My fiance and I are marrying March of this year. Neither of us belong to a church. We are not wanting to get married in a church as we both had chuch weddings with our first marriages...this is a second marriage for both. I am wanting to get married at a banquet hall where the reception is being held. We thought about going to Vegas and get married and then come back for a big reception with family and friends but Vegas is too far for some in my family to travel. It may not sound right but the reception is more important for us than the "ceremony." I was wondering if anyone has been to this type of ceremony and what it was like. I am guessing guests would come in and be seated at a table and there would be an aisle through the middle of the room where I would walk through or a side door I would come out of to go to the front of the room for the wedding ceremony. I was wondering what everyone's idea was on this.

I've never actually been to a wedding like this, but I would imagine that's what it would be like. Either that or maybe half the room would be set up with tables for the reception and the other half set up with chairs for the ceremony. I don't think there's any right or wrong way to do this. Whatever you want and whatever will work for the venue you choose.

Thanks. I was watching a show the other night I think called "Rich Bride, Poor Bride" and there was a wedding like that where the bride walked through the middle of the room with tables on both sides. I thought it looked really nice.

I am doing the exact same thing. I Am having both at home in my backyard. The yard is sectioned into three levels then tapers off into the woods. Theres an amazing rock stairway and wall. I will have the ceremony under a built arch and everyone can just stand since the ceremony will only be about 10 minutes. Then for the festivities. I will have 3 tents and tables with chafing dishes under each tent. Clothed tables and chairs will be scattered everywhere. No assigned seating. Everything will be relaxed and pleasant!

My brother and his wife had the ceremony and reception in the same room, and it was awesome. They had the cairs set up traditionally, and then after the ceremony, while everyone was doing the 2nd line (Louisianna tradition - think mini parade) a few selected people moved the chairs to the tables at the back half of the room.

Hi my name is kim and I am getting married in Sept 2008 and We are getting married at the same place as the reception. I plan on coming down the center isle with tables onboth sides. I having trouble trying figure out a way that we can get married on the stage.

I am so jealous! That sounds absolutely perfect.

Kim, That is what I was thinking. Just walk between the tables. I was thinking about putting an arch on some sort of platform if there is not a stage there where we will get married so that everyone should be able to see.

I have done these many times. You can do it one of two ways and make it work for everyone. You can have two rooms at the same location and set one up for the ceremony and one for the reception. Or you can design the recetpion with an aisle down the middle. The guests would be seated at their tables ready for dinner already. With the latter option though you'll want to have a cocktail hour if you are going to do photos after the ceremony...make sure you don't keep the guests waiting, because since they are sitting they are going to want to go ahead and start eating.

Thanks March bride.

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For your aisle you can line it with paper lanterns or rose petals to clearly define the walk way leading to your arch or whatever it is you plan to marry under. That would be very nice.