediately after.<p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; min-height: 12px; margin: 0px"> <p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; margin: 0px">#2- Should reception tables be set up prior to the wedding? The only spot in the room for reception tables would also be an ideal place to set up chairs for the ceremony. That would then require a tear-down and set up immediately after the ceremony while the guests were there. There IS another area, but I wouldn't be able to have an aisle to walk down. It'd be more of an L shaped configuration. Which would you choose?<p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; margin: 0px"> <p style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; margin: 0px">
What time is your wedding? Time is a big factor in deciding weither to provide a meal or not. You can have cocktail tables with your centerpieces... It can be quite an ordeal to move all of that furniture in a short amount of time PLUS decorate but its not entirely impossible. Do you have a picture or linkto the venue?
"Having only heavy appetizers for guests as they walk around the suite would work beautifully EXCEPT I really want to create my dang centerpieces and have assigned seating in long family style tables (even if it's just a short period of time). However sitting at an assigned table could feel confined."
I don't know about that space in particular, but I know for sure that I would prioritize the fun & flow of the party and the comfort of the guests well above the desire for a certain centerpiece/table arrangement.
Since you say that heavy appetizers (and perhaps some tables w/o assigned seating) would "work beautifully," and the other option "could feel confined," it sounds like assigned seating at long tables is not the way to go.
Is there any way you could have the ceremony, and then "turn" the room (you know, have the tables brought in and the chairs re-arranged) while the guests are wandering through other areas enjoying the art (and drinks and appetizers) and then have them come back and enjoy a seated meal? It may require more staff and be more costly -- but with only fifty guests, it may be quite easy to pull off. Something like that occured at a wedding I was at (in an art gallery) and it was amazing to have the room turned. Like magic!
I love the idea of people being able to mingle through out the space and enjoy the art. I'm not sure what your centerpieces look like, but I bet they would look great on the coffee table or at either end of the bar in the photos I looked at. You could also consider renting casual seating. Lots of places rent lounge seating. You want to make sure older people will be comfortable, but your centerpieces could also look lovely at those tall cocktail tables that people stand up around to set their drinks down and nibble.
hmmm sounds pretty tricky...
What time is your wedding? Time is a big factor in deciding weither to provide a meal or not. You can have cocktail tables with your centerpieces... It can be quite an ordeal to move all of that furniture in a short amount of time PLUS decorate but its not entirely impossible. Do you have a picture or linkto the venue?
posted by TallBride 580 posts 3 months agoI would say: plan for some casual sitting. Small tables and chairs where you can have your centerpiece but without assigning seats.
If you searve finger food people will be able to go around and mingle and only those who want to sit down will.
Draw the size of your space to scale along with paper (to the scale) tables and see how you can arrange things around.
An other option would be to have people sit cabaret style to watch the wedding and have the tables do double duty.
posted by MrsFroggy 80 posts 3 months agoHi TallBride-
On the first question, you say:
"Having only heavy appetizers for guests as they walk around the suite would work beautifully EXCEPT I really want to create my dang centerpieces and have assigned seating in long family style tables (even if it's just a short period of time). However sitting at an assigned table could feel confined."
I don't know about that space in particular, but I know for sure that I would prioritize the fun & flow of the party and the comfort of the guests well above the desire for a certain centerpiece/table arrangement.
Since you say that heavy appetizers (and perhaps some tables w/o assigned seating) would "work beautifully," and the other option "could feel confined," it sounds like assigned seating at long tables is not the way to go.
posted by maryalison 105 posts 3 months agoIs there any way you could have the ceremony, and then "turn" the room (you know, have the tables brought in and the chairs re-arranged) while the guests are wandering through other areas enjoying the art (and drinks and appetizers) and then have them come back and enjoy a seated meal? It may require more staff and be more costly -- but with only fifty guests, it may be quite easy to pull off. Something like that occured at a wedding I was at (in an art gallery) and it was amazing to have the room turned. Like magic!
posted by bluegreenjean 118 posts 3 months agoI love your venue, its soooo pretty! I totally want to snuggle in the couch with a glass of wine.
I vote for cocktails and apps.
posted by TallBride 580 posts 3 months agoI love the idea of people being able to mingle through out the space and enjoy the art. I'm not sure what your centerpieces look like, but I bet they would look great on the coffee table or at either end of the bar in the photos I looked at. You could also consider renting casual seating. Lots of places rent lounge seating. You want to make sure older people will be comfortable, but your centerpieces could also look lovely at those tall cocktail tables that people stand up around to set their drinks down and nibble.
posted by Soon2BeMrsC 72 posts 3 months ago