anyone scared their guests will die of boredom?

[CoralQuiz]

I have a pencil-booking for Beaufords (www.beaufords.co.nz) in Auckland, New Zealand for our ceremony and reception this November. It will be late spring in NZ and the venue is in a regional park close to the botanical gardens.

We''ll have the venue from 3pm - midnight... that''s a long time. I want to make sure people have a good time, the day is memorable and special and reflects our personalities. How much entertainment are you ladies injecting into your reception nights and how much are you leaving people to chat and entertain themselves?

Is there anything particularly special or out-of-the-ordinary that you are planning?

I need ideas people

I''m thinking about having a projected slideshow somewhere inconspicuous looping images of me & FH growing up and with our friends and families. Also it will be after Guy Fawkes so we might have a fireworks display when it gets dark. I heard someone had a pinaata at their wedding and it was a big hit.... My chief BM is a dance teacher so maybe the girls in the bridal party could put a lil show together?

Eek. Thinking about it is making me feel a bit overwhelmed and neurotic..

 

[mayachel]

Your venue is amazing! And lucky you, having it for so many hours. I''m guessing the ceremony will take place here as well? People will be busy visiting, dancing, and eating! No need to worry about shows, or how to keep them entertained. The USA version of the 5 hour reception ALWAYS goes by in a flash and could have used more leisurely time eating and talking OR dancing. It seems like one always has to give. And the fireworks, could also eat up a good chunk of time and be very pretty.

Are they something you and fi are planning, or will they happen to simply coincide?

 

[Elmorton]

Are you also doing traditional (at least in the US) activities like first dances, bouquet tosses, etc? If so, I probably wouldn''t try to fill up the time full of organized activities. DO let the guests know about the fireworks so no one bails and misses them! One thing I''ve seen for longer receptions is to bring out food AFTER the seated meal - so stretch dessert out longer, then have a "munchie" course like a cheese tray, crackers, popcorn, candy table, coffee and biscotti - something that guests can munch on that isn''t booze. Have great music to dance to. Love your idea for a slideshow!

 

[SapphireLover]

Your venue looks absolutely fab! I wish I lived somewhere so lush!

The most important time you need to fill is the time after the ceremony but before the meal starts. Drinks that go on far too long drive guests mad, as half the time the B&G are away having pictures taken. If your ceremony starts at 3pm, it might finish at 4pm, and you probably (if NZ weddings are like UK weddings) won't sit down to eat until at least 6.30pm. Two and a half hours of drinks and nibbles is a long time. Have you thought about starting the ceremony at 4pm instead? Even if it lasts for an hour, a 4pm start, followed by an hour and half for drinks and pictures, means you would be able to sit down by at least 6,30-7pm.

We are having a day reception, and I do worry that without music and dancing, people might find it boring. We are going to do a pub quiz in the evening if people stay on for drinks. We are going to see a wedding planner soon to discuss ideas of keeping the wedding fresh and interesting.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I agree with starting the wedding at 4 or even 5. I can''t think that I''d want to attend a wedding at 3 and stay until midnight.

 

[katamari]

Are most of your guests staying at the location? I think either way, but primarily if they are staying there or nearby, they openly plan for the wedding to be what they fully do with their day. In that case, they will stay until they are ready to go home. The longer the bar/food/celebration is happening, the better, for them.

I wouldn''t turn it into an activity hour. It gets too close to being kitschy and you don''t want that to happen. If you have a theme, and it works into the theme, that is cool. But, otherwise, you don''t want it feeling juvenile or like day camp. Adults are really good at just hanging out and conversing.

Now, after saying this, FI and I are having a pub quiz. Games are a central theme in our lives and our wedding, so it fits. But, unless you have something like this, just rely on your guests to entertain themselves.