6:30 Catholic Wedding… What should we serve at the reception?

It's definitely not too late for dinner and it's entirely appropriate to serve a full meal. Between getting reading, travel to the site, waiting for the ceremony to start, ceremony, and then waiting for the reception to begin, there is no other time that your guests will be able to eat dinner that wouldn't be at, like 4:00 that afternoon. They (and you!) will be hungry and ready for dinner when you serve it.

Definitely not too late for dinner. In this case i'd probably do al your pictures before the ceremony, and then go right into the reception after (essentially skipping a long cocktail hour). I'd start dinner by 8pm and serve a full meal!

That's dinner time, so you should serve your guests dinner

Full dinner, nothing less

Full dinner with cocktail hour

I would be that guest who would eat before the ceremony. 6:30 Catholic ceremony to me means an hour minimum by the time it starts and I am back outside. Receiving line? How far from from the venue? Are you having any pictures done afterwards with family/bridal party?
Heavy apps, beverages, and party music would be great atmosphere to walk into as a guest.

6:30 is dinner time; you need to serve dinner.

Dinner ! There’s no such thing as too late for dinner, especially if you are occupying your guests during dinner time. Even if it’s a little later than they might normally eat, if someone typically eats at 6, they won’t have eaten yet and will be hungry after your ceremony


I’ve been to many weddings that start at 6 or 6:30. Sometimes it’s close to 10pm by the time there’s actually a meal, but I’m definitely hungry by then, and definitely showed up to the event expecting a meal.