Cocktail Reception Time?

lillianchameleon

If were to have a 5:30pm ceremony that would end by 6pm.  Would it be appropriate to have a 7-11pm cocktail reception to follow?  The reception would be about a 10 minute drive from the ceremony venue.I would of course specify in the invite that it was a cocktail reception.Also, if I am having several out of town guests, is it rude to have a cocktail reception, instead of giving them a traditional meal?

danieliza1127

That's pretty much what we did and I thought it was great.  Our ceremony was at 6pm with a cocktail hour from 6:30-7:30 and then the reception started at 7:30.  As long as you have enough food to constitute a meal, it's not rude at all.  if you don't want to have enough to make a meal, then you'll just need to put Cocktail Reception on your invitations so people know ahead of time.

vgmartinez

I would have a full meal, especially if drinking is involved. Even if guests have dinner before the reception, 5:30 - 11 p.m. is a long span of time to go without any food. Heavy hors devours would be a good idea if you didn't want to have a formal dinner.

lillianchameleon

Yeah, one of the venues I'm looking into is a 1920s speakeasy club.  I feel like a full dinner would seem out of place.

danieliza1127

In case it wasn't clear, we had a cocktail reception from 7:30 to midnight.  We had all really heavy appertizers and cheesecakes and a full bar.  It was a great time.  We had enough food to constitute a meal, about 15 pieces per person.

danieliza1127

1920s speakeasy clubThat would be awesome.

ddub710

we are having a cocktail reception too.. our ceremony starts at 6 and will be over around 7... the reception hall is only a few blocks away... but we are starting the reception at 7:30.... it is not rude at all if you put your having a cocktail reception on your invites

duckie1905

Being that festivities would start at dinner time, I would make sure to serve enough food to replace a meal.  Other than that, sounds good to me!

Catwoman708

As long as there is enough food to fill the guests up, then it doesn't really matter what style of meal you have. It can be heavy finger foods, a sit down meal with table service, sandwich trays, a buffet, or passed trays of hors d'oeuvres. Especially if serving alcohol. But to have a reception anywhere near a meal time and only serve cake or crackers and cheese, yes, that would be rude.