We are planning to have a large outdoor reception. We would like to invite 350-400 people (depending on how we decide our final guest list). Is this too large and too difficult to pull off for an outdoor wedding? Are there specific issues that I need to make sure I address with such a large crowd?
(This post was
edited by TWQadmin on May 12, 2005, 6:59 AM)
expertplanner
BRIDAL CONSULTANT
Post #2 of 3
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Re: [Zeke] Too many people at reception
[In reply to]
Whether or not you can pull off an outdoor wedding with so many people depends on quite a few variables.
If you are going to ask many people to attend a wedding, then you should take every precaution to protect them from inclement weather; that means renting a tent. Tents are priced according to square footage. The more people it must cover, the higher the cost.
Will your tent have mesh walls, or will it be open on the sides? The mesh walls are additional. However, they help to keep out insects. This is especially important if your reception is going to be at night.
Speaking of inclement weather, what is your plan B? If you are going to have an outdoor wedding, it is necessary to have a plan B. Where will all these people go? Can the be moved easily and with little disruption to the event? Do you have enough umbrellas? (If it were to rain.)
At this type of reception, caterers will require quite a bit of wait staff to serve. Are you okay with the cost to feed and serve this many people?
What about restrooms? Is there sufficient accommodations for your guests? If not, are you willing to bring in accommodations?
Is there sufficient parking for all these guests? Who is going to be in charge of ensuring the guests are being cared for should they have a problem?
I've not listed half of what is necessary to make a large event like this a success. But as you see there are a lot of considerations that must be evaluated. The outdoor wedding may seem like a good idea to begin with but it truly can turn into a nightmare if you don't plan well. My recommendation is to take the time to really think this through.
(This post was
edited by TWQadmin on May 12, 2005, 6:58 AM)
Zeke
Post #3 of 3
(3804 views)
Re: [expertplanner] Too many people at reception
[In reply to]
Thanks for your reply. My main concern is the comfort level of our guests and the possibility of bad weather. We will have a tent with sidewalls so that will help in the event of some rain. In terms of really bad weather, it is a bit more difficult. It is hard to envision moving the entire reception to some other spot as there will be no other large facility nearby.
We hope to hire a wedding coordinator at least for the day of the event, as there are a lot of details to tend to in this case. For example, we will be using a shuttle bus service to get guests to the site from the ceremony as there is limited parking at the reception area. And, of course, all the vendors will need to be brought in separately and coordinated as there is no on-site catering or anything else.
We just want to make sure that we are addressing every issue that we can early on so that the day goes well in the end.
How to plan a large outdoor wedding reception
