MemberWe are holding our renewal ceremony and reception in the same room of an old refurbished train depot. We are having a small wedding(less than 100 people) and I was needing ideas on how to accomadate both the ceremony and reception in one room. I was thinking of having people sit at the tables the whole time, but I am not so sure. Does anyone have creative ideas?
MemberI’ve been to a wedding where people just sat at their assigned tables through both the ceremony and the reception, and it worked out totally fine, so that’s definitely an option.
Depending on what you are planning, if there will be a break between the ceremony and reception (like a cocktail hour, or other break), you could have the staff set the tables up for the reception, but then take the chairs and set them up outside, or in one end of the building, for the ceremony. After the ceremony, when people are having a cocktail or whatnot, have the staff move the chairs from ceremony set-up to the tables.
MemberI have been to a wedding where we sat at our dinner seats for the ceremony and I personally did not like it. My back would have been towards the couple, so I turned my chair, but then space was weird with the tables around me and we still did not have a good view. Is there a cocktail hour in another room? Typically the staff could turn the room from a ceremony set up to a dinner set up at that time. Or have the tables out in place, without the chairs and set the chairs up for the ceremony and then have them moved to the tables once the ceremony is done.
I also felt like it made the ceremony seem slightly less special because people were clunking water glasses and things during the ceremony.
MemberWhen we were planning a big wedding, we were going to seat everyone at their tables for the ceremony and head right into the reception after that. However, we were going to turn all the chairs to face the front of the room, so the space wouldn’t be messed up.
Member@gabrielleelise1981:The only break will be when we go to finish up photos. The cocktails will be served at the beginning of the ceremony and then at the reception…there is no staff to help with breaking down the tables during the time we rented it for. I like the idea of turning all the chairs to face us…it is a huge space so i am hopeful. Thanks ladies!
MemberI went to a wedding actually also in an old train depot. They had all the tables at the back with the chairs set up for the ceremony in rows. I would have been fine with going outside while the staff set it up really fast but I was kind of bothered actually because the bridesmaids started telling everyone to help move tables and move chairs in order to set the room up so I wouldn’t suggest that. I would have liked it better just sitting at the tables the whole time.
MemberI’m doing this in EEEK 15 days and all my vendors are familiar with this type of set up. I don’t think it will be a problem at all. I like the low-key-ness of it.
MemberI was in a wedding where this arrangement was used. Most guests were seated at their dinner tables, while the honored guests (close family) were seated in about 3 rows at the front. That way, there were only a few chairs to be moved back to tables and the family got a nice, personal view of the ceremony.
All the guests seemed to really enjoy the arrangement and didn’t have any issues with seeing, although some of them couldn’t hear the ceremony very well.
Memberi Have been to a wedding like this but the seats the arranged in rows like a regular ceremony and after the ceremony while we were all outside taking pictures they quickly unfolded the tables and set it up for a reception, it took them about an hour to do this.
MemberI went to a wedding where we sat at our reception tables during the ceremony, and I thought it was pretty cool. The ceremony was on a stage at the front of the room and everyone could see. It was like dinner theater! I am a big fan of having the ceremony and reception in the same location, and if they need to be held in the same room, so be it. In my book I would far prefer that to having to drive a distance between locations.
Member@doingathing:love the stage idea…especially with our event lighting it should be spectacular!!
MemberWe’re doing this. The way our venue handles it is that the chairs are set up for the ceremony in rows and then after the ceremony we go to a different area for cocktail hour while they set up the tables and move the chairs over, and then we go back for dinner.
My FMIL’s wedding was also this last weekend and she had the same situation. Chairs set up initially for the ceremony but all the tables were actually already set up and decorated, but just all pushed against the back wall. After the ceremony people went into the hallway for snacks and drinks and the servers spread the tables out and put the chairs around them.
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