Wedding reception question(s)

[hisno1girl]

If cocktail hour is from 5 pm to 6 pm w/dinner served right at 6-6:15 pm, should we also provide hors d'ouevres?

Dinner is going to be a mix of Mexican & non-Mexican entrees and sides. Both will be hearty/substantial meals.

If YES on the hors 'ouevres what kind? Like regular fruit/veggie/cheese platters or hot apps?

Also, the bar should remain open during the entire time, right? My sister said I should close the bar during dinner. WTH?

Finally, how is this time line?

Ceremony 4 pm

Cocktail hour from 5-6 (The wedding party won't get to the venue until after photos are done - I don't know how long that will be)

Dinner & reception from 6pm - midnight. (Bar closes at 11 - it's only for six hours)

Pizzas delivered (or some other kind of munchies) at 11:30 p.m. for snacks before people leave. 

Also, the ceremony lovation is approx. 15 minutes away from the reception venue (no final decision yet, but the two venues are close to each other)

[ECB]

Yes, I'd expect apps to be served at the cocktail hour. I'd allow 15 mins or so of "transition" time, though, from the cocktail hour to everyone sitting down and getting ready for dinner.

Most receptions I've been to, the bar never closes. I was a little confused when I went to one where they did this, but then they brought out wine for all the tables. I can go either way on this. I prefer for the bar to be open - but... it's not a big deal if it's not.

[Deleted]

hors d'ouevres should accompany drinks during cocktail hour.

I wouldn't close a bar during dinner, no, but if you did, and reopened it for dancing, I probably wouldn't side eye that. I drink wine with dinner anyway (there would be wine and beer, right?)

[cleo29]

That sounds great. We had light stuff for the happy hour. Some passed stuff and then we had olives, cheese, etc.

What we did do and people RAVED about was had a special Latin Bar that was only open during the happy featuring mojitos, sangria, margaritas and something else I cam forgetting. Seriously, years later people still tell me how much they loved this specialty bar. lol

I like a light happy hour without too much to choose from so that I can still have room to enjoy my dinner.

[wannabe]

yes on hors d'oeuvres. a mixture of hot and cold would be nice.

bar should stay open the whole time. it is open bar, i'm assuming?

timeline looks good and the late night snacks are a nice touch.

[wambam]

I don't think you have to. If dinner weren't served immediately, I would be more concerned.

[mcfelix]

Yes I think you should absolutely have some food during cocktail hour. Even if it's just crudités, you need something!

[cleo29]

Oh and keep the bar open during dinner. I am pretty sure that is what we did.

My priorities for my wedding were great food, great booze and great music.

[Deleted]

I would have something.

We had this huge fruit and cheese set-up with crackers, etc. so folks could nimble while they mingled.

[luckyval]

Light hors d'ouevres during cocktails - cheese/fruit/veggie trays, that kind of thing. I don't heavy/hot hors d'ouevres are necessary

And, while I can understand closing the bar if your servers are bringing wine to the table, I still say leave it open - some people might want a beer from the bar during dinner

[ECB]

In thinking about it more - leave the bar open.  Even w/ wine being at the table, if someone doesn't want wine but can't get anything else, they might be annoyed.  Sometimes I'm in a wine mood, sometimes I'm not.  And if I start w/ a beer, I may want to keep drinking beer during dinner.

[rugbywife]

Here's what we did:

ceremony at 3:45 - 4:30pm
cocktails and food 4:45 - 6pm (we had open bar with 3 different kinds of hot apps passed around - I missed this because we were taking pictures)
dinner 6:15 - whenever it ended - bar was closed, unlimited wine on tables
dancing - whenever dinner was done, open bar for another 3hr, 45 minutes, so that open bar lasted 5 hours total - I can't remember what time it actually closed...it was late, we were the last to leave at 1:30am I think. Our 'midnight bar' came out at 11pm I think - I was still stuffed (we had a 4 course dinner - should have done 3) and we had TONS of food left over, but I just gave it all to the kitchen staff.

Our ceremony and receptions were almost at the same locations (adjacent golf clubs).

