3 Things Your Guests Can Do Between the Wedding and Reception

For most newly married couples their wedding reception is immediately following the ceremony. Whether it's in the same venue or at a different location there is usually a smooth transition. For every couple this isn't how it works and people are stuck between what seems to be two different events. So what can you do to keep your guests entertained in-between time?

Most times directly after the ceremony is when the bride and groom are taking pictures, along with the wedding party. For others there is the receiving line, which can take anywhere from a half hour or upwards depending on the number of guests and the size of the wedding party. I've been to a few weddings and I've been in a few weddings so I have a few ideas of what you can do to entertain your guests if you're caught between a ceremony and reception gap.

Meet and Greet

I've been at weddings where there was a period after the ceremony and before the reception where people could meet and greet each other. There were light hors d'oeuvres served, live music played in the lobby area (I should know, I was the one playing it), and good conversation. I'd say this might be a good choice if you have a two-hour gap between ceremony and reception and people need to transport to the reception site. The thing to keep in mind is that people may start getting restless, so I'd say keep this event to no longer than an hour unless you need to stall the ceremony.

Guest Photo Shoot

For some weddings this is done during the reception where the photographer has a backdrop setup and guests can take photos if they'd like. Consider doing this in-between the ceremony and reception. The bridal party is usually taking their photos during this time, so it might be a good idea to have your guests do the same. The only thing about this is that if you only have one photographer this option won't work too well, so this is best if you have multiple photographers and they can split the workload - one for the bridal party and the other for the guests.

Organized Tour

Depending on what city you're in and where you're getting married you may be able to rent a tour bus and do a quick tour of the city you're in. I know this idea sounds a bit far-fetched but hear me out. I've seen some people who've gotten married in big city parks, in downtown venues, and the like. More than likely if this is the case you probably have a little spare change to do something off the wall like have a guided tour after your ceremony. Rent a double-decker bus so that you and your guests can paint the town red for a bit. Who knows? If you can set it up right, you may be able to have part of your reception on that bus as well. I'm just throwing out ideas now. This could be a great option if you have a lot of out-of-town guests and want something for them to do before they go back home.