7:30pm reception dinner too late?

I definitely don’t like eating late, but I would probably eat a late lunch or a snack before hand. I think you did good accommodating for the earliest eating time given the circumstance.

I think it’s fine. But is there any way you can start at the actual time rather than 15 minutes later? Then you could move everything up by 15 minutes.

Our dinner starts at 7:30 as well. If people know the event starts at 6, I doubt they would expect dinner to be much earlier than 7:30 anyways. That's why you have snacks at cocktail hour to help hold them over. I think this is fine!

I'd just have the ceremony start at 6, can guests starting coming in at 5:45 or 5:50? Are the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception in the same place? I'd also ask your photographer if 30 minutes is enough for pictures. Ours asked for 1 hour 20 minutes total throughout the day for couples photos, family photos, wedding party photos (not doing a 1st look). I'd also plan to move guests into the reception around 7 instead of 7:10. It will take longer than 5 minutes to get everyone to sit down. Is dinner plated or buffet? Are there appetizers at cocktail hour? If a wedding started at 6, I would expect dinner between 7-8 so not a big deal!

View Quoted Comment I agree with this. It’s totally fine, esp. since you’re having apps at your cocktail hour. In addition to starting at 6, you could look at moving the first dance to after dinner (this would move dinner up a bit earlier).

If your invite says it starts at 6, it should start AT 6. Don't make your guests wait 15 minutes if that's not what your invites say. I don't think 7:30 is too late, especially if your guests know the ceremony starts at 6. Most ceremonies are 30 minutes, an hour for pictures puts you right at 7:30. If you're having apps earlier, even better! Those who may be starving can snack at least.

I’d die. I could eat dinner at 5 pm. But even with appetizers I’d be super antsy if dinner was served later than 6:30. 7 pm at the latest. But hubby & I, friends & families aren’t Night Owls. Maybe your crowd is?

For me, definitely too late.especially if it’s on a Sunday or weekday.

7:30 is fine, especially with a cocktail hour— just make sure you have plenty of snacks!
6:30 is a super common start time for weddings in my area and food often comes wayyy later that 7:30!

For what it’s worth, the only time I’d be annoyed by this as a guest would be if there were tons of formalities we had to sit through before being fed, like speeches and group dances and whatever else people might do. You’re talking about a super quick ceremony, snacks immediately after, then dinner after just an entrance and a dance— no big deal. If you had a drawn out entrance, all the spotlight dances , and speeches all before food rolled out, that’s when you could worry about guests getting antsy

I don’t see this as a problem at all. Especially if your guests know what time dinner is going to be. If they’re used to eating earlier, they can just have a snack before the wedding. No big deal!

Our wedding isn't scheduled to start until 6:30 pm (because we want the photos to be taken after the ceremony and also around dusk) and I'm not at all concerned about it. Ceremony will probably last 15-20 minutes at the most and then guests will have a shortened cocktail hour while we take photos, as I don't expect it to take a full hour and then dinner will be served.

Considering you're hosting a cocktail hour, 7:30 pm is fine.

I think this is more than fine with cocktails/apps starting at 6:40pm. My Italian mom always served dinner at 5pm, sometimes now she stretches it to 5:30pm. Now that I live in my own house I eat anywhere from 6-730pm. Most Americans eat later I feel like. All my friends always thought I was strange for eating so early. Lol

Depends on your crowd. If you are younger (early to mid 20's) this is not a biggie for the most part. An older crowd does not like to eat this late. I eat this late daily, so it wouldn't even phase me.

I mean come on, you have to know if you get the invite that if the ceremony is at 6, you will not be eating dinner before 7, people will complain, but it is one day they will eat a late dinner. Eat a snack on the way and be happy for the couple.