include the reception on the invitation

angiefaye

Hi there, I am having a relatively small wedding on a friday night and at 7:30. Immediately after in the same building we are having a dessert and coffee reception. How should I word that on the invitation? Dessert &coffee reception to follow Thanks!

scoetto

That sounds fine. I just put "Reception immediately following" on mine. Didn't specify what would be served. Will you have other drinks besides coffee? I ask because that's something I personally do not drink (not like I'm invited, but you know what I mean).

stina93446

I would definitely write what you said. 7:30 to me and to many is dinner time. You need to let people know that you're not serving them dinner. I'd be pretty pissed if I came to your wedding expecting to be fed a meal. I'd also advertise on your wedding website that it's coffee and dessert.

[Deleted User]

not sure why you're not serving dinner for a 7:30 wedding.  that's whack.

Sooles

i think mine said something like "dinner, drinks & dancing to immediately follow". no one complained or called to ask where the reception was. i think they got that its the same place.

ring_pop

Dude. You gotta feed people more than dessert and coffee at a 7:30 wedding.

romyjm8

I disagree that you must serve dinner.  People can eat a little early one night.  Just be very clear on the invitation that its dessert and cofffee, so that your guests know what to expect. 

stina93446

Can I ask why you're NOT serving dinner?

emilykathleen511

Seriously, move your wedding back to 8:30, and for sure write "dessert & coffee reception to follow" on the invitations so that your guests know to eat first. 7:30 is dinner time for many people...please do not invite people for a dinnertime wedding and not feed them.

Catwoman708

"Standard" dinner time is usually between 6-8 pm. For a wedding that starts or ends in that time frame, most guests will be expecting dinner, or at least some finger foods served cocktail style. If the time cannot be changed, and you cannot add a meal, then add at least some finger foods. Sandwiches, cheese, crackers, fruit, veggies, hors d'ouevres, something. For a small wedding, you can easily do something simple and affordable. If money is that tight that you can't afford to provide even simple finger foods, then scrimp somewhere else and/or cut the guest list.

aMrsin09

By the time the ceremony is over and the hugs and pictures are taken and they get over to the reception venue, it will be 8:30 at the earliest.  Then by the time dinner isserved you are looking at 9:00.  Thats late for a dinner. I think the 7:30 dinner time is relative to where you live.  If I had gotten married in my hometown and served dinner at 8:30, the meals would have gone to waste, everyone would have eaten already. 

emilykathleen511

Yeah, except her reception is at the same place as her ceremony...

aMrsin09

Sorry, thought it said they were crossing the street for it.  But my timeline "figuring" still stands, give or take 15 minutes (for not having to cross the street.) 

[Deleted User]

angie can you extrapolate? it sounds like you are on the verge of committing a major faux pas. what say you? what made you think this was a good idea?

irshis20

Whoa, I just read that it's a Friday night wedding, too. I don't even normally get out of the office until 6, and if you expected me to be there by 7 or 7:15, it only leaves me an hour to eat something, change clothes and get to your wedding. That is not enough time, imo, so I would expect that a 7:30 wedding on a work night would include dinner. If you don't serve dinner, people are going to leave pretty quickly so they can eat.

TheFutureMrsM-LoungingBeachside

I think you definitely need to serve something more than coffee and dessert.

agirlcalledchuck

you need to, at the very least, give these people some (heavy) hors d' oeuvres!!! they are gonna be starving!

dsouldiva

7.30 wedding, allowing for guests travelling/parking/getting ready time on a friday evening, unless they take the afternoon off work there isn't really time for them to eat beforehand.Like the pp's said, I would definately add some heavy appetisers

kebmtm071605

DEFINITELY spell it out on your invitation.  Your guests will be expecting dinner at that time, especially on a Friday night. I really think you should reconsider what you are serving or moving the start time back to 8 or really even 8:30.

jamm2019

Are you getting married in a church, and having your reception there also?  I have heard of people doing this. They get married in a church and have a small dessert type recption in the basement of the church.  I still think you should have some type of finger foods.  Even if it is cheese and crackers, veggies and dip, and fruits.  I also think you should serve more to drink then just coffee.  I dont drink coffee so that would not be enjoyable for me.You could put on the invitation a Mocktail reception immediatley following...

squirrly

Agreed. You need something more than just dessert at this time of night.  Dessert receptions are for 2 or 3 pm ceremonies, in my opinion.

pag41989

Yikes! I agree that you should have something other than dessert. I get off of work at 5 and by the time I got ready I wouldnt have time to eat. I don't know about your other guests but I get really sick if I eat sweet food an an empty stomach. However if you do this make sure that it is included on the invitation that it is desesert and coffee only and maybe they can have a big lunch or something.