Need Help-Outdoor Reception Layout

[MoonPalacePookie]

So my FI and I signed up to take dance lessons for our first dance. During our consultation, our instructor asked about the layout of our reception area. I haven't even thought about it, I figured whatever the hotel did would be fine with me, but since its important for our dance, I guess I need to figure out what we want. Our reception will be on a terrace outside, it fits about 120 people and we will have 54, 6 round tables, plus food, DJ, cake and guest book tables. Here is a pic of our terrace:

 

 

I emailed the hotel asking for pictures of their setups, but knowing them they wont have anything and it will take a few days for her to respond anyways. Does anyone have any good actual pictures of layouts (like a picture from above the site) or little schematic drawings or just suggestions, I'm open to anything? I would like something that allows all guests acess to all tables and leaves a large dance floor. TIA

[ashrose]

Oh that's a great question!! My FI and I are ballroom dancers and our instructor is trying to figure out how many of our moves we can actually do on the terrace.

 

What type of dance are you planning on doing? Waltz? Tango? Foxtrot? Salsa? I can do a schematic for you.

 

Which terrace at MP?

[ErinB]

I think you will be fine with spacing. You'll only need 9-10 tables. I would probably to a horseshoe or big square with tables on the outside and the dance floor in the middle. You wouldn't want your guests having to peer over someone's shoulder to see you.

[MoonPalacePookie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashrose Oh that's a great question!! My FI and I are ballroom dancers and our instructor is trying to figure out how many of our moves we can actually do on the terrace. What type of dance are you planning on doing? Waltz? Tango? Foxtrot? Salsa? I can do a schematic for you. Which terrace at MP?

The reception will be at the Lake Terrace, it has a great view and is large enough to spread out. We are not sure what style of dance we're doing, we just had our consultation on Friday and first class will be tomorrow. Last year my FI and I tool waltz classes and loved it, but I will let the instructor figure out what we're doing. Our song is "At Last" by Etta James.

[ashrose]

Oh geez... thats a beautiful song!! Let me know what your instructor decides to do with it... I'd probably dance a fast waltz or V waltz to it but V waltz is really hard to do in a wedding dress.

 

I'm planning on using the lake terrace as well... give me a few and I'll draw up the schematic I had in my head.

[MoonPalacePookie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashrose Oh geez... thats a beautiful song!! Let me know what your instructor decides to do with it... I'd probably dance a fast waltz or V waltz to it but V waltz is really hard to do in a wedding dress. I'm planning on using the lake terrace as well... give me a few and I'll draw up the schematic I had in my head.

Oh you're awesome, that would be really cool. I'll keep you updated with what she has us do.

[ashrose]

Hey there - so here are 2 different things I've got in my mind. Essentially, I decided I want to dance with the beach as my backdrop.

 

These aren't really to scale -- we are planning on renting some lounge furniture as well to give conversation areas around the different clusters of tables... so that's why I have one where everyone is spread out.

 

You'll likely be able to get a rectangle space to dance in -- almost any way you set it up -- just tell her it is ok for her to let you travel a bit. Most wedding "dance floors" are smallish boxy floors that are hard to travel.

 

This is the dance we really want (or something close to this level of difficulty/elegance): YouTube - It is You-Deb and Ryan 1st draft but I'm not sure if we are going to be able to do some of the tight spins and pivots on the terrace. Deb and Ryan are amazing instructors. We've got some work to do!

 

 

Lake Terrace Schematic.ppt

[MoonPalacePookie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashrose Hey there - so here are 2 different things I've got in my mind. Essentially, I decided I want to dance with the beach as my backdrop. These aren't really to scale -- we are planning on renting some lounge furniture as well to give conversation areas around the different clusters of tables... so that's why I have one where everyone is spread out. You'll likely be able to get a rectangle space to dance in -- almost any way you set it up -- just tell her it is ok for her to let you travel a bit. Most wedding "dance floors" are smallish boxy floors that are hard to travel. This is the dance we really want (or something close to this level of difficulty/elegance): YouTube - It is You-Deb and Ryan 1st draft but I'm not sure if we are going to be able to do some of the tight spins and pivots on the terrace. Deb and Ryan are amazing instructors. We've got some work to do!

Wow, I love that video, I can't believe people can move like that, so graceful and flowing. I have an enormous skirt on my dress, I probably can't do anything like that (even if I could dance like it).

I love the second design you posted, I think we're going to go with something like that, i love the idea of having the beach in the background. Thank you so much for your help. I'm going to print that and show it to our instructor tonight. I'm so excited.

[ashrose]

No problem!!

 

I haven't bought my dress yet (I've still got a ways to go...) but being able to do ballroom in it is one of the pre-reqs... either that, or I'll need another dress for the reception... and that sounds like a bit more hassle that it would be worth. Back in the old times, they used to do it in big ball gowns... its just going to take some getting used to, that's all.

 

Hope your lesson goes well!!

 

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