Strolling reception

I attended one and it was AWESOME! Good for you! Enjoy and congratulations!

@MichelleF--I'm glad to hear you went to one that was awesome! I hope people say the same thing after mine. How was the one you went to set up?

What kind of wedding are you having?? I'm just asking because if you're having a modern, trendy, understated ceremony in a non-traditional dress, small wedding party, maybe in an art gallery or museum... you could totally pull off a strolling reception with tapas, cocktails and high top tables. But, I went to one wedding a while back where the bride and BM had serious dresses, groom and groomsmen were in tuxes, it was in a huge church... and then they had a strolling reception with very minimal seating in a cheesy-looking community hall. With the huge traditional ceremony like that, the reception is usually a buffet with tables. This type of reception with the ceremony seemed a little cheap. Also, guests felt that because of the lack of enough seating, they just didn't make them feel welcome and were just invited for the wedding gift they gave.

I know that you're trying to encourage dancing and mingling, but I was bridesmaid at a wedding with a similar reception and I had to wear 4 inch heels through the photos, the super long ceremony, the walk to the reception hall.... I thought my feet were gonna fall off and I was SOOO happy to be able to sit down. So, definitely lots of seating! And I'm all for ottomans and couches if you can swing it. That would be a very cool touch if you're having a smart, trendy wedding.

It hasn't been mentioned yet and I don't know if you're already planning it, but I would definitely recommend wine plates that allow you slip your wine glass into a hole in the plate so you're able to walk around with a free hand.

What's your plan on cake? Your reception will be seem really well-planned and coordinated if you have little bite-size cupcakes or cake balls on a stick instead of having people walk around with a slice of cake on a plate they have to carry in one hand while using a fork in the other.

The only issue is the seating. You can say everyone will be wandering around and not want to sit, but as gal who wears heels regularly after a while of standing and mingling I usually wanna sit for a little while, and would be pretty unhappy if there aren't any open seats. I've been to events like that that were not weddings, and a bunch of us just gave up waiting for a seat to open up and sat on the ground after a while. 1/2 is not a good ratio, maybe if there were enough for at least 3/4s of your guests it wouldn't be so bad, but 1/2 is too few. Maybe provide a few picnic blankets if nothing else, so people don't get dirty if they want to sit and there aren't any open spots.

@MM--no big ball gown for me, just a chapel length fit and flare. We're not doing a cake but a dessert buffet with 6 different bit sized choices of the most delicious creations from cake pops to mini cupcakes--I can reccomend a reasonable priced, great baker for those who need one.

My bridesmaids picked their own shoes because I want them to be happy and comfy, and be able to reuse them. I've been a bridesmaid several times and was never happy with either the dress of shoes, which is why I Gave my BMs several options and they all agreed on everything they're wearing. Our friends and family, like us, are social so I believe we'll all mix and mingle without issue, and the men are chivarous and would give a woman their seat before they allowed somone to stand uncomfortanly--old school

southern gents ; ). I'd never give my guests the impression they were there for a gift alone--how sad that's even been an issue for other people.

M, it's ironic you mentioned the plates with the

Cup holders because I just found some on the internet yesterday and presented the idea to my FH. We'll see with that though because my FH thinks they look tacky.

I've also decided to up my seating to 3/4. Good idea all!

Yes, great idea al long as you ave enough seating 170 people is a lot.

I am 24 but I have serious back pain from years of running. As long as the food is good and the DJ is even better, there should be no issues.

Also, any children at your wedding?

I love the idea. I don't know why some people don't like the idea. It sounds like a regular, fun party. I have never been to a party where there was seating for all or I didn't have to eat my finger foods standing up. And a wedding reception is just a big fancy party. I would think having enough cocktail tables would be more important than extra seating. I need a place to put my drink every once in a while.

Good luck! It sounds like an amazing wedding!

Adult only reception.

@Cavan

Thanks so much for being on my same page and view of the reception. I'm not a traditional person when it comes to weddings and all I want is a big, fun celebration with friends and family.

Shay - They had it in an old southern mansion. There were rooms with different foods and maybe 4 tables in each room. The center area of the home was open and was the dance floor and bar. So if you were eating you were seated in a room with others. It was awesome I really enjoyed it.http://www.ryannicholasinn.com/

For my wedding we are having a buffet style for food, with finger foods, candy table and a bar. There is sitting for everyone including the staff. BUT i am not doing the whole assigned seat thing. i think that its kinda unfair for the guest to be TOLD where they are sitting. good luck, i like ur cocktail party idea. seems fun!

I attended a strolling reception two summers ago. Pros: Because I didn't know too many guests, it was nice not to have assigned seating. This way, FH and I were able to sit with the people we did know. Huge plus.

Cons: the event was formal/semi formal at 7:00 pm. The bride wore a stunning cathedral length train and veil. Given the level of formality and the time, I had assumed there would be a full dinner served (7:00 is on the earlier side for me to eat dinner, haha!). The invitations didnt give any indication that a meal wouldn't be served.

I don't think I would have minded an appetizer only wedding if it had been a low key affair. But the reception was at an exclusive country club with a live band, lavish flowers, and other clearly expensive items. This was clearly a wedding that had cost at least $50k, and it felt as though the couple hadn't prioritized their guests enjoyment at all. But maybe I was just cranky bc we'd driven almost 1000 miles to get there!

One additional comment: during a strolling reception, it could be difficult to gather everyone's attention for things like the first dance, father/daughter and mother son dance, and bouquet toss. If the guests are spread out or mingling, they might not realize that there is something special happening on the dance floor. At the wedding I mentioned above, FH and I missed the cake cutting -- we had no idea it had even happened until we saw other guests eating cake!

@Jamie B - A DJ would announce any of those things. Maybe the wedding you went to did not have a good DJ or MC.

@JamieB--Wow! A $50k formal wedding in every respect but the meal is...different. But to each their own. Rest assured, that's nothing like how mine will be. LOL. Ours is more contemporary with some traditional twists here and there.

My dress is chapel length, strapless, light and form fitting. Our reception site is a good size but not so large that people would get lost or not hear the DJ announce our dances. We're doing small but hearty plates--ie., beef tenderloin with roasted red pepper aujou paired with spring vegetables; chicken marsala smothered in wine mushroom demi sauce with garlic mashed potatoes. We're having a dessert buffet (w/ 6 different desserts) and not a wedding cake.

I understand clearly why you were highly aggrevated by the whole strolling reception you went to. God bless you for driving 1000 miles! I get pissed driving in traffic to and from work that's 15 minutes away...

@shay how did it turn out for you? I am considering something similar for my wedding....

@Shay, @Tanya how did it turn out???

Your wedding is yours and your fiancé’s Day. You are honoring people by inviting them to your celebration. I love a cocktail party idea if it is for less than 2 hours, you can have chairs only for elderly. But if it’s an all night party, you will need more chairs.


Went to an afternoon cocktail wedding and it was perfect. I think having a waitTer/server pass out tapas or finger food is best that way there is no lines and people like that.
But most of all it’s your day, don’t over think it, people will criticize even at a royal weddings. You are not going to please everyone as the song goes “ just please yourselves” and 😊 enjoy your special day. and stay true to yourselves and what you like. 😊🙏