6pm reception help

[bnd94]

I read in one thread a suggestion to have the reception around 6pm that way everyone would have eaten supper at home so you could just have a cake and punch type of reception. My question is this: I would really like to skip the meal(mainly because of the hassle not so much the cost) but 6pm to is supper time. I would like to just have horderves and drinks. Do you girls think that would be do able at 6pm? I am afraid if I have it any later like 7pm that it would be too late for people. What do you all think??

[sstark1218]

First, what time is the actual wedding? Will people have time in between to eat on their own? If so, I think the 6pm reception would be perfect. Let us know...

[bnd94]

Well we are getting married on top of a mounain, so noone except our parent, MOH,BM and ringbearer are going to be there for the ceremony. That will be in the morning. Probalbly around ten. I want lots of time between the cermony and reception so I can get all the last details done. I am not hiring anyone to help. We are doing everything ourself, well mostly myself. So people will be coming directly from their homes to our reception.

[sstark1218]

WOW! That sounds abs AMAZING!!!! I think the 6pm time slot would be fine. Most people eat dinner at 5ish and usually earlier on the weekend. On the invites, just say that horderves and drinks is all thats served.. people will know to eat beforehand. Good luck.. this sounds soo beautiful!

[LaceyinPgh]

Six o'clock still falls well into the dinner time hour. If you aren't going to feed people a meal you definately need to let them know. Something along the lines of "Join us for cocktails starting at 6...."

[WebLady]

Six o'clock still falls well into the dinner time hour. If you aren't going to feed people a meal you definately need to let them know. Something along the lines of "Join us for cocktails starting at 6...."

I agree, it can work but you should let people know. Maybe something like "Hor dorves (<-spelling?) and Cocktails will be served from 7-8pm"


Best wishes,

~ WebLady :)

[SueMartin]

If you are going to have a range of finger foods, use the phrase " Hors d'ouvres and drinks from 6pm."

If its just going to be Cake & Punch, then tell them that too, so they eat something substantial before they come.

[CarlosHoney]

That's what I'm doing, only I'm having the ceremony at 2, reception at 2:30. No one in their right mind will wait until 2:30 to eat. So, once people are hungry, we'll all go out for dinner (Family) and everyone else will go on their way. Later that night we'll go out with our Bridal Party.

[wedbyjean]

6 PM is close to the line, but as long as you inform your guests on your intitations, like the others suggested, that the reception will be only hors d'oeuvres or cocktails, then it will work out great. You'll need to make sure you word it so they understand that it only hors d' & cocktails, and not hors d' followed by a meal.

Are you only having a short cocktail reception, or will you have dancing or some other type of 'festivities'?

[Mama2McKenna]

I think 6 is a good time. I'm doing the ceremony at 6 and my invitations say "cake reception to follow" so everyone knows it will just be cake.

[bnd94]

I plan to have plenty of food there, easy to transport things, like salads, cheese trays, finger foods and such. I just don't want the headaches of having to do a whole meal. We want the reception to be in the middle of a field. We will be using generators for electricity so it will just be easier to have easy foods. I thought about doing a buffet but I just don't know yet. Hor'derves just seem so easy to me.

[bnd94]

6 PM is close to the line, but as long as you inform your guests on your intitations, like the others suggested, that the reception will be only hors d'oeuvres or cocktails, then it will work out great. You'll need to make sure you word it so they understand that it only hors d' & cocktails, and not hors d' followed by a meal.

Are you only having a short cocktail reception, or will you have dancing or some other type of 'festivities'?

I do plan on having some dancing although I doubt I will be dancing much other than the first dance, the father daughter dance and maybe the last dance. We will be doing the cake cutting thing, but I am not having the dollar dance or bouquet toss or any of the other traditional things. I can't think of any other activities. If any of you have any ideas I would love to hear them.

[CarlosHoney]

As long as there is fun to be had, nothing else matters.

[WhiskeyGirl]

Why wouldn't you want to do the bouqet toss or garter toss?? Those are some of the funnest parts of the wedding. Make a small hand tied bouqet to toss if you want to keep your original bouqet (that's what I had done!) and most bridal shops give you a garter when you purchase your dress. (Even if they don't, you can buy one for a dollar or two!) I just don't understand why you would cut this out? I'm sure you have a good reason but for me, I don't get it...lol.

~CanadianBride~

[WebLady]

As long as there is fun to be had, nothing else matters.

I second this idea ... 'here here'

Do what you (and your FH) want and can afford and just have fun ... above all, it is a party and a celebration of your marriage!

Best wishes!

