Is 7 30 to late for a ceremony? - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

Mrs.Levitt · #1 01-31-2006, 09:08 PM

Is 7 30 to late for a ceremony? The ceremony will be 20 min or so. Takes place on a friday night, we'd be finished by 8 or just before, then people will go to the hotel for drinks and hor duerves while we do pictures. Most likely be eating by 8 45-9pm. We figure its friday night, people wouldn't have to get off work early, no one really has to work the next day. My mom thinks this is WAY to late.

Jennifer · #2 01-31-2006, 09:10 PM

My wedding was at 7:30 PM and we started late b/c of traffic. On Friday nights I think you can start a bit later to allow people to get off of work and get there in time. And most of your guests won't be waking up to go to work the next day so they won't mind.

555Ann555 · #3 01-31-2006, 09:13 PM

I would think it was maybe a wee bit late, but it'd depend if you were having a lot of old people or kids there.

If it's mainly adults I say just go for whatever is most convenient for you.

Evening ceremonies are almost unheard of over here, some people think mine is too late and it's at 1.30pm

ladedah · #4 01-31-2006, 09:14 PM

I think it's okay too...it's not like you're serving dinner at 9, just cocktails and appetizers...I think it would be fun to have an evening wedding.

cru5h · #5 01-31-2006, 09:18 PM

I'd be ok with an evening wedding myself.

Steph · #6 01-31-2006, 09:41 PM

I think it is a great time for a Friday night by being considerate to your guests by giving them enough time to get home from work.

breezy · #7 01-31-2006, 09:47 PM

I think it is a great time and idea as long as you are not having a sit down meal. It will really add to the *Celebratory* mood I would think.

deputysgurl · #8 01-31-2006, 11:10 PM

I think that a 7 30 wedding would be a perfect time for an evening wedding.

PlanetClaire · #9 01-31-2006, 11:27 PM

I think an evening ceremony is perfect. You will be having your kids there and I don't know if there are more expected. They could get a bit fidgety later on. That would be my only concern.

Kim&Bob2004 · #10 01-31-2006, 11:53 PM

I think 730 pm is alright, especially since you are marrying later in the year, 730 in Dec or Jan is a bit late for my tastes though it sounds as if Jenifer pulled it off wonderfully......... We had a 1 pm wedding. You never really said, but will you have a sit down dinner...... that time (PM) is almost European and kind of romantic, BTW, for a meal. I think it also might depend on the size of the wedding and if you will be having a big reception.... And will there be children?

Marrying_the_Good_Husband · #11 02-01-2006, 12:11 AM

It sounds like she IS planning a dinner: hors d'ouerves at 8 and then eating around 9--is that right? Or the hors d'ouerves (only) start at nine. I think that would be a good time if it is cocktail hors d'ouerves reception. If it was earlier than that, people would excpect dinner, too. If you ARE having a dinner, too, it might be a little late. Though I do think you're considerate about not wanting people to have to take off from work.

ljeagle · #12 02-01-2006, 12:37 AM

I really wanted a night wedding. The location we picked every thing had to be finished and cleaned by 8pm. So we had to go with 4pm. I think for a Friday night the meal at 9pm would be fine as long as there is not a lot of kids or older people. I know if we go out to eat or go to a dinner party on the weekends it don't start till at least 7 or 8.

SuzyBride · #13 02-01-2006, 12:45 AM

My wedding was at 7:30. It was fine!

Edited to add my (approximate) timeline:

6:45-7:00 people started arriving
7:30 wedding started
8:00 wedding was over and guests started for reception site about 10-15 mins away
8:10-8:20 guests arrived at reception and hor dourves were awaiting them
8:30ish wedding party and Josh and I arrive and are introduced
first dance, cut cake, mingle, eat, drink, party, sing karoke, over at midnight

wynelle · #14 02-01-2006, 01:37 AM

I don't think your timeline is realistic, but I don't know the distance between the wedding site and the hotel, nor what traffic will be like. If the wedding and reception were co-located, it might work out better.

The problem with 7:30 is that guests will start arriving by 7-7:15, which means they would probably have to leave home by 6:30-6:45, which means starting to get dressed for an evening wedding--by 6pm... so when do they eat between work and leaving for the wedding.

Ahh.. the cocktails and appetizers- but that isn't until really about 8:15/30. (wedding 7:30 to 8..travel from wedding to hotel 8ish-to 8:15.

I don't think dinner will really be started by 8:45, if you plan to take photographs at the church after the wedding (can't get started until everyone leaves).. so count on 8:15 at the earliest. Then at least 30 minutes for pictures, then travel over to the hotel.

