Cocktail hour timing???

Re: Cocktail hour timing???

• KDM323 member

  

  June 2013

  what will you offer to entertain guests while you do pictures?

  
  

  The only way I see this working is if you do pictures prior to guests arriving...otherwise you are leaving a gap with no food/drink/entertainment for way too long.  Cocktail hour is traditionally after the ceremony to entertain guests while the bridal party does pictures.

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• QueerFemme member

  

  June 2013

  zoomissy said:

  We are thinking about having our "cocktail hour" before our ceremony. Anyone ever attend a wedding that did this? Or any thoughts about it? We are having a smaller sized wedding, with approx 40-50 people attending. Our initial thought was to have a meet and greet/cocktail hour from around 4pm to 5 pm with appetizers and drinks (either lemonade, tea and water or light alcohol, like beer and wine only). Ceremony from 5 to 5:20. Pics til about 6, then dinner after that. The weddings that I have been to all had the cocktail hour after the ceremony, but it seems like our gets wouldn't want to eat at 6 if they were just served a bunch of apps a few minutes before. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

  Unless you take all of your photos prior to ceremony, this plan isn't going to work.  Cocktail hour is only there so the guests don't have to stand around waiting for you while you take photos. 

  With this plan, you'll have cocktails and appetizers before the ceremony, and then they will have to stand there for 40 minutes until dinner is served. That doesn't make a lot of sense. 

  You could take all photos prior to the "meet & greet" from 4-5, ceremony at 5:00-5:20, and then have dinner immediately after the ceremony at 5:20-5:30. 
  

  

  Websites/blogs where our wedding has been featured:

  http://www.dapperq.com/2013/11/a-very-dapper-wedding/
  

  http://www.onabicyclebuiltfortwo.com/2013/10/wedding-christina-g.html
  

  http://4realequalityweddings.com/2014/05/16/g-christina/
  

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• jessicabessica member

  

  June 2013

  I have been to weddings with refreshments before the ceremony, and it was nice.  But I agree with PPs that you need to have something for your guests while you are taking photos, so either do the photos beforehand so that you go right into dinner after the ceremony, or have food and drinks after the ceremony while you take photos.

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• daria24 member

  

  June 2013

  Many Jewish weddings have the cocktail hour prior to the ceremony, and I like it because I can enjoy all the food and still be hungry for dinner. However, the reception always starts immediately after the ceremony. A gap is very inconvenient for your guests-what will they do during that time? Stand around? Your plan will only be courteous if you do your photos before the ceremony, or host refreshments between the ceremony and reception.

  

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• zoomissy member

  

  June 2013

  I should have clarified a bit...we have no wedding party, so photos would be group photo of all in attendance, and a few quickies of me and my fiance/husband. During the 30-45 minute break, refreshments would still be offered, guests can mingle with each other, and a band will be playing music to entertain. 

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• KDM323 member

  

  June 2013

  Then you are fine.
  
  As long as there is food, drink, entertainment...you can do it this way if you'd prefer.
  

  *** Fairy Tales Do Come True ***

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