Categories
Updated 3-08

Indoor Ceremonies

Pieces of Knowledge
in Amanda's opinion

For those who do not have a "home" church in the area finding an indoor ceremony location can be frustrating.  Here are a few options, including a couple of churches that welcome non-congregants.  

One of the best options in this situation is to hold your ceremony and location in the same facility.  Most reception facilities are happy to accommodate ceremonies.  This arrangement does not suit every couple, but it does have many benefits.  You only need to find one facility you love & coordinate it with a date.  You don't have to worry about how far the ceremony and reception locations are from each other.  You only have to give your guests directions to one place, and not worry about them getting lost in-between.  There's no loss of momentum - you go straight from the ceremony into the reception. 

Some couples do not care for the (usually) less-formal atmosphere that's created by having both events in the same location.  Some also have a heart-held desire for traditional rows of seating and a long, straight, centered aisle.  

It also makes taking your pictures after the ceremony nearly impossible.  Your well-wishing guests simply won't stop congratulating you long enough for you to take your pictures.  The only way we've found to make this work is for the couple to take their whole recessional line right out the door and proceed to an outdoor location for pictures.  The DJ should announce what's happening, encourage people to enjoy refreshments, and let them know that the couple will return soon (a polite fiction, depending on your definition of "soon.")

Having your ceremony and reception in the same location does make it more feasible to have family/friends do things like your cake or beverages since they won't have to worry about being in two places at the same time.  We do not, however, recommend having friends do your music despite how easy and Ipod makes it seem.  See our DJ page for more information.