this is the code for the render ad
Wedding Reception Forum

Friday night timeline

Dear fellow brides,

Sorry for the long post but I need some advice. Hopefully I put down enough info. My wedding is going to be a Friday night because the church where we are having the wedding and reception has service on Saturdays. Both FI and I thought it would just be weird to have it on a Saturday during church. Here is what we are running into. I want people to stay and have a great time but my mom says that a lot of people won't come or won't stay long because they worked all day. I am just having a hard time thinking of all the money we are spending to have people leave right away.

So here is my question, how do I do a timeline that works best? I don't want to have the wedding too early because then people will have to call off work or be late. But if I don't then the reception Is going to be late and people will be hungry from working.

My thoughts were to have music start at 6, wedding at 6:30. Wedding will be over by 7. We will dismiss rows so that takes care of the receiving line. Then do our "getaway". So people will be in the reception area by like 7:30. Dinner starts at 8pm. Is that too late? We won't be having alcohol. We are getting all pictures done before the wedding except for any with the two of us together. I figured that wouldn't take too long.

If it is too late for a full dinner what are some other suggestions? I thought about putting on the invites that the wedding will be at 6:30 and dinner will be served at 8 in case people come for the reception only. I also thought about doing just appetizers and dessert but would that still be classy?

Re: Friday night timeline

  • edited December 2012
    I think it's fine to have dinner at 8 pm.  I think it's important to have dinner at Friday weddings for people that are coming straight from work and will have rushed to change on their way over.  

    What do you mean by music starts at 6, wedding at 6:30?  Is your ceremony and reception in the same place?  Talk to your photographer to see if s/he thinks you'll have enough time to take the photos you want in the time you're allotting in between (not sure how big your families and wedding party are).  I think you still need to have drinks and appetizers for your guests out at your reception site before dinner, if you will be taking photos during that time.  
  • 8pm is my standard dinner time, so I think you timeline is fine.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • Is there a cocktail hour prior to dinner?

    Your timeline is almost dead on with my nephew who got married on a Friday night.  People will come if you give them time to get out of work which you are.  I'm sure some of your guests will have to work on Saturday but I'm guessing the majority will have the day off.  They will stay.  This mob disagrees with your mob.
  • We got married on a Friday night.  Ceremony started at 5:30, over at 6.  Cocktail hour 6:30-7:30 at a different spot than ceremony.  Introductions, first dance and then dinner started right away.  It was over at 11:30, although obviously not everyone stayed that late.  
  • Your schedule pretty much matches DD's schedule for her Friday wedding.  The usual folks left after dinner (elderly, primarily), but the majority stayed until the end at 11:30.
  • 6 is tough right after work. dont be surprised if a lot of people skip the  ceremony.  about the dismissing rows-dont. just let everyone get up and mingle and line up. dont micro manage your guests.

    but 8pm is right on for a dinner (i mean who eats dinner at 6 anyway?!)

     

  • I'm having a Fri evening wedding.  Mass starts at 5pm...Cocktail hour will be around 6:45pm, since Mass is a Full, Catholic one (about an hour)..takes about 25 to get to reception site from church..
    Dinner ideally will be served by 8pm for us too.  It's perfect.  Just make sure you cut the cake early enough (maybe 20-30 mins after dinner)..for those that can't stay too late.
    Elderly relatives/friends..mainly.
    God is Faithful!
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards