Wedding Ceremony And Reception In The Same Place?
Are you wondering if you should have your wedding ceremony and reception in the same place?
You might be surprised to find that many couples opt for this option if they don’t want their ceremony in a house of worship (i.e., church, temple, mosque, synagogue).
Some couples believe they can save money by doing both events in one space.
Others choose this option because they want their guests to have a complete wedding experience (ceremony and reception) without leaving the same venue.
Each situation is unique.
Let’s go over some pros and cons of same-venue weddings.
Pros Of Having Your Wedding Ceremony And Reception In The Same Place
Saving Money
- no dual set of flowers at two venues.
- no booking of limo and transportation services is required.
- no double set of sound systems.
When all events, including the ceremony cocktail reception, followed by dinner & dance, are all in one place, it eliminates the need for duplicate decor (flowers), paying extra for transportation (limo and bus services for your guests), and hiring additional help for setup and tear down at multiple locations.
This can be considerable cost savings for your wedding budget, especially if you have a large wedding.
You may also save money by not having an audio system (microphones with a sound system for the ceremony, if needed) set up and paid for at two different venues.
The Convenience of One Space, One Venue, One Final Bill
Convenience is probably the number one reason couples choose to have their wedding ceremony and reception in the same place.
Wedding ceremony and reception packages deliver not only a single final bill, but also the peace of mind that comes with knowing all your wedding events will occur in one place.
You can do it all under one roof – from getting ready in the morning to perform the ceremony to having a cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing the night away.
Everything is in one place, making the day less hectic and more organized.
In addition, one final bill instead of having to deal with multiple invoices and statements from different locations can be a real timesaver.
Better Control Over Your Day-of Wedding Timeline
The advantage to having your wedding ceremony and reception in the same place is that you have better control over your day-of wedding timeline.
Your wedding ceremony and reception timeline will be determined by the flow of your event, not by the need to pack up and move everyone to a new location.
Holding your wedding ceremony and reception in the same place eliminates the dreaded time gap between the end of the ceremony at one venue and continuing the event with the reception following at another location.
There could be a time gap of several hours between the two events in some cases. Unfortunately, in a busy wedding market, you may not have any choice in picking the time for the ceremony and the start time of the reception and have to make do with the time slots that you are given.
With your entire wedding in one place, there is no downtime between the ceremony and reception, and your guests will never have to leave the party to go to another location.
No Provision For Transportation Is Needed Between Venues
Aside from saving you time since you won’t need transportation between two venues if you host the wedding ceremony and reception in the same place. You can also avoid guests walking through the snow in dress shoes or heels if you are having a winter wedding.
In addition, you will free up money to use for other things at your wedding instead of spending it on transportation.
No Need To Manage Vendors At Two Locations
Managing two locations, namely the ceremony in one and the wedding reception at another, can be a daunting task.
You have to ensure you can oversee the logistics at both venues and the vendors responsible for handling each part of your wedding, including décor, flowers, color scheme, menu, and even down to the type of music being played.
This can get stressful, especially on the wedding day when a myriad of things need to unfold in a coordinated fashion.
Having your wedding ceremony and reception in the same place eliminates the need for you to micromanage two different sets of locations.
You Only Need To Check The Date At One Location
Simplicity is the key to a successful wedding day.
Holding your wedding ceremony and reception in the same place eliminates the hassle of finding availability at two venues at the same time, and you’ll be able to secure a date more quickly.
All you need to do is check the availability at one venue and see if it works for your preferred date.
Cons Of Having Your Wedding Ceremony And Reception In The Same Place
The Wedding Location’s Spaces Can Be Limiting
While a wedding ceremony and reception in the same place are convenient, it may limit how much space you can get.
Can you find a venue with three different spaces that serve each portion of the wedding? In other words, one room for the ceremony, one room for the cocktail reception, and another room for dinner and dance?
