Pre-Ceremony Tips

Should you do a pre-ceremony drink table?
Yes!  I think it’s very important. It doesn’t have to be fancy Hibiscus Lemonades or Champagne, even water will do.  As guests arrive to your ceremony they are many times in what I call awkward mode….meaning they just don’t quite know what to do with themselves yet. It’s before they’ve met anyone or reconnected with people. I love to give them something to do. This is one of the reasons I like to do a program, even when a program isn’t totally necessary. I love anything that alleviates the awkward moments – a pre-ceremony drink table can do the same.

Although I’ve done a darling champagne bar before, I actually don’t recommend doing anything alcoholic before you’ve given your guests a nibble. I do though, love a lemonade bar or water in a pretty glass dispenser.  If you live in Los Angeles or another busy city, I also highly recommend doing a 15 minute hold on the ceremony.  It’s all planned this way from the beginning so you don’t have to worry if your shuttle bus is running late or the freeway or valet is backed up.  Everyone can arrive and de-stress and be ready to fully enjoy your ceremony.

The pre-ceremony drinks table gives guests something to do and a place to congregate without feeling like they need to go sit in a chair facing straight ahead at nothing. In fact, I don’t even seat the guests till after the invitation time.  I like to give people a chance to connect before sitting down. It warms people up and again, avoids the awkward moment of sitting and waiting for the ceremony to start.  Some brides are wary to set their wishing tree or other fun guest “book” things out because people won’t have the time to sign it before hand but if you do a 15 minute hold than many people will have time to sign it AND again, it gives them something  to do.  Can you tell I really hate awkward moments at weddings?  I think you have to help your guests avoid those and really get them comfortable and in a place to truly open up and enjoy your day.  You’d be surprised how many people get nervous when they go to events.

Also, the pre-ceremony drink /sign in table gives you one more place to carry through your palette and décor. I love to deck this table out. It’s their first taste of your wedding style.

Article contributed by: Ryan Larson of Savior Flair Wedding Coordinating