late wedding into evening reception...

Choc-addict

Hi,

Just after some peoples opinions/views on how to do this or if possible.....plan has always been to have wedding, sit down meal and then evening reception but to be honest the whole wedding thing is just stressing me out and I have put it to OH that perhaps just a late wedding followed by drinks reception and then straight into eve party would be better = less stress for us.

We already had planned part seated/part buffet style hog roast (location is barn on farm) so would just be having a buffet style hog roast for guest but not seated formal thingy if you get what I mean.

Anyway, this is all pie in the sky at the moment as have to have a good think and see whether it is at all possible but would just like peoples views or experience of other weddings with late ceremony and party...???

Thanks in advance x

74jax

It's totally possible and something we are considering. We wouldn't be having a sit down meal but a buffet and in order to keep costs down and invite as many as we can we are looking at a late wedding going into the buffet/night time.

Idiophreak

We had a wedding at 3 then straight into drinks reception and a single, informal, meal for everyone.

Meant
a) no faffing with place settings / table plans etc
b) no politics over day guests and evening guests

Less stress is definitely a good thing

Choc-addict

Thanks guys. Anyone else been too or had experience of such weddings?

lisajane8482

When my friend got married she had a church ceremony at 4pm, we then went to the reception after the photo's. She had a table plan and all that but had the meal at 6pm, which was a professional BBQ, self service except for the top table. She invited a few extra guests to come on the evening from 8.30pm with no evening buffet.

I never heard any complaints and since we had the meal at 6 we weren't bothered about eating later.

HTH

Em88

We are having our ceremony at 4 pm and then a sit down meal at around 6/6.30 pm with no further meals later on. We will have a sweetie buffet, cake and a large cheese board available later for guests to snack on. We are have the same guests all day though so no worries about evening guests wanting to be fed.

LEJC

If you are having a later wedding then just look at it as if the reception follows the wedding...its no different to a reception that follows an earlier wedding.

A 4pm wedding is not unusual and once youve had the photos etc then its prefectly reasonable to expect that the reception would start from about 5.30 onwards be that with drinks or straight into the food..so from that point of view your guests will be attending the reception following your wedding

Your plans sound lovely...stick with them and no one will challenge you differently

VICSH

This is what my sister did she has her wedding at 4 followed by a informal buffet so formal tables or anything like it was a really relaxed day and everyone had a great time and no one mentioned an evening buffet as people ate quite late.
If it is what you want it sounds fine...

Hollie84

We get wed at 11.30 the day goes so quick so wanted it to be an all day thing,so church,sit down meal the buffet.my mum had a later wedding with a sit down mea and buffet and it went in the blink of an eye.its upto you how u want your day but personally for me i want it to last aslong as possible lol

kmmr

I agree with Hollie. I know it seems a lot to organise, but actually as a Bride the time flies. We got married at 2pm and after the ceremony had buses to get to the venue. I think the first bus (with all the non-bridal party guests) only just made it for the 4pm start of drinks!

We got there a bit after 4 as we stayed around the church a bit longer, and went to take bride/groom only photos. We got back just in time to be announced at 5.20 to start the meal. We felt so rushed right up to that point! We would have loved to have had time for more photos.

And then dinner, speeches, cake, first dance, bouquet throwing (which we didn't do), plus time to dance and socialise take a lot of time. We only relaxed after about 9 when everything was done and there was just dancing to do!

Choc-addict

Hi guys,

Lots to think about - thanks for your replies guys! xx