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

Daughter is afraid she will get dinner on dress, so she says cake first. Dance after dinner because he can hold her tight and hide food on dress.

I would have breakfast and then get ready, if I would leave at noon for a 1pm ceremony [prob. closer to 11:30am since I need a cushion just in case...I hate late guests]. I don't know when I would have time for lunch. If your dinner is at 4 but you have a cocktail hours with apps, I am sure that you'll be fine. I would ask the caterer how many pieces per guests you get, if it's 2 per you may think of adding something or having something to nibble on [bowls of mixed nuts etc].

Cake first? No way, unless you're doing a giant 'church' reception before your invited guests.

Bee; I'd say 4:00 ish.

I always forget to eat before weddings, I always run late getting ready. I would expect to eat shortly after the reception begins. I have the same time of day, I'm not going to stress about it, I'm just serving food around 330, which is shortly after the reception starts, no appetizers.

Celia, thank you. I have a lot to consider because I also see your point about a wedding being it's own event too.

I am thinking I will ask the DJ, although I am not sure he will not know because he doesn't do weddings as his main job. (Yeah I know hire a pro - if you can afford it!)

This is the hardest part yet. I just cannot even come up with anything close to concrete!

I remember when I was younger & we had weddings, christening etc to go to that would start early & my sisters & I would want to eat before we left but my mom wouldn't let us bc there'd be so much food at the event & wed spoil our appetite. I know a lot of people who think this way, so personally for a 1:00 wedding I would skip lunch. That doesn't mean u have to feed people early though.

The point is that everyone is different, but I think if you let people know (invites it word of mouth) that food won't be served till x o'clock, people can prepare for it.

Cake before dinner?? Never seen that. Eating at 4pm?? Who eats dinner at 4pm?? Oh well .. once again, some of these things seem to be "regional" or something.

Good Luck to us all

We got married at 2 PM, did receiving line, a few photos, and opened the buffet line.

I think the way you have it is fine. Especially since you are doing appetizers right after the ceremony to hold people over.

My wedding was at 1:00 p.m. My cocktail hour started at 1:30 and lunch was served at 2:30 p.m. Everyone was eating so maybe they ate a late breakfast.

I am planning on hors d'oeuvre and wedding cake and drinks. We are doing a simple reception after the ceremony at 2.

Geeze I see so many different options. I really have no idea what to do!

If your reception begins at 2:30 are you going to do intro's toasts 1st dance etc. You can do all that before dinner. Figure out how much time you need for that then dinner can be served after that. Probably 3:30 or 4pm

Then cut cake after dinner. I think it is strange to do before.

I think the same way as Vicky's mom. If I'm going to a wedding, I figure there will be lots of food, so I might eat a yogurt or granola bar before hand, but not much else!

Since you're having appetizers at 2 (that right?), I would expect dinner to be around 3. This will give you an hour to take pictures while everyone else is enjoying the appetizer/cocktail hour.

Cake cutting first. Although we believe in eating dessert first because you may die during dinner and not get to eat it.

Cutting it first so that after dinner is served they can eat cake.