No Seat Ceremony Formation

I forgot that you said that you might run late...what?! No, you do not run late if your ceremony is outdoors in January and your guests are standing. Nope nope nope.

Hmm can you contact a farm store to buy some bales of hay? Buy a few bolts of fabric in white or ivory or your wedding colors to drape over them? Fast easy seating, would frame the ceremony space and super budget friendly compares to a later min chair rental. You can have seating for only the older guests or as much as you want. And after wards you can always donate the hay to an animal charity (ask the farm store if they know any?) And write off the charitable contribution best of luck!

I'd rather stand then get stuck in the ass by a bale of hay.

@Stephanie L. Yes, the original venue canceled very last minute and it has truly been nearly impossible to find a venue comparable in price this last minute. The venue we intend on using now is just so small that seating for everyone is not an option.

I understand everyone's concerns about standing but we're doing our best to work with the situation. The new venue has kindly agreed to let us use their outdoor heating system at no charge (both the gas powered patio heaters and the system that is built in to the building that sort of blows hot air out) so at least we don't have to be too concerned with the weather.

The community center were using is divided into three rooms that are all connected but still permanently semi-separated by large fireplaces so hosting the ceremony indoors would mean cramming 50 people in a single room. That's also not ideal but it's the plan if there is rain/snow/ice.

All of this has been an absolute nightmare to deal with and at this point I'm just trying to get through.

OP: I honestly didn't see anyone judging you. It is a shitty situation and the solution your offering is not the best. I think that is where the concern comes in. Would you be able to make is work where your guests are at least seated at your tables and you have a temporary arch or ceremony set up in the front of the room? That way it'll be warm and there will be seating.

I have been to weddings where guests have had to stand and where guests have sat at the tables. I highly recommend seating.

I would recommend maybe seeing if there are chairs that the community center has. A lot will have at least some. I would recommend this for at least the older attendees (grandparents, anyone with a cane/walker). Or I wonder if there is a local school that might have folding chairs that you could borrow? I'm just throwing out ideas...

Beth brings up a good point; we do lots of weddings where people sat at their tables. It works out just fine.

I would recommend looking into renting risers. it would give your guests an obvious place to stand, an aisle for you, and would (hopefully) allow some of the shorter folks to view you walking down as well. Also look into your contract, it should be a legally binding contract. They shouldn't just be able to back out on you without compensation.

Sarah, why did you revive this thread? You're not Jesus. Leave Lazarus in the ground!

This again?

It sounds to me like the OP's reception is taking place in 3 separate rooms (again, not an ideal situation). So even if they were sitting at their tables, people in two of the rooms wouldn't even be in the same room as the ceremony. And she said there isn't enough room in one room for all guests.

@akbonner, I'm beyond sorry that you're having to deal with something like this. I read stories like this, about venues double-booking and notifying you at the last minute and it infuriates me. I do agree with other PP that having a seat for every butt is always best, but I understand you're kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. It's good that you get to use their outdoor heaters. I think Celia had really great advice.

We had seven

chairs and everyone else stood. Our ceremony was probably 10-15 minutes long. My advice: just start on time and keep it short.