Timeline for Elopement Reception?

The only couple of things that have me shrugging is, "open bar and heavy apps"... this is a cocktail style reception, and you NEED to make sure there's more heavy apps than humanly possible otherwise stuff is going to get drunk and messy fast. (also make sure there are enough seats for everyone).

And as a guest i think having a break to watch your ceremony we weren't invited to is a bit odd and I feel like would break up your "party atmosphere" kind of night. (I've never attended a night like this so I'm not sure if it would be awesome or a weird break)

Also since you're not serving an actual dinner I would do 8pm-12AM.

View Quoted Comment I second all of this.

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To comment on the watching the video of our "ceremony" - the reason we were thinking about doing this is because it's NOT a ceremony at all (we're not even having someone "marry" us - yay for Colorado Self Solemnization!). We're getting married somewhere in the mountains and will have drone footage of much of the trip, including when we get married. We wanted to pair the video (without sound) with our "wedding song" in the background. Do you still feel it would be weird?

Yeah I mean good call on not doing any wedding things because at that point you are no longer a bride, you are a wife.

Timeline is fine, but you need to serve a meal. We have a very similar timeline to you - a cocktail hour with very heavy apps- like a ridiculous amount of food and we are still doing a 3 course plated meal on top of that. People expect to be fed at parties like this.

I wouldn't have the video playing in the background. Seems weird to me. Email / send it to the people that you think would honestly want to see it-- your immediate family and some close friends.

You don't need activities. Let people dance, eat and drink.

I think the video could be really beautiful as long as it's not to long, it would keep the focus of the party on your marriage.

We are doing something very similar! We’ll be having a small ceremony at our home in Alaska and hosting a large reception a few days later for our friends and coworkers. (I will caveat this and say this is fairly standard here so people are used to this format). However, I think your timelines sounds good, especially as you are starting at 7. Perhaps you can somehow politely remind people that dinner won’t be served, and to eat before coming, as it would be a bummer to expect a meal and not get one.

If you are having an outdoor event maybe set up some lawn games or even get a bonfire going so people can play and mingle before and during the music.

I also think showing your wedding video is a great idea. Anybody who comes to this event would be aware that you were already married. If somebody was so offended that they weren’t invited to the actual ceremony, they likely won’t come to the reception! So I think it’s safe to say that most of your guests would love to see the video of your marriage. Perhaps you could also have some pictures going on a slideshow throughout the night.

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Still a little weird to me, but maybe have it playing during cocktail time, or during your entrance? I think 15 minutes of drone flyovers and even watching your ceremony that no one went to, is still a little strange, 15 minutes is a really long time. I would break it down to the length of your wedding song and that's it. 3-4min TOPS. You can do a first dance if you want, but not required.

If you want to play the video I would do so in the background not as a sit and watch event or have it play before you arrive and you guys come out at the end. You can always have games like jenga, corn hole, connect for if you are worried about people getting restless. If you are not serving dinner I would also switch the evening to starting later so people understand there will not be a meal. I think it sounds like lots of fun.
I am a little confused on the photos with bride and groom- will you be standing still and people filtering through a line? People will be taking photos with you ALL night.
Sounds like a lot of fun!!

View Quoted Comment Oh for sure! The video would definitely only be the length of one song I just had 15 min in the timeline because I had mentioned that we would do sort of a speech to welcome people during that time too. Does that make more sense?

I think at that time and for so long a meal should be served.

We're almost in the same boat. We're getting married with only parents and siblings in Colorado in August, then a reception at home in Minnesota in October. We decided to keep it casual with a taco bar. We're doing cocktail hour at 6 and dinner at 7. Definitely doing lawn games for cocktail hour but will probably leave them out all night. We're also planning on displaying some photos and then showing our video, but aren't exactly sure how/when. I'm still debating about speeches and a first dance.

I agree with that timing I'd do more than appetizers. Maybe stations? Or start a little later.

Hi! Do you mind sharing with me what timeline you went with and how it went? Planning on eloping and having a ceremony when we come back! Thank you so much

Games are something fun that everyone enjoys. Guests can keep themselves entertained by playing various games.