Those how had/are having a "later in the day" wedding and no sit down meal please?

missy_moo_5

We are 2nd time getting marrieds and know roughly that we want to get married in our chosen venue later in the day then no sit down meal, drinks afterwards in the bar, then back into the main room (where we will also have got married) where they will have set tables up and opened our own little bar for evening party.

Those who did this like this, or are planning to (i.e. no sit down meal, no differentiation between day guests and evening guests) i'd be very grateful to hear your plans and advise on things like.....

*Timings; how late in the day is your ceremony and was your registrar flexible about this?
*How did your guests fit in with this and were any suprised that there wasn't a sit down meal? Did you make it clear on the invites?
*How did those with kiddies fit in - we have loads of little ones in our family (our DD included) and I'm worried that no sooner have we got into things that they will be tired out, and won't last until the evening buffet and Mums and Dads will then be departing? Also concerned because we are having our do away from home, and majority will be staying at the venue and therefore what will they do with the kiddies? Not even sure what to do with our daughter at this stage!
*What time did you do the evening buffet? With it being the only food served, and the guests potentially there since 3-4pm, I presume an earlier buffet is the sensible way to go?
*did you do speeches, and if so how? Did you just call for quiet before the buffet or something? Or would during the after ceremony drinks be better?

So much to think about! Any help would be lovely...

Missy

francinefishpaw

My wedding is June and the ceremony is at 5. I asked the registrar what was the last possible time they could conduct the ceremony and they said 5. Guests have been fine so far about there being no evening meal, and some have commented they prefer the later start time as there will be less waiting around. The buffet starts at 8pm, although this is quite late, at a lot of weddings I have attended I was very hungry by the time the sit down meal was served (usually 3ish) so I don't think 8 is too bad. After the ceremony we will have photographs, followed by drinks reception and speeches. Then through to the reception.

Hope that helps! The set up totally suits what we wanted.

binkyboo_2

hi, i am having a 3.30pm ceremony in the hotel followed by drinks and canapes, then a 3 course buffet at around 6pm then cake at around 8.30 -9pm and lastly sausage and bacon sandwiches at around 10.30. Don't think this answers your questions but i'm now starting to worry thats too much food for people to digest in 9 hours?!
forgot to add, we are also having about 15 kids ranging from a baby of a few months old to 10/11 year olds and i just assumed that they will all be so excited they will stay awake and have a late night and if any of the little ones have had enough including my little one who will be 3 by then will just be put in their prams for a rest or a sleep.

morwenna

We are getting married at four, followed by a drinks reception and eating about six. (Buffet.) Later (maybe 10:30 ish) we plan chip barmcakes and wedding cake

The speeches are to be before we eat, all guests invited for everything.

Does that help?

Mme.Hibou

We got married at 1pm, our guests had been arriving and drinking tea and chatting from about 11.15.
The ceremony was over by about 1:30 then did a few photos for people and said hello to all my family and friends who'd arrived.
Our guests then made their way to one of the 3 rooms, we had one with a log fire and newspapers and sofas (we got married and had the reception in the same place in a 17th Century Manor House) the other room had some background music, our friends (who don't know each other) were getting acquainted and family were catching up - we had the wedding 6 days before Christmas so it was a lovely-wintery-Christmas-party feel.
My OH had also arranged for some owls to be brought over, they did displays in the grounds and it was a massive success, I LOVE owls as do some of our nieces, so it was wonderful.
Around 2:30 the food was put out (we had a hot buffet) and people carried on eating until around 4ish - when the desserts came out and these stayed out until the end. My SIL did all our catering so it was all very easy to manage.
We had a musician play around 4:30, lasted around an hour.
It was all kept fairly informal and as the house owner was away on holiday it was just us and our guests.
Speeches were done around 6pm, we stood on the main staircase and they all went down very well.
There were around 15/50 children and we kept them entertained with DVDs (didn't get watched) colouring books, lots of art supplies, but they really just got involved with everyone else, they were all so well behaved.
We'd planned for the day to finish at 10pm as there were so many children inc. our little boy but due to a massive snow fall people started leaving around 7-8pm, I was back in the hotel room (45 mins away) at around 9pm!

madmumof2

missy_moo wrote: »