Dinner is *not* the first thing. After you and groom arrive on site, then people have to find their places, you and wedding party have to be formally introduced... it will be after 9 before dinner starts.

For some people this works. I don't think I could go from lunch time to 8:30 without veing really hungry.

deputysgurl · #15 02-01-2006, 02:22 AM

You may also want to consider people who have health conditions. I have Hypoglacemia and I have to eat small meals every couple of hours and my doctor doesn't want me to eat after 8. That is one thing you might consider.

Mrs.Levitt · #16 02-01-2006, 03:38 AM

all good things to consider. Yes we are having a dinner.

originally we were just going to do appetizers but all our family AND the caterer said that people are going to want to eat and if its only appetizers then they are going to end up eating twice as much to be full. Our hotel is only maxium 7 min from the park. (we usually make it in 4-5 min, get on hwy and off, both the ceremony site and hotel are just blocks off the hwy) We kind of figure its summer so it will hopefully be cooler in the evening (August in Minnesota can be nasty hot n humid) and will still be quite light out. We figure about 120 guests to show. Not many kids (most would be 10-16 yrs old) Average age group would be 25-55 yrs old so not to old. I figure people will know by the invitation and word of mouth that dinner will be about 9ish with appetizers before and they will probably grab a snack while getting ready for the wedding. Maybe I am the only one who plans ahead like that ? ? Im a little weird about thinking ahead like that. lol

We figure to do the little cocktail hour while we do pictures because it gives the guest something to do and a chance to mingle while we are finishing pictures. (if its a nice evening we will have the appetizers and cocktails in the outisde garden gazebo area of the hotel

) I think i answered everyones questions, let me know if i missed anything

555Ann555 · #17 02-01-2006, 03:47 AM

I plan ahead like that too, you're not alone! But I figure it might be harder to do that with kids because you'd have more poeple to dress etc. Still parents should be used to planning ahead! I'm sure they get enough practice to work out they'll need to giev the kids and earlier dinner... I don't normally eat until about 8pm so it wouldn't be a problem for me. I say go for it!

munchkin · #18 02-01-2006, 06:33 AM

I don't know if you said, but why are you considering having the ceremony so late? Well, not late, but later than most weddings start.

ljeagle · #19 02-01-2006, 06:51 AM

She is getting married on a Friday and she is given her guest time to get off work. I think it would be just fine seems like u have it timed good to me.

Mrs.Levitt · #20 02-01-2006, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by munchkin

I don't know if you said, but why are you considering having the ceremony so late? Well, not late, but later than most weddings start.

We want to give people time to get off work AND we originally wanted the wedding at sunset in the park but since its summer that would be like around 9 15pm

We figured that a 9 pm ceremony would really change the guest list because so many people just wouldnt feel like coming when it started so late. I also hate long wedding receptions in general. The last few weddings Ive been to Ive kind of taken notes (hoping I would be the Bride soon

) and noticed how bored people get after a few hours but seem obligated to stay. We dont want that. We like short and sweet, if dinners at 9 then i suppose dancing at 10 or so and we have the room till 1am. Alot of our guest will be staying at the hotel, im making some of them stay because they are BIG drinkers.

Cirig · #21 02-01-2006, 04:32 PM

Forgive me, as I haven't the time to read the other posts today..

I think it's a bit late. What if people need to get up for work the next day? I suggest 6pm- then you can have your reception until 11 or 12.

TheaterDiva1 · #22 02-01-2006, 08:46 PM

As long as you're serving a full dinner at the reception (since this will be during typical dinner hours), I think 7:30's fine.

munchkin · #23 02-01-2006, 08:49 PM

Ah okay, sorry, slight moment of idiocy. Makes sense, except for those who do have to work Saturdays. Some jobs do entail working on Saturday mornings, as both DJ and I have to nearly every week. Does everyone in your circle have the weekends off?

Mrs.Levitt · #24 02-01-2006, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by munchkin

Ah okay, sorry, slight moment of idiocy. Makes sense, except for those who do have to work Saturdays. Some jobs do entail working on Saturday mornings, as both DJ and I have to nearly every week. Does everyone in your circle have the weekends off?

Mostly everyone has weekends off.

prunella · #25 02-09-2006, 04:42 PM

I don't see anything wrong in getting married at 7.30
In Italy couples get married at 6.00 (when it is afternoon wedding in Church) ceremony ends at 7.00, pictures and sitting at the table by 9