Ask The Experts: At Home Weddings Off Limits Areas

Posted by Khris in Wedding Planning

Ask The Experts is a new feature where you, dear readers, can ask your most pressing wedding-related questions and get answers from wedding professionals.

Today’s question:

If you have a wedding reception at your parent’s home in the front yard (in a tent, with portables) is it rude to ask that your guests please not go inside the house to sit in the living room, etc.?

Our experts weigh in:

My suggestion would be to not make the home easily accessible to your guests. You may have to spend a little more money but I would drape all entrances to the home where they are not recognizable as doors with pipping and drape. Please keep in mind this would mean that ALL guests would have to use outside facilities (of course they would need to be the upscale outside units) because once someone saw others going inside that would then make it rude not to allow others inside. It would appear that the inside is only for priviledged guests. Tannie Barnes McGregor, DeVine Choices Wedding & Event Planning

Great question! I don’t think it’s rude at all! Even if it’s a small, family wedding and everyone has been to the house before, I think that anyone can appreciate the fact that the party is being held outside. You can block the route inside with signs, floral displays, or a strategically-placed guestbook table (and remove all the comfy chairs from the living room!), and I think they’ll get the hint. Kim Petyt, Parisian Weddings

It’s not rude; it’s a necessity. I’ll tell you why.

Let’s say 130 guests at the reception at your private home. Average reception runs about 4 hours (some longer, but let’s just use the average). You have to consider that at least 80% of the guests will use the bathroom at least ONCE in that 4 hour period. That’s 104 flushes.

Now, let’s say half the guests are women, that’s 65 women in attendance. We all know that women use the bathroom quite often. And if you are serving alcohol, you could expect at least once an hour, but to be conservative let’s just say 33 women (that’s half the total women attending) go 3x during the reception. You know how us girls have to go to the bathroom when we drink and we always bring friends. That is 99 flushes.

I’m sorry, MOST private residences cannot accommodate 200 flushes in a four hour period. Ask me how I know … it happened to me. And my clients refused to rent the enclosed, clean, porta-pottie rooms that are really beautiful movable bathrooms. All three toilets in the house stopped working. Good times. Saundra Hadley, planning…forever Events

No it’s not rude. It’s your home and you can do what you want. As long as outdoor conditions are good, (restrooms provided, air or heat if needed) and someplace available away from loud music, you’re good. If you rent a reception venue, there are always areas guests are not allowed into.

My advice, just hang a sign on each door, “Please Do Not Enter” and be done with it. Simple, cheap and to the point. Susan Sanford, Willrich Bridal & Special Events

It is not out of line for you to feel that way. However, I suggest you not ask your guests to not go inside. That is akin to singing the old tune Keep A Knockin But You Can’t Come In. And besides that, it’s just not nice. Simply create an atmosphere that is comfortable and fun so your guests will not want to leave the party for any reason. Create a lounge area inside your tent (or in a separate lounge tent) complete with comfy seating, at least a little lighting to create the mood and (most importantly) a place to set their drinks/food.

Keep in mind that you and your new husband are the hosts of this party, regardless of where it is held. Be mindful of how you treat your guests and put yourselves in their shoes and you can’t go wrong. Andria Lewis, Andria Lewis Events

I would be sure to have a nice lounge area in the tent along with the NICE portable bathrooms that require power and a water hookup (gardenhose). and the lock the doors and post a nice sign.

Make sure you have considered the weather, portable heaters or air conditioning. We have done some really nice tents with air conditioning and it is jut like being indoors. Jennifer Ramirez-Jasiczek A Regal Affair

Not unreasonable.

Tie the area off with pretty ribbon and signage that directs them to the portable restrooms. Katasha Butler, K Sherrie and Company

posted m.e. for k.c.