- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
I wouldn't be thrilled, but 15-20 minutes isn't too bad and I would suck it up.
As a short person, yeah I wouldn't be happy. Plus it is really hard to stand still for 20 minutes, especially in heels.
@JoJo Bananas: Ah yes, I forgot to factor in the heels. This is true. And as a fellow short person I tend to agree with you... it can be awful trying to see over people who are several inches taller than you!
My bridesmaid is getting married on July 4th, and has blown her budget to the point that she didn't want to rent chairs for a 15-20 minute ceremony. I'll come back here after the 4th to let you know how I liked it! My reaction to her definitely did not come across as thrilled but, it is what it is!
The thing is, it's not really 15-20 minutes. It's 15-20 plus time if I arrived early or if you start late. And I agree with JoJo. As a short person, I wouldn't be able to see. But as a hypothetical guest who loves you, I would get over it I'm sure!
I'd be pissed because Im tiny and I know I would end up behind some freakishly large cousin or somethin like always. Your guests come because they want to watch and enjoy your ceremony.
I attended a friends wedding on a lake in tennessee years ago. It was standing room only, 15 minute ceremony...not a big deal. I had on heels in the woods pretty much too.
I'd do it if I had no other choice, but I really wouldn't be happy about it.
My friend's backyard ceremony last summer had limited seating. I stood for the ceremony (20 minutes...) and it was totally fine. Make sure your ushers or whatever are helping people to find good places to stand so everyone can see.
I would try to work around this and get seats for everyone. Guests do not like to stand around. Even if the ceremony is just 20 minutes its still a long time to be standing
@MrsRuby: I'm sure it will be okay. I doubt I would be very comfortable but it's only 20minutes and since you are a friend/family member, I would not mind doing it.
i doubt it would even be 20 mins.... we arent doing a big long processional or seating of the mothers or anything like that.
we are having an opening prayer.
short poem
another short poem
exchange of vows.
ending prayer
DONE
I have all the chairs i need for free but since its in a park i have a limited amount of time to set up , do it and get out.
i can have chairs set up for the ceremony..... but have nothing to do with them after. my brothers and dad will have to scramble to load them in the back on a truck... while everyone else is at the reception.....
I'm going to go against the crowd- I wouldn't mind. It's such a short period of time that it doesn't matter.
And if you're short, you can't see even if there's chairs (because everyone stands a lot during a church service).
Just make sure to let people know not to wear stilettos!
If you had asked me this question and I had never been to a standing only ceremony, then my answer would have been in line with the majority and I would have said "no. you must have chairs." HOWEVER, I attended a friend's wedding and she had a very short ceremony, standing only (no chairs) followed by a kick ass reception. It wasn't a probllem at all and I doubt anyone complained. Really standing for 15 or 20 minutes is no big deal. As long as you treat your guests well the rest of the night and you have seats for the elderly/infirmed
If the wedding starts on time and really is only around 15 minutes, I'd be fine with it. Weather would play a factor in it.
I was the MOH at an outdoor August wedding where we all walked up and waited for the bride to pull up in a horse drawn carriage. The horse was uncooperative and we spent a good half hour just standing around waiting for her to arrive. It was really hot, I got burned because my makeup melted off and it was miserable standing there. The guests were seated and I was jealous, primarily because I was trying not to faint. I never let on to my friend because it was hardly her fault, but if I'd been a guest rather than wedding party and having to wait standing in the heat, I'd have felt a bit less charitably.
This is probably just me and I'm a little embarassed to say this, but I can't stand in one place for an extended period of time, even if it is only 15-20 minutes. I think I lock my knees when I stand or something, and I'm just really uncomfortable if I'm not moving. So if I came to your wedding, I wouldn't be mad at you because there aren't chairs, but I would probably end up sitting on the grass or something awkward like that. I'm not saying that most people will have problems, but there may be a couple.
Oh, and I know that you said there will be some seats for the elderly and others in the front, but as someone in my early 20s I don't think I would feel comfortable taking one of those spots.
I wouldn't mind at all. Then again when I used to go to church I would have to stand for an hour or longer as our church has no pews, everyone stands.
I'm 5'7" and I've been at plenty of sit-down weddings where I can't see the bride and groom so I don't think it's a short thing only. I'm sure it doesn't help being shorter but if the layout is awkward anyway no one is going to see.
I'm surprised to hear so many people say that 20 minutes is too long to stand & they would be upset. We had a standing only ceremony (save for about 6 chairs for the older people attending). In the year and half following, I haven't heard one person mention having to stand to watch me get married. (Now, the itchy grass on their legs and the dirt road they had to drive on to get there - that's something I heard about 
) I don't think your guests will be upset and, if they are, they will most likely get over it.
As for not being able to see, we also didn't have any assigned standing "area", so everyone moved and curved around us. I believe that everyone who wanted to see us had the opportunity to move to the outside edges and see us. In fact, the photo of all our loved ones scrunched up close in a group watching us say our vows is my most favorite picture of the day & hangs proudly on our wall.
same here. and i have an old hip injury. most of the time its fine, i dont limp or anything, but standing for 20 minutes will kill me. and then it would hurt for 2-3 days. and like you, i wouldnt feel as if i could take one of the front seats.
i wouldnt be cross. but i would disappear and ssit on the grass or bench.
