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Michele
Savvy March 2019

Social hour location/ceremony-reception flip

Michele, on June 20, 2018 at 7:01 AM Posted in Planning 0 8
I found a venue that I like but it only has 1 room. I would have to have the ceremony and reception in that same room or have the ceremony at a different location altogether. I really don't want the ceremony at another location so here is what I'm thinking. Tell me which idea you think is best. Or maybe neither idea and let me now if I need to try and find another venue which I'm limited on because of my low budget. Option 1 - have the tables, chairs, decorations set up for the ceremony. When the ceremony is finished, have the event and catering company flip the space into a reception area. While the room is being flipped, have my guests drive a half a mile down the street (2 minute drive) to have a social hour at either the ice cream shop, sports bar, local cafe shop, or pizza shop (which is best?). I'd talk to either place to see if they would make an arrangement with me. I'm thinking I'd give each guest a ticket so they can get their food/drink free. I'd have to pay the company of course. My guests would come back to the same venue to have the reception an hour later. Option #2 - have the ceremony set up like a reception space so when the ceremony is finished there is no 'flip'. Guests stay seated. I'd have appetizers/drinks and maybe have a photo booth or something so the guests will have something to do while I take pictures. I don't want to take pictures beforehand because I want it to be a surprise for my FH. Another issue is that the venue really only has an outside area that's good for taking pictures so if it rains I'd have to take pictures in the same room while cocktail hour is taking place. Your thoughts?

8 Comments

Latest activity by Michele, on June 20, 2018 at 8:08 PM
  • Anastasia
    Devoted October 2018
    Anastasia ·
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    I would go with option 2. I would definitely have a rain plan for pictures that doesn't involve being in the same space as the guest. Is there a special place close by you and FH could go during cocktail hour? Maybe the ice cream shop. Strangers are more than likely going to leave you alone while your guest will want to take their own pictures, talk or what not.
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  • Soon2Bmrsp
    VIP May 2019
    Soon2Bmrsp ·
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    I'd go with Option#2, that's what I'm doing. We are getting married in the same room and then guest will step into the hallway for cocktail hour while they flip the room. WE will sneak away for pics or mingle if we do pics beforehand. Then in one hour the doors will open for the reception. It just keeps everyone and everything in one place.

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  • firstoneat56
    Master August 2017
    firstoneat56 ·
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    If your heart is set on this venue, go with option 2. You shouldn’t ask guest to leave a venue, go somewhere else for a period of time, and then come back. I’d skip the photo booth. If your budget is that tight, that money can be better used somewhere else, perhaps st a venue with more than one room.
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  • Michele
    Savvy March 2019
    Michele ·
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    Thanks for the feedback. I checked the website for the venue again and the banquet space is 4300 square feet which the website says can be divided into 2 separate spaces with a wall that they pull out. I'll have to see if dividing the space will work with the number of people I plan to have (about 80).
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  • Chris
    Master February 2022
    Chris ·
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    Hey, Michele! Sounds like the majority vote is Option 2, which sounds like less of a hassle for your guests. And knowing that the space is 4300 square feet with a divider, the venue staff should be able to present some options as far as splitting the space.

    Do you have any photos or a link to the venue site? I'd love to see what it looks like! Smiley heart

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  • Hannah
    Devoted July 2019
    Hannah ·
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    My venue is like this. What we did is we got some pipe and draping and halved the venue. So the whole middle of the venue will be the aisle that we walk down. The half closest to the door will be the area set up for the reception and the area closest to the back will be where the ceremony will be. Once the ceremony is done, the guests can just switch to the reception area and the draping closes so the ceremony section is closed off.

    I would look in to seeing if you can do something like that so that way you can have both in the same spot without making your guests travel and you also wouldn't have to pay another food company.

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  • Tpatb
    Master August 2019
    Tpatb ·
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    Option 2. I’ve actually seen this done and it worked out fine. You could also talking to the venue or your photographer about plan B pic options. Making people go somewhere while you’re taking pics will be a little inconveient.
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  • Michele
    Savvy March 2019
    Michele ·
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    Thanks. Looks like option #2 it is. I'll check with the venue to get ideas on how the space can be divided.
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