Timing of wedding events- confused...

anselgrey

Our wedding is in Oct 2013. Sunset is at 7:08pm if that matters and the wedding is outdoors. We are planning to have a cake and punch reception after a short ceremony (same location). We do not plan to serve dinner. We also plan to have AFTER the family friendly cake and punch to have a DJ, bar, and appetizers for an adult party/reception (still in same location).

I am trying to figure out what time to start the ceremony so not to terribly impede on guests dinner hour (before they come to wedding) and be able to tell the DJ what time to begin.

Opinions would be greatly appreciated.

AJuliaNJ

TheKnot ate my reply!

Anyone invited to the ceremony should be invited to the whole party. I recommend moving the cake until later in the night, after the appetizers.

Will there be enough appetizers to make a meal? If you are having an event that spans the dinner hours, apps are okay, but there needs to be enough of them to put together a meal.

Viczaesar

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_timing-of-wedding-events-confused?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:486c0e41-49b0-4730-8aec-1f94eb458cb0Post:ef05bf75-b06d-40a9-b7db-c8234ccd6d29">Timing of wedding events- confused...</a>:
[QUOTE]Our wedding is in Oct 2013. Sunset is at 7:08pm if that matters and the wedding is outdoors. We are planning to have a cake and punch reception after a short ceremony (same location). We do not plan to serve dinner. We also plan to have AFTER the family friendly cake and punch to have a DJ, bar, and appetizers for an adult party/reception (still in same location). I am trying to figure out what time to start the ceremony so not to terribly impede on guests dinner hour (before they come to wedding) and be able to tell the DJ what time to begin. Opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by anselgrey[/QUOTE]
If you're not serving dinner, you shouldn't start your ceremony until 8 pm.  I don't understand the afterparty thing.  Are you not inviting everyone to it?  It's rude to have a tiered reception.

STARMOON44

Start your ceremony at 8pm.  Have the reception immediately to follow.  Serve cake at 10pm.

Or, if you want to have a cake and punch reception, get married at 2pm, then serve cake and punch til 4.

Why are you having this outside in the dark?  Because you definitely can't start an event that doesn't include dinner before 7, and I think even that is majorly pushing it, since your guests will need to get there.  

winelover123

You really should start later. I was considering a dessert reception too, but we would have moved the ceremony to 8 PM. A ceremony that starts at 7 (I assume 7 since sunset is around then?) falls within dinner time. Also, invite everyone to the whole thing. I'm thinking since you said the cake portion would be "family friendly" kids are welcomed to that part but not after. Decide if you and your FI want kids there for the whole thing or no - either way is fine, but all guests need to be invited to the entire reception.

Kate61487

As PPs have said 8pm is as early as you can go without serving dinner.  Also, ditto PPs to cut the tiered reception. Either do apps for everyone or just cake for everyone.  My tummy would be kind of confused if I was one of the 'lucky' ones who got to stay for the whole thing and you gave me cake at 8:30 and then appetizers at 10.

Loopyseven

I do not understand how you think this is going to work.  Will everyone leave for dinner and some people come back later for the afterparty?  This is a bad idea on many levels.