[UMaineTeach]

yes to hors d'oeuvres. Our wedding was similar to that cocktail hour - right into dinner (then out the door b/c our families are lame ). We had cheese and crackers, a chip and salsa table with 4 kinds (mango, fresh, green...) of salsa, veggies/dip, and fruit. I think. I didn't actually eat it or really help plan it - it was all my mom and aunt. Guests raved. No hot apps.

yes to keeping the bar for dinner.

timeline is good

[lightbulbsun]

I would expect food at cocktail hour.

Bar stays open through dinner.

[stephlove]

With such a hearty meal, I would just do simple fruit/veggie/cheese apps. You should definitely have something out. But I would keep it light.

I don't really like when a bar is closed during a meal. Some people prefer to do that. It's really up to you.

Timeline seems okay. I would maybe put off dinner until 6:30. Things rarely go according to plan, so any few minutes you can give yourself would be helpful.

[rugbywife]

oh, I should add: we had no choice but to close the bar during dinner...it was a venue expectation, they said it was too difficult for their servers to get around serving meals while guests were getting drinks at the bar at the same time since the door to the kitchen was near the bar. I can understand that and frankly every single wedding I have been to in our area has had the bar closed during dinner, so I don't think it bothers people here all that much. If you wanted more wine, you just asked a server and he/she would bring a bottle.

[Deleted]

Late night pizza sounds amazing. If the bar closes at 11 will people still be able to get water or soda to go with their pizza?

Ditto PP on saying that you should have something to nibble on during cocktail hour. Everything else looks fantastic!

[bex1973]

We also had to close the bar during dinner - we could only have so many hours and we closed during dinner versus ending an hour earlier. I think it's nice to have some food - especially if someone had a long drive to get to the ceremony.

[AlpineSlide]

Definitely need appetizers during cocktail hour.

I've always seen the bar close during dinner so people aren't getting up during speeches and getting in the way of the waiters.

I'd probably skip the late pizza. I just think it is unnecessary. The weddings I have been to recently have had a similar timeline, but always run late. So we were really eating dinner closer to 8. Then cake was brought out between 9 and 10. So I wouldn't want pizza an hour later.

Are you doing a hotel shuttle?

[auntie]

When I used to work weddings as a photography assistant and back-up planner.

If your ceremony will start on time and be over in 30 minutes, the 5pm cocktail hour makes sense. Depending on the size of your event, tabled munchies are good. Butlered, more substantial apps are good if you have a larger group.

Most caterers will want to shut down the bar during dinner because it makes dinner service simpler when people return to their seats. An open bar encourages people to stand around and talk. You could have wine, pitchered sangria or beer buckets on the tables for the meal.

If you're doing a BP intro and first dance, you might want to hold the dinner off until they're completed which makes it closer to 6:30.

[pantsparty]

Make sure someone brings the bride and groom some food and water/drinks during the photos. They will likely have not eaten much during the day and will be starving.

[sparkythelawyer]

Jul 18, 2013 13:22:02 GMT -5 hisno1girl said:

If cocktail hour is from 5 pm to 6 pm w/dinner served right at 6-6:15 pm, should we also provide hors d'ouevres?

Dinner is going to be a mix of Mexican & non-Mexican entrees and sides. Both will be hearty/substantial meals.

If YES on the hors 'ouevres what kind? Like regular fruit/veggie/cheese platters or hot apps?

Also, the bar should remain open during the entire time, right? My sister said I should close the bar during dinner. WTH?

Finally, how is this time line?

Ceremony 4 pm

Cocktail hour from 5-6 (The wedding party won't get to the venue until after photos are done - I don't know how long that will be)

Dinner & reception from 6pm - midnight. (Bar closes at 11 - it's only for six hours)

Pizzas delivered (or some other kind of munchies) at 11:30 p.m. for snacks before people leave. 

Also, the ceremony lovation is approx. 15 minutes away from the reception venue (no final decision yet, but the two venues are close to each other)

Never mind, see below :-)

[sparkythelawyer]

Jul 18, 2013 13:22:02 GMT -5 hisno1girl said:

If cocktail hour is from 5 pm to 6 pm w/dinner served right at 6-6:15 pm, should we also provide hors d'ouevres?

