Wedding Buffet Lunch - Need Help!!!

[Marryin2016]

Hi

Our AD will be on 2016 March and we decide to have wedding buffet lunch instead of seat down dinner.

From my understanding is
-Venue rental
-Food catering
-Venue Decoration
PS Kindly help me if i miss out anything. Thanks!

I need help in the schedule on the day itself
- How do start and end a wedding buffet lunch? (stand at the entrance to welcome guest/march in after all guests are inside the venue/Thank you speech to end of buffet or?)
- How to arrange for a photo taking? (cause for buffet type, guests are moving around unlike seat down dinner)
- How many hours should i rent the venue? (4hr/8hr/etc)

Wedding preparation is really stressful.
All help will be much appreciate
Thanks in advance!

 

[Nimezs]

I'm considering something similar, so here are my thoughts. It also really depends on how many guests you're planning to have, because some things are not doable with large crowds.

Qn1: how to start?

Will you be doing your solemnization on AD too? Perhaps you could arrange with venue owners to set up a small sitting area for people to witness you having your vows before they proceed to the buffet. Or they could sit whereever they would be for lunch and wait for you to march in. If yours is a standing buffet, I would suggest you either do away with march in and just mingle or get an emcee to call people over to an area to watch you (seems quite awkward though).

Even if not having solemnization, you could still do a walk in and speech segment to begin the whole event. Maybe get an MC to tell guests what is happening for this part: (e.g. Stand for March in, bride and groom to exchange vows, bride give a thank you speech, groom give a thank you speech, whoever else gives a speech, please proceed to Xyz place to have lunch). This is also a good opportunity to get your photos done in groups (bride's family, bride's friends etc.)

Start: From the weddings I've attended, ceremony starts when 70-80% of your guests are there.

END: Ending is when everyone has had their fill. From my experience they will usually stream off on their own though they might stop by to congratulate you before leaving. (Depends on how social they are)

Qn 2: photo taking?

See above.
But you can also have your wedding photog on stand by if any guests want to take smaller group photos with you as they're wandering. This one is up to you and who you want to take with, I guess.

Qn 3: how long?
Depends on how big your event is going to be and how many guests you have. The bigger, the longer for the set up and tear down needed. Certain venues will require you to book for the period that this is happening and charge you for excess time spent doing this.

Bear in mind that people will expect to spend minimally about 1.5 hrs eating and mingling, so 4 hours is a safe timing.

Qn 4: anything else?

Do you want to give wedding favours? It's a nice touch and a way to thank guests for coming though of course not necessary. Depending on your caterer they may or may not provide for you.

Final piece of advice - plan a wedding that you and your HTB want and will enjoy. No point having a stressful start to your marriage! The important thing to remember is that you and HTB are the most important people (technically speaking) and people are there to celebrate your marriage, not give ratings.

That's all I can think of at the moment. Hope it helps!

 

[Marryin2016]

Thanks Nimezs!

Your thoughts really help.

I will be having my ROM this yr, thus not included in the AD schedule.

I think my one should be a standing buffet (150-200pax) however will prepare a few tables and seats for the elderly. Since guests will be moving around, i guess i might not be able to take photo with every single of them.

I was thinking to rent the venue for 4hrs and set the lunch within 2hrs cause most of the catering max hour is 3hrs including set up and pack up, plus 1hr will gone to venue decoration but afraid that 4hrs might too tight.

 

[Nimezs]

I guess you should book 6 hours then. No point feeling stressed and having to chase guests off! I remember when I was jie mei for one of my friends and we had to do that because the next event needed to set up.

If the venue is nice, some of your guests might even want to linger, so might as well have it longer.

For photo taking, you could do something unique and include in your wedding invite a programme of "timings" and location for photo taking so people know that if they want to be in the photo they have to go to the place at the time (e.g. 2pm, sec sch friends of bride, 2.15pm, colleagues of groom). I've never seen that done, but could be an interesting way to get people to gather for photos.

All the best! Hope your future husband and you will decide on something that works for everyone!