A suddenly sober dance, and reception game prizes

[autumn_leaving]

Refresher!  We're the ones doing the reception dinner in a Victorian mansion, and then moving across the street to the library to have our dance.  Approximate times planned thus far are 5-8 for the dinner portion (cocktail hour, dinner, cake, speeches, live music) and 8-11 for the dance.  I know that seems horrifically long but all of our guests

Comments

[howmyheartis]

If your guests aren't ultra-traditional, I think a bar after party would be fine. We're having an afternoon picnic reception so kids can come and then the adults are going to a local karaoke bar.

[runningnekkid]

I think that if you told your guests your dilemma, that you found out at the last moment that the dance would be dry, and invited them to booze it up during cocktail hour, they'd probably (hopefully) band together to make your wedding an awesome night under any circumstance. The night might get shortened naturally as everyone sobers up / runs out of steam, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to have the contingency plan of an after party in your pocket so folks could keep the fun times going.

Also, super sorry about the lameness of a suddenly dry dance off. Would have been nice of them to let you know that up front, so you could have made other plans at the get go. :(

[brisjen]

That's pretty unfair of the venue not to tell you about the alcohol until now - could you cancel the booking on those grounds? As the above poster said, if you just tell your guests they'll surely be happy to support you guys over at the dance!

Maybe the prize could be a hip flask... :)

[augwedding2010]

This. I think the venue not telling you this important piece of information should be grounds for canceling your contract. Fight this.

[runwiththestorm]

Going to agree with this. I'd say that's something worth looking into, see if you can break the contract over it.

If you wanted an after party at a bar I'd say go for it. It's your day, have fun. And I dance while sober, but only if a bunch of other people are willing to get out there and be fools with me. ;)

[nikoel]

I agree as well. That's a pretty big, "Oh by the way..." especially if they knew it was specifically being booked for dancing.

[augwedding2010]

Yeah I would tell people the situation now (esp. since you have a relatively small guest list) so that they can drink during the cocktail hour. Then cut the dance short, like maybe 8-9 or 9:30, and head to the bar after party at that point. Given what you've told us, I think this would be the best course of action knowing you can't cancel the dance all together.

Also, not that I'm condoning this, but some people might discreetly (hopefully) bring their own flasks or whatever to the dance portion, which could hold them over until the after party.

[bubblebobble]

wow that sucks! Are you sure you cant cancel since they didnt disclose the no alcohol thing earlier?

if you cant, i'd have an announcement made at the dinner portion part saying that because they suddenly decided no drinking at the library for everyone to have a good time during dinner and then after the dance at 10 its off to the bar for the real after party