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What time do we start dinner?

Nicole VoigtNicole Voigt
in Wedding Reception Forum
Our ceremony starts at 1:30 and will last up to 1 hour.  We are trying to decide what time to start the dinner.  We need to pick a time between 5 and 6.  I am concerned that starting at 6 will not give guests enough time to eat dinner and cake before the dance at 8, plus the dance floor will need to be cleared off  because some tables need to be set   Then I am concerned if dinner starts at 5 that too much time will be in between and guests might get bored waiting for the dance to start.  Currently we were thinking of having the dinner start 5:30 because that would fall in between the two and the debate could be ended.
We plan on doing pictures and receiving line between the ceremony and reception and were going to start cocktails an hour before dinner.  There's a decent amount of time between the ceremony and reception and we want to entertain our guests. Please advise....
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Re: What time do we start dinner?

  • JoanE2012JoanE2012 member
    5000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary 5 Answers
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_what-time-do-we-start-dinner?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:9cdf891b-9308-4d9b-9dc2-b44914040e6fPost:f7bf7f8e-fd26-4194-8731-0e1c2934fe63">What time do we start dinner?</a>:
    [QUOTE]Our ceremony starts at 1:30 and will last up to 1 hour.  We are trying to decide what time to start the dinner.  We need to pick a time between 5 and 6.  I am concerned that starting at 6 will not give guests enough time to eat dinner and cake before the dance at 8, plus the dance floor will need to be cleared off  because some tables need to be set   Then I am concerned if dinner starts at 5 that too much time will be in between and guests might get bored waiting for the dance to start.  Currently we were thinking of having the dinner start 5:30 because that would fall in between the two and the debate could be ended. <strong>We plan on doing pictures and receiving line between the ceremony and reception and were going to start cocktails an hour before dinner. </strong> There's a decent amount of time between the ceremony and reception and we want to entertain our guests. Please advise....
    Posted by Nicole Voigt[/QUOTE]<div>
    </div><div>You should start the cocktail hour right after the ceremony.  You should not have a gap.</div><div>
    </div><div>Also, I hope you are not inviting some people to the dance but not the dinner.  That would be incredibly rude.</div><div>
    </div>
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  • misshart00misshart00 member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary First Answer
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_what-time-do-we-start-dinner?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:9cdf891b-9308-4d9b-9dc2-b44914040e6fPost:769c9678-1394-4b4e-8ea2-f7a4c626670b">Re: What time do we start dinner?</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to What time do we start dinner? : You should start the cocktail hour right after the ceremony.  You should not have a gap. Also, I hope you are not inviting some people to the dance but not the dinner.  That would be incredibly rude.
    Posted by JoanE2012[/QUOTE]



    This. I would need to know other information before I decide my answer.
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  • lyndausvilyndausvi mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its
    For a 1:30 ceremony I would expect cocktail hour to start at 2:30-3pm (depending if there is travel time to the venue).  Then dinner to start an hour- hour and half after the cocktail hour started.     Dancing would start 1-1.5 after dinner started.


    I'll admit I don't eat based on what time it is on the clock.   So while 4-4:30 is earlier than normal I would still eat dinner. It's the natural flow of all the weddings I go to.  Normally there is a ceremony, then drinks/apps/socializing, dinner, dancing/socializing/more drinking.  Too much time between things cause people to get bored.

    I also do not understand the 8 o'clock dance start time.  Maybe my social group is weird? We just do not look at our watches and think "it's 4 too early to have dinner"  or "it's 6pm, can't start dancing yet".  We don't look at our watches at all.  We just go with the flow of things based on the music and vibe.  ::shrugs::






    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. 
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  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
    Eighth Anniversary 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_what-time-do-we-start-dinner?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:9cdf891b-9308-4d9b-9dc2-b44914040e6fPost:262cd2f7-bd9b-43e5-828b-817c45c23d9e">Re: What time do we start dinner?</a>:
    [QUOTE]For a 1:30 ceremony I would expect cocktail hour to start at 2:30-3pm (depending if there is travel time to the venue).  Then dinner to start an hour- hour and half after the cocktail hour started.     Dancing would start 1-1.5 after dinner started. I'll admit I don't eat based on what time it is on the clock.   So while 4-4:30 is earlier than normal I would still eat dinner. It's the natural flow of all the weddings I go to.  Normally there is a ceremony, then drinks/apps/socializing, dinner, dancing/socializing/more drinking.  Too much time between things cause people to get bored. I also do not understand the 8 o'clock dance start time.  Maybe my social group is weird? We just do not look at our watches and think "it's 4 too early to have dinner"  or "it's 6pm, can't start dancing yet".  We don't look at our watches at all.  We just go with the flow of things based on the music and vibe.  ::shrugs::
    Posted by lyndausvi[/QUOTE]

    All of this.

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  • NOLAbridealmostNOLAbridealmost member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_what-time-do-we-start-dinner?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:9cdf891b-9308-4d9b-9dc2-b44914040e6fPost:262cd2f7-bd9b-43e5-828b-817c45c23d9e">Re: What time do we start dinner?</a>:
    [QUOTE]For a 1:30 ceremony I would expect cocktail hour to start at 2:30-3pm (depending if there is travel time to the venue).  Then dinner to start an hour- hour and half after the cocktail hour started.     Dancing would start 1-1.5 after dinner started. I'll admit I don't eat based on what time it is on the clock.   So while 4-4:30 is earlier than normal I would still eat dinner. It's the natural flow of all the weddings I go to.  Normally there is a ceremony, then drinks/apps/socializing, dinner, dancing/socializing/more drinking.  Too much time between things cause people to get bored. I also do not understand the 8 o'clock dance start time.  Maybe my social group is weird? We just do not look at our watches and think "it's 4 too early to have dinner"  or "it's 6pm, can't start dancing yet".  We don't look at our watches at all.  We just go with the flow of things based on the music and vibe.  ::shrugs::
    Posted by lyndausvi[/QUOTE]



    Cosigned
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  • JoanE2012JoanE2012 member
    5000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary 5 Answers
    I get the funny feeling this is a tiered event with some people invited to dinner and others only invited to the dance.  I hope I'm wrong.
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  • itzMSitzMS member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers First Anniversary
    edited April 2013
    Also, Nicole, if you ever do come back, please don't post anymore using your full name as your username. You'll have to create a new account, but it's worth it for internet safety reasons.

    It was pretty easy to find your wedding website on this site, and you on FB as we have mutual FB friends...soooooooooo...........
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