Cocktail reception with no dinner?

Having a hor d'oeuvres-only reception at 7:00pm will be tricky, as this is a typical meal time. I would definitely mention on the invitation that this will be a hor d'oeuvres reception. Also, ensure that you have very heavy apps - I would say 5-6 per person per hour - with lots of variety. Hot, cold, meat, vegetarian, etc.

If you're having people around dinnertime, you should really serve them dinner. An hors d'oeuvres reception might be better at 3 or 4 pm- prior to dinnertime. It's definitely understandable to want to save some money, but maybe try to find a way to avoid a meal time.

Be up front of the invitation that they are being invited to a cocktails and hors d'oeuvres reception, so that way guests are aware that there will not be a full meal being served as this is close to a meal time. Are you planning on having dancing to follow? Speeches could probably be made either directly before the dancing or while everyone is sitting around munching on the food.

If the reception starts at 7, what time does the ceremony start? I ask because if it's between 5-6, then a dinner afterward would be expected. If I went to a ceremony at 5 and had to get my own dinner after, I might not come back.

Your wedding date is two and a half years away. You can't sock away the money to serve people dinner in two years? I agree that if you want appetizers only, then make it earlier in the day or consider a brunch wedding to make things more affordable.

We would be having the ceremony in the early afternoon, that way they have time to go eat. There would be dancing and toasts after.

I would have to agree that you really need to serve dinner at that time of day, or have a reception 3-4 hours earlier in the day. If you do some research, I am sure you could find a reasonably priced caterer-mine is only costing $11/person.

If you go with that plan, people will probably choose between the ceremony and the reception. Just FYI.

Seriously, cut the guest list and serve real food, or push back your ceremony to something late like 7:30 or 8 and indicate cocktail reception on the invitation.

Wait back the train up. You're having the ceremony earlier in the day, leaving a huge gap for people to go feed themselves, and then have then join you for a reception later?

I hope not to offend, but I don't think having an early afternoon ceremony then telling people to come to a reception at 7pm is such a good idea. How many guests are you wanting to attend? How many would be out of town guests?

I would recommend the ceremony ends and the reception starts shortly after. Especially if you have a large wedding guest list or lots of out of town people. There are other ways to save money: brunch reception, or lunch reception, or h'orderves at an earlier time.

Can you have your wedding earlier in the day? If you are hosting people around what would normally be their dinner time you should feed them a meal, it's part of being a good host.

This is really bad etiquette. Unhosted gaps of time are very rude to your guests. If you can't afford to properly host your guests (read: you can't afford dinner), you need to change the time of your reception to earlier in the day during a non-meal time hour or a lunch or brunch reception that will cost way less. Also, you could host an afternoon hors d'oeuvres reception: ceremony at 1, cocktail hour from 1:30-2:30 (for pictures), reception from 2:30-4 or so. You could move your ceremony up to 12 noon and have more time depending on how long you think your ceremony will be.

Seriously, I would be offended if you invited me to a ceremony and then expected me to get my own food for dinner...after I'm already spending a considerable amount to travel to your wedding, purchase you a wedding gift, etc.

You are in the very early stages of planning and you have TWO YEARS to save money. Please really re-think this plan.

Besides the etiquette issues, it's unlikely this will save you money. The amount of food you will need will cost more than a dinner.

I had a friend do this, and honestly it was the worst wedding I have ever been a part of. Many people did not realize there would be no dinner, everyone was hungry, and it was a huge problem. Plus you still have to feed your bridal party and family..Honestly, have an afternoon wedding or start your ceremony at 730-8 ish with dessert and apps after.

We're doing this, but the ceremony will be at 2:30 and then the reception immediately after. Figure the reception will end by 6 or 6:30. At first we wanted to do this to save money, but then even after I found a low cost caterer that would charge about the same price for a dinner, we still went with the cocktail party idea because we are both introverted and don't want the speeches, garter toss, etc. We will feel more comfortable with a casual mingling type of event. Not even sure we will have dancing. We will have music playing in the background, people can dance to it if they want, but we're not having a dj coaxing people to dance or anything. I think the only thing we're doing where we will have all eyes on us at once, other than the ceremony, is the cake cutting.

I'm doing this too but my ceremony is early in the morning to beat the heat and only for family members. The reception cocktail party will start at 7pm with heavy appys at 7:30pm. I think if you are doing something like this then it's ok. I also noted this on our wedding website so people are aware.

When you say your guests would have "time to go and eat" between ceremony and reception, what does that mean exactly? are you thinking your guests will go to your ceremony, go take themselves out to lunch at a restaurant, and then come back to your reception?

I would really recommend serving dinner. If I was going to a wedding at that time of day I would expect a meal to be served. I also don't think their should be a huge time lapse between the ceremony and reception. In all honesty you will probably end up spending the same amount on hor d'oueveurs as you would on a meal if you actually get enough to feed everyone a decent amount. Also, if a meal will not be served people will assume you spent less and will not feel the need to gift you as much as they normally would. I would definitely make sure everyone is aware that there will be no meal if you plan on not serving one.

I strongly recommend you consider having a daytime wedding, so you can do brunch or a luncheon which is typically less expensive. Or cut your guest list down to immediate family. People expect to be fed as guests at a wedding, and rightly so.

There is nothing wrong with a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception - if it is earlier in the day. I agree with everyone here that if you want an evening reception, then serve dinner. I can't think of any wedding I've ever attended as a guest where i have been critical unless I left hungry. At an evening reception, your guests expect dinner. I also agree that with a 2017 wedding, you can adequately save for a full meal. If not, move everything to earlier in the day or re-prioritize what is actually important to you so you can SAVE to have to money to host a proper dinner reception.

And please negotiate the hell out of your vendors. EVERY cost is marked up for a wedding. If you are really getting married in 2017, you have a ton of time to vet prices with vendors (or save money!). I bet you will find a better deal at an affordable rate if you do this and are open to new venues/dates/times of day. Don't make your guests suffer because you really can't afford what you think you want.