Bowling at a wedding

[BlueRaptor]

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?

[Costacoffeeplease]

Another one not getting why you would want photos taken there if it's not going to be part of the day?

[BlueRaptor]

Apparently I'm the U for wanting the photos in the first place, woops! I had just thought it could make for a fun photo for the pair of us really! I wouldn't have gone looking for a bowling alley, just thought as it was there could be fun for a photo or two.

to 'do I want people looking at me all day'. No, I don't, but we've also paid for a characaturist and photo booth type thing which I'd like to be used as they've cost a fair amount but wanted something fun for people to enjoy.

The bowling alley is far too small for anything such as buffet, we have about 150 guests so the alley couldn't hold that so not an option really.

Hmm, maybe I'll rethink the photos in the first place then, thanks for opinions so far.

[RoboticSealpup]

I hate bowling and my heart would sink if I went to a wedding and people went off to do that, or I was expected to take part. I expect some of your guests will feel the same. It could ruin the party, I wouldn't risk it.

[woodcabernet]

Weddings are really really boring, especially the ones that think they're not ('quirky' photo booth anyone?)

I would love the option of bowling while you spend two hours taking your wedding photos that no one cares about.

[woodcabernet]

Hahaha X post! Sorry op

[YoureAllABunchOfBastards]

Our wedding venue had a snooker room. In between the meal and the evening, DH, his mates from home and his dad went up for a few games and it was great - one of my favourite memories of the day

[BlueRaptor]

wood I take it you're not a fan of photobooths then

I like to think ours is a bit different - it's a giant 'magic mirror' rather than a photo booth with props etc, it's basically like an enormous iPad type thing (think 5ft high) where you can draw on the screen or add effects or whatever before taking the picture. I'm well aware this may only sound cool to me though

[SanityAssassin]

Do your photos if it's what you want.

Bowling is dull as ditchwater though after the first throw - it drags on people have to be called back to throw....etc

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

I think it would be much more fun than music and dancing, which are equally divisive especially when there's nowhere quiet for those that just want to chat to disappear to. But with that number of guests I agree it wouldn't work.

[Costacoffeeplease]

I'm not a fan of photo booths but I'm not invited anyway

[Starface]

We had giant scalectrix, remote controlled car table football and soft play stuff at ours. Plus party boxes for the kids. It was memorable, fun and made for great photos. I'd like to think it reflects the kind of people we are. Because it could only take a few people at a time no one spent the whole event there. It was a great way to get people who didn't know each other mingling. It kept people entertained. Bowling sounds like a brilliant added bonus to me. People will leave it for moments like the dance etc. But it depends on how you approach life, these sorts of events, family culture etc etc. Depends what you want really.

[MissTurnstiles]

The most boring thing at a wedding is attempting to survive on three canapés and a glass of warm fizz while the bride and groom disappear for hours for endless photographs.

Don't leave your guests for too long, OP.

[BYOSnowman]

let your guests bowl - it would be a nice touch at the wedding

if i found out there was a bowling alley guests could have used I would think it really odd of you tbh

[BlueRaptor]

Miss I agree completely, hence we're only disappearing for an hour as I didn't want to be gone too long.

Starface making it a 'fun' event is really important to me, hence the things we have bought out and paid for so far, I just don't feel like a bowling alley on a seperate floor and that is also open to the public (unless I pay a very high private hire cost) is where I see our guests mingling. I'm sure it would be a lot of fun don't get me wrong but just not sure it's ideal.

[BYOSnowman]

if the alley is open to the public that is totally different and having photos there would be weird as well!!

[BlueRaptor]

The alley is open to the public - the venue coordinators have agreed to close it for the hour immediately following the ceremony so we'd have it for some silly photos but it would be reopened after this if the public chose to use it (no guarantee, it may well be empty all day but not something I would know until the day of).

[BYOSnowman]

the photos will be a bit random surely?

Why don't you see how it goes on the day - if there are no bookings for the alley just ask if you could use it for a few hours while the disco is on

[Quoteunquote]

Oh please let your guests use the bowling , sounds great silly fun at a wedding.

[BlueRaptor]

Yes the photos have no particular relevancy, I just thought we might as well get a few silly shots if it's there and isn't costing us anything extra. My worry is if on the day it's quiet, all my guests will bugger off to the bowling alley and I'll have an empty hall

[BYOSnowman]

150 people are not going to be going there

it's giving some of your guests who may not like the other entertainment laid on another option.

[MidniteScribbler]

I think ten pin bowling at a wedding sounds like a lot of fun. I went to a wedding held at a bowls club and they had barefoot bowling going on. A lot of barefoot, slightly tipsy fun.

But if not everyone will fit upstairs and you don't have exclusive use, then it does seem a bit odd for people to be disappearing during the wedding. It's more of an all in thing to me.

But the photobooth is something I'd avoid (hate having my photo taken) and the cartoonist is only going to amuse people so long. They are things that can only be used by a couple of people at a time. Just keep the champagne flowing and the photo sessions short and you'll be fine.

[ElaineVintage]

My wedding was at a private hire bowling alley venue.

It was fantastic fun and memorable for the guests.

Go for it!

[NinaSimoneful]

Starface
That sounds awesome

[BackforGood]

I think the idea of some guests going off in the evening to do bowling is a bad one - it will 'split the crowd' as it were and make your planned evening entertainment very quiet.
I too am confused as to why you would want a backdrop of bowling alleys in your wedding photos if it's not part of your day, or the pair of you didn't meet on a bowling team that spends 4 nights a week practising and taking over your lives.

[BYOSnowman]

The photos make me think of those crazy wedding photos that end up on specialist 'crazy wedding photo ' blogs!!