Need your vote...cocktail hour start time

i've been back and forth about the timing of my wedding. It's time to make the decision because the final invitation proof was sent. I need your advice...

I'm getting married the Friday of Labor Day Weekend, church is at 3:00 in Massapequa and cocktail hour at The Inn can start at 7:00 or 7:30 and will be 1.5 hours. The reception will end at 1am or 1:30am.

My mom and a few others think I should make it 7:30 since it's a busy friday (traffic wise) and a lot of guests are travelling from Staten Island, Jersey or Brooklyn. I feel like 1:30am is really late for the wedding to end and have a fear that a lot of people will leave early. A 1.5 hour cocktail hour leaves plenty of room for those who will be running a little late...PLUS, FH says a lot of people get half days on the Friday of labor day weekend.

What are your thoughts...

Need your vote...cocktail hour start time - Long Island Weddings

I think 7 is fine. Most people will plan what they're doing that Friday once they receive the invitation. And I think you're right about people leaving early. I mean the people that are going to leave after the cake, will leave after the cake no matter what but you have a better chance of more people staying if it ends earlier.

Need your vote...cocktail hour start time - Long Island Weddings

I think 7 will be fine. People will plan accordingly when they receive your invitation and know that they'll have to prepare for extra travel time, etc. If you do go with 730, you run the risk of people who do go to the church feeling like there's too much time between ceremony and reception. So, do whatever YOU want!

Need your vote...cocktail hour start time - Long Island Weddings

7 is fine... if they ARE a few minutes late because of traffic you are having an extended cocktail hour, so they wont miss it all!

Need your vote...cocktail hour start time - Long Island Weddings

THANKS LADIES!!! So glad I asked :)

Need your vote...cocktail hour start time - Long Island Weddings

Definitely 7! they'll have time girl!! plus like you said, if it ends at 1:30 am, people are more likely to leave early, no one wants that!

Need your vote...cocktail hour start time - Long Island Weddings

Def 7. They have plenty of time and can plan accordingly.

Re: Need your vote...cocktail hour start time

this!

Re: Need your vote...cocktail hour start time

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Posted by Caity828

Definitely 7! they'll have time girl!! plus like you said, if it ends at 1:30 am, people are more likely to leave early, no one wants that!

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The whole 'leaving early' is why I also would do 7!!

Need your vote...cocktail hour start time - Long Island Weddings

For a Friday I would vote 7 only because as a guest would be hungry lol.

Need your vote...cocktail hour start time - Long Island Weddings

I vote for 7.

Need your vote...cocktail hour start time - Long Island Weddings

Definitely 7! And if it lasts an hour and a half then if people get there a little late because of traffic they will still have time to enjoy it!

Need your vote...cocktail hour start time - Long Island Weddings

I vote 7! Had you asked me before my wedding, I would have said 7:30 to give people more time to get home from work, but 1:30 is very late to end. Also, something to keep an eye out for....the Inn was AMAZING but I did feel they had our cake cutting too late (it was after 11pm, which is really late, and then the viennese after). We had people leave BEFORE the cake cutting, which I actually find rude but what can you do.

Re: Need your vote...cocktail hour start time

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Posted by larlynn

I vote 7! Had you asked me before my wedding, I would have said 7:30 to give people more time to get home from work, but 1:30 is very late to end. Also, something to keep an eye out for....the Inn was AMAZING but I did feel they had our cake cutting too late (it was after 11pm, which is really late, and then the viennese after). We had people leave BEFORE the cake cutting, which I actually find rude but what can you do.

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I vote for 7 as well! We have a vienesse hour after caking cutting as well - my Maitre'd said it would most likely be around 11:15. I really hope people stay! That would annoy me if I spent that money and people wont even be around to enjoy it!

Re: Need your vote...cocktail hour start time

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Posted by larlynn

I vote 7! Had you asked me before my wedding, I would have said 7:30 to give people more time to get home from work, but 1:30 is very late to end. Also, something to keep an eye out for....the Inn was AMAZING but I did feel they had our cake cutting too late (it was after 11pm, which is really late, and then the viennese after). We had people leave BEFORE the cake cutting, which I actually find rude but what can you do.

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I vote for 7 as well! We have a vienesse hour after caking cutting as well - my Maitre'd said it would most likely be around 11:15. I really hope people stay! That would annoy me if I spent that money and people wont even be around to enjoy it!

Re: Need your vote...cocktail hour start time

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Posted by winnie52376

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Posted by larlynn

I vote 7! Had you asked me before my wedding, I would have said 7:30 to give people more time to get home from work, but 1:30 is very late to end. Also, something to keep an eye out for....the Inn was AMAZING but I did feel they had our cake cutting too late (it was after 11pm, which is really late, and then the viennese after). We had people leave BEFORE the cake cutting, which I actually find rude but what can you do.

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I vote for 7 as well! We have a vienesse hour after caking cutting as well - my Maitre'd said it would most likely be around 11:15. I really hope people stay! That would annoy me if I spent that money and people wont even be around to enjoy it!

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AGREED!! My family is pretty good about staying, but you never know- I'll put up a sign 'we paid a lot extra for Viennese...stay and enjoy it or get hurt' lol jk