Dinner at 7? And buffet logistics...

morenachica110 · March 2012

So we were planning on starting the ceremonyat 5:30pm. That would run our DJ until 10:30 and we have to be out by 12 so we wouldn't buy more than an extra hour and a half of music if need be.

So I was thinking of starting the ceremony at 6. It probably wouldn't be more than about 20 minutes, then we would have the cocktail hour then dinner at 7 (or sooner). Is this too late? It's a full meal so they would definitely be fed.

And on that note... the ceremony and reception will be at the same venue. How do you keep people from digging in before you get back from quick pictures? Or should we just let them start before we get back? After the ceremony, we're going off to the grounds to take photos so it won't take very long. And I'm worried that is they start right after the ceremony (because it will be set up) that they just start.

WLevine75 · March 2012

We are taking pictures before the ceremony. Our ceremony is at 6pm, cocktail hour from 6:30pm-7:30pm and then dinner.

mamameech · March 2012

Our supper starts at 7:20ish because guests can only enter the gallery at 6pm. In order to give them an hour for cocktails/arrivals, (and set up for us seeing as we only get access at 5:30 pm), we have to have a "later" supper. The reception goes until 1AM so we have lots of time.

In regards to letting them dig in, do you mean appetizers or the buffet? If it's the pre-meal, let them! That's what it's for right? If it's the buffet, why would it be served before you're back? Sorry if I sound silly; I'm a bit confused today :P

volleygurl0306 · March 2012

I think you should stick with your original plan to do the ceremony at 5:30 if you want dinner at 7. If you start it at 6 and it goes 20 minutes, to do dinner by 7 you would only have 40 minutes for cocktail hour, your pictures, and everyone to get into the room and find their seats (and if you are having formal introductions by your DJ).
If there won't be apps at cocktail hour, 40 minutes would be okay but I would try to get all the pictures you can out of the way before the ceremony. If you aren't doing a first look, this would be everything but the ones that have both you and FI. 40 minutes isn't a lot for phots.
If you meant you are worried about people digging into dinner, can you just not have plates out? If the food has to be out and isn't going to be monitored by wait staff, I'd hang on to plates and/or silverware. And leave things like a bread basket (or other things that can just be picked up with their hands) in the back until you are ready to start dinner. I would find this rude and odd for your guests to start eating dinner but if there is no other food or confusion between what is dinner and what are appetizers, it is a risk.

lbarr088 · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_september-2012-weddings_dinner-at-7-and-buffet-logistics?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:a464c18c-2e4d-469b-8eae-3865079cb9cfDiscussion:9998643b-d24f-4bbf-b3f0-2102e91c55a6Post:211b685a-a951-4091-94d8-ed6e1a6152dd">Re: Dinner at 7? And buffet logistics...</a>:
[QUOTE]Our supper starts at 7:20ish because guests can only enter the gallery at 6pm. In order to give them an hour for cocktails/arrivals, (and set up for us seeing as we only get access at 5:30 pm), we have to have a "later" supper. The reception goes until 1AM so we have lots of time. <strong>In regards to letting them dig in, do you mean appetizers or the buffet? If it's the pre-meal, let them! That's what it's for right? If it's the buffet, why would it be served before you're back? Sorry if I sound silly; I'm a bit confused today :P</strong>
Posted by mamameech[/QUOTE]

<div>It's okay, I'm confused too!</div>

smartlypretty · March 2012

Okay, so I will try to understand this correctly.

Have your ceremony from 5:30 to 6:00pm. Have cocktail hour from 6pm to 7pm. The purpose of cocktail hour is for your guests to have something to do while you are taking photos. You should definitely offer some sort of beverage and snack/app during this since it is getting close to dinner time. Then, have dinner at 7pm. It's definitely not too late- I think that is the perfect dinner time. I'm not sure what you mean about your guests "digging in"? Do you mean the buffet? The dinner definitely shouldn't start until your bridal party is arrived and seated along with you two- anything else would be odd, frankly. This is why you need snacks during cocktail hour and someone to direct the guests in what to do/where to do.

morenachica110 · March 2012

Sorry about the confusion everyone! It was suuuuuper early for me. lol! Yes, I meant starting dinner. I don't care if they start snacking. I don't know. It's all going to be in the same room and the caterer has to start setting up at 5/5:30ish so all the food would be out. There will be servers at the buffet so that should help. I just didn't want people to file in while we're off doing pictures, go up to get food, and the servers have to say "Oh, no, you have to wait." =/ Do you think people would just know to wait? Not that I want to be stingy or anything. It's mostly because I know if we don't eat while the majority is eating, we probably won't get a chance.

lv0408307 · March 2012

We are getting married at 5 o'clock on a Friday evening, while having a full Catholic wedding. The ceremony will last roughly until 6pm, while we are getting pictures taken we will have a cocktail hour at the church until about 7 o'clock. Our dinner will then follow at our reception venue which is about 15 minutes away so our dinner will start around 7:30, it is a full buffet so it should go by pretty quickly. We can only stay at our venue until midnight so we will only have a few hours of dancing until we have to start tearing everything down. Our venue is right in the heart of downtown, seeing as how my fiance and I are in our early 20s our friends and I will be moving the wedding to the bars. I say it's a perfect amount of time. Don't stress. You will be getting ready all day long and will most likely be exhausted by the end of the night.

Dinner at 7? And buffet logistics...

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