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Gen
Champion June 2019

Afternoon wedding timing

Gen, on June 14, 2018 at 10:22 AM Posted in Wedding Ceremony 0 9
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We’re having an afternoon ceremony with a lunchtime reception, but how late is too late to begin? We were thinking we’d have the ceremony at either 12 or 1 (30 min ceremony) followed by an hour cocktail hour (with hors d’ouerves) and then the reception would begin.

But if we start at 1, the reception won’t begin until 2:30 and main course won’t be out until 3. Is that too late to feed people (keeping in mind we’ll have hors d’ouerves before)? Should we do a noon ceremony and then main course could be served by 2?

Personally I’d MUCH rather start at 1 (more time to get ready, plus I can get access to the bridal suite at 12:30 which would help me finish getting ready) but I don’t want to do it at the expense of making guests wait too until too late to be fed.

What do you think guys? 2:30pm too late to start a lunchtime reception or no?

9 Comments

Latest activity by Sara, on June 14, 2018 at 3:52 PM
  • Going to the chapel
    Master July 2017
    Going to the chapel ·
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    I would do a noon ceremony. The timeline just seems to flow better with a noon start. Many of your guests won't have eaten since early in the morning, or not eaten at all and will need food before 1:30.

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  • Shanee and Brian
    Expert July 2018
    Shanee and Brian ·
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    My wedding is at 2:30. It's a short 30 minute ceremony, then photos, then reception and dinner. I gave guests plenty of time and warning so they just have to eat lunch at an appropriate time so they aren't hangry at the wedding.

    You do your wedding at whatever time works best for you and your venue. The guests will have to make it work for them... eat a snack or something. It should be fine.
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  • FutureMrsKC
    Master January 2019
    FutureMrsKC ·
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    That is way too late and an awkward time, I'd have to eat before I came to your wedding then having lunch that late would kind of ruin my dinner because I most likely wouldn't be hungry until later at night (and I hate eating past 8pm for health reasons).

    My friend had a brunch reception.

    Wedding at 11- cocktail hour 11:30-12:30

    Guests seated, bridal party entrance and lunch served by 1 at the latest.

    I know you want to start later, but at that rate you might as well push the wedding back until 3 and have a dinner reception by 5pm.

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  • Mrs. Fall Bride
    Master October 2016
    Mrs. Fall Bride ·
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    Why not compromise and have the ceremony 12:30-1, cocktail hour 1-2, and then reception at 2, with people eating at 2:30? That's literally my normal lunch time, and I see nothing wrong with that. But I also think people expect to not be eating at their normal meal time when they go to a wedding. Evening weddings around here aren't even getting entrees out till like 9pm, and everyone is fine. Plus, if you're having a cocktail hour with food and drinks, people will start to eat at 1pm, and they won't be ravenous when the main meal comes out later.

    It's also really not your problem to worry about what guests do for dinner after your wedding is over. If they feel a late lunch "ruined their dinner", that's their problem. They don't have to eat dinner later.

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  • MrsD
    Legend July 2019
    MrsD ·
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    If it's mentioned on the invite, I don't think it's a big deal. If you said "Ceremony 1:00 PM, Lunch 3:00 PM" or something, I'd know (as a guest) to eat before I came like a late breakfast! But if it's not mentioned, people may be hungry since lunch is usually 12-1ish. Could you have a pre-ceremony appetizer before to help? Or a cocktail hour after with appetizers? Or will the ceremony be 1 hour 30 minutes long?

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  • Mrs. Fall Bride
    Master October 2016
    Mrs. Fall Bride ·
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    She already said she's having a cocktail hour with hors d'oeuvres.

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  • Gen
    Champion June 2019
    Gen ·
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    Yeah ceremony will be 30 mins and then followed by an hour cocktail hour with hors d'oeurves! So even if the ceremony was at 1, they would have food by 1:30, but it would just be hors d’oeurves. Main course wouldn’t come out until about 3 then
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  • MrsD
    Legend July 2019
    MrsD ·
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    Then disregard that comment! Just the pre-ceremony appetizer is my suggestion!

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  • Sara
    Expert October 2018
    Sara ·
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    This. I'm grown. I can read an invitation and figure out food will be served sometime after 2, and plan my meals before the wedding accordingly.
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