Image by John Swainston
So he asked, you said yes. It’s all happening and it’s so so exciting. My purpose as a guest contributor to the fabulous world of Polka Dot Bride, is to inspire with food, drinks and general gastronomic strategy on your big day, so how about we cut straight to the wedding day.
I have been a guest at many a wedding and a bride at only one (and planning for it to stay that way!) and I have to say, when it comes to the food and drinks offering, one can show a little more love to the guests and add touches of creative outsourcing, to create an experience to amplify your special day and all the beautiful people experiencing it with you. Given that there are a few ways, this first post is about a pet peeve: what happens, or the lack of what happens, during the ‘gap’ period.
I’d say 90% of weddings make guests wait too long for somewhere to be or something to drink between the ceremony and reception. Of course we all want your photos to be the best they can be to remember your special day, however you are, in the end, the hosts on your wedding day, and as hosts, one must ensure one’s guests are happy. Happiness doesn’t come in the form of a 2 hour gap with no obvious pub or café nearby for guests to convene at. Here are a few suggestions for you.
If You’re On A Tight Budget
A gorgeous couple of wicker baskets of different beers, Parker’s sparkling soft drinks and mineral waters at the ceremony location. You can really take advantage of the spare time and create a beautifully styled table to keep your guests happy. A few simple sandwiches or even a few dips with lavosh could be trayed around if you could rope a relative into volunteering for the task too!
Images by Karen Buckle via Roberta and Matt’s Spring Floral Wedding
Money no object?
A bartender could be preparing bellinis on a trestle at the ceremony location or reception location in a side area to not interfere with the venue’s last minute prep time. Canapés by the team catering the event should be served immediately. If there are specific canapés you love and have your heart set on enjoying, just make sure that those are served last on the run sheet!
Image by Luxury Tastings
Remember
Whatever you choose to do about the gap, just don’t avoid it. It doesn’t have to be a bevvie of food and drink, just a little something to make guests feel looked after in the infamous GAP. They are taking the time to celebrate with you, give you gifts, help send you on your honeymoon, let’s all say yay for them and hand them a quick drink and a sandwich during the official snaps.
Ms Gingham says: I can’t imagine anyone not being happy with a drink and a little nibble while they wait. Great advice from Alexx.
About Alexx: My inspiration for Luxury Tastings came from seeing the effects that ’inspired hospitality’ has on people. It can be a little luxury tasting of champagne after a conference day, or a full gastronomic extravaganza, if it is delivered with expertise, passion & love, it can lift the room and all of the people in it and when it comes down to it, that’s what I and the experts I have chosen, love to do.
I love this piece Alexx.
For our Noosa Beach wedding we were aware of the gap too, so we had an ice bucket of Veuve ready and popped the corks as soon as the vows were complete. There were juice poppers for the kids and sparkling water bottles for the non drinking adults. We couldn’t wait for the mudcake either so that came out with the champers!
Everyone got involved with the picture session from the get go so we ended up with loads of fabulous informal, candid shots of people eating and drinking. It was beautiful. Cheers Sara
As a photographer who’s shot a few weddings in my time, a key part of the dialogue is for the bride and groom to give clear guidelines early on on how much time you are prepared to allocate to the photography. If your brief makes clear that you are looking for say, a dozen images, to be across 4 pages of the wedding album, and you want the gap to be no more than 1 hour, a good photographer can execute on that, often in even less time. The photographer should show some evidence that he or she is ware of the time limit of this gap. But then you do have to agree the venue, you have to have pre-thought the look and feel you want and agree that clearly with the photographer when you commission them. And of course have a Plan B for rainy day weddings too.
As the old phrase goes, “a little time in careful planning a perfect wedding makes!”. Happy Gap Minding!