4 or 5 hours of cocktail hour/reception?

Questions before I give an opinion :

- time gap between ceremony and dinner?

- will your reception include dinner? Dancing?

- what time does dinner start?

Normally the cocktail hour is there so that the couple can take photos after the ceremony.

@Kathleen: no gap. Its whenever we want it to be! Ceremony and reception are in different locations but same hotel property (just a short 2 minute walk between ceremony and reception)

Yes, reception will include dinner and dancing

Dinner can start whenever, haven't really decided. But reception has to end by 10pm due to hotel policies, so reception is planned on being from 6pm - 10pm.

Would it be more affordable to do just drinks or even just beer and wine with no apps during the cocktail hour?

Any way you could host a casual after party? Just in hotel bar or some coolers in the lobby? Doing that could be cheaper than adding the 5-6 hour to your reception

@Jen We are doing a first look, so not a real need for a cocktail hour. Just trying to decide if 4 hours is enough time for us and our guests to spend time together and celebrate, or if we should have 5 hours. I heard the day flies by!

@Maybride, it's expected to have alcohol and food. It's proper etiquette, from what I've read. Is this incorrect?

@mkebride No, the food and alcohol all have to be from the hotel venue and it would be the same price no matter what.

We had a 5 hour reception (included 1 hour of cocktail hour) and the time flew by. Our reception ended at 11 and I would say that about 75% of our guests were still there by the end. If money is an issue and you don't need cocktail hour for pictures, you could always plan an afterparty.

Following

You can't have an hour of drinks without food.

Four hours is plenty if you don't have a lot of courses.

Most of our receptions are five hours; depending on the size of your crowd, you may need that much time to say hello to everyone and enjoy the evening yourselves.

In the weddings I've been to, cocktail hour is a nice time for people to mingle, because once everyone moves into dinner you're at your tables, and when the DJ starts everyone is up dancing (or at least that's been my experience!) I personally would add the cocktail hour because I'd love to spend more time with family and friends but I understand your FH's concerns.

Echoing Celia, if you do decide to have cocktail hour absolutely have food with drinks, otherwise you're asking for trouble later on. It can be cheese and veggie platters, it doesn't have to be hot passed hors d'oeuvres if it's not in your budget. Also, you could ask about doing a limited open bar with wine and beer if that would help with the costs.

Just 1300 for an hour? Best deal in town.

I agree, $1,300 for food and alcohol for an hour seems like a no brainer. Awesome deal!

We will have about 55 guests, so I'm not sure if we will actually need that 5th hour. But I keep hearing the day goes by quickly and I don't want to regret not having it.

The dinner is a buffet line, not courses, so it shouldn't take too long.

Then I think four hours is just fine.

I am thinking about doing a cocktail hour, my hunny had a great suggestion just champagne wine and apps for that hour. We're going to keep it light for that hour.

I don't think 1,300 is a bad price. That's the price I expect to pay as well. Good luck!!

We went to a 4 hour wedding this past weekend and it flew by! Only like 30 minutes of dancing and the ceremony was short.

I wouldn't do apps, but hold a cash bar. If they really want a drink, they can buy one and save you the money.

I think there is never enough time at a wedding and it goes by so quickly as bride and groom so you have to decide whether the extra hour is worth the money. I think for $1300 it's probably worth it but that's a decision you and your fh have to make