It is important to consider the timing for transferring your guests from the wedding to the reception, even if this two events are happening in the same location. You want to ensure people arrive on time at the next event so their arrival isn’t disruptive.
At Villa Ragusa we’ve hosted hundreds of wedding receptions, so we know all too well how important that timing is.
Guest Transport
Drive the route from your wedding location to the farthest parking lot at Villa Ragusa. And do this test of time on the same day of the week and time as your wedding. This is the only way you will know for sure how long it will take for your guests to arrive.
And, FYI, people tend to take a little break between the ceremony and the reception. They’ll smoke, vape, use a restroom, chat with someone that haven’t seen in ages, etc. So, it is smart to allow an additional hour aside from the drive.
Consider hiring buses or vans to move people from one location to the next. And remember to give them a ride back to their vehicle! That makes it easy for them to get to the location and still have the celebration going without traffic headaches to blow the mood.
The Same Location Issue
If you’ll be having your ceremony in the same space as the wedding reception, there is a lag time to setup the reception. Ideally, the guests should be ushered elsewhere when this happens. A possible solution is to book two event spaces. One set up for the ceremony only. Then have them walk to the next event space that is all set up and ready for the party.
Focus on the Guest Experience
Directly after the wedding ceremony, bring out cocktails and light refreshments. Let them mingle and snack for an hour before being transported to Villa Ragusa for the reception. People are in a large group and they’ll be very excited to talk to friends and family they haven’t seen in some time. So go with the flow of that need for a short time before the big reception.
Contact Our Event Coordinators
We are happy to help with the details of your reception at Villa Ragusa. Book an appointment with one of our Event Coordinators.
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