Anyone else having a reception ceremony with no change in venue?

I wish I had ideas, cause I'd like ideas for this too as a back up plan. I am not getting married in the same spot, or at least that's not the plan. But I am getting married by the beach in april, and there's a chance in might rain so, if it does, we will move ceremony to the ballroom where the reception will be. Hope it don't come t that but if it does, I want a backup plan.

I went to a wedding that was supposed to be outdoors. It STORMED. Then the reception was supposed to be outside under a tent. Apparently no back up plan was made. So, since the place had no room for us inside, the ceremony had to be under the reception tent! They made a little aisle by pushing some of the tables apart and at the end, the whole party recessed to the back of the tent. Obviously since it was pouring they couldn't go very far. They opened up the bar, and that kinda cued everyone to go ahead and use the bathroom, get a drink, say hi to the party, etc.

Yeah a backup plan is always good! I would've loved an outdoor wedding but the idea scared me too much. I have to admit I'm not much of a risk taker. Then again... I am holding my wedding in January. I'll be biting my tongue if we're snowed out!

I was trying to figure out if there was somewhere we COULD recess to, but honestly, at my venue there isn't even a bridal room! I'm getting ready in the bathroom there (they put in a cute little table and stool and cushioned seat) but once people are there, that place is public access! I honestly have no clue where I would recess to unless I walked into the hall and then just walked back in. I feel like that would look silly though unless I went downstairs (our reception hall is upstairs) and maybe back up the other side and entered on the other side of the room.

The place I am having it, we will hope to have it outdoors, but if not it is in the same are as the reception. If this happens, they will move the tables out of the way, or we can make an isle between and through the dance floor. Upon completion, we will exit the building the same way I went in, and the Officiant will let people know that we will be back in a moment after a couple of pictures, that they may help themselves to a drink, appetizer, and mingle. The wine and beer bar will be on one side of the room, and the exit on the other. There are 4 roll up doors along the wall, and we will enter in one of them near the bar area to greet people, as well as walk around visiting. Once everyone has had a chance to get a drink of choice, we will start the meal buffet at the opposite end of the room, near the exit doors.

Either place we have ours, we will be having both in the same place. Luckily for us, either place will have somewhere secluded for us to wander off for a little while between the ceremony ending and the start of the reception. Perhaps they could find something like that for you?

You ladies both gave me a good idea! We are taking our pictures before hand but maybe we can wander over to the staircase and into the artsy downstairs hall for a minute to take a couple extra pictures before coming back into the reception hall. At least that will give us a good excuse!

I guess we will do a meet and greet when we come back in. Honestly the main thing that makes me sad about this place is it will be difficult to figure out how to go about things because our ceremony is so unconventional!

We are having our wedding and ceremony in the same room. We are getting married and then leaving the room. Our guest will stay in the same room for lite appetizers, while we take pics. Then we will make our grand entrance.

I think you should walk out even if it is just to come back in and be announced as Mr. & Mrs.....

After your pronounced husband and wife, you and the bridal party can walk out. Meet outside for pics while leaving ur guests to cocktail / app. hour.

If we get the location I'm hoping for, ours will be at the same location. Theres a grassy area just feet from the beach. Then a reception room walking distance from there..

I like the idea of ceremony in the middle of the room, very simple. I would walk out with music, then you could be announced back in.

Try to recruit a few folks who will be at the reception and say, "hey, once we leave, do us a favor, go to the bar and mingle a bit." Get a handful of folks to do this and eventually other people will catch on to get up, use the bathroom, mingle, drink, etc. 5 or 10 minutes later go ahead and come back in.

IF we have rain I will be having to have my ceremony and reception in the same room but as long as its nice I will be outside for the ceremony.

Is there a hallway or space outside the room where you could have a receiving line or jump into pictures?

Are you doing pictures between ceremony and reception? If so, you could just go to the picture-taking location.

If not, you might consider having the processional end with table visits, since the guests will already be at their tables.

Chances are, you'll be doing pictures. Ideally some outdoor pictures while your guests enjoy cocktails.

Good luck!

Thanks so much for the suggestions ladies! I really appreciate all the help. I would like to leave the room and let the guests do their thing. Another problem area: Our food and drinks (it's buffet style) are across the hall in a DIFFERENT ROOM. Perhaps I should set up a drink table in the reception hall? Or should I just use Jacquelyn Q.'s idea and recruit a few people to lead by example and tell others it's ok to go to the other room and get drinks? I could put in the program like "15 minutes recession for drinks and mingling" or something while we grab a few pictures on the staircase and hallway downstairs. It won't be many photos since most of our photos we are taking care of before the guests arrive.

(while did I ramble or what?)

Are you having a DJ???

At first I wasn't convinced that we needed one, but my mom decided to pay for it cause she wanted one (lol) and I am SOOOo glad we had him! He kept things moving and announced everything. I didnt have to keep track of anything because I could follow his lead

If having a DJ, I would look to his/her suggestions for this kind of thing.

If no DJ, sorry I have no clue. I was one of those clueless brides that had no idea what was going on!

I am having a DJ-- It's my brother! lol That's actually brilliant. I will just tell him to announce to people they can go have some drinks in the other room.