Dinner is going to be a mix of Mexican & non-Mexican entrees and sides. Both will be hearty/substantial meals.

If YES on the hors 'ouevres what kind? Like regular fruit/veggie/cheese platters or hot apps?

Also, the bar should remain open during the entire time, right? My sister said I should close the bar during dinner. WTH?

Finally, how is this time line?

Ceremony 4 pm

Cocktail hour from 5-6 (The wedding party won't get to the venue until after photos are done - I don't know how long that will be)

Dinner & reception from 6pm - midnight. (Bar closes at 11 - it's only for six hours)

Pizzas delivered (or some other kind of munchies) at 11:30 p.m. for snacks before people leave. 

Also, the ceremony lovation is approx. 15 minutes away from the reception venue (no final decision yet, but the two venues are close to each other)

I worry your timing is a bit tight.  A ceremony at 4, if you are doing a full mass is going to take almost an hour all by itself.  Then there are pictures in the church.  Then she may have somewhere else she wants to go to take pictures?  Is she ok with missing the cocktail hour?  I used that time to talk to a lot of people so I could actually sit down and eat at my wedding.  I might suggest kicking the cocktail hour to 5:30 - 6:30, reception 6:30 - 12 or 1230.

Also, see if the reception place will do something like wine at the tables during dinner.  That way you might avoid getting charged for that hour of bar and can have the bar stay open.  Otherwise, people will start to leave once your bar closes.

Also, if you are going to bring in late night food, but close the bar, people may at least want soda/water/etc. to go with their snackies.

Also, I would still do Hors d'ouvres, but there is no reason why you cannot keep these simpler - one or two hot things and then cheese/veggies/olives/fruit/dip/etc.

You're gonna be the mother of the bride!  So thrilled for you :-)

[revolution]

I would highly doubt you will be able to have dinner right at 6.  If the ceremony is at 4, then having everyone leave the ceremony and do the greeting through the bride/groom.  Then the wedding party pictures - they take FOREVER.  I do not think the wedding party would make it there and have their formal entrance made and dinner served at 6.  I would think dinner would be closer to 7/7:30.

[hisno1girl]

The bar (open, of course) is going to have premium liquors, three beer choices, several wine choices, and one signature drink of our choice (our meaning DD & her Fi, not me).

The wedding isn't going to be huge (100-125 guests) and I can guarantee that anyone who makes any part of this event run late will have their balls handed to them by me.

For Mexican weddings, the entire bridal party isn't introduced until after dinner. Only the B&G are annouced upon arrival.

Oh, fuck, and I still need to get some damn Mexican folk dancers to perform during dinner.

I think I'll squeeze them in toward the end of dinner.

*gulp*

[amberlyrose]

Don't forget time for a receiving line and family photos after the ceremony. Our immediate family was 50% of the guests, and it took a good 30 min to get all the family photos in.
If the cocktail hour is that short, make sure they get the bulk of the photos done before the ceremony.

[DefenseAgainstTheDarkArts22]

I used to work weddings and would recommend having apps during the cocktail hour and keep the bar open during dinner. Some places when they close the bar you can't get anything - coke, water, nothing.

[hisno1girl]

Jul 18, 2013 14:37:01 GMT -5 sparkythelawyer said:

Jul 18, 2013 13:22:02 GMT -5 hisno1girl said:

If cocktail hour is from 5 pm to 6 pm w/dinner served right at 6-6:15 pm, should we also provide hors d'ouevres?

Dinner is going to be a mix of Mexican & non-Mexican entrees and sides. Both will be hearty/substantial meals.

If YES on the hors 'ouevres what kind? Like regular fruit/veggie/cheese platters or hot apps?

Also, the bar should remain open during the entire time, right? My sister said I should close the bar during dinner. WTH?

Finally, how is this time line?

