I am having a candle-light ceremony (which I always wanted) and reception at the Milleridge Cottage on March 1, 2003. Guests will arrive at 7pm and they'll be butler served champagne and fruit until 7:30pm when the ceremony will begin. The ceremony will go until 8pm, at which time the cocktail will follow immediately. So, the reception is from 9-1am.
March 1st is a Saturday and 70% of my crowd is under the age of 40. When we began our planning, FH and I set our priorities. One of which that was at the very top of the priority list was a Saturday night reception to set the tone for a full blown party celebration. Lately, I've been having concerns about whether or not the reception is too late. Will everyone stay till the end??? Will people think this is too late to eat? Will folks be too tired? FH and I did consider these questions initially, but after considering the age of our guests etc., we decided that people will have the invitation and understand to prepare for a late night, etc. Just wondering what you ladies were thinking in this regard.
Worst comes to worse I could, forego the precocktail, hold the ceremony from 7pm to 7:30pm w/ cocktail immediately thereafter and have the reception end at 12:30am. Or, see it the hall will budge on moving our time up from 7pm to 6pm, so that our reception can end at 12am. (There is nothing booked before us, YET.)
Sorry so long. FH always makes fun of me because I over explain things. I guess brevity has never been my thing...
Should I calm down and assume everything will be okay OR, play with the times for an earlier ending OR, prepare for battle with the hall to move us up? The way things are going I'll be old and grey by the time March roles around. Thanks ladies!
MarcellaBella
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
I think that all sounds beautiful!!
I'm having a 6 hour reception, so I had the same concerns...but in my case, there are alot (not most but)of older people, whom happen to be important family member which we would hate to see leave, so we moved our cocktail hour to 6:30 p.m.
Betty
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
My cocktail hour is 8-9 and reception is 9-1. I think everyone will stay, especially if they are young!
dubliner
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
I think its a great idea, and is 1.00 am really that late for a Saturday?
I would make sure everyone knows the events of the evening, and what time the party will be over - esp. any older guests
ChristineC68
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
It sounds like it will be beautiful and a lot of fun!!! I think most of your guests will stay to the end.
Our wedding ended at 11.30 (started at 6pm) and to my knowledge about 25-30 people went out afterwards!!
Sonicstef
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
I got your forum mail so here is my response:
a) A candlelit ceremony is going to be AWESOME!!! Even if your wedding ended at 2AM, it would still be worth it.
b) Our reception ended at 12:30 and most people stayed to the end. Yes, there were a few people that left as soon as the cake was cut but some people are like that - they will leave post cake cutting even if it were 4PM. In fact, many people were still hanging about 30 minutes after the band had stopped playing and the waitstaff was breaking down the tables.
c) I find it very odd when people eat dinner at 6PM on a Saturday - that is simply too early for me. If you were to go out on a Sat night to the best restaurants, things dont get busy til about 8 anyway so your timing is perfect.
d) I find that peoples tendancy to drink/eat/dance/have a blast will expand the later it gets.
stacedz
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
OK, I went to a similar ceremony that started at 7 and I did find that by the time cocktail hour started and by the time dinner was served (almost 10) it was very late to eat and wound up not eating as much (and I love to eat at weddings). This is just my opinion. We wound up leaving when they put dessert out since it was about 12 by then. I have to say, these people weren't my closest of friends and I had no need/want to stay, I think if they were my close friends, I would have stayed and not worried about the time.
curly2003
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
WOW, This is toooo funny. I am having THE SAME EXACT THING!!!!!!!!!!!! My candlelit ceremony from 7:30-8, cocktails 8-9, party 9-1am. Except mine is friday night instead of Saturday. I LOVE my hours and I'm sure people will stay.
LaurenS
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
My wedding was 2 and half weeks ago... our invite was 8:00, ceremony at 8:30, cocktail 9-10 and then reception from 10 - 2. All of our friends and close family stayed until the very end. Only some of the older people left around 12:30 and then others around 1:30am Most of the Saturday night weddings that I have gone to have started at 7:30 or 8:00 so I think that you will be fine. Good Luck
7-11
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
my reception is ending at 1 am too and im worried about people leaving. i told fh im gonna lock the door so no one can get out till its over!
ssdare
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
Generally, finishing around 1am is not too late for Saturday night. My ceremony and reception will be at the same place will be last 6 hours, but we are planning to end around midnight - for us there will be many people staying in Manhattan and it is a 50 mile drive back to the city from the reception so we didn't want to end too late considering additional travel time for many. I think another consideration is that people may leave earlier if they have young children they have to get back to - but I'm not sure if that applies to your guests.
abc7077
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
That is the exact time frame of my wedding on a sat night this December. I think it sounds wonderful!!!
wacky
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
We are having a sat night wedding also, 7-12pm, w/ option to stay later. Thats the point of a fri or sat night wedding. Enjoy it, it will be fun
Valenia
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
A few people **WILL** leave early regardless of the time of your wedding. Plan the wedding how you want it. I have never been to a wedding any day or time that some people didn't leave early for whatever reason. The irritating part that all you future brides should be prepared for is that the guests are likely to interupt you and your new hubbie dancing to say good bye. What a bummer. I've also seen that at nearly every wedding I've gone to.
Fletch
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
I am also having my wedding at the Milleridge and cocktails start at 7 to 8 and then the reception will go to 1am. For a Saturday night 1am is not late at all. Guests will be so happy to be celebrating with you that they won't even realize the time. I also tried to get the Milleridge to move the cocktail hour to 6 but since there is a possibility of a wedding or other event before they will not allow it. They told me they could book a day event a week before so they wouldn't commit to the earlier time. I think it will be just fine. My guests are prisoners anyway b/c we are from the city and so are most of our guests so we are providing buses so that people don't have to drive when the evening is over.
nrvbrd
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
Not too late at all.
Its Saturday night!!!!
Fran M
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
Dont worry about it. We had our reception at the same time you are talking about. Everyone Stayed and danced until the end. We had guests hanging around at the end of the night. 1:00 isn't late for a night out.
jpsgirl
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
some older relatives or parents friends, especially those that have to travel, will probably leave right after cake. (in which case, try to avoid that card giving line that sometimes forms!) - everyone else will stay and have a blast. Do it like you have planned. Also, include local hotel info in everyones invite, in case they realize how late it is over and want to stay near your hall, even if they are not travelling very far, to avoid driving. good luck!
Jeanene
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
My opinion is this is your wedding - it sounds so beautiful - go with your dream wedding! Late or not - I would love a candlelight wedding!!
KarenK122
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Re: NEED OPINIONS PLEASE: 'Late Receptions'
I think a candlelight ceremony is beautiful and I wouldn't worry about the time at all. If some of your guests are prone to being tired, let them take a nap before your wedding lol.
