Same location Reception/ceremony setup

[Sare79]

I need some advice. My wedding is coming up in a couple of months and we are having our ceremony and reception at the same location with pictures before the ceremony. How can we transition the room quickly? It is a lodge with one large room:

http://images.snapfish.com/34457%3B2%3B23232%7Ffp3%3B%3Dot%3E233%3B%3D999%3D7 4%3A%3DXROQDF%3E232389%3B9%3B76%3A7ot1lsi

http://images.snapfish.com/34457%3B2%3B23232%7Ffp4%3Enu%3D324%3A%3E8%3A8%3E65 9%3EWSNRCG%3D323298%3C8%3C6797nu0mrj

We would like to get married in front of the fireplace. We are using 6 foot tables for the guests and will have a sweetheart table, totally 16 tables, with the buffet in the center.

Any suggestions would be totally appreciated.

[PrincessTommi]

I went to a wedding with a set up like you are talking about. After the ceremony, everyone was dismissed to go do the receiving line back towards the entrance. After the receiving line, guests were ushered towards the bar set up near the receiving line and it was "cocktail hour" while the staff moved the chairs and set up the tables. And then we all moved over to the tables for dinner.

It wasn't a very big wedding, so it was doable.

[framboise]

That's a really great fireplace, Sare79. It will make such a lovely backdrop for your ceremony.

The first thing that popped into my head was something like princesstommi suggested - getting everyone out of the room asap for a cocktail hour type of thing so that the "conversion" is smooth. Is there an entrance hall / lobby or something like that? Or is that a balcony in the pictures? Can you do anything with that?

Good luck coming up with something that works!

[daydreamer]

You might consider reception style seating - have people sit at their tables during the ceremony. But then the buffet would have to go on the side or in the back.

[Lanapoo]

We had the same situation for our wedding. Rather than switching out after the wedding we decided to do cabaret style seating with the round tables. I just arranged them so that an aisle would be between the tables. It turned out beautifully and ended up being a lot less work for us. Good luck with your decision!

Lana

[Sazoo]

We had a similar situation. The place we got married had a dance floor in the middle of the room with a small platform/stage at one end. We stood on the platform during the ceremony, & the guests sat in rows of chairs on the dance floor. The rest of the room was already set up for the reception, so after the ceremony ended guests were instructed to get a drink from the bar, find a table, mingle, etc. Once they got up from the ceremony chair area the staff at the venue removed the chairs & put them at some of the tables so that we could use the dance floor for dancing later on. They also moved our sweetheart table up onto the platform so that by the time DH & I entered the reception it was there waiting for us to sit at.

We considered having everyone file out to the lobby area to do a receiving line while the staff moved the chairs around, but we ended up changing our minds & not doing a receiving line afterall. Instead, during the reception while people were eating, DH & I walked around to each table to greet people & thank them for coming. ;)

For your big room, my advice is either to a) lead people to one end or even outside to do a receiving line while someone (staff, maybe?) changes over the room quickly, or b) have the room mostly set up for the reception except for the one area you need for the ceremony (in front of the fireplace) & just ask guests to get up & go find a table & get a drink, etc. when the ceremony is over (& then have someone remove the ceremony chairs while guests are mingling).

Good luck!

[papergirl]

Can your cocktail hour (if you are having one) take place in another room?

I had a similar setup and this is what we did. The caterer arrived early and set up all our tables. They were completely dressed with linens, china, cups, centerpieces etc. Then all the tables are bunched up against a side wall or a back wall. You then take screens and put them up to “hide” the tables. Since the tables are bunched up end-to-end this means that one fourth of the room is not usable for the ceremony, which should not be a problem. After the ceremony your guests will leave the room (for cocktails preferable) and the wait staff quickly closes the screens and pulls the tables out. Since they are already made up it takes about 15 minutes. Super fast. The buffet tables can be closed and not set-up yet and then quickly opened during this time and dressed. That should not take too long.

If you are not doing a cocktail hour then I would suggest doing a receiving line somewhere other then the room. This way you make everyone leave and go to where the receiving line is. This should take 10 minutes. You can also do a group photo of all the guests just outside the lodge. This should take another 10 minutes and will allow the room to be “turned over.”

I hope that helps. BTW, your space is gorgeous.

Rebecca

[sublime311]

We had a same place ceremony/reception wedding, too. We used a HUGE patio at a restaurant. We had the ceremony seats set up on the lawn portion while the existing patio tables were already "dressed" for the reception. After the ceremony, we had a cocktail hour near the patio bar (away from the lawn/ceremony area). While that was going on, the staff removed the 100 ceremony chairs and filled the area with the remaining 4 rented tables, plus the sweetheart table.

I think these weddings are the best! Guests really seem to appreciate not having to go to two different places.

[Sare79]

Thanks everyone for the input!
We do have staff that can move tables and chairs, as well as the catering staff can help out. We weren't planning a cocktail hour, per se, but there will be hors d'oeuvres and the bar will be open between the ceremony at 5:00 and the dinner at 6:30. (Is that a cocktail hour?)
This space is the front hallway and the only other room, apart from washrooms and coat check room, in the hall.
http://images.snapfish.com/3445%3A68723232%7Ffp64%3Dot%3E233%3B%3D999%3D74%3A %3DXROQDF%3E232389%3B9%3B76%3A8ot1lsi
I don't think it's really large enough for everyone to fit into (we are inviting 110). I am sure that if it is an okay day people will go outside and that will relieve a lot of pressure from us. We could do a receiving line outside if the weather permits. My only worry is that we live in a rainy city and it could very well be raining in Mid-October.

[sublime311]

Yup, I think you have yourself a cocktail hour!

Have you checked with your venue coordinator to see if they have any recommendations? Our coordinator was REALLY helpful!

[Witty Username]

I think I just found something else I don't remember from my wedding! :o

We had a similar set-up, we were married in a courtyard in New Orleans, in front of the fountain. Chairs were set up on both sides with the aisle in the middle,leading to the fountain. I have absolutely no recollection of the tables being set up, it was that fast.

I've been to other weddings with the same situation and it's amazing how fast they get it set up.

[tigger8402]

My cousin's wedding was basically the same type thing as yours. We had the tables and all set up just like they would be during the reception during the wedding but didn't have the plates and stuff on the table until afterwards. Our caterers set up the china and stuff during the cocktail hour and it wasn't as big of deal as you would think with the people around.

There were pedestals lining the isle with an isle runner so after the ceremony those were moved and everything was just lovely. i might be able to find some pics if you would like

[Sare79]

Pictures are always welcome!
Thanks for being so helpful, everyone. :)

[tigger8402]

Hey Sarah~

Here are the only ones that you can kinda see how it was. its hard to see really. They got married in the middle of the room rather then at one end. Everyone there seemed to like the idea that they were in the middle with the big chandaier over them. It created the opportunity for alot of different angle pictures during the ceremony. It was nice to be able to see thier faces in pictures rather then just their backs and sides when looking at the pictures from different people. The other thing i really liked that was different and you can kinda see in the pic, the guys waited at the end of the dance floor for us and then we walked to the "alter" together. The minister came up with that idea saying that when her dad walked her to the edge of the dance floor and presented her to her soon to be husband them walking to the alter together showed that it was them basically doing it of their own free will together. it was cute i think. Enough of my rambling... here are the pics.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5d622b3127cce9300573b891300000016108CaM2rdoybm http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5d622b3127cce93005487480600000015108CaM2rdoybm http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4cf28b3127cce9a893289a08d00000015108CaM2rdoybm