cocktail hour

eternitybride Posted: Nov 15, 2006 05:02 PM

cocktail hour

Is anyone here having their Coctail Hour before the wedding ceremony? I have been to 2 weddings in the past year, one had the CH before the ceremony, and one had it after. I was thinking its better to have it before so people have a chance to digest their food, but then I would miss more of it because of photos.

Thoughts or advice?

Tatum&Steve Posted: Nov 15, 2006 05:06 PM

Re: cocktail hour

hmmm, I have never heard of that...Clearly you would be married at the hall?

Well would you and FH attend the CH? If you wouldn't want to see him before, then you would have to miss it - but then again, you could do pics way before CH so you don't miss any of it. But then again, I wouldn't want anyone to see me until I walked down the aisle... and I wouldn't want to miss my CH...so I after that thought. I vote against it.

Kara and Todd Posted: Nov 15, 2006 05:07 PM

Re: cocktail hour

Could you add a half hour and maybe do a champagne welcome before the reception? Then do a full CH afterwards?

Or am I complicating the thought process more?

eternitybride Posted: Nov 15, 2006 05:10 PM

Re: cocktail hour

Posted by Kara and Todd

Could you add a half hour and maybe do a champagne welcome before the reception? Then do a full CH afterwards?

Or am I complicating the thought process more?

lol, no, I was just wondering what the general concesus(sp) was. the one with the CH before hand, it was more a renewal of vows because they had gotten married a month or so before (so he told me) but it seemed to make more sense because everyone was there for the ceremony, and werent too full to eat dinner. Then again, the event started at 7pm, so by the time we got to eat dinner it was around 10 or so

DanNette Posted: Nov 15, 2006 05:12 PM

Re: cocktail hour

I would prefer to keep the CH after the ceremony. I don't want to see FH until we meet at the church and I sniffle my way down the aisle. I think that once the ceremony is over its like, PARTY TIME !! Lemme at the cocktail hour!!

Tiggeruth Posted: Nov 15, 2006 05:21 PM

Re: cocktail hour

Posted by Kara and Todd

Could you add a half hour and maybe do a champagne welcome before the reception? Then do a full CH afterwards?

Or am I complicating the thought process more?

I went to a wedding that was like that. It was nice. It allowed time for people to arrive in one place and then we all walked into the part of the place where the ceremony was being held together. It helped eliminate late comers and for those who showed up exactly on time there was 'something' going on so there wasn't a lot of pointless waiting for the wedding to start.

stoebe07 Posted: Nov 15, 2006 05:41 PM

Re: cocktail hour

it sounds like a great idea. My mom would love me to do that, but it is also difficult at times depending on which RH use are using.

winterwhite Posted: Nov 16, 2006 05:27 PM

Re: cocktail hour

I agree. I personally like the pictures, champagne greeting, then ceremony, then cocktail hour.

In that order
But I'm sure it would great the other way too

EverlovingEv Posted: Nov 16, 2006 05:36 PM

Re: cocktail hour

We're having our CH first, the the ceremony and then the reception. We're doing this all at Flowerfield. In my situation, we're having outside catering and there will be massive amounts of food so i'd like for people to take a breather bet the CH and Reception.

TnOiOnL Posted: Nov 16, 2006 05:38 PM

Re: cocktail hour

i heard of this once.. but no, we;re not doing it this way

miss nee Posted: Nov 16, 2006 09:59 PM

Re: cocktail hour

im not doing it .. with a 3:30 wedding and a 5 o clock reception..thats 500.00 addtl dollars i can save ..

Julybride08 Posted: Nov 17, 2006 08:54 AM

Re: cocktail hour

I would perfer to keep it after the ceremony. You wouldn't really want all of your guest to see you untill you walk down the aisle. Most of the time. They have it after the ceremony. I think under certian situations they change it to before. Like if athere is another wedding going on and there running late. then they would start you with your cocktail hr first.

October Bliss Posted: Nov 17, 2006 03:33 PM

Re: cocktail hour

We didn't have a CH before the ceremony, but we did have two CH's (sort of). Immediately following our ceremony (which was not at the hall or a church) hor d'ouvers and champagne were served to all the guests that were in attendance. Then all the invited guests went to the reception which started with CH. My ceremony was at 2:30, so service started @ 3:00, and the CH didn't start until 7:00 PM.