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Master December 2013

Transition from Ceremony to Reception

Kate, on October 14, 2013 at 2:46 PM Posted in Planning 0 9

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Okay ... Would love some other opinions for this

Ceremony is happening in the same room as the reception. In between, there will be a cocktail hour while the room is being turned over from chairs/aisle to the tables. So basically it will go like this:

Ceremony in ballroom

Cocktail hour on a (covered, heated) patio

Back in the ballroom for reception

I wanted to do a receiving line right after the ceremony to get it out of the way, but logistically, the line would be formed in the ballroom while they are flipping it and that sounds awkward. I don't really want to go table to table ... I guess we can, but hoping to avoid this. What are our other options? We want to try to mingle a little bit during cocktail hour. Would it be weird to mingle and THEN say hi to everyone as they go back into the ballroom for the reception?

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9 Comments

Latest activity by Renesha Gooding, on October 15, 2013 at 10:16 AM

VIP November 2015
~*World Of Whimsical*~ · on October 14, 2013 at 2:48 PM
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I think that sounds like a novel idea. Everyone has to be in and seated before your "grand entrance" anyway, so why not?
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Master December 2013
Kate · on October 14, 2013 at 2:56 PM
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Everything just sounds so .... awkward to me!
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Master October 2013
Laudie · on October 14, 2013 at 3:03 PM
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I don't like that idea because depending on how many people there are it could really delay dinner and dancing. People might be hungry and cold and just get inside.
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VIP November 2015
~*World Of Whimsical*~ · on October 14, 2013 at 3:08 PM
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If you're mingling during the cocktail hour, wouldn't you get to the most of your guests anyway? It's been my experience as a guest that sometimes the couple got around to talking to me, and sometimes they didn't. Either way, I wasn't concerned or bothered by the notion, simply because it was their day and their opportunity to celebrate the wonderful decision they had made.
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Master September 2014
Barbara · on October 14, 2013 at 3:09 PM
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One bride was planning to have something like a receiving line at the end of the night (to get people to leave the reception on time). That may be another option?
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Master September 2014
JustMarried'14 · on October 14, 2013 at 3:09 PM
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I would exit the ballroom and have your receiving line on the patio - this ensures guests follow you out.... Then you can mingle after the line

We are doing a receiving line on a gazebo that is on the town common between the church and hall....The photog will take group pics of the guest with us at this time too (we will use these for personalized TY cards)...
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Master December 2013
Kate · on October 14, 2013 at 3:13 PM
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I agree Laudie -- I don't want to delay everything like crazy.

I actually like the idea of just trying to make rounds as best we can during cocktail hour AND I like an end of night receiving line. We are going to hang in the hotel bar after the reception so not sure if that will be weird, but I will check with my people (FH and coordinator :-)) I do want to at least be able to say hi to everyone

Thanks so much for the suggestions!
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Master February 2014
ItsGoodToBeKing · on October 14, 2013 at 4:18 PM
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Could you mingle for say 10mins and then disappear for a photo sesh until everyone goes back inside to await your grand entrance?

if you have a good dj, they could order a receiving line for you later in the night? I think this what we will be doing

I really wouldnʻt want to mess up your grand entrance and I think saying hi (and bye?) to everyone as they re-enter could do that....
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Renesha Gooding · on October 15, 2013 at 10:16 AM
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I coordinated a wedding and she did the same as you are planning, we turned the hall into a reception area while they had there photo session and the guest had cocktails, then I introduced them all as they walked in from there photo session, it gives the guest time to sit down and watch at the same time, and after dinner guest usually come up to the head table and greet you.
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