reusing ceremony decorations

That's exactly what we're doing. Some of the centerpieces will be used on the columns lining the aisle. We're also getting married at our reception venue, so we're looking to stretch every floral dollar.

My day of coordinator suggested we do the same. She said whatever decor we have for our ceremony should totally be reused for the reception (why spend extra money when you dont have to?). Our ceremony and reception is in the same location, so during cocktail hour she will be rearranging for us. Maybe you could designate someone who isn't needed for pictures to do that for you?

Thank you ladies. That's what I'm thinking.. I just don't know how we could get the guest occupied until the items are moved and in place before opening the doors.. maybe the site coordinator could have an idea.

We are definitely doing this!

Great idea, we are doing the same thing.

Yes the pew deco were put at the head table (sweet heart) and the cake table. They were laid sort of end to end all the way around the cake table. and across the head table. I think it is a great idea.

It's not something we're doing (just because we aren't going to decorate our church that much) but I think it's a wonderful idea. The centerpieces actually played a role in the ceremony--so cute!

Yes. The flowers from my daughters ceremony were moved to the reception room and were placed on either side of the head table.

Our Florist is doing this while guests are at the cocktail hour outside.

The pew flowers were transported from the church to our reception venue and used to decorate the head table, bar area and other areas of the venue. We had a wedding planner who moved them and set them up.

Thank you! I hope it can go smoothly. Maybe our guest can be held outside by the patio for a few minutes?

For my beach weddings, basically long, low centerpieces are attached to the arch for the ceremony, then removed and transported to the reception.

I'm doing the same thing. My florist will be doing the rearrangement during the cocktail hour. Reception will be at a different location, so I'm having some friends help her. Pew flowers for cake table and buffet tables and he large arrangements will be on both sides of the sweetheart table. It think you should be fine doing this.

I'm guessing that your cocktail hour (if there is one) is inside the facility you want to move the flowers to so you are asking how to keep the guests outside and occupied while the flowers are moved? ( Otherwise you could simply have volunteers move them during the cocktail time.)

Could you do a greeting line at a spot where the flowers could be moved without being obvious from the greeting line? Have someone direct everyone from the greeting line to an area for a toast or thank you or bubble/streamer line for you to then walk through? This would give your flower transfer team time to move the flowers (the time it takes for the receiving line plus following activity)

It's definitely a great idea...honestly I see no reason why it shouldn't be done because it just sounds like a very smart idea. At the end of the day these flowers get thrown away anyways so by all means reuse and save some $$

We are doing this to save a little money, but our ceremony flowers are minimal, anyway...just using the centerpiece that will be on the table for the unity wine items as the centerpiece for our sweetheart table. The wedding coordinator at the site will take care of it. Ceremony and reception are at the same location.

I love that idea! If I would have had flowers as decorations I would have done it!

If the ceremony and reception are same location, it's easy. If you're having a pro florist do the arrangements, that's something they could do. Many of the weddings we work are ceremony and reception in the same room, so the florist is around to manage the "flip." Ask your florist. If the flowers are DIY, or deliver and drop, ask the caterer or whoever is in charge of the food. They MAY be able to assist.

We are doing this. We have a very large captain's style head table. The two floral arrangements at the front of the ceremony will be placed onto tall tapered vases on the head table. Then the bouquets will be placed into smaller vases, also on the head table. The change will be made while guests are at cocktail hour in a separate room.