Public Park Ceremony and bbq

First, contact your city's park department and see what you need to do to reserve the section of the park and pavilion that you would want to use. There may be a fee for this.

Second, hire a DOC to take care of the set up of the pavilion and decorating. That way the groom won't see you before the ceremony, nor will you and your family have to work on your wedding day.

Third, hire a local BBQ restaurant to provide the food. Safety is a huge factor, but also, do you really want yourself, your groom and your family to work on your wedding day?

I definitely recommend hiring a DOC if you can fit it into your budget. Most parks are like $50 to reserve a pavilion. You're not supposed to delegate tasks, but maybe talk to your family about this and tell them you'd like to have the ceremony and ask them if they'd be willing to help you set up. You could always set up and get everything ready, then an hour before start time you slip away to get ready somewhere. Your groom doesn't have to be there to set up and can come after you leave. If you do a first look this eliminates the need to walk out from somewhere as a surprise.

They also sell portable changing rooms (I used these when I was a dancer) that you could get dressed at the park.

I really don't recommend walking down the middle of picnic tables. Maybe you can rent chairs and have the ceremony under a tree close to the pavilion then the reception in the pavilion? I know you want it super casual and laid back but I still think there should be a little separation and formality.

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Pavilion has already been rented but we will not be hiring a DOC or catering company. We are throwing the celebration for our guests. Doing this is what we want and will enjoy. We have been to two already and loved it. Same park. However, those two had destination weddings months in advance. Thank you though for the advice.

If you want the license signed that day, you need to hire an officiant and get married that day. I’m not even going to touch the no caterer thing. If you’re setting food up hours before people eat, you’re taking a huge risk.

If you want your marriage certificate to reflect the day you got married, you MUST do the basics of a ceremony. i.e. an appropriate person to marry you (clergy, JOP, officiant etc) and take care of sending in your license (this is super important). Talk to your Parks & Rec department about renting out the pavilion, have a backup plan for inclement weather, and consider hiring a DOC to help with all the moving pieces. You'll need appropriate bathroom facilities (ADA compliant), appropriately catered food, and a liquor license/bartender for serving alcohol (if it's even allowed at the park, many public spaces don't allow public drinking).

I would honestly consider having the ceremony at the park, then moving the reception elsewhere that is more accommodating to your needs (venue or restaurant etc).

We would be cooking during the celebration. Not prior to.

View Quoted Comment So how are you storing all the food beforehand? You’re dropping raw food off before the ceremony. That’s just as dangerous as if it were cooked.

The park pavilion rental cost was $125. The two previous celebrations we went to there, the bride and groom set everything up and cooked for the guest. They also had coolers of beer as the park does allow beer and wine. This is not a fancy wedding reception, just a celebration of getting together with friends and family. This would also be rain or shine as it is in a pavilion.

Very hard when your guest are attending your ceremony/celebration and working as well. You shouldn't be setting up if your getting married before. You would have a designated person to do this for you. Which is why everyone is saying a day of coordinator. Have you priced this? or inquired with anyone you know for suggestions? Maybe some of the parks have an onsite location that you can inquire about a ceremony space and then move over to the celebration area in the park. It will be very odd to have your family cooking BBQ in a public park while your saying your vows in the same location. If this is just a simple celebration then no need to get married in that location. Get married on a day prior to arrange a court marriage for the morning and bbq party later. keep them separate works best i believe.

Again, I really do not want a ceremony. Was hoping there was a way around it so I could have my license signed the date of my celebration.

I don't even know where to start. If you couldn't care less about a ceremony in general, why get married? The ceremony is the important bit, where you actually commit to your partner. The rest is all just a party. Why worry about your partner seeing you in your dress if you don't care much about that sort of thing anyway?

I've been to a wedding at a park pavilion that was very casual. They ordered pizza in for everyone since that's what they wanted. Even with that, though, no one is having to cook during or before the ceremony and at least it was hot and fresh.

My guests would not be working. It would be us. I appreciate all of the input though. I think I found my answer that I would have to hire an officiant regardless and have a ceremony.

Thank you all.

There is no way around having a ceremony the day you want it dated. Unless you’re asking a judge/JOP/officiant to fraudulently fill out your license.

View Quoted Comment I mean if you don’t really want a ceremony, all you need to get married is the license, and officiant and a witness or two. Find an officiant and Schedule a time to meet that day, before or after your party. Vows, paper signing and there ya go.

Having a casual or semi formal wedding and reception can be very rewarding. We will have a private ceremony with about ten guests and then a big reception with 200 guests about an hour later. Our family is cooking for the reception, and we are doing our own flowers and decorations. We are not having alcohol there at all. Our venue costs $250. We aren't having a bridal party. And our wedding will be very elegant and will focus more on us than the material things.

View Quoted Comment It doesn't have to be long. If you had everyone seated at the tables in the pavilion and just have the two of you and the officiant at the head, of said pavilion, recite vows, kiss, on to the reception bbq. Then it's done but in five minutes and no hubub

Has this wedding already happened or is the plan still in process? Curious about how this wedding turned out as this is something that's been on my mind also!

I don't understand why some people are being so mean about one person's choice for how they want their wedding - regardless of whether or not it seems like she doesn't care. If she didn't, I don't think she'd be thinking of how she can manage the decor, set-up and cooking to make sure her guests enjoy their time. Just because you don't understand another person's preference for THEIR special day, I'm sure you can still word it differently or ask more inquiring questions.

Anyway, I've always wanted a more friendly and casual reception. The friends with children can also entertain them at the nearby playground. I'm planning to still ask part of the wedding party to help out, and I'm sure there's a couple grill masters out there who wouldn't mind helping out.

Do let me know how this wedding turned out so that I know how to plan for mine!