Cocktail hour in the same place as the reception?

BirdyBride

My ceremony is happening outside of my reception hall on beautiful castle grounds (though ballroom is not in castle. Has view of castle). I had planned on having guests go into the ballroom after the ceremony for passed hors d'oeuvrs and picture taking in our photo booth before the bridal party goes in for dinner. 

Now someone is telling me that it is bad to have the cocktail hour in the same place. Is this an ettiquette thing or a preference thing? Do you think it's neccessarily bad? 

The only other place we could have the cocktail hour is on the bridge next to our ceremony site, but I don't  think that's big enough for 150 guests, plus we're getting married in July. I've been told that our particular wedding site is not too hot in July, but I think I'd rather have my guests comfortable rather than experiencing two different locations.

Below is a picture of the bridge as viewed from the ceremony site. Thoughts?

Beachy730

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_cocktail-hour-same-place-reception-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:a962c0cc-c610-41fa-b2ef-a22eb0692371Post:e0da2196-8a01-4dbf-8d52-bf24ec457000">Cocktail hour in the same place as the reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]My ceremony is happening outside of my reception hall on beautiful castle grounds (though ballroom is not in castle. Has view of castle). I had planned on having guests go into the ballroom after the ceremony for passed hors d'oeuvrs and picture taking in our photo booth before the bridal party goes in for dinner.  Now someone is telling me that it is bad to have the cocktail hour in the same place. Is this an ettiquette thing or a preference thing? Do you think it's neccessarily bad?  The only other place we could have the cocktail hour is on the bridge next to our ceremony site, but I don't  think that's big enough for 150 guests, plus we're getting married in July. I've been told that our particular wedding site is not too hot in July, but I think I'd rather have my guests comfortable rather than experiencing two different locations. Below is a picture of the bridge as viewed from the ceremony site. Thoughts?
Posted by BirdyBride[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>That person is wrong.  It's fine.

</div>

ShakeUpTampa

If' it's wrong then I'm doing it. If it's right go me! Either way I don't want my cocktail hour outside where our ceremony is (lots of cheeses and dips) and we have 4 hrs at the banquet hall, it also gives them time to mingle and find their seats

pearlaqua

Definitely OK.

Your plans sound great, have fun!

sklink0486

That person is wrong. There is nothing wrong with having it in the same location. We are having our cocktail hour in a large restaurant and having the reception there as well. As a guest, I would prefer that too. When I go to weddings with a cocktail hour in some area where you have to stand, I hate it. All the tall cocktail tables get taken quickly, and then you're expected to "enjoy" your drink and hourdeaurves (but if there's not enough tables, that's pretty much impossible considering you can't hold a plate, eat, and drink a drink at the same time). Our guests will be able to comfortably get their drinks and snacks and sit at the reception tables, talk, and enjoy some music.

JanoBean75

That person is wrong. I've even been to a wedding where the entire thing was in the same room. We all sat at our tables, the wedding happened right there, they rolled out to take pictures, we had apps and then when they came back, there was a family style dinner. It was way nicer than it sounds, though!

Ljacks87

We are having the cocktail hour and reception in the same room; it's perfectly acceptable. Have your guest cramped in a tiny space would be the unacceptable choice.

Soon2BeMrsTing

Our cocktail hour and reception were in the same place.  Guests enjoyed drinks for half hour/ forty minutes, and then we made our entrance, were announced, and began dinner.  Easy peasy. 

You're got nothing to worry about.  And your venue sounds gorgeous!

katheriner89

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_cocktail-hour-same-place-reception-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:a962c0cc-c610-41fa-b2ef-a22eb0692371Post:fe99022b-50c3-40e6-91f1-fe6e6e439022">Re: Cocktail hour in the same place as the reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]Our cocktail hour and reception were in the same place.  Guests enjoyed drinks for half hour/ forty minutes, and then we made our entrance, were announced, and began dinner.  Easy peasy.  You're got nothing to worry about.  And your venue sounds gorgeous!
Posted by Soon2BeMrsTing[/QUOTE]

This is how ours will be. Sounds like whoever told you that has been watching wayy too much David Tutara.

number55

Ours were in the same place...the venue we used didn't have a separate room for us to use that was big enough for all the guests so we used a small room that was below our reception hall as well as the reception hall. We missed the whole cocktail hour for pictures (my lovely husband did not want to do a first look, he asked for so little when it came to planning that I couldn't say no!) but I think people just stood around the bar, and those who wanted to could sit at their table, we also had passed hors d'oeuvres. It's fine, I can't see how it could really be that big of a deal.