Three different function rooms are ideal. You will not need to have to re-set any of the space, and each room has its specific purpose.
| Three different function rooms: | No re-set needed |
| Ceremony | Room A |
| Cocktail Reception | Room B |
| Dinner & Dance | Room C |
If there are only two main spaces at the venue, you will use one for the ceremony and the other for cocktails. Flipping the first room for dinner and dancing while having cocktails would be necessary.
Many venues are doing this. Make sure your florist and band are on board since their set-up time is drastically reduced.
You may need to pay for extra labor to get the job done in an hour (typically the length of the cocktail hour) and go without elaborate centerpieces that need more time to be set up.
The room re-set can be incredibly stressful for the venue and vendors since there is no room for error while under time constraints. What typically is done in a few hours needs to be compressed into just one hour, which can be a bit chaotic.
| Two different function rooms: | Re-set Room “A” during cocktails |
| Ceremony | Room “A” |
| Cocktail Reception | Room B |
| Dinner & Dance | Room “A” |
If you are booking a venue that only has one space and is large enough for your crowd, you can have the ceremony, cocktails, and dinner all in one room.
There is no flipping of any rooms needed in this scenario, and everything can be set up from the get-go.
| One function room: | No re-set needed |
| Ceremony | Room A |
| Cocktail Reception | Room A |
| Dinner & Dance | Room A |
The downside is that the ceremony can feel somewhat displaced and less festive since it has no designated space. In addition, it is not the room’s main focus, which is already set up for dinner, and guests would be directly watching the ceremony from their dinner table.
Not Enough Space For The Ceremony, Cocktails, and Dinner
It is not easy to find a venue with rooms that can accommodate all three parts of a wedding with a ceremony, cocktails, and dinner & dance on-premise without cutting corners. Often at least one of the rooms is too big or too small, and you have to become creative with the layout.
Hotel Spaces Or Catering Venues Can Lack The Grandness Of Churches Or Temples
When held at a hotel or wedding venue, wedding ceremonies can lack the feeling of grandness and festivity that they have at a church or temple.
Houses of worship are set up for ceremonial purposes and have beautiful architecture and décor that lend to the sanctity of the event.
Hotels or wedding venues often do not have this same feeling, no matter how much décor and flowers you bring in. In addition, they mostly don’t suit religious ceremonies.
Tips for a Wedding Ceremony and Reception in The Same Place
If you decide to have your wedding ceremony and reception in the same place, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- First, before you book, make sure the venue can accommodate both your ceremony and reception.
- Ideally, have distinctively separate areas (rooms or outside space if available) for the ceremony, cocktails following, and dinner & dance.
- Be sure the different rooms/areas are confirmed and locked into your contract.
- If you are using outdoor space, be sure to have a backup plan in case of rain or other weather issues.
- Keep an eye on timing. You’ll need to make sure the transition between all parts of the event goes smoothly and is coordinated with vendors and staff at the venue, especially if you flip rooms (the venue re-sets the room during the cocktail reception).
Same-Space Wedding Ceremonies
Same-space wedding ceremonies mean that both the ceremony and dinner following are in the same space without guests going to another area in between these two portions of the event.
If you had planned your ceremony outdoors and the weather didn’t cooperate, a same-space ceremony and wedding reception could be your backup plan.
Alternatively, you may have planned a ceremony and reception in the same room from the start.
As a result, if guests are already seated at their dining tables during the ceremony, consider exchanging vows on a small riser so that guests can see you more clearly from their dinner tables.
In addition, rather than performing the wedding ceremony at the far end of the room, consider standing in the center of the dance floor surrounded by tables.
This way, your wedding ceremony is more intimate and memorable for all guests.
Final Thoughts
Location, Location, Location
This quote is true for weddings as it is for real estate.
The location for your wedding ceremony and reception will be one of the most important decisions you make regarding your wedding planning.
Consider all of your options and think about what is important to you both as a couple and individually when making this decision.
The bottom line: have the wedding ceremony and reception in the same place? No problem! Just be sure to plan ahead, know what the space can accommodate, and keep an eye on timing.
