How to room flip with guest still in the room???

I don’t have much help but just want to back you up in not having ceremony table seating. Only one wedding I’ve been to actually had this and it was weird and confusing. No one said stand and we weren’t really sure what to do and people were facing all different directions at the tables. And then we were just... there. The whole time. My older sister is getting married next year and mentioned doing this and I was like oh please noooo!!! But she still has a year and a half. So please update what you decide so I can give her ideas!

View Quoted Comment Yes of course

Is there a place your guests can go to have a cocktail hour, like a bar nearby or something? If not, I’m sure they will be fine with the room divider. Are you going to have appetizers and drinks for your guests while the room is being flipped and you’re taking pics? If so, I’m sure everything will be fine.

Also I guess I’ll be tacky since I’m doing cermony table seating. 😂

How does your venue usually handle this? Will there be a bar set up in the same room for cocktail hour? Will the tables already by set up and the only thing being moved is the chairs?

Could you possibly use the divider to portion off an area for cocktails while they do the room flip? i'm assuming this isn't the first time the venue has had to do this kind of a switchover with people still inside--do they have a plan B that you can make use of?

If you are doing a cocktail hour - have a portion of the room set up with the bar, cocktail tables and appetizers and all your guests will migrate to that area while the room is being flipped

View Quoted Comment I’m not sure about appetizers because it’s a brunch wedding so it’s probably be like small things and a mimosa bar

View Quoted Comment I’m not really sure.

Our ceremony and reception are in the same library and our caterer is responsible for flipping the room. It will happen while we are in the adjoining exhibition room. We don't even have to worry about it. Your venue should have options for ways you can flip the room. What do they say?

Is there an outdoor area for cocktail hour?

View Quoted Comment Unfortunately no. It’s used for parking

We are flipping ours for our November wedding. We are getting married in a barn and there is space on either edge where the tables will be all decorated and ready to move after the ceremony is done. There is a bar in the venue and we will have passed appetizers during this time. If the weather is nice, guests will be able to mingle out side, sign the guest book, ect. It helps that there is an area where the tables just need to be moved from and its not like they are having to set up each table and put centerpieces on it during the switch. Hope this helps and I hope it all goes smoothly for you.

View Quoted Comment Well they’ve only suggested doing the ceremony and reception all together and only having to move chairs but I don’t like it because the room is big enough to do both

I've been to many beautiful weddings with ceremony table seating. While it may not be something you want it is far from tacky and fairly insulting to other brides who opt to do this.

With regards to flipping the room, I'd speak with your venue and see what they have done in the past. Perhaps they have another room you could utilize for cocktail hour. If not perhaps the closed-off portion of the room could be used for a cocktail space while the main room is being flipped, then the cocktail room could then be opened for dancing after brunch.

Could you do something like that where they can close the drapes while they flip it?

View Quoted Comment Yes! Thank you! At my venue they do mostly table seating for ceremonies. Our event coordinator at the venue sent us some photos and it’s beautiful, not tacky at all!

It’s fine to have an opinion on something but I see the use of the word “tacky” waaaaay too much in this forum.

View Quoted Comment Oooh I really love this

View Quoted Comment Yes but to me, my personal opinion, as someone who’s still in their early twenties that’s how I would describe it. Not saying it wouldn’t look nice for other people that’s what they want I just don’t like it.

View Quoted Comment We are in the same situation as you are, this was something suggested to me by another person on here it really helped us envision it going through the venues Facebook pictures this was on there maybe you can see how it has been set up before if your venue has a Facebook or gallery on their website

View Quoted Comment So I’ve looked and they only have pictures from one wedding because it’s a civil rights museum and they only used it as a reception. Which totally sucks because not much inspiration to go off of