Well there goes that idea...

wildangel2189

  Well my FI and I were going to have a cocktail hour for our guests while we had our pictures made after the ceremony.  Well due to finances we are not going to be able to have a seperate cocktail hour and a reception.To save time we are going to have as many pics as possible taken before the ceremony so it should only take about 45min to 1 hr for pics. So my question is what do our guests do while we are having our pictures made?  Do they go ahead and start the reception (and eating) or what? I don't want our guests just standing around waiting on us and probably starving.  But arn't we suppose to go through the buffet line first?

duckie1905

If you are planning on taking any photos after the ceremony you really should provide something for your guests to do.  That is the whole point of a cocktail hour.Either do them all beforehand or find a way to cut something so that you can provide for your guests while you are taking pictures.You don't have to serve alcohol necessarily but you should provide something.And yes, I would find it strange if all the guests started eating before the bride and groom arrived.  When were you planning on eating?

wildangel2189

The wedding is at 4:00 and when we were going to do the cocktail hour I figured the ceremony would take about 20 min to 1/2 hour and then the cocktail hour which would put the actual reception at around 5:30.  But like I said now we are not going to have an actual cocktail hour so I am kind of at a loss.  any suggestions on how to entertain our guests for an hour?

Leah&Christian09

If you leave your guests sitting there for 45-an hour while you are taking pictures, you need to host something for them. Just serve tea and lemonaid with a veggie and cheese tray. You don't have to make it fancy and you don't have to have open bar. Just don't leave them sitting there waiting for you to come. Why not just cut an hour off the end of the reception and start it early, but hold the food until you get there?

mbcdefg

Option A: Let them start on their salad course while you're taking pics (and probably some bread as well), then join them for dinner ASAP. Or let them start dinner without you. The reception is for them, not for you (to "receive" them after they've come to witness your ceremony). Option B: Find some kind of appetizers for them for a cocktail hour. Like PP said, cheese and fruit and veggies would be fine - if you're allowed, get the trays from a supermarket because they'll likely be more expensive if you go through the caterer. Doesn't have to be elaborate or have alcohol, but they need SOMETHING while you're off taking photos. (I saw your other post about menu options ... use two or three of those appetizers while you're taking pics and you've got a cocktail hour right there). Option C: Take all the photos before the ceremony, then go right into dinner after it ends. You can take additional photos when the reception's over if need be. I totally understand being on a budget, as I'm sure everyone else here does, but if you're hosting a party then you need to take care of your guests. Having them mill around for 45-60 minutes is just not acceptable. Talk to your caterer - I'm sure you can come up with something for them for that hour.

vgmartinez

You'll be fine with a cheese/cracker or fruit tray(s) set out while you're taking pics. Like pp said, you don't have to have an open bar. We were at a wedding with a gap but there were light finger foods and punch with a cash bar until the reception actually started. You'll want to be sure there's music playing, it's awkward if everyone is standing around in silence.

tenofcups4me

Find the money for a cocktail hour (cut something else) or take your pictures ahead of time. There's really no other polite option. It would be absurd for your guests to finish their meal before you even enter the reception and you can't leave them waiting for you for an hour with nothing to eat, drink, or do.

dsouldiva

Can you serve tea and biscuits (sorry I'm english - tea is my answer to everything!) or coffee & cookiesThat should be way cheaper than a cocktail hour.Also why not consider cutting down the length of photo taking time after the ceremony and have the photographer take less formal photos later in the day?

kmmssg

I just looked at your post about your menu - I think this is really pretty easily fixed.  You have a TON of heavy apps on there (your menu looks fabulous!).  Just move the smaller ones like the cheese ball and crackers, veggies with the hummus and dill dips, deviled eggs to your cocktail hour, serve the drinks I listed above and you are golden.You are serving a ton of food there!  Just move some of it to the cocktail hour and you have no problem and no extra expense.Hey, if you need someone to taste all that food for you ahead of time, I'm sure I can clear my schedule.

kmmssg

Duh.  when I edited I left out the drinks I was suggesting which were lemonade (flavored lemonades maybe?), iced tea, coffee, water, punch.

wildangel2189

Thanks ya'll for the input I agree that I DON'T want people just standing around waiting on us....kmmsgg-thanks for the suggestion, I will talk it over with FI and the lady doing the food (she is not a caterer just a friend) and see if we can work something out. Thanks.

kmmssg

Just remember - I'm available to help you eat all that good food you are serving.  I would love a spread like that!

wildangel2189

Well if you are in the Tallahassee area on Nov 21 come on by!

kmmssg

Dang I'm not in FL til the 16th of Dec.  Feel free to freeze the leftovers for me!

tracy_k

If you're having "as many pics as possible" taken before the ceremony, why would it still take 45 minutes to an hour to take pics after the ceremony?We're taking pics before the ceremony and expecting to spend no more than 30 minutes taking the ones after the ceremony. So the bar will open then, our venue will put out a couple of our food stations, and then we werap up the photos in 20/30 minutes and get the real party started.

wildangel2189

We are doing as many photos as possible without me and FI seeing each other, i.e. me with MOH,BM parents him with BM, GM, his parents those type of photos and then the ones with everyone will be taken after the ceremony.

wildangel2189

I am just guessing it will take 45 min to an hour.

tracy_k

Ask your photographer. If they can get everyone arranged, drill-sergeant-style, it shouldn't take longer than half an hour tops. You'd still need to provide drinks and nibbles while your guests wait, especially if the ceremony & reception are in the same venue.

trix1223

Read kmm's wonderful suggestions.  Then do what she says.  Because it's very smart advice.

Leah&Christian09

Sounds like you have a great solution. If you aren't seeing each other before the ceremony, you can count on about an hour for pics after the ceremony. You'll want to do formals together with family members and formals together with WP, and then some with just the two of you. You won't have a good selection if you try to cram all that into 30 minutes.

avm357

I would say to allow your guests to eat first. I know I've been to plenty of weddings where we had a "cocktail hour" that lasted a lot longer and all I wanted to do was get the evening started. I also think it looks like you're more concerned about your guests if you allow them to eat first and then arrive, have a bite to eat and then you have more time to mingle with people, have time for dancing, etc.