Help - How are we gonna keep 100 people entertained and fed for 13hrs!

AutumnBride85

I suggest option B.

Dont worry too much about entertainment throughout as people will like time to relax and mingle.

Just dont keep these gaps of nothingness for too long though. I went to a wedding where the gap lasted for about 3 hours- and by the time we got to eat we were starving, fed up and bored.

Ive got a gap of about 1.5 hrs on my wedding day between the meal and the evening do, so Im just having tea and after dinner mints served to pass the time.

My dad had a type of option B at his wedding- we got to pop home (it was local) freshen up, see to the dog, have a natter and primp ourselves up for the evening party- it was great!!

shellsuit

We got married at 11.30am.
We sat down to eat at 2pm.
Evening guests came at 7.30pm onwards.

Those that were there all day entertained themselves.

We ate, we laughed, we drank, we chatted, some went home to get changed for the evening, others stayed and mingled/chatted some more.

I'd leave them to their own devices to be honest. After an early start and a meal, I just like to sit and chill!

mjonline

Hello all,

Thank you to everyone who has responded, your views and suggestions have all been taken on board. The general consensus appears to amount to:
1 - The current timetable is not too bad, and very standard
2- If we can shorten the gap between finishing breakfast and evening all the better - maybe with teas/coffees and cake - but ultimately we shouldn't stress too much as guests will sort themselves out by-and-large

Phew, that's one less thing to worry about, only a million more items to deal with now

In an effort to offset the cost of the running of the day I've signed up to a beginners floristry course being run at the local community centre and i'm also planning to sign up to a cake making and decorating course as well so hopefully there's two areas where we'll be able to save £100's which is great - If i'm not a complete disaster that is

For all you other 2012 and 2013 brides and grooms out there, good luck with all your planning and arranging, I hope your wedding days are spectacular!

mjonline

Idiophreak wrote: »

There's a bar there, right? That's normally what entertains people between the meal and the evening do.

Seriously, some people will pop to their rooms, some girls will change. Some people will chat, some people will drink. It's really not a biggie...

Yep - there's a well stocked and reasonably priced bar at the venue, which is great, they also have a little 'snug' which is lovely and cosy which i imagine some of the older guests will retire to during the break with a nice brandy

mjonline

Crowdpleaser wrote: »

It sounds fine. i think you will have to accept though that some people who have travveled far, are elderly or who have kids will leave early as its a very very long day! I think a quiz is a good option. Prob not karaoke as i doubt people will be drunk enough yet lol! Consider maybe finishing the eve at 11? anyone who wants to carry on could do so in the hotel bar???

Yep, I think you maybe right, karaoke, maybe would be a little ambitious at 5pm, maybe 10pm would be more appropiate!

mjonline

shinytrousers wrote: »

Hi, I've not made myself known on this forum yet. I get married in October and like you I have an early ceremony - mine's 11.30am.

My sister-in-law said that her only regret about her wedding was having the ceremony too late and the whole day feeling like one big rush, trying to cram everything in and not having chance to speak properly to all of the guests.

I really wouldn't worry about keeping everyone entertained all day, you sound like you have plenty to do already. A little break in the middle of the day may be a good thing for your guests who have travelled a long way - they can pop off and have a nap for an hour or two s they're all refreshed and up for a party in the evening.

Hope you have a fab day x x

Hi Shineytrousers! - (Fab name btw )

Congrats on your engagement! I was so glad when I read your post, it really put me at ease. I've not thought at all about my wedding until we actually started planning it, and neither my H2B or I have attended many weddings previously, so when we were thinking about timings I just plumped up with anytime between 11am-1pm as I thought that was the standard time. Since telling people though all we keep hearing is that we've chosen an incredibly early start and that most weddings take place after 3pm! So as you may imagine we've been a little panicked thinking we've broke some cardinal wedding sin:eek:

The advice your sister-in-law gave though sounds very thoughtful and I can see why the day may wiz by if you start the day considerably later. I'm happy that we're getting married in the morning it feels good to know that we start our bright future, bright and early :j - plus less chance of H2B being lured into having a skinful before hand!:rotfl:

All the best for your wedding day, I hope you both have an amazing day

NoAngel

I had a similar worry as our ceremony is t 12pm and other people were telling me it was too early and weddings are normally at 2 or 3pm. A friend told me she wished she'd had longer though and I stopped worrying and just hope that people will be happy to drink and chat in the gaps

mjonline

daisiegg wrote: »

I also think it sounds fine. You've worried me about the church though - I am getting married in a parish I don't live in (although it's my parents' parish and I grew up there) and they haven't mentioned anything about having to attend church services leading up to the wedding!

Hey Daisyegg,

As neilcrook says you're fine with your choice of church. You have a right to marry in your chosen church on possibly three of the eight qualifying grounds, i.e that:

- you have lived in the parish at some point

Or

- you have attended services for a period of at least 6 months previously in the parish church

Or

- your parents live in the parish

More details can be found on this fantastic site: www. yourchurchwedding.org/youre-welcome/more-churches-to-choose-from.aspx

Hope this helps!

daisiegg

Thanks mjonline Although I just clicked the link and saw it's CofE - I'm talking a Catholic church, so maybe that's why it's different

AutumnBride85

:wall:Sorry- realised Id been harping on about Option B being the best option- I meant option A (doh!) Im sorry!