Standing Ceremony (hear me out)

For the eldery or disabled or anyone who would rather sit and watch from afar. Standing will be for 20 mintues and I feel like thats not too bad, no one will be standing around early because we will be having social hour with lounge seating and chairs/tables.

Chairs would prevent anyone from making a circle around us and we really like that idea. People stand for 20 minutes in line and shopping right?

That is a really awesome idea! I love the creative ideas people have on WW!! This picture looks like it has two rows of people seated, then everyone else standing behind them. This way may work better so more people can see. I'm only 5 foot tall so if I attended your wedding and wasn't in the front row, I likely wouldn't be able to see anything. Standing for 20 minutes staring at someone's back would irritate me I think. Haivng your family and the elderly seated would also identify them as "honored" guests I think.

That is a very nice idea, I've never heard of anything like that, so very unique and special! The candle idea is um AWESOME?! I don't think asking people to stand for 20 minutes is too much, esp if you have chairs for those who need them, maybe just make sure you mention something about it in your invitation so women can make an educated decision on their footwear?

If someone close to you like your grandmother or grandfather would have trouble standing for 20 minutes I could see not having seats where than can see being a problem. What about doing a setup like this to keep the circle idea, allowing everyone to sit and see, and making passing the flame of the candle easier since you have a clear path setup?

Oh wow I think that is a fantastic idea! very intimate and sweet.

I thought about doing this but every single venue we've looked at will not let me have that many candles lit with out tall vases. I hope you have better luck.

Thanks ladies! I love the idea and think it will be so special.

@shannon b - I really think forming a ciricle while standing is the only way to achieve the closeness I am looking for. I will only be inviting 2 elderly people both of which I would not mind them setting on the deck.

@tabatha, I got to lucky that my venue allows candles!

What an awesome idea!

I love your idea! It's definitely doable. We are going to have around 175 people but can only seat 110 for the ceremony. It will be 10 minutes long. I can't imagine that people will have a hard time with that. They'll dance longer than that!

It sounds like it will work great for your guest list. It's very unique and I'm sure it will make for a very memorable ceremony for your and FH. I know that wouldn't work for me as some of those I'm very close with would not be able to stand for the whole ceremony

I think it sounds doable, but, you also need to be realistic. A 10-minute ceremony means that some guests will be standing for half an hour or more. Y'all are forgetting the time when guests arrive (pre-ceremony) and then stand post ceremony.

For most that will be fine, but I feel that you should have seating for those who may need it.

PS, for those doing such an event, please think of more than the "elderly" when planning a stand up event. Not all young people can stand for 30 minutes or more either.

Also, consider the temperature of the venue. If the wedding is held outdoors, during hot and/or humid weather, standing may be a challenge for many guests.

@Kathy when guest arrive pre ceremony is when we are having our 'social/cocktail/zen hour' so no standing waiting for the ceremony to start, and afterwards everyone will walk 20feet and sit in the reception hall!

Now to find a photographer who specialaizes in low light!

I went to a wedding this summer where the guests had to stand except for the elderly and disabled. I personally didn't get to see any of the ceremony being short in all. overall wasn't very happy wearing high heels and not being able to see. Might be a good idea to spread by word of mouth that it will be standing so people can chose appropriate shoes.

I've had several couples do the standing thing. Not so great. Lots of people can't see; anyone older will be disgruntled, and 20 minutes is a long time standing in one place.

I would also seriously clear the numerous open flame thing with the venue by telling them exactly what your plans are. Allowing candles is different than what you're proposing.

I"m not being negative, but I have a lot of experience in venues, and thus, "worst case scenario" has become my middle name.

@Kathy I have elderly and disabled listed. I believe anyone who cannot stand for 20 minutes will know to have a seat. Though I will say I've been to sit down weddings where the line to get to hug the bride/recieving line was longer than 30 minutes! So I dont see my 20 minutes being an issue

I guess I am lucky that I've spent lots of quaility time with all of my small 80 person guest list and can remember aside from my grandpa a time where they were on their feet for a decent amount of time yay!

@megan I will have to make sure my ushers get the height memo, wouldnt want that! and the shoes whill be listed on the website

@Celia thanks for the advice, I am going to try and work something out so that ushers get the shorter people in the back. As for the candles they will be inside cups so semi open flame. This is something I saw once at a church ceremony where all 300ish people had the candle in the cup and passed the flame person to person. I will have to cross my fingers it goes well but yes my venue hs heard this and agreed.

We did a standing ceremony that lasted about 15 minutes. Add the time before the ceremony actually started and people were on their feet for about an hour. Nobody had an issue with it. Our reception was largely standing, too, since it was more of a cocktail party than a sit down dinner.

I agree with Shannon B. I love your idea (we're kind of doing something like that), but I think that maybe having a circular seating area would be a better idea (I'm thinking of my mom who can' stand longer than five minutes...not because she's old, but because her knees are shot). Other than that, I loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove this idea

Love the candles. We pass candlelight on Christmas Eve at church, and there's never been a problem, they just use the cups like you said.

HATE the standing. Just say no. IMO it's way too long to stand still in one place, and very different from being on your feet milling about at a cocktail party or at the grocery store. I'm a young athletic active person, I've worked 14-hour retail shifts in high heels before, and I'd still be super antsy and uncomfortable standing still in one place for that long. Plus when it comes to the height thing, it's not like people can really be split up that evenly. I'm 4'11" and my H is 6'2", would we have to stand in different rows? No bueno.

Sorry. Remember that just b/c people don't complain to your face doesn't mean they aren't uncomfortable.