Weddingbee boards

Okay.  I rarely post, but I'm planning my wedding solo with no family/friend help.  I have decided to keep all wedding related details top secret for too many reasons to list.  However, sometimes I need a sounding board.

This is one of those days.

We have decided to get married at this AWESOME museum here in St.  Louis.  It is a constantly changing found art mystery puzzle, giant jungle gym, bar, circus, old shoe factory and totally unique.  You can crawl through caves, go down a 10 story spiral slide, jump in a ball pit the size of a small apartment, ride a ferris wheel, buy a vintage dress, order dinner, buy a beer and don't forget... have a wedding.

So as you can imagine there is lots to soak in.  All of my guests will be coming from out of state so have NO idea what it is all about.  I am assuming that most people will see "museum" on the invite and expect a swanky art museum.  No amount of typing can describe how far off target that is.  Our guests will get access to the entire museum during the event, however, I want them to REALLY get to appreciate it.  Which brings me to my issue.

We have decided to have an early-ish wedding (10:30am) and the reception will be over at 4pm.  Our ceremony and reception will be held in ajoining spaces in the venue.  (By the way, just to brag, it has a human sized hamster wheel, a hall of mirrors and an antique bank vault door in the space we are renting)  I know that during the reception most people will not wander off to explore.  Which is fine.  I don't think I would want them to anyway.  So, we have decided to rent ANOTHER part of the same incredible museum for our after party.  But I'm wondering if this will be venue overload.

I'm just thinking that maybe no one would want to come back to the same place twice.  But this is such a different situation.  Its not like we are inviting them back to the same church or restaurant.  We are inviting them back to a venue they barely got a glimpse of all gussied up and asking them to come back in play clothes, drink some beer, roast some marshmellows and climb out on the airplane hanging off the roof.  I am hoping that most guests, most of which this will be their first and only time in this city, will appreciate the oppurtunity to do some low key super casual exploring.  But I'm still nervous.

Here would be the sample time line:

10am-Venue opens for seating

10:30am-Ceremony begins

11am-Ceremony ends, bride/groom go take pictures

11:30am-Bride/Goom grand entrance/receiving line (don't even get me started on how I DON'T want a line)

Noon-Hot lunch buffet

1pm-Cake Cutting and toasts

1:30-3:30pm-Newlywed Game, photo booth and mingle,Mingle,MINGLE

3:45pm-Big Exit

Everybody go back to the hotel, change into comfy clothes.  Maybe have dinner, or relax and get packed.

THEN

7pm-1am-Casual come as you are, pay for your own drinks, enjoy the fire pit, explore the museum, family reunion type after party.  

Too much?  Opinions?  Ideas?  Help?!

@thewheelsonthebus:  Well they could explore before, but then that presents its own problems.  Specifically, how much fun is it really to walk around a slide and not go down?  I don't think people will feel comfortable playing in the space in their heels and fancy suits.  PLUS, between ceremony and food their is only a 30 min gap at most because most pictures will be done before hand.  Considering the photo booth, slide show (which I forgot to mention), and general get to know you/haven't seen you in years mingleness, I doubt they will get bored.  

I hear ya on the "long day for guests" thing.  But, I feel bad inviting people from as far west as California and as far east as Maine and then saying "Okay folks.  Its 3:30pm.  We're done here."  I know I wouldn't be ready to tuck in so early.  I wouldn't want to take a day off work and pay for two nights in a hotel and the entire thing be over before the evening news.  Plus it would give us a chance to spend time with our friends who would be out bar hoping anyway with or without an afterparty while still keeping it family friendly and sticking with the family reunion type feel.

And lastly, I am TERRIFIED to spread the word around about the type of venue it is.  Family drama from all sides will erupt at a velocity that would knock your eyelashes straight off.  Of course, they will love it and ooh and ahh over it and pat themselves on the back like it was their idea after it is all said and done.  But in the mean time I will have to answer to a metric ton of BS.

Ahh, plus I forgot.  We will be renting the space until 1am but in NO WAY do I even expect for 50% of the people to stay that long.  We just have the option.

That's what I'm thinking/hoping too.  You don't think people will think that its too much at the same place?  The ceremony, reception AND afterparty?  But its not like this place is small, as you can gather.  Its 4 floors, plus two different roof levels.  I've been several times and I still find new stuff.  I'm just hoping no one says "Damn, could she have been just a little more creative?  Break it up a little!"