Member- JMTaylor
- 8 years ago
We are having an outdoor ceremony and reception. The reception will be off to the side from the hill where the ceremony will be, about a 20 second walk. It’s going to be a low-key, not low-class morning (10:30am) wedding, and we’ll have light hors d’oeuvres, cake, coffee, punch and champagne at the reception. We are not doing “first-look” photos because my Fiance wants to be very traditional about seeing the bride, but may do some with the party as much as possible prior to that. We are definitely having a receiving line, as we will have many in attendance and want to address them with greater thanks than our light reception.
Directly after the ceremony, my father, who is officiating, will anounce the guests remain seated, because our photographer will assemble everyone for a photo. This is the only photo besides my Fiance and I that I care about for the day. We are have the ceremony on the hill of an estate, and everyone in attendence will assemble with the Bride and Groom in front. That is 225+ people, eek! But do-able.
I also thought we’d let the guests go ahead and get food at this time, so that the rest of the photos we need can be taken .
My delima is when to do the receiving line. Initially, I thought directly after our group photo, but then when do we do the rest of our posed photos without a lul for the guests? I thought to do a receiving line directly after the group photo a little away from the food and drink area, so that people aren’t just standing around in one line forever. They can pick a line, then move on to the other,but again when do we finish photos? Would finishing our photos, while the guests get there food be best, and then create the receiving line? By that point the line may still have people in it, but others done and ready to chat.
I should mention that while we will not have a DJ, we will have an IPOD set up for music. I could also use help to know how long to wait for things like cake cutting, garter and bouquet toss. We don’t know how long to expect the reception to last. Our ceremony should be over just after 11am , and though we are not have a lunch meal, more of a light brunch or tea, there should be enough to hold people over for an hour and a half. With not having dancing we expect it to be shorter, which was another reason for having the receiving line, so we can personally thank and meet all our 200+ guests for at least a moment, before mingling later.
So does an hour and a half to two hours sound a reasonable length for the reception we are hosting? We are not restricted in the time area, just wanted to get an idea, so we know when to plan the send off. Also, when to do the receiving line? How about finishing those pesky photos?
Also just had this thought, What if:
1. We do the group photo.
2. Have guests get food, while we do photos.
3. Then we come directly over to cut the cake.
4. Then form the receiving line. This way people can still get food, now they can also have cake, and the option of the receiving line.
5. Then we sit a bit, music will be going and people can still mingle, even with us, eat or dance a little.
6. Then do the garter and bouquet toss. Just don’t know how much time to let lapse between 5 and 6, so it doesn’t feel rushed or dragged out.
Some one suggested on another blog that I finish any photos after the reception. Though I expect the remaining photos to take 20 min max, (and I am a photographer, so I feel my judgement on this is not off) but if we went with the photos after, how would we do a send off? We could “leave” I guess and have the driver bring us to the back of the property, but will the straglers think this is strange, and wonder why we didn’t really leave? With that our schedule would look more like this:
1. Pre-ceremony photos.
2. Ceremony
3. Large guest photo, directly into Receiving Line as people move to reception. 3. After the receiving line, Cut the Cake and toast.
4. Then we sit a bit, eat and mingle, music will be going, people eating and mingling.
5. Then do the garter and bouquet toss. Just don’t know how much time to let lapse between 4 and 5, so it doesn’t feel rushed or dragged out. 6. Reception Ends and Send Off.
6. Finish Photos.
Many thanks for the advice!