Would you be bored at my wedding?

[blueberrymojito]

I'm having a last minute panic about our wedding plans - we only ever wanted something fairly small and intimate but I'm worried we've not really considered our guests enough.

We're getting married in our local church at 5pm, having around 60 guests and then a 'light' reception at a local restaurant, where we've hired part of the restaurant (it's a barn conversion and a lovely setting).

We should be arriving at the reception venue at around 6pm and we're having a drinks reception on arrival (cocktails) however we're not having a sit down meal, but a nice 'buffet' type set up.

There won't be a seating plan but lots of tables, couches to sit on. We plan to decorate the place with bunting, fairy lights etc. There will be a cake but we don't want speeches etc (two very dysfunctional families!).

Here's the thing, we haven't planned to have a DJ or a band, we will have music playing but there isn't a dance floor or anything, and we just hope people will eat, drink, chat, catch up etc. If it's a nice day there's an outside bar and gardens. I assume the last people will stay until 10/11pm ish (hopefully no later!) as we really just want something intimate and 'us'. We're then off to spend the night in a lovely hotel before heading off on our honeymoon.

Should we do more for our guests? I'm worried people are going to be bored because they can't dance or because there's no funny speeches etc. If I was going to the wedding as a guest it would be perfect for me, I had full day weddings and DJs, but I realise most people like that sort of thing!

I think everything sounds lovely. Except for one thing... I think there needs to be a speech in the evening. It could be from both of you to say Thank You to your guests.

Sounds good. Am not the dancing type so this would be perfect

My sister had a wedding just like you've planned and there were very short speeches just to thank people for coming and to cut the cake.

I think it sounds great.

I think you & groom should plan to do some kind of thank you "speech". You can call this a 'toast' if it helps! You might find that other people want to say something too - you could spread the word that short toasts would be welcome? (My DSis did something similar at her wedding)

Also - consider telling the guests that it's an evening buffet & drinks reception. Just to avoid anyone cluelessly asking when the meal starts and embarrassing themselves?!

Perfect wedding reception. I'd love it. I'd bore you telling you how great it qas, probably!

Sounds great. Most English people will only dance once they are totally trollied, and to get over the boredom of the speeches.
It's lovely to have s wedding that reflects you and your tastes instead of following a formula.
As op suggested I would either leave early wish, or give some suggestion of when you want the evening to end.

I think if it were an evening party (not wedding related) at your house, this is what you do so I don't think people would get bored but it might be more that if they are expecting more then they might be, iyswim. If on the invite or in conversation to guests then they know what to expect.

It sounds lovely. Really lovely!

Sounds gorgeous!

I love the sound of your wedding - especially the "no seating plan" bit. Getting trapped at a table for hours with people you have nothing in common with (however nice they are) is what makes some weddings very dull.

I like the idea upthread of a few games on a few of the tables - an icebreaker for people who don't know anyone else.

Another one thinking it sounds absolutely lovely. :) We had a tiny wedding but if I'd had the scope I would probably have wanted to do it pretty much like that.

Sounds wonderful. Love the idea of it being late afternoon and really relaxed. Sounds a happy occasion.

It sounds wonderful. Without dancing it may naturally end sooner so don't take that as a sign people weren't having a good time.

If you asked 100 people would they prefer funny speeches or no speeches, I think 90% or higher would choose no speeches.

Sounds lovely OP!!

Sounds terrific! Perfect! No need to spend the whole fucking day being bored out of one's skull making small talk with strangers you're seated with, or listening to any sort of speech (I hate them), or bland sit down meal, or disco.

Hurray! Sounds like an ideal wedding.

Hope to see more of the same.

If there is music you can still bust a move and dance floor can just be where you are stood. Sounds very relaxed

Sounds lovely, I don't think people will be bored.

I had no seating plan, no disco.

People said it was the best wedding they ever went too.

It sounds lovely. If 60 people can't find something to talk to each other about then they are boring, not the wedding and not you.

I'd love it. My family would hate it.

You're not going to please everyone no matter what you do, so you might as well please yourselves.

I do agree that you and your DH should give a "thanks for coming" speech though.

Sounds lovely to me and highly preferable to a noisy disco/band where no one can have a conversation without shouting talk and you go home deaf and hoarse.

As for the speeches, no one really cares what someone else's parents/best man/ whoever says. DH and I just went to a wedding in Denmark where the speeches went on for 5 hours and, of course they were in Danish - a language that neither of us speak. It was the worst wedding reception I've ever been to.

Where's our invites?

Sounds great to me, most people prefer to catch up at weddings as families and friends rarely come together as a whole in these types of situation
Enjoy your day

'DH and I just went to a wedding in Denmark where the speeches went on for 5 hours and, of course they were in Danish'

Dear god. I've sat through some boring speeches in my time but FIVE HOURS!!!!!!!! Hope that plenty of booze was flowing at least