~ WebLady :)

[bnd94]

Why wouldn't you want to do the bouqet toss or garter toss?? Those are some of the funnest parts of the wedding. Make a small hand tied bouqet to toss if you want to keep your original bouqet (that's what I had done!) and most bridal shops give you a garter when you purchase your dress. (Even if they don't, you can buy one for a dollar or two!) I just don't understand why you would cut this out? I'm sure you have a good reason but for me, I don't get it...lol.

~CanadianBride~

I always hate this part of weddings. Everytime the bride gets ready to throw the bouquet you have to go and drag the girls out to catch it cause noone wants to do it. I think there will be like 2 or 3 girls that are single there anyway. Also my FH is very shy and we are very private people so I know he wouldn't want to do it either. I want to make the day as comfortable for him as possible too.

[WebLady]

I think the bouquet and garter toss can be fun if you have an outgoing crowd but I have seen many weddings where you have "pull teeth" to get people to participate and that is just not fun.

Here is some fun facts about the bouquet and garter thing I thought I would share ...

* Why do we throw the bouquet? We all know that the single lady who catches the tossed bouquet, will the next lucky bride ... but not many know where this tradition comes from. It is actually derived from an old custom where single ladies would tear a piece of fabric from the brides dress (blue ribbons were once loosely sewn into the dress for this purpose) to bring them good luck in the hopes that they too would soon be wed. So the modern day "bouquet toss" is a much more civilized alternative to this practice and lets the bride keep her dress in one piece!

* Ok, so what about the garter? Just like the bouquet toss, there is a not so civilized root to this tradition as well. Ages ago the couple would walk to and from the church followed by the wedding party; the single members of this processional would often follow the couple to the bedroom and 'playfully' steal their stockings. The men would toss the stockings at the couple while the ladies cheered them on. Apparently the couple went along with this! The first one to hit the bride or groom would be the next to marry. Could you imagine if we still did this?!

Best wishes to all!

~WebLady :)

[CarlosHoney]

I'm skipping them too because I feel that it's embarrasing and kind of tacky. I don't want to make my single friends feel bad that they're fighting over a cluster of flowers, and I don't want anyone going up my skirt in front of all of our family and friends. I guess it's just not my style. More and more brides aren't doing it, and you're not by any means alone.

But, To each her own!

[bnd94]

I'm skipping them too because I feel that it's embarrasing and kind of tacky. I don't want to make my single friends feel bad that they're fighting over a cluster of flowers, and I don't want anyone going up my skirt in front of all of our family and friends. I guess it's just not my style. More and more brides aren't doing it, and you're not by any means alone.

But, To each her own!

Perfectly put Carlo's Honey that is the way I feel too.

[CindySue]

I have an article that I printed off about new traditions and it says instead of "throwing" the bouquet, to "dedicate" it. And it can be to whoever you want, and they dont have to single. You just say something short about why you are dedicating it to this person. I actually like this idea, because my MoH will be the only single adult at my wedding. I dont know yet who I will dediate mine to, but I have time to figure it out.

[CarlosHoney]

CindySue, that sounds like a lovely tradition! I, personally, want to keep mine. I'll probably get it pressed. I saw one that was pressed, and it was gorgeous.

[CindySue]

Well I was thinking it would be the same as if you were to "throw" it. You know, you keep yours and have an extra to throw. The "throw away" bouquet will look similar to mine so maybe Ill be the only one that knows its a replica. Im with you Carlos Honey, I want to keep mine.

[LaceyinPgh]

Since we are talking bouquet and garter tosses, I am chiming in. (Mostly because I am bored with nothing else to do.)

We aren't doing a bouquet and garter toss. This is for several reasons. First, we don't have too many single friends left. Secondly, I just odn't like them. In my personal opinion I hate to go to weddings and get forced into catching the bouquet. It makes me feel like my life isn't valid or something just because I'm not married. I love(d) being single. As for the garter toss, there is just something that creeps me out about publically having an undergarment removed then tossed to a bunch of drunk single men. Also, I want my party to flow smoothly and just be an elegant beautiful affair. But it depends on you, your wedding style, and your family/friends. No one is right or wrong.

Sean and I also decided to not do a dollar dance. We came to the conclusion that we want to be enjoying the wedding with our friends. Not wasting an hour dancing with people that we will never see again like my dad's friends from work or his mother's card club.

[CindySue]

We arent doing the garter thing either. I really didnt want to "toss" or "dedicate" a bouquet, but my MoH really wants me to do this......maybe because shes the only one single. :wink:
We really arent having much of a traditional wedding at all. Weve both been married before and can really do without all the fuss. I could do without the wedding but my FH wont let me.....he says he wants me to have a wedding since I didnt have one before. I guess I can compromise here. And when Im not stressing, its actually kinda fun.