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Would a reception in a park be a problem for older guests?

16 replies

Ladydutchalot · 05/08/2010 23:03

We are on a super super tight wedding budget. It was tight, but now our roof has sprung a leak and so it has become super SUPER tight. We cannot have a standard wedding reception basically.

The majority of guests are between 24-30, so I was thinking High Tea in a London park would be pretty fab. Dp is a huge ultimate frisbee player, as are some of his friends, we all enjoy a bit of croquet, and dd would find it all more fun. We could take trestle tables, cover them in linen table clothes, hire a ton of deckchairs for the afternoon, then all depart about 6/7ish, maybe the more sprightly going on to a club later if they fancied dancing. However, dp's grandad is in his 70's, and I'm worried he won't cope as well. He is brill, and was playing tennis until 2 years ago, but has suddenly gone downhill. I suppose I am worried he will think the wedding is a let down and not a proper wedding.

I know dp wants a "proper" wedding, but we are both studying at the mo, have just bought a house with leaks everywhere, have a six year old dd, and I just want to get married, I don't want to financially cripple us at the same time (I am doing that already by studying abroad this year). I would elope if it wouldn't upset so many people.

Basically I want to celebrate finding the man I love with all our wonderful friends, and not have to exclude people due to financial restraints. But will it exclude the older ones?

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everythingiseverything · 05/08/2010 23:13

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Ladydutchalot · 05/08/2010 23:18

They are ok as long as you don't peg things in, take any glassware, or use flames. You do need to contact them first if there are more than 40 attending, so they may say no, but I can't see them being too cross. The trestle tables aren't a must. I just don't want to get married and then everyone have to go home, it seems rubbish!

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everythingiseverything · 05/08/2010 23:30

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Ladydutchalot · 05/08/2010 23:39

That's true everything. I have emailed the park and asked what would be allowed. I know dp's grandad is a great one for lunches out, so maybe if we went for an early lunch with the family and then on to the ceremony (it is most likely to be around 2pm), then picnic-ed with the youngies afterwards. The deckchairs were from the park anyway, you hire them for £7 each, so it was mainly for those that don't want to sit on rugs, but most of our friends are pretty outdoorsy.

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Northernlurker · 05/08/2010 23:50

Deck chairs are hard work to get out of for older guests and you need to think about loos. Some older folks need to go quite a bit and it will be exhausting and embarassing for them to have to trek miles in a park. It's a cute idea but maybe a bit hard on the older folks.

How big is your house? Could you do open house after the wedding and give everybody cake and a glass of fizz? Then maybe a drinks party at a bar in the evening for your friends?

suzikettles · 05/08/2010 23:54

I think it's a fab idea as long as you think about proximity to loos.

I remember a fab afternoon out in a park with all my family including my 80 yr+ grandparents for a special occasion being one of the highlights of my childhood

Other cheapish options - local bowling/croquet club as reception venue?

Ladydutchalot · 06/08/2010 00:15

We live over three hours away from dp's grandad, so we are wanting it closer to him really, and London means a lot to us and is close enough to him to work. Great thoughts Nothernlurker and suzi, I hadn't really thought that through!

Next to dp's grandad, the next oldest is my dad at 55, and he is more than happy to lounge in a deckchair! Unfortunately our families don't have much longevity, so out of the generation above us, only dp's mum, my dad and two uncles have survived, so we have 50 guests in their 20's, four in their 50's, and then dp's grandad. I think a family brunch at a very nice restaurant, the ceremony, and then an informal gathering of friends could be the way to go!

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MmeLindt · 06/08/2010 00:50

Sounds like a lovely idea.

The only thing is - what do you do if it rains?

Could you ask around and see if you can get a cheap venue where you can cater yourself? My Dad belongs to a bowling club and they hire the rooms out for parties. Or a community centre.

everythingiseverything · 06/08/2010 18:33

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Lille · 10/08/2010 20:31

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ilove · 10/08/2010 20:39

Lille, you need to pay to advertise on MN. Reported.

SerialMom · 10/08/2010 20:52

This is the UK. There's a fair chance it may rain, or be windy or cold. You need to be near loos - for everyone's sake not just the oldies.
I think in a public park there's just too many variables that are out of your control and may end up ruining things a bit.

SerialMom · 10/08/2010 20:55

PS. my friends hired a cricket club in the middle of a park for their wedding. It was v cheap and they still had use of the park.

nickelbabe · 14/08/2010 14:49

i would try to get a few of the proper garden chairs to put out - maybe on a wooden board or something so it's stable on the ground?

and blankets for knees if it gets cold.

has your park got a bandstand or summerhouse?
that might be ideal.

needshelpwitheveryday · 19/11/2010 16:44

Reception int he park seems a great idea but is very weather dependant unless you can get permission to use a marquee??

Cricket clubs are a great idea my mum used one for her reception it was really pretty and the grounds were well used by the kids all running around.

She got a load of Garden Games and croquet which worked really well in the open space and as the day progressed and there was a little more sqiffyness the twister game was the funnest thing EVER :o

onimolap · 19/11/2010 16:50

It's possible to hire the cricket pavilion in Battersea Park, and you could use the pitch for the games. It has tables etc, and is big enough inside to protect the food if the weather is bad, plus a veranda.

Not sure who you contact to book. Try via the Wandsworth website?

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