Small wedding ideas

[Bella13476]

Hiya
Having small wedding in few months.tight budget, so want it intimate close family only...at moment 24 to 30 people possibly..waiting for people to confirm...
ceremony at 3pm...photos ...then three course set menu at restaurant, thought set as cheaper than normal menu? ....trying work out timings. How long for ceremony, how long for photos, what time we should get to restaurant which is 10 minutes away. Then what rough time we be finished.

then was thinking inviting guests back to my flat for cake and drinks? As going away next day..

Would that be okay as didn't want to end just on the meal..I know few people after the meal won't come back to.mine as I live in totally different direction to where they live and they need to travel home which I understand! I don't have big place but thought nice way to end the day as rest of family members live in walking distance so can have few drinks!

So was thinking wedding cake, few drinks and music? Is this worth it??
Was going to fake cut the cake as restaurant for pictures etc ...

Just need advice on timings and how that sounds etc

Thanks bells

Couple of questions - is it a Saturday, and are you paying for the meal?

I'd allow 45 mins for the ceremony, an hour for photos, so meal at 5? Probably 2 hours for the meal. Do you have a family member who could host after dinner? If you're going away the next day it could be a bit of a pain to have to host that night. I wouldn't fake cut the cake for photos, what's the point? What sort of memory is that capturing? Either cut it and ask the restaurant to box it up for you, or just cut it and get photos at home.

It will be a Friday wedding...
Mmm my in-laws live local but not sure if they would!. house proud issues!

I may ask restaurant to cut it then box it up to take home...and for guests that unable to come back to mine have it packaged up for them!? Or if no one coming back get it all boxed up for the guests to take home..it's only two tear small one..

So like @ALittleBitAlexa suggested

ceremony at 3. Than like u said 45 minutes.. Then photos... time get to restaurant 5ish!

Was thinking is it worth ordering drinks on arrival, something affordable and some canapes, while guests chatting getting to know each other..
Then possible cutting of cake then photo opportunity for them with there phones as professional photographer won't be coming to meal as booked for ceremony and photos only.
Then once everyone seated and settled , get the drinks served ...then meal served at 6?
so finish about 8 ish..

I was only going to have few bottles of wines on the table , two red, two white, and fizzy for kids anyhing else guests will have to.pay themselves as feel family members that are not driving may take the piss!! Is this wrong...quite few adults be driving too so not even sure they will drink the wine..it's £80 for two bottles.. how would I work the drinks!?

Little things are stressing me out now!

Time get home say good byes 9pm..!?

Does that sound okay???
Trying keep it simple but feel it's running away with me now...

Sorry didn't put we are paying for it all ! X

Go to the restaurant and have the day end there. Inviting them back to yours will just be a pain in the arse.

I agree with @ALittleBitAlexa 's timings.

Where are you having the ceremony ?
Is there room there for drinks / cake / canapes whilst people are waiting for the photos ? I've been to a few weddings where that has happened.

If you are having the photos where the ceremony is, and then all moving to the restaurant, I wouldn't then expect to wait another hour once getting to the restaurant to eat. Generally the drink and canapes is to be a good host to your guests whilst they are waiting for photos to be complete, so if you are having them (photos) at the ceremony venue, there is no need for waiting around at the restaurant, IMO

I agree with others, I wouldn't have people come back to yours afterwards.

Just have the reception at the restaurant and then go home. Depending on what the restaurant can manage / how long they let you stay, you could potentially all stay there a little bit longer ?

I went to the most lovely wedding in London. Held in the local town/city hall then we walked to the venue for a meal and cake, we then walked to a wine bar type place and everyone looked after their own drinks etc but partied into the small hours. At some point we went near by for pizza with a few others on our own £. It was a lovely day/night

Basic ceremony then literally round the back of the building are some nice gardens and lakes etc to have photos taken in...no room in the building for drinks , literally walk out the door after ceremony ..
Restaurant is about 10 minutes away..we got table for the night so no rush there...
Regarding drinks is it okay to include drinks with meal then if they want extra or different ones got to.pay at the bar? Or are my guests expecting me to.pay for all drinks too?
Worried my guests will get bored...as I know they would of preferred a disco and party with buffet etc etc but unfortunately budget don't stretch...

