What time would you expect to eat at a wedding reception that began at 2:30?

If it were me, I would probably eat something before attending. I would probably do an earlier dinner.

I usually eat at 11:30 so it would be fine for me. Then I snack around 4PM

I would have eaten something earlier. I can't go that long without lunch, unless the bride wants my stomach making some very annoying noises... haha.

What if you do just an hor dourves reception? I don't think people will really expect a meal at that time, plus that will save you money on your budget!

I wake up at 5am (yes even on weekends) so by 11am I would be about ready for lunch. The apps around 1:30 would be a good snack so I would probably want to eat my next meal around 3:30 ish (knowing I was going to a wedding at that time - I don't usually eat dinner at that time lol)

Next question- If dinner was served around 4 pm, would you all be ok or would you be starving? And, would you think that was an ok time? Would you be confused or fine? I don't want cranky guests.

RayRay helped me work out a schedule to eat around 4:15pm, but today FMIL says that too late eat right away. But my thinking was that guests would have had lunch or something, and just had appetizers. Also, there is a candy bar.

Thoughts?

I think between 3:30 and 4 PM would be fine for the meal to start. Espesh if you already had apps.

Jule & Trena- We are having a buffet dinner. Hawaiian Mac & cheese, beef fillets, cranberry chicken, roasted potatoes, vegetables etc. It is a full meal, we want to have a lot of good food for everyone since it is important to FH and I eat a lot. :-)

Thanks purple. :-)

It might be easier to dance and then move the table in anyway.

Yum! Can I come?? haha

I would be totally fine with 4, especially since I will have eaten lunch before, as mentioned. I wouldn't fret.

I'm not really sure that I would expect dinner at a wedding so early. Typically a dinner is served later than that. I personally eat lunch at 11 or so, but even then I'm not ready for dinner until 6-7ish. Save you some money! Just stick with appetizers . A reception starting at 2:30 would be over before dinner time I feel like my reception is 7-10:30 pm so obviously I'm going to serve dinner

I would eat before I got there.

Our ceremony is at 2, last about 20 minutes. Then we have drinks and a couple lite snacks. Dinner service is starting at 5. Our venue lady was saying that is WAY to long between ceremony and food and we need way more apps ($$&dollar or people will be starving. I would assume people would eat before they got there .. and WTH? It's 3 hours. Don't people go that long everyday between lunch and dinner??

I'm pretty sure she was just trying to get us to spend more $$$ ...

I would eat before I got there.

Our ceremony is at 2, last about 20 minutes. Then we have drinks and a couple lite snacks. Dinner service is starting at 5. Our venue lady was saying that is WAY to long between ceremony and food and we need way more apps ($$&dollar or people will be starving. I would assume people would eat before they got there .. and WTH? It's 3 hours. Don't people go that long everyday between lunch and dinner??

I'm pretty sure she was just trying to get us to spend more $$$ ...

I always eat a little something before going to weddings. You just never know.

Trisha, Yours is early like mine. And you have the same exact time in between! I will be fine if you are doing it! Or both our guests will starve! LOL.

Also: The reception doesn't end until 7, so they wont get home until 8pm. By that time I think they would starve if they didn't have any dinner at all.

I tend to think of weddings as stand alone events (catering background here......). They need to have a flow that doesn't assume anyone did anything beforehand.

For a 1:00-1:30 wedding, I'd expect food and drink to start right afterwards, but it's totally the perfect time to have a heavy hors d'oeuvre wedding and cake; love it!!!

If I went to a 2:00 wedding, ending at 2:30 and didn't have dinner till 5:00, I'd be at the very least, puzzled. What are they doing to do for that time? It's not so much that people can't go without eating for a few hours, but a wedding ceremony/reception invite leads people to think there will be food after the ceremony.

None of this is an attempt to sell you more food, but think about how you'd feel with that much time and no food. Most people will not eat before they come.

@Celia, What would you suggest for a dinner time for a wedding with a reception starting at 2:30? that has light appetizers starting at 1:30???

(because I can't spell hors d'oeuvres without great effort)

I will always eat before attending a wedding, just in case we get fed late or I don't like the food. And I know that a lot of people do this. I think as long as you feed your guests by 5pm you should be fine. If I was fed after 5 I would be grumpy, and you dont want grumpy guest

1:30 ceremony lasting 1 hour. 30 min photos at the most after ceremony. 15 min drive to venue. Drinks and apps upon arrival of guests. Cake cutting first. While buffet is being set out. Dinner about 4

An hour from my house? I probably wouldve eaten beforehand. A reception at 130 is just hard because its too late for lunch but way too early for dinner...

I see more than one suggestion to do cake first..... I had not thought of this......