7pm Wedding Ceremony?

Keisha, this sounds delightful! I love the idea of sangria in the summer (but as other posters have noted...my family is filled w citrus allergies).

If you have room in your budget, I might also consider a sparkling toast (maybe have both some sparkling wine and a sparkling grape juice (it's a favorite amongst the non-drinkers in my extended family) option!

Just make sure you have enough seats for everyone. My friend purposely didn't provide enough seats for all of her guests because she wanted guests to mingle. And it was horrible. Myself, my FH, and our friends stood the entire evening. She also did heavy d'overs and didn't have enough food so many people were hungry. The majority of people left the wedding early and unfortunately all our friends consider hers to be the worst wedding because we were all hungry and our feet hurt.

Our wedding starts at 7 p.m. with a cocktail reception following. Heavy Hors D'oeurves, desserts, with tables including stand up cocktail tables and several sit down tables plus some lounge seating. We have a dj and dancing. We will have 2 to 3 types of red and white wine, beer, and doing a sangria as our specialty drink. Outdoor wedding at our home -- about 65 - 70 people.

7 seems a little late to me. I would move it up an hour. I usually eat dinner between 6 and 7 so i would be hungry. I think sangria is fine but would have beer and possibly wine too for those who do not like sangria.

For food I think a meal is your best option. People often think appetizers are less expensive, but they end up costing more when you have to provide enough to fill someone up as a meal. You can skip appetizers and just serve a meal a half an hour after the ceremony.

I really don't like the idea of no seats. What about grandma pearl that can't stand for a long time? Or ladies in heels that need some relief? You don't want to force your guests to stand for several hours.

I'm going into this assuming you've decided to get catered food, right? I'm not 100% sure, but I think that's what you had decided in your last post.

I think a meal is going to be your best option. Heavy apps have to be just that - heavy. They are meant to replace a meal, so they have to be substantial and there have to be lots of them. You also need a lot of variety, since you can't make a formal meal out of bruschetta and meatballs alone. It ends up labor intensive and very expensive.

I also think you need seats. If you want to keep the party going on the dance floor, people are going to need a place to leave their bags and coats, and a comfortable place to flop down after 45 minutes of dancing to chug some water and refuel. If they can't do that, the party won't last as long as you think. Also, it's really hard to eat things bigger than a mouthful standing up.

I'd suggest you consider stations, if your caterer will do that. That will encourage mixing and mingling, but people still get a good full belly. Consider a mashtini bar, a carving station, a pasta bar, a taco bar, a "mancave" station (hoagies, wings, sliders) - things like that. People don't often eat from stations, so it really adds to that "special event" feeling you are aiming for.

How about sangria as your signature cocktail, and then a beer and wine bar in addition?

I don't want to add to your stress, but I really think you need to make a decision about some of this stuff soon. You're going to be ordering invites asap; you need to know what time to put down.

Good luck!

@OP my ceremony is at 6PM on a Friday night, if I could do it earlier I would.

If you have a Saturday wedding I would strongly urge you to have your ceremony a little earlier.

Our ceremony begins at 7 as well! We are serving desserts and apps cocktail style (with some seating at round tables for older/tired guests). We're doing live jazz instead of your typical party (because we're both introverts who prefer to just chill). It's outdoors, so we're also playing a movie, having a bonfire, and there are rumors of a bouncy castle (which I will ****% do in my dress).

ETA: We're also planning on a short reception (done between 10-11), not a party-all-night kind of scenario, so it works for us.

Taz, please seats for everyone, no matter how old and tired their culo is

I'm having my wedding ceremony at 6 and cocktail hour after with a variety of hors d'oeuvre following reception at 7:30.

I'm doing an afternoon wedding with light apps, and we will be having wine and dancing too, also with the "mixer" type idea, without assigned seating. Probably not the same level of partying as yours! But 7pm would only be too late if you're having a lot of children (bedtime!) or elderly folks who may not want to party til the cows come home. I recommend light apps, but put that on the invitations so people aren't expecting a meal and don't come too hungry. Especially if you're having alcohol.

My ceremony is gonna be at 7pm too. I think youre good!

I think 7 p.m. is fine, especially in June when the sun stays out so late. What about doing food stations in addition to heavy apps? If you want to avoid traditional tables, what about doing bar tables for people who want to mingle and stand and creating little lounge areas with couches and such for people who need to sit. These lounge areas are very trendy right now. We're having a few and it's not going to be too expensive to rent the couches, chairs, etc.

We are having our ceremony at 6 then cocktail hour from 6:30(ish)-7. Reception 7-10:30. We are serving a normal dinner in the form of stations- so we have a carving station, 2 traditional buffets,and a mashed potato bar. There will also we heavy apps (5 passed and 2 stations). Its not too late for a real meal!

7pm is a great time. we recently attended a ceremony/reception that started at 8pm and it was so much fun. The ceremony was straight to the point and there was a mixture of highboys and tables. There were no complaints about seating because the dance floor stayed packed. We partied all night long. The couple had appetizers and cookies instead of cake. It was open bar and the music never stopped. I love your concept and because I've experienced something similar, I know your big day will be awesome!

Our ceremony also starts at 7. Kind of like @Carrie we have to wait until our venue is closed to the public since we are getting married at the zoo. We are doing a short ceremony, cocktail hour and then a full dinner. I don't think its too late at all especially since its lighter out later so people do tend to eat a little later in the summer months anyways.

My wedding is at 2 but my reception is at 7

7pm is fine. If you want a glam party atmosphere you definitely need a full bar! And at that time of night, you need to also serve a full meal.

Tara- why is there a 5 hour gap???

I personally would do 6pm ceremony , that gives time after for photo's unless your doing a first look. Ask your venue if they have a hors d'oeuvre menu .