Keep in mind 20 mintues for ceremony plus 15-30 mins of pre-ceremony time. If it says 2 start I arrive at 1:45 so tack on another 15-30 mintues to the 20mins for ceremony.
I called a couple family friends; their all fine with it.
so glad my family and friends are laid back. Standing it is! :)
If it's a venue limitation, I would find a new venue.
If it's a budget limitation, you should invite fewer people and/or pull from other areas. Folding chairs are only around $1.50 to rent. Not that much.
15-20 mins plus 30+ minutes if they arrive early plus recessional/chatting time after the ceremony can add up to over an hour-hour and a half of straight standing...in the grass...in heels...not able to see a damn thing.
Sweetie, those are biased opinions. Not very many people will say no bride to be, I don't want to stand at your wedding for fear of pissing you off or hurting your feelings.
since its in 6 days a new venue isnt a possibility.
telling very close family and friends they are uninvited is not an option.
thanks for the opinions.
I stood for an entire wedding and my only complaint was the minister was long winded. If its 15-20min, I don't think its a big issue since the setup and the take down can be a chore. The only reason I agreed to get married in our location(a bluff overlooking the ocean) was due to our chair rental company will take care of delivery, setup and delivery. Its already going to be fun driving through Laguna Beach so I didn't need the headache.
I would let ppl know that it will be a standing ceremony as well as the exact time the ceremony will start. For some crazy reason, ppl don't believe the procession will start on time.
I didn't want everyone to have to stand for our ceremony but there wasn't an option in the end. We had ordered chairs and they never showed up. It last about 15 minutes and everyone seemed to be okay. Luckily my mom brought her wheelchair (she had broken her heel) or it would have been an issue but everyone seemed fine. Before the ceremony started everyone was arrange so everyone could see. I know some people had on heels too but they seemed absolutely fine with it since it was only 15 minutes.
Personally, I would HATE having to stand. I would not be able to stand still! And also, the ceremony might only be 15 minutes long...but there is also going to be waiting time before and after.
I wouldn't mind standing at a wedding. I would totally understand. The only thing I would worry about are kids because I know if my son had the freedom he wouldn't stay still. Other then that no big deal. As for the short people, doesn't matter if you are standing and a tall person is behind you or sitting in front of you ??
In my most recent wedding experience, I was more uncomfortable sitting :) The bride and I had been friends for a long time. In the beginning, we worked together and we made friends with the people we worked with, so I was fine standing and reconnecting with all of them before AND after the ceremony. Anyone who feels that uncomfortable standing will love the chairs at the reception tables. Regardless of how long the ceremony might be, you aren't making them stand the whole day, are you? Of course not.
@PrairieGirl: Totally agree. Just had this same scenario at a friend's wedding this past weekend. It wasn't a big deal at all.
A couple of things (just went to an outdoor wedding and had to stand).
Pros:
I could stand in the shade (it was super hot)
I didn't have to sit in close proximity to people while it was so hot.
Cons:
They had THREE songs (and they were not short songs).
People who were standing, felt it okay to talk, look around, not pay attention. Felt very informal.
With any kind of heel...you're sinking in the grass!!! (and ruining good shoes!).
If I was one of those allowed to sit at your wedding, I would feel awkward and like I was being rude or something. I know that's weird.
I went to a wedding where we stood for the ceremony and obviously the time leading up to it. It was horrendous. My feet were killing me the rest of the night. Not something I would want to put my guests through, even if were for only 20 minutes.
I've never had to stand for wedding ceremony, but i'm not really seeing the big deal. I've had to stand for other things like memorial day programs or fourth of july programs and it never bothered me. Not to mention I've worked 8-14 hours on my feet (usually without a break) and i lived to tell about it. And yes, I stand in one place a lot at my job without moving around. It's not like its a ridiculous unheard of request.
I've been to a wedding like this. Let's see. It was cold, outside, and there was no seating but for the elderly and close family members. I wish I could tell you about the wedding ceremony, but being 5'1 I couldn't see or hear much of it over everyone else. For me personally, it really took away from the beauty of the ceremony, and I so loved the couple! Id' certainly have come, chairs or not, but who can focus on the couple, though, when all you can think is "When is this finally going to end so we can go inside and sit down/my feet are killing me/I'm hot/cold, etc? My advice is that do it if you have to espcially for space reasons, have chairs if you can, but totally let people know either way so they can be prepared and dress/plan accordingly.
I went to an outdoor ceremony where I had to stand. They ran out of seating, but the seats were hay bails anyway. I was kind of confused at first, but it wasn't that bad. I just wish I would've known earlier so I could wear flip flops instead of heels :)
You stand around the gravesite at a funeral for 20-30 minutes, you can do it at a wedding, too.
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| kate02121 | 12 |
| rachgirl82 | 11 |
| ndreighton | 11 |
| louiseW | 9 |
| ozpeony | 7 |
| cbeyelia | 6 |
| rivierabridal | 6 |
| ladyartichoke | 5 |
| crazyinlove | 5 |
| takemyhand | 5 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| rurahrah | 1 |
Look like the best plan thats gonna work for my outdoor ceremony is to have everyone standing. I will have 2 rows of seats reserved for elderly, or those needing to sit. Ceremony will last 15-20 mins tops.
i know its not ideal.... but would you be pissed as a guest to have to stand?
share your thoughts please!