Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

golferchick
Savvy September 2018

7:30 pm Ceremony Start Time: Too Late?!

golferchick, on September 27, 2017 at 9:01 AM Posted in Planning 0 28

We think we've found our dream wedding venue ... one snag: they have a 7:30 pm ceremony start time. I feel that is way too late, FH tends to agree with me. The catch is that they have one date available that we could possibly start at 6-ish ... however, FH has negative feelings towards that date, 9/29, because he and his ex were married on 3/29. I don't want to get married on a date that would remind him of his ex ... but I also don't want a 7:30 pm ceremony ... I've asked the venue if we could possibly do the cocktail hour before the ceremony, but they don't really have space for us to do so. Our wedding will be intimate, at 30 guests total and mostly an older group. We haven't planned for dancing or any of the other traditional wedding things (bouquet toss, garter toss, etc). I think I may need to keep looking for a new location unless we can find a way to get the venue to allow an earlier start to our day. Thoughts? Opinions?

28 Comments

Latest activity by Claudia, on September 27, 2017 at 10:27 PM
  • Tamara
    Super October 2017
    Tamara ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I think it is kind of too late. Especially for those who decide to go into work that day THEN attend your wedding. Remember, not everyone is going to take a day off to come. Some people don't have days to take off, or have little days and want to save for other occasions such as family vacations, etc..,. I would only attend if its someone super close, otherwise, I would decline.

    eta- also, everything Richard said about 9/29.

    • Reply
  • Diana
    Expert October 2017
    Diana ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I think 7:30 is too late. Also, I can appreciate your FH not wanting a date to remind him of his ex, but the truth is his ex is a part of his PAST, and you are his future! I would not let his past dictate when and what time your wedding starts. If it were the same exact date, I can understand not wanting to choose that, but since it is only slightly similar I say you let it go and have the wedding of your dreams at the venue of your dreams!

    • Reply
  • JigglyPoof
    Expert August 2017
    JigglyPoof ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I would be irritated at his problem with the date. It's a totally different month... he needs to get over it

    • Reply
  • Ashley
    VIP March 2018
    Ashley ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Nope! That's when my ceremony is and the last wedding I went to had the same start time as well.

    • Reply
  • Raina
    Super October 2017
    Raina ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Definitely too late plus agree with PP's people will be getting tired from work by the time your reception starts. Plus there are people who also work on Saturday so there's that. I can get the whole date thing. Is this just one venue you're looking at? Could you possibly keep looking in your area that would have the date and a better time?

    • Reply
  • Emily
    Super July 2019
    Emily ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    It's not like it's the same month! does he hate the 29th of every month? I say go with the 6pm date. I'd be only thinking about dinner if I had to eat dinner so late. Might distract some guests from the actual wedding

    • Reply
  • Hannah
    Super August 2017
    Hannah ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Hmmm. I would keep looking. Definitely too late for me. That would push dinner back to like 9, maybe 8:30 at the earliest.

    • Reply
  • Jennifer
    Master September 2018
    Jennifer ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I don't think that time is too late at all esp. on a Saturday.

    • Reply
  • Monica
    Dedicated June 2018
    Monica ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    If you're going straight into dinner I don't think it's a big deal especially since you're not doing a million wedding events during reception! But if you're going to have a cocktail hr between then it's probably a little too late. I know a lot of venues that do that time though so it might be more common than I think.

    • Reply
  • golferchick
    Savvy September 2018
    golferchick ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Looks like my dilemma has been resolved. Got FH to agree on 9/29 ... he decided if the date didn't bother me then it wouldn't bother him either .. So we've got our contract in hand and a week to review/modify/sign! I couldn't be more excited. The ceremony and reception will both be in the same room ...


    • Reply
  • Malei
    Super October 2018
    Malei ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I was going to ask if there was really only 1 day in the next year that had 6pm available... but saw your update.

    Congrats on finding your date/venue!

    • Reply
  • Ariadne
    Savvy December 2017
    Ariadne ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    It's a beautiful venue, congrats!

    • Reply
  • golferchick
    Savvy September 2018
    golferchick ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Actually, yes, this is the only 6pm date in the general timeframe ... the venue has a huge ballroom that can use the conservatory for wedding ceremonies ... those weddings would be at 5:30pm ... then they have to break down/set up for the next event. There happens to be a non-wedding event in the ballroom that evening, so the conservatory is open ... they're actually happy that we want to get in earlier because that will give the kitchen a break and time to catch their breath before serving the 300 doctors upstairs ...

    • Reply
  • GymRat
    Master May 2017
    GymRat ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    You already changed it, but I was going to tell you that for my Thursday night wedding, my ceremony began at 7pm, so 7:30pm ceremony wouldn't be too late for me at all. It all ended at 12:30am and lots of people stayed until the end, including the elderly.

    • Reply
  • KarenO
    Master June 2018
    KarenO ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    That's great that you found a solution. The venue looks beautiful, congrats!

    I also don't think that 7:30 would be too late, but it's a know-your-crowd situation.

    • Reply
  • Vanessasaurus
    VIP June 2019
    Vanessasaurus ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I don't think that's too late at all... especially if it's more of a dinner party than a dance the night away type party. Are you doing a Friday wedding. I feel like that'd would be a nicr time for a Friday.

    • Reply
  • bridebarrett4511
    Dedicated November 2018
    bridebarrett4511 ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Since your crowd is older, it may be too late. I wouldn't think twice if I received an invite to a wedding at that time.

    I think it would be best to do the other date, but I understand his thought process. I'd want a day to be completely ours.

    • Reply
  • P
    VIP October 2017
    P ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    It's a little late... even if you assume it's a 1/2 ceremony, then an hour for cocktail hour, you're talking about eating at 9:00 p.m.

    • Reply
  • Rachel
    Super May 2018
    Rachel ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    That's a beautiful venue!

    • Reply
  • Catti Labelle
    VIP July 2018
    Catti Labelle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    It's a bit late and the issue with the date for the earlier start time is absurd. My ex and my anniversary was 10/15. My FH's and my dating anniversary is 9/15. I never put two and two together and only really noticed the "similar" dates like last year (and we've been together for 5 years). I didn't think anything of it (and still don't) cause my life is not about my ex anymore and even if we had the exact same anniversary date, it doesn't matter, as I'm in a way better relationship than my old one.

    If I were you, I'd tell my FH that the date isn't even nearly close to the ex's, and that any day you choose signifies new beginnings with someone way better. And then I'd just take the date that is most convenient to you and your guests.

    ETA: oops, just saw your update!

    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×

Related articles

WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Learn more

Groups

WeddingWire article topics