Ceremony 4 pm

Cocktail hour from 5-6 (The wedding party won't get to the venue until after photos are done - I don't know how long that will be)

Dinner & reception from 6pm - midnight. (Bar closes at 11 - it's only for six hours)

Pizzas delivered (or some other kind of munchies) at 11:30 p.m. for snacks before people leave. 

Also, the ceremony lovation is approx. 15 minutes away from the reception venue (no final decision yet, but the two venues are close to each other)

I worry your timing is a bit tight.  A ceremony at 4, if you are doing a full mass is going to take almost an hour all by itself.  Then there are pictures in the church.  Then she may have somewhere else she wants to go to take pictures?  Is she ok with missing the cocktail hour?  I used that time to talk to a lot of people so I could actually sit down and eat at my wedding.  I might suggest kicking the cocktail hour to 5:30 - 6:30, reception 6:30 - 12 or 1230.

Also, see if the reception place will do something like wine at the tables during dinner.  That way you might avoid getting charged for that hour of bar and can have the bar stay open.  Otherwise, people will start to leave once your bar closes.

Also, if you are going to bring in late night food, but close the bar, people may at least want soda/water/etc. to go with their snackies.

Also, I would still do Hors d'ouvres, but there is no reason why you cannot keep these simpler - one or two hot things and then cheese/veggies/olives/fruit/dip/etc.

You're gonna be the mother of the bride!  So thrilled for you :-)

*sigh* My DD is backing out of a Catholic wedding.  I always thought from the beginning that she was doing it more for me than herself but I told her that if she's not 100% sure about a Catholic wedding then she shouldn't do it just to please me.

It does sting a little but it's not my wedding and the sacrament of marriage shouldn't be done to please someone else, even her mother. 

She said they're going to use whatever 'other heathens' use to get married, LOL (She and I joke like that with each other)

[Deleted]

Yes. We're doing a one hour cocktail service right after our ceremony (ceremony and reception are at the same place) to entertain guests while we do pictures. An appetizer buffet with four choices was included in our package.

ETA:  Our time line is ceremony and 3:30, cocktails from 4-5:15ish, dinner at 5:00-5:15ish.   Our location is a rustic place that specializes in game meats.   The buffet will include three different game sausages, chips/salsa/guac, cheese assortment, fruit assortment.

[sparkythelawyer]

Jul 18, 2013 15:07:18 GMT -5 hisno1girl said:

Jul 18, 2013 14:37:01 GMT -5 sparkythelawyer said:

I worry your timing is a bit tight.  A ceremony at 4, if you are doing a full mass is going to take almost an hour all by itself.  Then there are pictures in the church.  Then she may have somewhere else she wants to go to take pictures?  Is she ok with missing the cocktail hour?  I used that time to talk to a lot of people so I could actually sit down and eat at my wedding.  I might suggest kicking the cocktail hour to 5:30 - 6:30, reception 6:30 - 12 or 1230.

Also, see if the reception place will do something like wine at the tables during dinner.  That way you might avoid getting charged for that hour of bar and can have the bar stay open.  Otherwise, people will start to leave once your bar closes.

Also, if you are going to bring in late night food, but close the bar, people may at least want soda/water/etc. to go with their snackies.

Also, I would still do Hors d'ouvres, but there is no reason why you cannot keep these simpler - one or two hot things and then cheese/veggies/olives/fruit/dip/etc.

You're gonna be the mother of the bride!  So thrilled for you :-)

*sigh* My DD is backing out of a Catholic wedding.  I always thought from the beginning that she was doing it more for me than herself but I told her that if she's not 100% sure about a Catholic wedding then she shouldn't do it just to please me.

It does sting a little but it's not my wedding and the sacrament of marriage shouldn't be done to please someone else, even her mother. 

She said they're going to use whatever 'other heathens' use to get married, LOL (She and I joke like that with each other)

Oh you poor Mom :-)

I still think you may be a little tight on time, even without a full mass.  Nothing ever runs on time with weddings, and if nothing else you may want a bit of a cushion here ;-)

Oh, and the term in our family for the stuff from the bakery brought home after church?  Heathen rolls :-)  Because even the heathens that slept in could have some!