Reception and Ceremony in same place?

[ncbride]

I am planning on having my ceremony and reception in the same location. It's a large ballroom that divides into 2 rooms. I was thinking about having the ceremony in one room and reception on the other side. I've gotten some negative responses about this. Is this weird? I'm getting married in Sept at 6pm and in NC, it always rains in the summer at the end of the day. So, I don't want an outside ceremony. My fiance and I aren't active in a church right now, so this seems like the best solution. Why are people giving my funny looks when I tell them about our plans?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

[WhiskeyGirl]

Don't worry about what other people think and besides I think its just fine that you want to do it that way...anyhow its what YOU want!!!

~CanadianBride~

[usahgrad]

I agree with CanadianBride. It isn't their wedding, its yours. Besides, your plans sound very beautiful.

[wedbyjean]

Remind them how this will be helpful to your guests, since they don't have to drive around to another location. Then don't worry about what they have to say, it's your wedding, and there is nothing wrong about having both at the same location. I often recommend this option to my clients.

Is the ballroom in a hotel, or is it strictly a banquet facility? If a hotel, it's an added plus, because after the party the guests won't have to drive at all if they're staying there.

Jean Neuhart
Weddings From The Heart

[iluvweddings]

I think that is a great idea, by having two seperate rooms - the staff doesn't have to run around and quickly try and gather the chairs from the ceremony, and your guests don't have to sit at the dinner tables trying to position their chairs to see.

GOOD LUCK!

[KJ]

I am getting married in High Point, NC in August at Castle McCulloch. Where exactly are you getting married?

[LaceyinPgh]

My fiance's sister just got married last Saturday. She did her wedding and reception in the same place. However, the guest entered the ballroom, had to sit at their dinner tables, and watch the ceremony at the front of the room. The only real problem that they had though was people didn't get up to leave the room so they had to do pictures in front of everyone. That lead to people coming up and congratulating them and trying to talk to parents and wedding party members. This dragged the picture experience out to twice as along as they had originally planned. They also did a receiving line that went from the back of the room to the bar and then wrapped back into the ballroom. Their twenty five minute receiving line (how they figured that for 250 guests I'll never know) took over an hour and half because the line only moved as fast as the bartenders could pour drinks.

Just some things to keep in mind as you are planning the logistics of it all so that yours moves more smoothly.

[toneman]

As a mobile DJ entertainer, I have done many a ceremony and receptions in the same place. I, myself had my ceremony & reception at the same location. Nobody getting lost while trying to find the reception location, nobody needing to drive from one place to another and nobody having to hurry to get to the reception on time. Having the two rooms can work in your favor. One room for the ceremony and the other for the reception. If you are going to have pictures after the ceremony, this will work out great for that also. Your guest can go to the room for the reception and the pictures can take place in the room where the ceremony took place. I just wish that some of the venues here would offer seperate rooms just for this type of convenience.

Best of luck on your wedding plans.

[usahgrad]

My brother and sister-in-law got married and had their reception in a castle. The got married on the back porch area (as back porchey as it can be with a castle) and then went to the front for pictures while the reception slightly got started in the hall inside the castle. I definitely think if you're going to do the ceremony and reception in the same place, you should have a separate area for pictures; just to reiterate what EVERYONE has been telling you. But I do think that your wedding will be very beautiful. Good Luck!

[Wildfire97504]

It is your day! It sounds wonderful just the way you have it planned. our wedding is 6-3-06 at a lodge on Mt. Ashland, OR. We also are having ours in one place, but the ceremony is outside in front of a waterfall (weather permitting), with the reception inside. Good luck with your wedding day.

[rainbowtreat]

It sounds great to me and as the others have said dont worry what any one else thinks. Weddings these days are never what people think a normal wedding would be. Every one doing their own thing. My wedding is next June and we are doing the same thing. Having the wedding outside in my sisters yard and then having a big party as the reception in the same place. It will be fun and with all the kids we all have being at my sisters house will make it easier on the parents if their child gets tired they dont have to leave if they are not ready to. Plenty of space for the kids to sleep.

Rainbowtreat