Post # 1
Member
39 posts
Newbee
Okay so I’m having my reception & ceremony at a cute little garden resort in my hometown. It’s beautiful with lots of greenery and just the perfect place for our small wedding. Now I’m SERIOUSLY worried though that guest will be bored at my wedding and heres why.
– We aren’t having dancing ( guests on either sides of our family don’t like dancing so it would be a waste of money to rent a dance floor and dj)
– NO garter toss or boquet toss
Basically thats everything thats going on… We are having our ceremony begin at 4:30 and we plan on having it until about 5:30. Then cocktail hour will start with hors’ devors and such. Then our dinner is to be served at 6:30. Basically we aren’t sure what our guests will think of just eating for the reception. Normally lots of activities are happening and I’m just worried people will view my wedding as boring.
I am on a tight budget and it is a small wedding with only about maybe 44- 45 people MAX. Thats if everyone can make it.
What are your thoughts? Is my reception a bore fest? Would you be asleep on your plate at my wedding? Ideas of how to make it better??
Post # 3
Member
860 posts
Busy bee
@LoveBunny21: I think as long as your supplying alcohol, you should be fine. I would suggest having background music, it’s always nice touch to the mood/atmosphere. You should be fine though! With that small amount of people it wont be a big deal. It will be a big party even if you dont have people dancing. There is no way it would be boring with 40-50 people drinking!
Post # 4
Member
3671 posts
Sugar bee
We didn’t have any dancing or bouquet/garter tosses and everything went great. We had less people (about 16 total) but everyone had so much fun talking and eating. We had background music and alcohol too but I think it would have been fun either way (although it does help).
Post # 5
Member
2600 posts
Sugar bee
I agree with everyone – as long as you’re feeding & watering them, and you have some background music going (just use or borrow someone’s ipod and speakers) people will have a great time mingling and chatting and no one will miss the dancing.
For your invitations though, I would try to find some wording that makes it obvious it’s just food and not dancing to follow.
Good luck!
Post # 6
Member
3314 posts
Sugar bee
The only dancing we had was the first dance and father/daughter dance. We had music and a slideshow playing in the background, but we didn’t have a DJ. I’m not a fan (and neither is my hubby) of the garter/bouquet toss, so we didn’t do that. Neither of us are drinkers and that combined with a very tight budget meant that we didn’t serve alcohol either. Everyone had such a good time talking that no one cared!
We let people know in advance that we wouldn’t be having dancing or alcohol, though I’m not sure if that made a difference or not. I really wouldn’t worry about it! 🙂
Post # 7
Member
1664 posts
Bumble bee
Don’t worry. 40-45 people isn’t a lot, and it could kind of take on the tone of a large dinner party. Have some background music, and people should be able to entertain themselves with conversation.
Post # 8
Member
39 posts
Newbee
Thanks guys. I appreciate all your support and kind advice! The only thing is I’m 19 and my fiance is 20 so we aren’t going to be serving alcohol. It would be a HUGE no no as most of his side of the family are recovering alcoholics. I should have put that in my original post but I’m hoping the wedding will still be fun without alcohol as well :/
Post # 9
Member
2154 posts
Buzzing bee
You could have board games at each table as part of your centerpieces. Or maybe croquet or lawn bowling or something! That would be cute at a garden party.
Post # 10
Member
811 posts
Busy bee
Instead of alcohol you could think about serving different punches with cool names. I wouldn’t worry too much about the alcohol as it sounds like your family won’t be expecting it with family history.
We’re having a very similar evening for our wedding -outdoor event with food, but no dinner or dancing. We plan on having bocce ball, badminton…and afew other things I can’t think of now. I think it should work well.
I’ve also come to the conclusion that while I’ll be disapointed if people are bored this is what Fiance and I want…we’d be terribly out of place at a sit down dinner & dancing reception and thats just not right!
Post # 11
Member
4583 posts
Honey bee
One of the most enjoyable weddings I’ve been to was about 35 people, no dancing and none of the typical wedding stuff like bouquet toss, etc. It was a simple outdoor ceremony and dinner in a small private room at a cozy restaurant. The reason it was so enjoyable is because we were seated with two other couples: a pair of close friends and another couple we were just meeting but instantly got along with. The conversation flowed all evening and we all had a great time. So, that’s my only tip for small weddings: try to put people together that you know will get along well ’cause sometimes good food and conversation is all that’s needed to have a good time.
ETA: bocce ball at a wedding sounds epic!
Post # 12
Member
6351 posts
Bee Keeper
Can you do stations or a buffet instead of a seated dinner? At least people would be up and mingling.
Post # 13
Member
39 posts
Newbee
Okay after reading everyone’s responses I feel MUCH better about my wedding. I’m super glad to hear that it won’t be as boring as I thought it would be. I am defnitely planning on having hors’devors and a little vintage soda bar for guests. Other then that during dinner I will definitely be having backround music.
Wonderful idea about seating people who will get along good w/ each other. I will have to keep that in mind when it’s time to work on the dreadful seating arrangements lol.
Love the idea for the different punches too! I wan’t to incorporate that into our wedding since it will be on a summer day during the evening.
Thanks everyone!
Post # 14
Member
1166 posts
Bumble bee
@Beluga: I love the idea of croquet or lawn bowling! Kind of retro garden party, with everyone all dressed up. What great photo ops!
@LoveBunny21: Another idea is to set up a simple backdrop and some props for photos. I did this at my wedding and the guests absolutely loved it. Assuming you have a photographer, he/she could man the “booth” for an hour after dinner, or you could just let guests take their own photos. Here are some of my “photo hut” pics:
Post # 15
Member
84 posts
Worker bee
Similar to the punch idea, a smoothie or juice bar might be fun too…You could add a few mock cocktail flavors like pina colada or just keep it simple and do fruit smoothies.
A candy or dessert buffet will keep people happy too.
Agree that background music would be nice.
