Our invitations gave no indication that anything we left out would be missing. It just said we would be getting married at 2PM on this date at this address.

Some people were confused when they arrived–seeing food out and wondering if they could eat it. So, anticipating that, we asked our friend Val to tell people they could go ahead. Once the word spread, people seemed comfortable filling up on snacks and drinks, which was great to see in the photos. Any momentary confusion was soon alleviated, and people enjoyed our ceremony with plastic keg-cups in hand.

To make sure of this, I should ask my guests, but: I think after the ceremony, things were even more clear. A professional barbecuer was cooking up a storm, and we were hidden away for just a few minutes of privacy. There was plenty of the earlier food and drink to keep people occupied in the meantime. And we had a sound system blasting music. We came out and were the first in the BBQ line, and everything after that was mostly just people doing what they do at a cookout. (Although our friend Val called for toasts, and people watched me & Josh eat the first cupcakes. And my aunt insisted that Josh & I slow dance just so she could get a photo of it, but otherwise, no forced dancing.)

With no big-exit cue as to when to leave, our guests left on their own time. We were happy to enjoy as much of the day with them as possible, rather than choreograph an exit. We would have been happy to have more people stay longer, but folks have their own sense of when they're ready to go, and that's fine. (Ever been at a wedding where people were trying to get out before the cake cut or bouquet toss, and a bride or family member actually stopped them? "You can't leave! You haven't seen this thing you've already seen a thousand times!" Not our style. So whenever people wanted to leave was fine with us.)

Rosy, whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a wonderful day!

I'm going to do something similar at my own wedding. I'd like to ask a question: how were your invitations done? did you let the guests know on the invitation about the lack of traditional choreography? was anyone lingering, wondering what they were supposed to do?

Thanks!

–that you did it for less than $x. The funny thing about those theories is that the value of x can vary by several factors of 10, depending on who's talking. Which just goes to show how silly all those theories are. You'll spend what makes sense to you! And I hope to see your pix up here when you're done! Congrats to you as well.

…and congratulations.