Post # 1
Member25 posts
Newbee
- MrsAmyBeiber
- 7 years ago
- Wedding: July 2013
The wedding is one week from today! EEK! 🙂
Ok, bees. I need advice.
Our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception are all at the same location: Longue Vue Club in Verona, PA. The outdoor ceremony is on one end of the white terrace (fancy name for patio), while the cocktail hour is at the opposite end of the white terrace. The reception is inside, in the ballroom, directly off of the white terrace.
Fiance and I are choosing not to do a receiving line. After the ceremony, we would like a way to indicate to the guests that they should move to cocktail hour (other end of white terrace) while we take some formal family portraits near the “altar.” My mom uses a walker to help her get around and can’t stand for long periods of time, so asking her to wait aroudn to do family portraits is ridiculous, which is the main reason we are saying NO RECEIVING LINE and we are stead-fast on that. (Immediately following formal family portraits, the wedding party will move around the grounds to take photos, while our families will move to cocktail hour).
What we don’t want happening is guests lingering after the ceremony and trying to take their own photos while our photog is shooting our formal family portraits (I can see disasters happening here…everyone looking at different cameras, being distracted, etc!). We also don’t want them thinking that there is a receiving line or lingering to talk to us right then, as we plan to spend time with each table as all guests eat dinner 🙂 And since the ceremony and cocktail hour are basically in the same place (both on the white terrace, just on opposite ends), we feel that guests are definitely going to need a little guidance so as not to linger.
Here’s the dilemma:
1.) Should this be the job of the officiant? Should he say something after the ceremony to the effect of “Thank you all for coming this evening. On behalf of our couple and their parents, we ask that you please partake of the cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the other end of the white terrace while formal photos are taken. The bride and groom will be visiting each table of guests during dinner.”
2.) Should we print something to that the effect in the wedding ceremony programs? I’m finding a hard way to put it in print, yet remain polite and tactful. I feel like I’m pretty much saying, “Sorry, people! Can’t wish us well yet! Just wait about an hour and a half and we’ll see ya then!” HAHA!
Here’s what I have in the program so far:
“Immediately following the ceremony, please enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the white terrace.
In lieu of a receiving line, the bride and groom will be making their way to each table, greeting guests during the reception dinner.”
I personally have never been to a wedding where ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception are all at the same place! This is SO new to me!
Any suggestions, advice, opinions are GREATLY appreciated!
