i totally agree that there should be separate areas! there was a whole group of people outside on the deck in the cold--during nighttime in late november in canada--that honestly just points to poor planning. how bad does it have to be that people would rather freeze their ass off than stand inside the one giant room where the party is? usually at a time like this my sister and i would go hang out in the hallways or washrooms, but the hallways weren't any quieter and the washroom was too small to hang out in. we ended up leaving before midnight (unfortunately missing the wedding cake) mainly because my sister worked a morning shift and was properly exhausted by the time the newlyweds finished giving their vows.

all in all i had fun though! my family got to keep the centrepiece which means i got to press the most beautiful white roses and hydrangeas. i'll likely post pictures of them once i find something creative to do with them.