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Ceremony Timing

muppet686muppet686 member
Third Anniversary 5 Love Its First Comment
in Wedding Etiquette Forum
Hello! I've learned so much from stalking this board, so thank you all! I have a question about timing for my ceremony and reception. The ceremony is at a church at 2pm, followed immediately by a reception at my parents house (about 20 minutes away). Half of our guests will be traveling significant distances so we would like to serve a full meal- but it was recently pointed out to me that guests may not expect a full meal at that time of day. With the ceremony time (Catholic mass lasting 45-60 min) and travel time, guests might not be sitting down to eat until 3:30.

So my question is this: should I move my ceremony time (I can do as early as 11:30, and 2pm is the latest possible), or if the timing is ok how should I go about telling guests what to expect so they can plan accordingly?
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Re: Ceremony Timing

  • Teddy917Teddy917 member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Third Anniversary First Answer
    I probably would eat beforehand (or shove snacks in my purse) but I'm the kind of person who does that no matter what time of day the reception is at, just in case it's not hosted properly. But I still think it is fine to still do a nice "high tea" or whatever it would be called at that time of day. I would be pleasantly surprised and would still eat.
    Plus depending on how long you're figuring the reception to last, you might be slightly overlapping dinnertime.
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  • 32daisies32daisies member
    100 Comments Second Anniversary 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    Maybe start with appetizers when guests get to your parents' hour at 3:30, and then serve dinner at 4:30? That's a little early but not much. You should offer them *something* when they get to the house, but then you could do the full meal later.
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  • banana468banana468 member
    Knottie Warrior 25000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    Can you add a receiving line and have a slightly longer cocktail hour? That's what we did following our 2 PM ceremony and it was no issue.
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  • kipnuskipnus member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    I would definitely eat lunch before a 2 pm wedding. I like the idea of adding a cocktail hour, and maybe you could even do spotlight dances before serving supper, just to push it a little later.
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  • QueerFemmeQueerFemme member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    we had a 3pm ceremony that only lasted about 15 minutes.  we served a full meal around 4:15.  Not at a meal time, but everyone ate.  I wouldn't worry too much... if there is food, people will eat it.

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    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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  • muppet686muppet686 member
    Third Anniversary 5 Love Its First Comment
    Thank you everyone! We'll stick with our ceremony time and add in a cocktail hour to push dinner back a bit.
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  • MayDay513MayDay513 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments 5 Answers First Anniversary
    muppet686 said:
    Thank you everyone! We'll stick with our ceremony time and add in a cocktail hour to push dinner back a bit.
    Oh don't forget. Even though it's only 20 min away from your house. Guests my mingle and linger after the service. I would say if you did cocktail hour at 4-5 and dinner starting at 5ish. you would be good to go.
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  • monkeysipmonkeysip member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    Our ceremony was at 2. Cocktail hour with appetizers from 3:30 until around 4:45 when we were introduced and did first dance. The we opened up the dance floor for a little while, and first course of dinner was served around 5:30. Reception ended at 9. It worked out fine that way for us. You don't need to serve dinner right when the reception starts, or even right after cocktail hour.

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