Informal Wedding ceremony between cocktails and dinner

I love this idea, and I do it all the time, especially in NYC restaurants. Works really well, But Liz, the wedding is not a formality; it's why all the other stuff happens. Don't let it be a rubber stamp; it' much more meaningful than that, especially after so many years together.

FH and I went to a friends where the ceremony followed the cocktail hour. I thought it was a wonderful idea. The MOB told us she decided to do it this way to give guests an opportunity to be on time for the ceremony. Some guests still arrived late, but I LOVED the idea of cocktails (non-alcoholic drinks) before the ceremony.

I love it as a style decision. I don't love it as a way for guests to be rude.

Dear Bride:

Congratulations to you and your fiancee are in order for taking this step after 17 years! It's a tried and true love relationship. If your guests are your families and friends (including the officiant), I like the idea of having the ceremony in between cocktails and dinner. Your guests (and yourselves) would be at ease by then.

I'd be careful, though, if all of you have to change rooms back and forth (including the musicians), as it could be difficult to keep everything running smoothly. If it's in the same room, I'd see no problem. Maybe a little cling of a wine glass could signal the transition. Usually, weddings at museums are regarded as elegant and classy, so you don't want to run the risk of ruining your outfit before you say "I do". A wedding program handed to your guests ahead of time should help.

In any event, it's your special day and anything you decide would go nicely with your celebration. Just have fun!

Hi Liz, congrats and welcome!

I love the idea! If it's logistically doable, I think it's great. Many couples use the cocktail hour to take pictures, but if you do that beforehand, I think it's a fabulous solution.

Um......a cling of a wine glass?

Spills are not what I'd worry about. In a situation like this, without a coordinator, the officiant is the person that really needs to be in charge enough to command the room, signal a change of mood, galvanize attention on the couple, and create something memorable.

But that's just me.

Thanks Celia. I appreciate your comments. I guess "formality" may have not been the right choice of words, but attempting to let the forum users know it is not the traditional wedding ceremony others might expect. I am glad it is an acceptable style decision. Unfortunately the cocktails are not "non alcoholic", it is a traditional cocktail hour. I hope that is acceptable.

thanks everone for the welcome: FYI we will have a wedding coordinator at the museum to help announce the transitions, we are still working out the logistics and alot depends on the weather as to whether we have cocktails and ceremony outside in the sculpture garden or ceremony and dinner inside while everyone is seated at their tables. Cocktails and dinner are definitely in different areas of the museum. My fiancee and I are taking pictures before everyone arrives so that we can greet our guests.

I love it, really. It sounds classy, fun, stylish and very you. I think it's also fun for the guests (who may have never been to a wedding in a space like this) to be able to mingle a bit, take it all in and say 'hi' to the people they haven't seen since the last wedding,lol......

There are some wonderful quotes from artists like Chagall that I've used in ceremonies at sites like this. It'll be very memorable.

It sounds like a fantastic event to me!

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This is a wonderful idea, never attended a wedding like this!

I went to a wedding like this and we considered doing ours the same way. It was so much fun. And I know for me, I am not really big on being the center of attention or the whole seriousness or pomp and circumstance of a traditional ceremony, so I thought it lightened it up a little bit.

I love it! I've been a couple weddings like this, my cousin being on of them. It was awesome, everyone was relaxed (my cousin being the most relaxed out of everyone), and everyone was happy. We are also taking pictures before so we can immediately start to celebrate with our guests. I think it just makes everything very comfortable and relaxing, but it's unique and classy too!

I love this idea! I actually sort of wanted to do our wedding this way, but H really wanted it a bit more traditional and I wasn't feeling it was important enough to fight for to me.

Liz, I love your ideas and plans. It seems like you really have everything pretty much under control for that day. Museums are awesome to have wedding. Have a blast with your family and friends!

Just remember that the B&G must be sober for the ceremony!

Is anyone able to offer a suggestion for how to transition from the ceremony to dinner if the guests will already be watching from their dinner seats? My wedding is going to be very similar to the scenario listed above but the cocktail hour, ceremony, and dinner will all be taking place in one big room. I'm just not sure what my fiancé and I should do after we say "I do" since there's really no separate space for us to walk. I was thinking about maybe asking them all to stand around us (the guest list is small) and then tip off a few guests to start hugs and congratulations as soon as we're introduced as man and wife. Thoughts?