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AIBU?

Bowling at a wedding

57 replies

BlueRaptor · 28/02/2016 20:37

DP and I went to our wedding venue today to go and have another look around, and meet with the wedding planner etc.

Our venue is lovely, but a bit unusual in that upstairs they have a small five lane bowling alley. I thought it'd be a bit fun and quirky to get some photos up there on the day and asked if it was possible. They said yes and we can have it to take some silly shoots.

DP thinks it's a fantastic idea, and also wants to let all the guests know it's up there in case they'd like to have a game in the evening! I think that's absolutely ridiculous and I don't want all our guests disappearing to a bowling alley, they can do that any time! My feeling is that we've paid a small fortune for a wedding that our friends and family are all invited to, I'd be really quite offended and upset if they would have preferred to go bowling! I think we should keep quiet about it, it's not something well advertised and we only found out as the wedding coordinator told us. As much as I like a few quick pictures, that's the most I want a bowling alley to be involved!

So, who is being U here? Should we keep quiet or let guests know it's there?

OP posts:

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chillycurtains · 28/02/2016 20:40

I want to say join in, have fun, let everyone go bowling however I think you are probably right and all old relatives will stay downstairs with you and everyone will be upstairs bowling. Plus alcohol all day first could make for some competitive bowling.
Can you reserve and decide on the day? You might be up for bowling yourself by 8!

pickledparsnip · 28/02/2016 20:40

I think it's fine to keep quiet.

Haggisfish · 28/02/2016 20:41

Yabu. Bowling would be ace. Guests will do it-why can't you?!

NattyTile · 28/02/2016 20:42

But if you're having photos up there, won't they know about it anyway?

Have it, let people enjoy it, but declare it closed at certain times if you're worried! Or just have one lane set up so you only lose a handful at a time.

Plateofcrumbs · 28/02/2016 20:45

I'm guessing there isn't enough room in the bowling alley for all the guests to have a drink up there after the wedding, with bowling for those who want it? Could be a fun icebreaker and definitely memorable! But only if you could then move everyone downstairs for dinner etc and then close it off so it doesn't impact the rest of the evening.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 28/02/2016 20:46

Having recently been to a very lovely wedding where there was very separate bar, separate disco and separate place to have tea and a sit down, I'd say don't do it. It really broke the evening party up and things didn't really 'gel' at night.

You could open it up in the dead bit before the meal though?

Titsywoo · 28/02/2016 20:48

DH would love this! But yes I'd keep it as a separate bit of the day - as people say the atmosphere gets ruined at weddings when there are separate rooms to go off into.

BlueRaptor · 28/02/2016 20:53

Guests won't necessarily know we're up there when we go for photos as we disappear for an hour or so anyway so could be anywhere! It's also public as I don't want to pay extra for it private hire (they're going to close it for the hour following ceremony so that we can get our pics).

DP is thrilled there are people on his side currently...

OP posts:

CornishDoll82 · 28/02/2016 20:53

And why have photos there if it's not part of the wedding - that would just be odd to me.

Bowling has no place on one of the most special days of your life!

Bearbehind · 28/02/2016 20:56

I don't see why you'd want photos taken in a bowling lane?

Either embrace and use it or completely ignore it.

Haggisfish · 28/02/2016 20:57

Actually yes, that could work well-have it available before dinner for bonding? And then it's closed.

LucyMouse · 28/02/2016 20:59

I agree with PP - bowling alley photos have no place in your wedding album. Especially if you don't want your guests to join in on the day, or for it to be come part of people's memories of your wedding.
Might be nice to hire for guests for the hour before the evening reception maybe? Then entice everyone back with the buffet.

Smartieskid · 28/02/2016 21:01

I think keep it private but maybe after dinner open it for the children or any teenagers to keep them entertained for while

PaulAnkaTheDog · 28/02/2016 21:02

I think it's far more ridiculous to have people pose for photos then tell them they can't use it. Very cringey.

Fratelli · 28/02/2016 21:03

I don't know why you wouldn't want people to have fun at your wedding Or is it that you want them looking at you all day?

shazzarooney99 · 28/02/2016 21:05

I think its a great idea to be doing ten pin bowling,why dont you have all the buffet there too? sounds like it could be a fun night.

Catsize · 28/02/2016 21:06

What meaning will the pictures have if it's off limits?

VoldysGoneMouldy · 28/02/2016 21:07

What's the point of hiring a venue with a bowling alley if you don't use it?

Weddings - as a guest - are generally rather dull, and rather repetitive. Change it up a bit!

alltheworld · 28/02/2016 21:07

📷 let them bowl while you have your pix taken somewhere more scenic

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 28/02/2016 21:08

Either use it for everyone or not at all. I'd have loved to have a bowling alley at ours, way better than a disco or band. We had giant jenga, pool, darts etc at ours, everyone played into the small hours.

HowBadIsThisPlease · 28/02/2016 21:08

Bowling is very divisive. We had bowling at a work do once and even that (I mean something far less important to me than your wedding is to you) was kind of ruined by the divisions between those who were gnashing their teeth over the competition and those who couldn't give a fuck and resented being pulled away from interesting conversations to lob a stupidly heavy object into a drain. It wasn't as unified a do as it should have been as the bowling created clusters and completely variant emotional states.

Plateofcrumbs · 28/02/2016 21:17

I also think either ignore it or embrace it - bowling photos when bowling plays no part in your wedding would just be daft.

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rookiemere · 28/02/2016 21:18

Great idea to let people use it whilst you're having the pics taken - stops folks getting drunk as there's nowt else to do.

Agree with some other posters - you can't use it for pics and then not use it - that just sounds a bit weird.

Canshopwillshop · 28/02/2016 21:18

I think it would be brilliant. It's unusual and would make your wedding day stand out from others. I assume that it's not big enough fo all the guests to be there at any one time so yo would still gave lots of other people mingling?

Canshopwillshop · 28/02/2016 21:19

You and have - sorry for typos!

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