The details of my wedding: - We are not religious, so a church is out of the question. - The guest list will be about 100, so not very big. - The reception is from 7:30pm - 10:30pm. This is a traditional Chinese nine-course banquet; a sit-down meal. - I know it would be more formal to have a wedding ceremony at a big fancy hotel for a non-religious couple, but the city's big hotels have not been allowing me to rent their venue for the ceremony only. This is a big conflict because big hotels don't offer traditional Chinese banquets. Ultimately, this means I can't use a big fancy hotel. - because so many wedding ceremony venues are ruled out, we booked a fancy glass pavilion in a park, in one of the richest parts of the city. It's not a big place and it houses 100 people. - I know an evening wedding ceremony increases the formality level, but because the banquet starts at 7:30pm, and there's a 1 hour drive between the ceremony and banquet hall, the latest I can start the ceremony might be around 4:30pm, or earlier.
Given the information above, can I still have a formal wedding?
I still haven't decided on the my wedding dress yet. What would help increase the formality level? Would it be silly to walk into the pavilion which I booked (even an nicely-decorated one with a grand piano) with a cathedral-length dress and cathedral veil?
Anything else that can help increase the formality? For example in the areas of the groom's attire, number of bridesmaids/groomsmen, attire of the bridesmaids/groomsmen, wedding invitations (embossed invites maybe a bit too expensive), etc.
Thanks for your time!
Etiquette Now
WEDDING ETIQUETTE EXPERT
Apr 22, 2008, 5:55 PM
Post #2 of 3
(469 views)
Re: [seleneFN] how to increase wedding formality
[In reply to]
Dear Selene,
Your invitations should be engraved, or appear to be, on heavy paper to give your guests the clue that this will be formal. You could list "formal" at the bottom of the invitation as well. All of your attire should be formal--your dress sounds fine. Men shouldn't wear tuxes before 5/6 pm, but your wedding is so close to that time you should be fine.
Your banquet hall would have to be formal too.
Expecting your guests to drive an hour after your wedding, especially at night, may be expecting too much. It would be best to find some place closer or to marry in the same venue as your reception.
Re: [seleneFN] how to increase wedding formality
[In reply to]
I totally agree with Rebecca and would further add that your time would be off if you are doing a 4:30 ceremony which would take approximately one half hour putting the guests with their one hour drive arriving at your reception site at 6 with nothing to do and trust me they will drive directly to the reception and expect the staff to be prepared for them. I agree that the one hour drive is too much to expect of your guests and highly recommend a closer location to the reception site at about 6 pm. Nancy Tucker President of Weddings Beautiful US http://www.weddingsbeautiful.com
how to increase wedding formality
