Reception Card Wording

TiaM32

I'm trying to figure out how to word the reception card, but I can't find anything that seems to fit right.  We're having a somewhat formal reception with a cocktail hour at 5pm with dinner starting at 6pm.  The ceremony is at 3pm (should be over around 4pm with no receiving line), and it will take about 15 - 30 minutes to get the reception site after everyone gets from the chapel to the parking garage (another 10 minutes or so).

I do want to make sure people know there's a cocktail hour (as I haven't seen too many specific cocktail hours in my area).  I've googled too, and the best I can come up with so far are the following:

Please join us for a reception following the ceremony
Venue Name
Location
Cocktail hour five o'clock in the afternoon
Dinner and Dancing to follow

or

The pleasure of your company
is requested at the cocktail and dinner reception
at five o'clock in the afternoon
Venue Name
Location

Any suggestions are appreciated!  Disclaimer: I tried searching the board, but TK would only let me search the Maine board (which isn't even my local).

betrothed123

I guess I'm not sure why you feel the need to notify your guests of the cocktail hour.  before my own wedding I had never been to one with a cocktail hour, but we just put "reception to follow" on our invites and then started the reception with the cocktail hour.  Is the cocktail hour in a different location than the rest of your reception?  Is there any reason you have to notify guests of it?

kristinanddan

We used:
The celebration continues with cocktails, dinner, and dancing
at seven o'clock....

lyndausvi

I would just say reception to follow.  No need to tell them about the cocktail hour.

TiaM32

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_reception-card-wording-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5322bb84-eb93-4665-999c-c208a8bc04fePost:e2f06caa-1989-430e-a183-b2b4704150ba">Re: Reception Card Wording</a>:
[QUOTE]I guess I'm not sure why you feel the need to notify your guests of the cocktail hour.  before my own wedding I had never been to one with a cocktail hour, but we just put "reception to follow" on our invites and then started the reception with the cocktail hour.  Is the cocktail hour in a different location than the rest of your reception?  Is there any reason you have to notify guests of it?
Posted by betrothed123[/QUOTE]

It's in the same venue but a different room with a seperate bar.  I just didn't want people to go sit in the room where the reception is and wonder why nothing is going on there at 5pm.  I also wanted to make sure people knew dinner wouldn't be right at 5 as well (since most weddings I have been to do that).  We will be getting pictures during the cocktail hour and making sure we are at the reception by 6pm.

sucrets4

Does your venue have people working at it?  They should be responsible for directing the guests to the appropriate room.

I wouldn't put anything about the CH on there.

Wait, are you having appetizers during the CH?  As long as you're serving some sort of food with the booze, I think you'll be fine.  It'll just be a nice surprise.

betrothed123

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_reception-card-wording-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5322bb84-eb93-4665-999c-c208a8bc04fePost:8017a573-7965-4e96-b446-4e5b83ffb263">Re: Reception Card Wording</a>:
[QUOTE]Does your venue have people working at it?  They should be responsible for directing the guests to the appropriate room. I wouldn't put anything about the CH on there. Wait, are you having appetizers during the CH?  As long as you're serving some sort of food with the booze, I think you'll be fine.  It'll just be a nice surprise.
Posted by sucrets4[/QUOTE]
Sucrets is smart.

TiaM32

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_reception-card-wording-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5322bb84-eb93-4665-999c-c208a8bc04fePost:8017a573-7965-4e96-b446-4e5b83ffb263">Re: Reception Card Wording</a>:
[QUOTE]Does your venue have people working at it?  They should be responsible for directing the guests to the appropriate room. I wouldn't put anything about the CH on there. Wait, are you having appetizers during the CH?  As long as you're serving some sort of food with the booze, I think you'll be fine.  It'll just be a nice surprise.
Posted by sucrets4[/QUOTE]

Yes, the venue has people working at it, but I'm not sure anyone actually greets and directs guests (something to ask next month at our tasting).  The place cards are out front, and that might be it.  And yes, we are having cold apps (maybe hot as well) during the CH.

Sounds like I'm overthinking it...since we don't usually see CHs, I just didn't want people to be confused (or think dinner would be served immediately).

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

If you have menus you can put a note there. So that way if a guest goes straight to the table they'll see it. Like:

Cocktail Hour - Held in the Robinson Ballroom (5pm-6pm)

Selection of artisan cheeses
Chicken Satay
Eggrolls with ponzu dipping sauce
Fried ravioli pillows
Swedish meatballs

Dinner - Held in the Harding Room (6pm)

First course
Choice of Butternut squash soup with basil pistou or
Heirloom tomato and burrata salad

etc, etc,

Then people know there's food somewhere for them.

sucrets4

Menu, mery?

We did menus, but they were at the table when they went into the room for the meal.  So that would kind of defeat the purpose.

squirrly

Sucrets, I think mery means if the guests sneak into the dinner ballroom first, then they'd see it. 

Really, just have your venue close the doors to the dinner ballroom and not open them until 6 pm.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Yeah, that was my guess. Squirrly's answer is simpler.

You might also put a note in the program about where to go at the reception if you are having programs. I also assume there will be some people who won't come with you for pictures, like uncles and aunts, who will know where to herd people.

shaylin1001

You could skip mentioning the CR, and do some nifty DIY signs with arrows. I think signage on site is always more reassuring than instructions in hand before you arrive.

amyeve11

"Reception to Follow" wording suggests that guests can go right from the ceremony to the reception and be accommodated.  If the ceremony is at 3, finished by 4, and 15 minutes from the reception venue, don't use "reception to follow."  People will show up before the cocktail staff is ready. 

"Reception to follow" means exactly that - that the reception venue, food and servers are set to go at the time the ceremony is finished.

I'm seeing lots of reception cards that mention a cocktail hour, by the way.  My planner says it's just fine, not a no-no at all.

For a 3pm ceremony, 5pm cocktail hour and 6pm formal dinner, we're using  "Reception at 5 o'clock in the evening." 

ashleycoatsma

Wow, that's exactly what I'm wanting too... ((scratches head)) I'm stumped too.

DaisyMae5472

I think the goal is to manage the expectations of your guests. Some think that the words "dinner reception" means that they will arrive and sit down to dinner shortly thereafter. It's only fair to your guests to mention that there will be an h'orderve or cocktail reception PRIOR to the dinner and whatever else you have planned for them for the evening. IMHO, the wedding can be all about YOU, but the reception is about your guests and their comfort, and as a hostess, you must do everything you can to allow them to manage their day. In that spirit, I'm using something akin to this:

Please join us
for cocktails, dinner and dancing
OR
for a cocktail hour, followed by a dinner reception
at four-thirty in the afternoon

Location
Address

Here is somethng I saw recently from a great website:

"List the cocktail hour on the wedding invitation, informing guests that “cocktail hour” will immediately follow the ceremony, and before the reception. If the cocktail hour is in the same spot at the reception, say “cocktail hour and reception” to follow. Should the location vary, inform guests of the address or adjoining space.  When you send out maps that detail ceremony locales, add the information about the whereabouts of the cocktail hour."

Taken from: http://ourweddingday.com/advice/Reception/Planning-Your-Cocktail-Hour/297.aspx