Any Ideas? I have clients who are getting married in Oct after the Fall back time change...?

Ok so they are getting married outdoors. Their Photographer suggested that they do so around 4:30pm so that they can take advantage of the natural sunlight for pictures before sunset 6:00 (extra lighting equiptment is not in their budget). So the problem is that the Ceremony is only going to be about 20 minutes tops. After that Pictures for newlyweds & wedding party. I need to come up with some ideas for the rest of the guests to do After Ceremony but Before Dinner. Dinner is not being served till 7:00 . I don't want to specifically ask for games because many people do not believe that games should be played at a wedding but if you have any by all means please respond. I am more specifically asking for ideas on activities so that the guests & children do not get restless or bored & leaving early .

Ceremony-4:30
Pictures-5:00 for Newlyweds & Wedding Party Only
Appitizers-not confirmed-Don't think that'll be enough
??5-7??
Dinner-7:00 Music starts
Reception 8:00-12

I am the DJ not the Wedding Planner, RS. SMARTY PANTS 10/18/08. I offered to help them come up with some ideas to suggest to them.
Hence the name DJ!!!!!!!! If i were I wouldn't be asking here.

The planner should have worked that issue out and not left it only up to you to supply the entertainment for those two hours. I can say that because I am a planner and would work along side my Dee Jays and make sure they are not left in the dark about anything that has to do with the reception. I would keep the children entertained more than anything as the adults should be able to mingle about themselves. Depending on the ages of the children you could do several things like have a jar with candycorn in it and have them guess how many of them are in the jar. The child would win the jar of candy corn. If they are younger have a coloring contest. Just have one coloring book, tear out the pages and have the children color. The winning picture gets announced and presented to the Bride and Groom. If they are teens, have a dance off. If the adults are bored have a trivia type game involving the Bride and Groom. The winning person or couple could be offered a couple of drinks or a special song request. It doesn't have to be much because the fact that they won and everyone knows is their 15 min of fame for that day.

Just think outside the box.......

If I can be of more help just email me. I wish they knew that they hired a DJ who cares about their reception, which is very rare these days. Report It

How about you limit the picture taking to 1 hour. Serve the guests appetizers and drinks then. Make a station for the kids and include coloring books and toys to keep them occupied.

I don't mean to be rude, but do your "clients" know that they are paying you to get answers from regular people on Y!A? They could do that themselves...

I would think you should have this covered...


*edit* I'm sorry, but I know several people named DJ...you did not specify that you were the dj, and I think it's a bit presumptuous for you to assume that everyone knew that. I stand by my answer.

Could you set up a movie (like the couple's favorite) at the reception site for them to watch? At least it gives them something to do while they're waiting....

Maybe try to incorporate guests into some of the pictures (like photograph the couple doing trust falls into the guests arms for your fall back time change theme, would look cool with some falling leaves around them) which will cut into some of that gap time. Otherwise, try an outdoor fall carnival as an extra long cocktail hour. Guests can walk around and chat, what the photos being taking, and go from booth/event/entertainment to the next. Maybe stuff like a hayride, or haybail/corn maze (small and artificial), apple bobbing for kids, or pumpkin carving/painting, candy apple making station, shoudl be ready to take with guests at the end of the ceremony, or hirer a few inexpensive entertainers, like a fortune teller or characture artist.

We are just taking all our pictures before the ceremony so we can go straight into the reception and won't have to foot the bill for a cocktail hour. Plus it gives us a few moments alone and those are hard to come by once the party gets rolling.

If the bride refuses to let the groom see her then have all pictures that he's not in taken before the ceremony. While she's getting ready the photographer can be taking the pictures of the groom that the bride is not part of. Then, the only thing left after the cereomony is a few quick shots of them together which will cut down the amount needed in between drastically.

Usually it's not a good idea to keep guests waiting more than an hour. After that they get bored or hungry and decide to leave. While they are waiting it's the bride and groom's responsibility to provide them with something to drink and nibble on while they wait for dinner. It's also a good idea to have some light music in the background.

Hi. At first I thought you were the photographer, but now I am thinking that you are the wedding coordinator.

To be perfectly honest, I think it's a little rude to have a 2 hour cocktail "hour." And no games....please!

Here is what I would advise them to do: They should get as many pictures done prior to the ceremony and only do a few after. Yes, it's nice to take advantage of the sunlight/sunset....however, they should also think of their guests! I say pictures from 5-6, then they should come to the reception. The dinner should start about 6:30....not 7 p.m. Their guests will already have mingled around for an hour and a half by then!! I have no idea what you can do. I have never been to a wedding where there were activities. Usually it's just the cocktail hour, dinner, dancing, etc.

Does the photographer really think he needs 2 hours after the ceremony to do pictures? I think that's really excessive. I'm glad to know that they are at least planning a cocktail hour before the 7:00 dinner, but 2 hours is way too long for the guests to be drinking before dinner begins.

I know you asked for ideas to keep the guests entertained, but my only suggestion is for you to strongly encourage them to move the dinner up to 6:00. They need to understand that the cocktail hour is for their guests, not for them. They can finish up pictures while the guests are having cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, and do their grand entrance right before dinner.

You are a DJ, right? I'm sure you've done plenty of weddings, so you have to be familiar with a typical wedding time line. Can't you convince the couple that they should just start the dinner earlier?

a "GOOD" DJ who has many experience would know the answer to this question. When I hired my DJ for my wedding he had tons of ideas and suggested many different activities even the corny ones...but we suggested a Q& A of who knows the couples the best and gave prizes.....envelpes containing $5-$25 gift card containing our favorite places to go..for example (starbucks, nordstroms and candy factory)... it was great our guests were getting very into it. (to be honest I been to many weddings and I have never attended a wedding where the couple made the guest wait 2 hours with out cocktail / appitizers). From what you are presenting, the vendors this particular couple is working with seems like they are amateurs. Best of luck to them.