8:30pm too late for dinner?

For me its too late lol...only bc i dont like to eat after 8pm however 830pm is pretyy good for a wedding especailly if the Cermony began at 6pm. That's very understanable.

Yes I would say this is late. Our Wedding is at 3pm we arrive at our reception 430pm we are doing signature cocktails at 4pm and dinner btwn 430 to 5pm.

Is the meal times based on culture as well? I also think it depends on where (city / country) your wedding is taking place in. Are the majority of your guests the same ethnicity and do they follow your culture or are the majority (for lack of better term - apologies in advance) straight up Americans (I'm 1st generation American, but my customs follow my Hungarian heritage)

For Example - in Greece, I'd highly anticipate a late dinner it's more uncommon to eat anything substanial before 8-9pm. Most of Europe dinners occurs in the later hours as well

Most Americans eat dinner earlier so main courses are around 7 - 7:30 the latest.

I think if you're keeping your wedding reception cultural to your native ethnicity / culture - then following your customs is perfectly fine because it allows your guests to experience your culture.

On a personal note, the time is a little late for me, and if you have all that food in advance, I'd probably end up skipping the main.

View Quoted Comment I’ve more based the times (at least as they are now) on time to dance in between and allow the kitchen to churn food out. Entrees would be served at 7:15pm, it would only be mains coming out at 8:30pm (perhaps I should have changed the title!). I’m also thinking we spread the meals out because people will be drinking a lot (haha probably on par with a Hungarian wedding )

I would say yes but it sounds like you guys are eating something starting at 6. So I think it’s fine.

I think 8:30 is a little late for most people, but I don't think it's awful as long as there will be sufficient appetizers.

I don't think its late especially since there's going to be food before dinner. It's a wedding and people can eat dinner late one day.

I think 8:30 is fine especially if the ceremony starts at 6. Plus you’ll have food around for them to snack on.

I only think it's too late if you're not feeding people until then, but that doesn't sound like that's the case.

Is there a cocktail hour?

I think it'a pretty common in cultural weddings to eat late. And it's also common to be fed throughout the day (for some cultures, even during the ceremony itself). If you're concerned that some guests may think it's late, give those who aren't familiar with your traditions a heads up. On my wedding website, I have a note that guests may want to have a snack and take a nap since the reception is late, lol!


Also, if the reception is at a place that does lots of catering and events, you don't need to schedule out the dinner service. Let them know that you want the first course to be served at X pm, and then they can tell you the timing of each subsequent course.

Yes, I think it’s too late for most guests. It depends on your crowd though, and if most people are aware of the cultural norms for your day.

In my opinion, 7:30 - 8:00 is the latest dinner should be served. I would be starving by 8:30.

I don’t think it’s late based on the timeline you described.

That feels pretty late for dinner to me

That feels late to me. I'm also not a fan at all of weddings where the dinner stretches out for several hours. I just want the salad, then the entree 20 or so minutes after, then a "get it yourself" dessert bar so people can walk around and dance and don't have to get up to dance, go back to their table, get up to dance, back to their table, etc.

I think it's okay. It feels late but people will likely have the foresight to have a snack before they leave since your ceremony is within the dinner-time range.

View Quoted Comment

You realize all weddings are cultural events, the question is just what is the culture you’re reflecting.

I'm confused about the distinction you're making between entrees and mains. Does entree mean something other than main course where you are?

View Quoted Comment

Yes, in Australia an entree is what you would call an appetiser (to us an appetiser is something small you have before your entree) and the main is actually the second course (what you call an entree).

So at our wedding:

6-7pm: cocktail hour with canapes

7pm: guests sit down for reception, some appetisers on tables

7:15pm: entrees (1st proper course) served

8:30/8:45pm: mains (2nd proper course) served

10pm: dessert + wedding cake served