Our Reception will be a bit different.. Advice wanted..

There are a few people on here not having the traditional afternoon wedding breakfast. I like that if it suits you and your wedding. However, if you're going to expect people to be seated in the evening, for however long, you need to somehow make it known that there will be speeches etc. You don't have to give full details but maybe request people get there by a certain time. I know if I get invited to an evening reception 'from 7.30pm' for example, I may not get there til 8pm or so. You don't want people walking in in the middle of your speeches. Other than that it's lovely. You need to do what suits you and your day x

Friends of ours did something similar, having a hot buffet later in the day for all of the guests (day and evening) and did the speeches later. They chose NOT to set out place names and I have to say it was a bit of a nightmare. My OH was one of two best men, and problems arose when guests who were friends took up part of the table but it didnt leave enought seats for other groups of friends who wanted to sit together - also the immediate family members entered the room last, and so guests had to be asked to move tables so the family could all sit together (there was no top table as such). It was a bit awkward all round I thought.

Actually having the buffet later, and waiting for everyone to arrive for the speeches was really nice though. Just needed a bit of organisation!

Sid x

@Allgold78, yeah I was thinking of wording the invitation something like "7:30 start for 8pm speeches" or "promptly at 7:30 ready for speeches" something like that.. Or.. Just give guests an hour to get drinks, mingle and give me and my new husband chance to go round and say hello to everybody then we will announce that we will do speeches and get everyone to their seats.

@Sidsidney, Ahh thanks, I think I will do a seating plan then. Makes sense if it got a bit boggling. One more thing for my "to do" list lol, I love it

I think the bridal party table is the most important and could be fussed over but the others - let them be a free for all.....

well we arent having specific table settings, but we are having people placed at a table if you know what I mean. It means that you can still have a lovely table plan, and even table names if you would like...just not specific seats! If you wanted something with names on and were doing favours, you could put the favours with their names on in a bowl in the middle of the table or something like that!

I'm still undecided, we're also having afternoon tea and then we're having dinner for all evening guests (not a buffet). Our problem is that it all happens in the same room so I'm not sure how it's going to work out between afternoon and evening. Should I have empty tables during the afternoon, already laid out for the evening and then get the afternoon guests to mingle whilst we relay their tables for the evening???

So many questions, not many answers so far...

I'm thinking of having a seating plan for all guests though, to make it more formal.

I think people often wander around and sit in different places at weddings. Maybe for the afternoon you should have set places and then for the evening let people sit where they want.

You could just tell the afternoon guests to find their names on the tables, then get everybody outside for some photos or something whilst the tables are relaid for the evening.

good luck with your big day !

?

You could always assign guests a particular table and they can sit where they like on that table, perhaps? You avoid the confusion of people wandering about and you can ensure people are sat with people they know (or conversely, you can mix them up if you'd prefer).

Thats what i would suggest as well. Have you not seen four weddings when its a free-for-all for a seat. Can you imagine being split up from your partner then the only spaces left are the ones on the billy no mates table, or ODG (old deaf gran)

We're having a buffet (hog roast to be precise) but we're still having place settings. Going from previous experience and advice, leaving guests to choose their own seats, even at allocated tables, can cause headaches for all involved.

Just had a thought - you could have escort cards for the guests. I think this is quite an american thing but have cards that have peoples names on and what table they are seated on. That way you control the number of people on a table, and which table people sit on, but you dont have to have a table plan or placenames or control exactly where they sit on the table - once people are at their allocated table they can sit how they want and next to who they want.

You could attach the escort cards to string like this, then people just need to find their name and table no, pr just set out on a table as above.

Sid.

Ahh yes, on the American wedding blog site that I am on, they use Escort cards, hadn't even thought of that but I think it could the answer for me

Thanks Sid

OMG I never thought about this. We are having a hot buffet after ceremony for ceremony guests. Never even thought about them having somewhere to sit!! Does this mean I get to think of table names and make funky place cards after all? ?

Yes!

That's why I wanted it, I want nice table names hehe.. I'm thinking operas or musicals as the names.

Ooooo like Carmen and La Traviata (sp?) or more Sound of Music, My Fair Lady??

I'm going for butterlfy names ?

The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady are two of my favourite musicals.. It will be them sort. I'm such a child lol, I blame being a nanny though. Wizard of Oz will definitely feature!

I really like the sound of afternoon tea!

Regarding having a table plan etc, that is completely up to you. It's your day!

I love the Sound of Music and My Fair Lady too!! I think if i wasn't so obsessed with butterflies my tables would be a musical theme too. How many tables are you having? Have you thought which other musicals you'd have, other than those three?

Thankyou MillyMolly - It makes it feel abit more vintagey.. And costs a hell of a lot less than a wedding breakfast lol!

Claire - I'm not sure how many tables yet, we haven't found our reception venue so not sure how big their tables are, we also need to finalise guest numbers too.

A few more that may/could feature:

The Lion King (I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this, watched it in Theatre 3 times so far)

Les Miserables

Grease

Oliver

Dirty Dancing

Phantom of the Opera

Mamma Mia

Mary Poppins

Singin' in the rain

Etc etc

I feel a Musical movie night coming on very soon!

You've got me all in the mood for musicals now, lol. I think the movie night sounds like a good idea!