Hi, I'm looking for some advice. We are getting married in a registry office and it was supposed to be a small family only ceremony but due to have 2 too many guests (and that's just inviting my siblings our parents and our 2 children) we've had to book the large ceremony room so our little party of 10 is going to be lost in a room that seats 50! We've also planned not to have a wedding breakfast due to my partner being an only child of parents who are only children and sadly his mum passed away last easter so he only has his dad and step mum now, where as I'm from a huge family and didn't want to dominate the day as it's OUR day. So here's my question do we invite our friends to the ceremony so they can celebrate with us from the beginning and if so how do we word the invites? As the ceremony is at 3pm then our wedding reception doesn't start until 7. Should I explain when I see people that there's no wedding breakfast so that they don't think we've just not invited them or should I just do the invites and see what happens or leave it as family only ceremony and ignore the fact the rooms empty or do reception invites only with a little note at the bottom saying ceremony at 3pm etc if you'd like to join us??? Just not sure and would really appreciate some advice/opinions.
Thank you Laura xx
Looking forward to becoming Mrs Mummy Bennett xoxox
CommentAuthorkittyh
So the ceremony is at 3pm and the evening reception is at 7pm...what will you and your family be doing between the end of the ceremony and the reception? xx
CommentAuthorGlitterfairy
I was thinking whether you could change the time of the ceremony to a later time and have some friends join you as well, if you need the bigger room anyway it's going to make no difference to your costs if they are there or not
Our wedding day - 6 October 2012
CommentAuthorFranM76
Im with Glitterfairy on this, we're getting married at 5.30 so that we can go straight to the reception after the ceremony and photo's and nobody will be waiting around. And, like she says, if you've got the bigger room anyway, why not fill it with friends? xx
CommentAuthorElinor Claire
I would certainly include your friends at the ceremony. Perhaps you could say ceremony followed by reception at 7:00. That indicates that there's nothing else in between. I would agree with moving the ceremony to a later time if you can though, as you've got a long time to fill otherwise. If not maybe find somewhere nice to go for photos and have a drink.
30th August 2014 was the best birthday ever.
It was the day that I became Mrs. Dixon.
My sister had her wedding with all people invited to the ceremony at about 1, and she just wanted a family meal in the evening. so to fill the time between, her friends etc came to the ceremony then we all went to a pub next to the reception meal venue to have a few drinks and celebrate with her friends before they left for the intimate family meal.
That way, they get to celebrate with you all day, but you dont have to worry about forking out for something to fill the time! xxx
CommentAuthorkittyh
Yes i was going to suggest the same really...maybe make the ceremony an hour later and maybe the reception a little earlier? that way all your friends can come to the ceremony and then go onto the reception? Are you having a buffet at the reception? If you are then that would make up for not having a wedding breakfast but if you aren't I don't think it would work as then your guests (and you!) would have nothing to eat all day? Or you could suggest a local pub to the ceremony or reception venue and let them mingle there if you and your family have something planned for the gap in between? But thats if you want them there? If you have your heart set on a small ceremony with only close friends then go with that regardless of the room size? xx
CommentAuthorlauramb
We have the last appointment of the day. It's the latest they do on a Saturday unfortunately. I did wonder about having a few photos in the registry office garden and then wandering to the Museum Gardens (next door to the registry office) for a few more photos then go on to the reception venue and bring the food forward to say 6:00 (I have full use of the venue all day and they don't mind when we arrive). I've seen too many wedding program's where the guest complain about the wait between ceremony and food (I don't want that) but I'm hoping that people will have lunch before they come and then won't be too concerned that they're not getting food until a bit later.
Laura xx
Looking forward to becoming Mrs Mummy Bennett xoxox
CommentAuthorkittyh
Yes I think thats the right thing to do...have everyone there for the ceremony, do your photos at a leisurely pace and then go onto the reception venue. Then maybe put on your invites something like:
"you are invited to the wedding of...with the ceremony being held at...and then an evening reception with buffet to be held at...at such and such time..."? or something similar? It lets them know that there will be a buffet but not a sit down meal so hopefully they will make sure they have something to eat beforehand...? to be honest even with the ceremony at 3pm most people would have lunch I think.
xx
xx
CommentAuthorGlitterfairy
That sounds like a plan then, food at 6 is perfect. We got married at 3 and had food at 6