*Timings; how late in the day is your ceremony and was your registrar flexible about this? We're having ours at 3pm, and the registrar in Rutland is very flexible (not a big place so not too busy).
*How did your guests fit in with this and were any suprised that there wasn't a sit down meal? Did you make it clear on the invites? We'll be putting on the invites that there'll be a buffet when they arrive at the reception.
*How did those with kiddies fit in - we have loads of little ones in our family (our DD included) and I'm worried that no sooner have we got into things that they will be tired out, and won't last until the evening buffet and Mums and Dads will then be departing? Also concerned because we are having our do away from home, and majority will be staying at the venue and therefore what will they do with the kiddies? Not even sure what to do with our daughter at this stage! Can you get someone to watch over your dd? It's up to everyone else what they do with thiers if they get tired, but you obviously have to be there for the best part so someone else could chaperone your dd and take care of her if she's tired.
*What time did you do the evening buffet? With it being the only food served, and the guests potentially there since 3-4pm, I presume an earlier buffet is the sensible way to go? I think we'll have the buffet open as soon as we get there, or not long after the speeches, depending on what order we decide to do it in.
*did you do speeches, and if so how? Did you just call for quiet before the buffet or something? Or would during the after ceremony drinks be better?
Good point, we'll probably either wait to open the buffet until after the speeches, or wait until everyone has some food, turn the music down then ding our glasses lol.

(Have to add this as it says my message is too short lol)

missy_moo_5

Thanks all, much appreciated.

I'm feeling a bit guilty now that we aren't doing canapes or anything, just the buffet. Anyone doing sweet buffet things - we were just going to cut the cake but now a bit concerned something will be lacking for the sweet toothed types?

Having the speeches just before the buffet, then declaring it "open" (so to speak) seems to be the best flow to me. Then when they are setting it up quietly, hopefully they will be listening to us and not salivating restlessley!

We were going to marry at 4, drinks, informal photos (no photographer!) and speeches by about 6.30 and be serving buffet at 7 accompanied by "quiet" background music from the DJ, then at 8/8.30 into first dance and party mode. They will keep the bar open till midnight for us, and the buffet out for up to 3 hours (before they confiscate any leftovers!)

What do you all think to that plan? That way I was hoping people would have had lunch (obviously!!) before hand and hopefully reasonably fuelled to keep going till 7. Also if you have made them aware it's buffet only, they can be prepared.

Just feel a bit mean but it's stretching us enough as it is!! And with canapes at something like £6 a head with 60 guests, I think it's a lot to add? Or maybe we should ask them to do a sweet course with the buffet instead?

raspabarbas

That's almost exactly the same timings as us! We're having the ceremony at 4pm, drinks at the reception place from 5 til 5:45ish, welcomes and speeches til about 6:30, hot buffet and 'mingling' til about 8-8:30 (we're having wedding cake, panamanian wedding pudding and tiramisu for dessert) then first dance and on to party! No other late night food. but the bar serves snacks til 11pm if anyone's still hungry.

We're hoping people will have lunch before they come out. We did think about canapes too but thought it would be too much food (and also expensive).

There won't be that many children at our wedding, we're the first of our siblings to get married, I have one 8 year old cousin and none of our friends have kids yet.

chesterpump

Under English & Welsh law weddings have to be concluded by 6pm so 5pm is usually the last slot given by registry offices for weddings.

we're getting married at 4.30 and having a sausage and mash buffet at 6.30 with toast and crumpets at 10 for those who are pecksih.

jackieglasgow

chesterpump wrote: »

Under English & Welsh law weddings have to be concluded by 6pm so 5pm is usually the last slot given by registry offices for weddings.

we're getting married at 4.30 and having a sausage and mash buffet at 6.30 with toast and crumpets at 10 for those who are pecksih.

That sounds lovely and friendly and relaxed!

Dizzie77

chesterpump wrote: »

Under English & Welsh law weddings have to be concluded by 6pm so 5pm is usually the last slot given by registry offices for weddings.

we're getting married at 4.30 and having a sausage and mash buffet at 6.30 with toast and crumpets at 10 for those who are pecksih.

That sounds so lush!! Would have to be a choice of sausages and a choice of mash to make it perfect though...!!