I have decided to proceed with the large, formal wedding I originally planned for my wedding on 12 December 2021. I would love some input as to whether I have my ceremony in the same location as the reception or not.
Same venue: Our reception space is a grand Victorian ballroom with a small adjoining bar area. If we have the ceremony there, the room will be set up for the reception (tables moved slightly aside in the centre) and 60 chairs and an aisle set up (110-120 people expected). During cocktail hour, people will be ushered into the bar area to put the room back in place for the reception.
PROS: indoor, all in the same venue CONS: some people will stand, not convenient to shuffle everyone
Different venue: the alternate is to have our ceremony in a beautiful garden of a Georgian manor house. If the ceremony is there, it will be outdoors (early summer time), there will be sufficient seating for all, however may be a little uncomfortable for guests being formally dressed (although grass is not an issue as there is a tiled ‘aisle’ people can use to access their seats.
PROS: more seating available, no shuffling around CONS: outdoors (wet weather option available) and involves travelling to reception later (35min drive)
Moving our ceremony to a different venue will cost us about $3,000 more – we would also supply guests with bottled water and fans since it would be outdoors. Moving our reception to a venue with a ceremony space is not an option.
If you were a guest, what would you prefer – same venue or different venue?