For brides getting married at the Reception Location-

taraalissa Posted: Jan 13, 2003 05:13 PM

For brides getting married at the Reception Location-

Is anyone having their cocktail hour BEFORE the Cermony. In other words

Cocktail Hour
Ceremony
Reception

If so, aren't you worried that people will not realize that the cocktail hour is first because they only pay attention to the cermony time listed on the invitation? I may have to do this so that I can have the Rabbi I want but am worried people WON'T realize that the event starts an hour before since people don't pay too much attention to anything besides the main invitation which only lists the cermony time.

octobergirl Posted: Jan 13, 2003 05:18 PM

Re: For brides getting married at the Reception Location-

What does your invite say? Can you just invite people for the time the cocktail hour starts, and not the ceremony time?

Sassyz75 Posted: Jan 13, 2003 05:22 PM

Re: For brides getting married at the Reception Location-

I just went to a wedding at temple and the invite said 8pm and it was for the cocktail hour.. not the ceremony. The ceremony didn't start until like 915-9.30. Half of us were super confused when we walked in!

taraalissa Posted: Jan 13, 2003 05:22 PM

Re: For brides getting married at the Reception Location-

I suppose I could (they haven't been printed yet), but the invite should say 'when they are joined in marriage at half past twelve etc,' not 'when you line up for free booze' I mean I want the invite to say the time we are getting married on it. You know? Other wise its just confusing. And believe me, with the crew of brain surgeons I have coming to my wedding, I need to be very clear.

octobergirl Posted: Jan 13, 2003 05:25 PM

Re: For brides getting married at the Reception Location-

what about something like 'as they are joined in marriage at half past twelve'
then somewhere underneath 'cocktail hour will begin at half past 11' or something like that, worded better than that, but at least they will know the schedule.

What-Now Posted: Jan 13, 2003 05:26 PM

Re: For brides getting married at the Reception Location-

I didn't list the ceremony time, it just says 'at 5 o'clock in the evening' on the invitation. That's the official time of our contract with the country club. At five there will be some champagne and strawberries, our choopah starts at 5:30 and cocktail hour at 6:00. So, hopefully everyone is going to show up on time.

You should probably invite people for the time your cocktail hour starts but mention ceremony time in the invitation, in other words: 'Mr. and Mrs. smith request the honor of your blah-blah-blah at 5 pm. Blah blah blah, Ceremony starts at 6 pm.' This way they will know the first hour is cocktail. Good luck!

taraalissa Posted: Jan 13, 2003 06:50 PM

Re: For brides getting married at the Reception Location-

anyone else?

christy Posted: Jan 13, 2003 06:53 PM

Re: For brides getting married at the Reception Location-

hmmmmm that's hard. Maybe ask the maitre d how they can transition people from cocktails to the ceremony. Our ceremony is first, so I wish I could help you more.

eroxgirl Posted: Jan 13, 2003 07:08 PM

Re: For brides getting married at the Reception Location-

Your invitations should read 'reception immediately following' or something along those lines to let people know... you don't need to put your cocktail hour first if you don't want to... people will realize when they see that.

taraalissa Posted: Jan 13, 2003 07:27 PM

Re: For brides getting married at the Reception Location-

I dont think I explained it right.

The main invite needs to say the time of the ceremony i.e. Blah Blah Blah at one o'clock.

Now, let's say the cocktail hour is at 12:00. How do I get them to realize that the cocktail hour is at 12 o'clock if they read the invite and see 1 o'clock. What if some people don't read the reception card where it says that the cocktail hour is first! What if they don't show up until 1 and miss my cocktail hour because they didn't realize that it was BEFORE the ceremony!!!!!!!!

Oh the stress!

FutureMrsK Posted: Jan 13, 2003 07:48 PM

Re: For brides getting married at the Reception Location-

Do you have to list the time that you're actually getting married? My cocktail hour was after the ceremony - but we had a traditional Tish & Bedeken ceremony before the actual wedding. The invitation simply stated 3pm - though the tish/bedeken started at about 3:15 - and the wedding ceremony started at around 4pm. The big advantage is that all your guests are definitely there by the time the ceremony starts. It's better for them to be late for the cocktail hour then to the ceremony. I know that you want the actual time of the ceremony on your invitations - but it may be less confusing for your guests to only have one time. Can you ask the person printing your invitations if he/she has a suggestion if you really want to list both times? Either way - please try not to let this decision stress you out. It will be fine!

MSCJLK Posted: Jan 13, 2003 08:54 PM

Re: For brides getting married at the Reception Location-

I went to a thursday night wedding that did Cocktail hour , ceremony, and then reception. It is a very traditional Jewsuh ceremony and you won't be able to speng the cocktail hour mingeling..you Fh will and to pay all that money to be taking pictures....I did Ceremony, cocktail hour and then my reception....It depends.. Do you feel that people will not show up on time?