Have you had a quote for a function suite + DJ + buffet? You may find this isn't much more than paying for a meal and wine for 30, and if your guests would prefer it... I planned my wedding with what I wanted, but definitely with being a good host front and centre in my mind.

It sounds like you're planning to provide four bottles of wine between 30 guests, have I picked that up right? A third of a bottle per person is generally the minimum wedding packages will offer, so you'd be looking at 10 bottles to be a good host. Of course it's up to you, budget etc, but if you're asking what is ideal. 4 bottles isn't enough. It is only just one small glass per person. You definitely don't need to pay for all drinks but at minimum I'd double the wine.

Also the fact it's a Friday means your guests will probably need to take annual leave from work, which is a bit annoying as a guest, especially if it's quite a 'basic' wedding. If you have children coming are they needing to take a day off school or is it still summer holidays?

I like the sound of the wedding @SophiaLaB describes - moving on somewhere fun after the meal. Anyone with kids/driving will go home, but it sounds like a better night than sitting round the house with tea and cake. Honestly if I was taking a day off work for a wedding I'd be hoping for more of a do - we've been invited to a Thursday wedding that sounds similar to what you're describing, but then with a party on the Saturday... It's asking a lot of the guests.

There was someone on here very recently who was asking almost identical questions about an almost identical wedding. They wanted to know how to fill a six hour restaurant booking, whether to have canapes on arrival, how to entertain guests, that they were all getting a drink with a set menu meal and all other drink was to be paid by the guests.

I think it might have cost less or just as much to hire a small room, lay on a buffet and a disco/entertainment for a few hours than it would to pay for 30 3 course meals and a drink, plus canapés etc. It would allow for people to mingle, chat to people other than the ones sat next to them for hours on end, be a little less formal and more relaxed.

You've chosen the restaurant option and that must be what you preferred so I'm sure you must have had a plan and timeline in mind when booking it all? If you're going away the next day, I wouldn't be having people back to yours in case you have someone who is reluctant to leave at end of night! it might be best to either let people linger in restaurant if you have the table all night or identify a nearby venue/wine bar that people can go to after meal if they wish and allow those who want to head straight home after the near to do so.

I'd make a decision on whether you paying for all drinks in the restaurant well in advance so there are no expectations or confusion on either side when the day arrives

We have 8 children from to 15 years and 22 adults including us. We booked this to have a nice family intimate wedding day with no stress.. close family , nice meal , chatting,drinks with the normal wedding bits like cutting cake , few decorations etc ....that's what we had in mind...unfortunately since invitations gone out we've had comments after comments....
What time is everything, Is that all your having, kids be bored, can't eat that food ..
It's a set menu with plenty of choices to chose from, about five per set, but still comments .after comments......hence why I was asking if I should invite people bk afterwards to make up for it and timings and general info...

But I won't be inviting anyone back now as your comments have made sense..so thank you!!
I was having glass of prosecco as you arrive , so they have a drink to mingle.get to know each other, ... can't decide on canapes!

The restaurant are looking to start service at 6pm..As a lot of the adults are driving I was thinking on the table with the meal shall I have mixture of non alcoholic wines ( red, white) with normal wines..if so how many bottles for 22 adults...jugs of juice for kids, fizzy etc.
Then it be pay bar....
I have ordered activity packs for kids with bits and bobs in...so they don't get bored!
There is a nice garden there with seating and lighting, the staff said we have full use of so after the meal can always make our way there with drinks from bar so kids can run about and play depending on weather of course..
The restaurant is supplying sweet jars next to my cake table free of charge as quite a few kids , nice gesture!

Thank you for your advice and comments...it's so easy to get caught up in people's negative comments and you get to point why bloody bother!! But I am.looking at it from different direction it's our day...

Didn't you post about this the other day. You, your partner and parents are all non-drinkers, you didn't know how to time your day, didn't know how to keep everyone entertained, restaurant were providing complemrntary canapés but you didn't know whether to have them, people could be walking past your table every two minutes to get to garden?