Your Entire Wedding Day in One Place

Enjoying a ceremony and reception at the same site are a common wedding choice, and a great idea if you’re not set on a church affair. The biggest advantage is transportation, as guests don’t need to worry about finding cabs or sharing cars, you don’t have to print out more directions, and the florist doesn’t have to make two spaces look fabulous.

“Guests tend to be more relaxed when they don’t have to move,” says Danielle Bobish of Curtain Up Events in New York City. “You’ve automatically removed a whole stress component.”

Like all weddings, a joint space creates its own set of complications that need to be dealt with immediately. If the hall’s reception site is outdoors, an alternate “rain plan” site – one that you visit and approve beforehand – is a must.

Wherever you decide to marry, make sure someone is assigned the duty of the changeover, so you don’t come back from the cocktail hour to find that your ceremony seats haven’t moved. “The transition can get lost in translation,” says Bobish, “so you need to find out, and have in writing, who’s in charge, whether it’s the site, the caterers, the designers, or someone else.” Full-service wedding sites are used to handling the transition from ceremony to reception, but if you marry at that gorgeous beach club that’s never held a wedding, make sure they have the facilities and know-how to handle both aspects of your affair.

Costs can go up or down, as a loft might be empty of all reception equipment, but a hall might have most of what you need. Talk to the site manager about restrictions: sound, lighting, cameras, even alcohol. If you do get married in a church with adjoining reception area, make sure the caterers have ample time to check the kitchen area, as they tend to be less-equipped. A house of worship will usually have a strict time that you have to vacate, and have fewer power sources for the band or DJ.

The other concern is your wedding photos. If you don’t mind missing your cocktail hour, you can take pictures right after the ceremony, but even those should be kept to a minimum. “If you are having a lot of portraits, it will take more than an hour,” says Bobish. “You can extend the cocktail hour, but keep in mind the extra cost.” Bobish recommends having photos taken before the reception, which gives you one less thing to worry about.

Finally, know that, since your party is in the same place as your vows, take a few minutes alone, before the reception, to feel the love.

-David Toussaint

Check Out What Wedding Guests Really Want
Check Out How to Make Sure You Enjoy Your Reception
Check Out Wedding Cake Alternatives