Same space cocktail and reception??? Taboo???

Can you get some room dividers?

No, not an option. But great Idea. Well maybe we could, hmmm

You have to get creative and divide the space, otherwise people will sit and eat their HDs at the dinner tables. You can remove the diviider for dinner, and give your guests space to breathe during the reception.

Can you do an outside/inside kind of layout. My friend served cocktails outside in the clubhouse courtyard, then moved the party inside for dinner. Don't know what your venue is like but maybe that would be an option.

Thx ladies

We're using the same space for both. Maybe it's because of where I'm from, or maybe my family just does things differently, but only about half of the weddings I have been to have even had a cocktail hour (usually you just sit at the reception hall and visit with people until the wedding party gets done taking pictures), and the half that did have a cocktail hour, I don't think I've ever been to a wedding where they were in different spaces.

As a guest, I really wouldn't care if it's in the same place or not. I never really heard of this until 4 weddings when it was the big reveal to the dining room. If it saves you money, and it doens't bother you. Go ahead and use the same room. The way I see it, the tables will get somewhat dirty anyway at dinner (ours weren't even that dirty and we had kids of all ages)

In all honesty I have never been to a wedding where there was a seperate room for the cocktail and reception. With that said ours will be no different. We are having a salad bar and fruit/veggie trays so for us it made more sense to use the same room. Carrying around a plate full of salad is just not a good idea...lol... As far as them getting dirty I have never seen the tables get trashed during the cocktail hour. But a lot of that depends on how many guests, whether there will be children, and just the guests in general.

I second FMS. And I really don't think you should look for a different place to host the cocktail hour- I'd be irritated if I had to drive to 3 different places, and you really don't want people driving right after consuming a bunch of cocktails!

True Danielle.

My cousin had the cocktail hour in the same space as the reception for his wedding that we went to two weeks ago and non of the guests seemed bothered by it or to even really notice. So I am sure it would be just fine to have both in the same space.

My cocktail hour is going to be in the same place as the reception (and my ceremony is at the same venue)...I honestly have never heard of it being in a separate area...but it could be the area in which I grew up.

I've been to a wedding where cocktail hour was in the same room as the dinner was served. I didn't think of it as a bad thing. They put out a light appetizer spread for cocktail hour and then changed it out to dinner buffet for dinner time. I mean yes, the waiters came around and removed plates between the two, but it really wasn't a big deal.

I think guests would appreciate the fact they don't have to travel/try to find the reception area after the ceremony. I dont' think it will be a huge deal; are some of your guests the type of people to get uppity about having it in the same space?

We will be having the cocktail hour in the same room as the reception... I didn't even think it would be a problem!

My daughters cocktail hour and reception were in the same room. It worked beautifully.

I don't think a big deal. I have been to weddings where they were held in the same room and things worked out fine. I agree with the others.

I actaually have never been to a wedding where you have boyh in the same space!When I went to my cousins wedding last year they were in a ballroom ,people were seated at the dinner tables for the ceremony,coocktail hr and reception,HATED IT!

After seeing the brides dress there were no other elements of suprise!

I just want it to be like watching a story unfold!So we rented a seperate rm for $150 for the cocktail hr!

Most of the cocktail hours I play here in the New York metropolitan area are in a separate room. However, I am constantly amazed at the amount of breaking down and setting up the staff can do while the guests are seemingly oblivious. I think they are all so focused on themselves, their conversations, their companions and their drinks that they really don't notice. It seems that one end of the room might be set up for cocktails and the other end for dinner without any problem at all.

In nice weather, the cocktail hour is often on the patio which seems a good arrangement.

Ours is in the same room. The venue doesn't have a seperate area so it's not an option for us unless we do it in the hallway. I have seen it done both ways and never was bothered by either way.