Wedding Style, Planning & Inspiration | the Wedding Paper Divas Blog

Today’s Diva Dish came from a reader who is having her ceremony and reception at the same venue:

Dear Divas,

During our ceremony, guests will be seated in a herringbone design facing the celebrants. After the bride and groom leave, they will return for pictures. We envisioned everyone having drinks and snacks while they watch the pictures, then we will all move on to dinner and dancing.

Can you offer ideas to make these transitions work?

Thanks,

Carla

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Thanks for writing in, Carla! Here’s what we suggest:

• Create a wedding program. That way, guests will know the schedule of events the moment they sit down to the ceremony.
• Coordinate with the DJ, bartenders and waitstaff. After the ceremony is over, have the DJ start playing some mellow music and ask the waitstaff to begin clearing away chairs to encourage mingling. Make sure the bartenders and waitstaff know when to cut off drinks and appetizers, and have the DJ make the announcement that everyone should take their seats prior to the bridal party’s entrance for dinner.
• Turn trusted friends into coordinators. If you have a relative, childhood friend or colleague in attendance who isn’t in the bridal party, ask him or her to help serve as a coordinator to make sure the transitions run smoothly, ushering people in or out and giving direction.
• Take photos in private. Trust us, you won’t want an audience while you’re shooting your wedding photos. Not only will it get monotonous for the guests, but your photos won’t turn out the same as they would if it were just the two of you. Take time to shoot a few photos before the ceremony, or find an alternate location for your post-wedding photo shoot instead.

What other advice would you offer Carla? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Do you have a question for our wedding experts? Send your etiquette, wedding planning or style dilemma to blog@weddingpaperdivas.com and we’ll post an answer for you.

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Tags: advice, ceremony, Diva Dish, Etiquette, reception