Wedding Suggestions - 3 Part Question

[Barmaid]

Having set the date, I am now furiously planning a day to remember. You have always been so good with suggestions, so I'm asking for some more now (it will be all over by the end of June! I promise!!!)

1. By the time we get back from the legal bit, it will be about 4pm. Realistically we will not be ready to serve food before 4.30. Originally I was thinking that we would have a cold fork buffet. However, given that we are limited to numbers at the legal do, we have to invite people only to the day do and then people to the evening do and it seem daft to have a full meal around 4.30 and a full meal again around 8 - nonetheless I feel you cant make people wait until 8ish for a meal and we must provide something. I am thinking that we serve afternoon tea. (Sarnies, scones, cakes etc). Obviously tea and coffee and fizz will be available - would you also put wine on the tables?! Any other suggestions?

2. Would you mention on the invitations what is happening so people know what to expect and how to plan? I was thinking of saying "and afterwards at *** for afternoon tea, followed by an evening dinner reception"

3. Can you also give me ideas about what you really enjoyed/hated about weddings you have attended as a guest (rather than as one of the protangonists). I'm looking for inspiration, although I fully appreciate that in some circumstances the thing you became to hate may have been your (now ex) spouse.

As always, thank you.

[woofgang]

Maydup, that "turning into the evening reception naturally" can be offensive to people who have only been invited to the evening reception. I think its more courteous to have some kind of fresh start so that the newcomers don't feel like they coming into a group as outsiders.

[gness]

BM...I love...really love the idea of afternoon tea...nibble or gobble....bliss...
and I'll think and come back...but Dave's suggestion of the seating plan is awful.....bloody awful.....
When I asked my cousin why he sat me at a table of four miserable, prissy faced, brain dead, humourless omadhauns he said they were struggling where to put them til someone said....
Gness is jolly....chatty and has a great sense of humour....she'll liven them up....
Jeeez......I'd have had more chance of livening up a stuffed bear... :-(

DO NOT TAKE DAVE'S ADVICE!!!!!!

[DTCwordfan]

and with that, if offsite, read your luggage too......

[woofgang]

I am thinking your older relations might find the whole day a bit long as well and its a good idea to have the main meal when they can enjoy it so they can take an early leave if they want to. Can I suggest that you make sure that the venues know who your showrunner and MC are, ?includng mobile numbers so they will know who has the power to put their foot down.

[Barmaid]

lol wedding night will be at home since we're not planning on flying off for 3 weeks until the Tuesday. Unfortunately, we have a number of mischevious people staying here (I dread the state of our room when we get home).

[woofgang]

yes i like the afternoon tea idea too.

[kvalidir]

Christ I'd be terrified if anyone we knew was staying with us on our wedding night Barmaid lol

[Cloverjo]

At my son's wedding I enjoyed every invitee staying for the whole event; no hierarchy of guests as in who's invited to which bit.
The photographer stayed in the background taking informal shots of everyone throughout the whole day, as well as the traditional posed ones.
The seating arrangement for the meal was a big u-shaped table so everyone sat with people they were happiest with but also could chat easily with new people.

[anneasquith]

Totally understandable 're reception .

[ummmm]

Are we having a hen do?

My opinion. Do what make you and Mr happy. It's your day x

[gness]

Other things I have loved at recent weddings:

An old fashioned ice cream van where we queued and bantered before ordering a cone with a flake for pudding....then wandered around chatting...
Some Polaroid cameras in a basket.....take a pic and pin it to a board with a message for the couple....I think there were some dressing up things in a basket too....
Two I've been to recently had some games nearby.... .....Jenga....hoopla....and other oversized garden games.....x

[DTCwordfan]

hire a security company!

[rowanwitch]

Whatever you decide some will agree, some won't like it, one wedding I went to had a light lunch type meal after the ceremony and a hog (and Turkey) roast in the evening which felt like a whole new thing. The afternoon civil ceremony was for about 35 , the evening was about 200 and because the couple were pagans a variation on a handfasting was part of the evening festivities . So almost two full events in one day.

[Milo2]

I went to a wedding a few years ago and we had afternoon tea after the wedding. It was mentioned on the invitations. The evening reception was more like a barbecue so there was something hot for the guests who had the afternoon tea. I enjoyed both.

[RainbowRafiki]

Congratulations! Not sure if that helped, but still.

[Mamyalynne]

My Daughter last year had a Pic 'n Mix stall set up in the corner of the bar.