Is 7:30 too late for dinner?

It depends on your social circle. For some people, 7:30 is super late, for others it’s normal. I don’t like eating that late in general but I won’t complain to the couple.


Your timeline is a bit confusing. If you arrive at 4 why do you wait an hour to walk down the aisle? What do guests do for a half hour between being seated and being served dinner? Dinner itself lasts about 1.5-2 hours in most cases, which makes dancing start at 9:30 unless you open the dance floor when you arrive at the reception.

View Quoted Comment Sorry for the confusion. The ceremony itself will start at 5pm and then I cocktail hour and pictures at 5:30pm then guest seetated for dinner at 7pm. I guess I don't know how long it would take to get people into the reception and find their seats before dinner is served.

I have the same timeline! Our ceremony star yes at 5pm and we are being allowed access to the venue at 4pm. Cocktail hour is from 5:30-6:30 and I’m guessing dinner will get started by 7pm. We are having appetizers during cocktail hour so that should hold anyone over who is not used to eating past 7. I think guests should be prepared and ok as long as they have the timeline of events!

I think that is ok because you have cocktail hour so they won't be starving or anything either.

I don’t think it will take a half hour once they are seated to be served dinner. People usually find their seats during cocktail hour, anyway. I also find that if there is cocktail hour, the time of dinner is less of an issue.


I have a similar timeline. Ceremony 6:00, cocktail hour 6:30-7:30, dinner 7:30, reception ends at midnight.

Our timeline is similar. Ceremony at 5:30, cocktail hour 6-7 during which guests will find their seats, dinner/reception starting at 7 until about midnight. I put our timeline on the website so guests know ahead of time when we’ll be eating and can plan accordingly.

Our ceremony wasn't until 6, then cocktail hour, and then dinner - I don't think 7:30 is overly late (full disclosure, we often eat late at our house)

My venue allotted 5.5 hours for my entire event.


1/2 hour ceremony1 hour cocktail hour4 hour reception
I would check to see if this or something similar is in your contract so you can maximize your time!

I think 7:30pm is to late because have cocktail hour at 6:30pm and if they eat too much. Then they will be full and not want to eat their meal and any desserts that will be offered. And dancing and having fun etc. Done be done with everything by that time. Our ceremony as well is held at 5pm and then cocktail hour for about 1hr 1/2 and then by 6:30 pm reception will start on time my venue gave us until 12mid must be out by 1am but we will be done 11pm. I hope that it all works out how you want it.

It probably depends more on your crowd, but I’ll say that I’ve heard of even later wedding dinners. The Catholic church FH and I are getting married at does 7 PM ceremonies (we opted for the 3 PM slot because that’s personally too late for us). So by the time the ceremony is done, after-pics are taken, couple gets to the reception, you’re looking at almost a 9 PM dinner time.

I was having timeline issues but I finally narrowed it down. Here’s an excerpt starting with the ceremony:

6:00 Start Time Listed on Wedding Invitation

6:13 Seat Parents

6:15- 6:45 Ceremony

6:45- 7:30 Cocktail Hour

7:30 Guests Invited to Dinner

7:35 Grand Entrance and First Dance

7:45-8:25 Dinner

I think you're fine. Most people know that weddings are about 30 minutes long (unless it's a religious ceremony), there's a cocktail hour, everyone gets seated, and then there's the grand entrance, toasts, etc. If you're serving hors d'oeuvres during the cocktail hour then that should tide everyone over until dinner.