Ceremony & reception details

After 20 months of planning I have a venue that is too big. 

There is a long agonising story as to why this is, but I won’t go into it, i just want to fix the problem with only 5 weeks till my wedding.

We invited 80 and now we only have 30 coming due to family issues, a bad economy and many people being scared to travel to the South Island (NZ).

Its to late to change the venue right?

If anyone has some advice on how I can make my venue more intimate which has high ceilings and normally fits a hundred people. Any advise would be appreciated?

Please help!!!

Can you maybe do a lounge area/chill out zone? Though it might seem strange with 30 people! What about using some sort of screening (you could go wild with some sort of greenery) that makes a longish walk way that opens up to your area say half of the venue? If they have split lighting it would work well as you could have the lights off int hat half and candles or fairy lights leading the way.

How much would you lose if you change venues? 30 people would be a good number to have an in suite reception in a hotel. Or a good number for a restaurant.

It is not too late to change but you may lose 50% or more depending on what you signed with thevenue.

Does the venue only have one room? Do they maybe have a smaller room that you can use and upgrade your food & beverages?

try having open tables… so have like 6 ppl per table, but have one side open so that everyone can see the bridal table, avoid “table runners” as they make look tables look smaller.

this is a few suggestions that our venue organiser has suggested to us coz we are only have 50 ppl in a venue that usually seats 100.

if its not too late and u can afford it, maybe hire a photo booth, that will take up some room, and then ppl can go in and get their photo taken and have alot of fun

How about curtains of helium ballons to mark the borders of the area. U could talk to a local nursery and see about hiring plants to fill the space (offer to mention them at the wedding and u will probably get a big discount). A photo booth is a good idea. If u don’t have the funds to hire one then get a nice drop cloth from a material shop and set up someone to take funny pics with props and things with just a digital camera. U could then use those same pics at thank you notes afterwards. Maybe even look into the folding screens? If u have kids coming turn a section into a kids corner with paper and pens and other fun stuff. Good luck with it

All awesome suggestions ladies….down the same route; is there an event planning or staging company locally? They can usually organise drapes which can help dictate the area and would make it more intimate. I used to work for one of these companies in Sydney years ago and it was our job to set up weddings in Hotel ballrooms etc. If the venue doesn’t have bars to hang the drapes staging companies will ofte have steel poles on stands they can istall which will get the poles to ceiling level. Often black velvet drapes with low lighting are amazing as it gives  it an infinity feel whilst still aming it intimate?