Cocktail hour before ceremony

Me and my FH have been thinking about doing the same. But maybe breaking it up and doing a 1/2 hr before and after the ceremony but we are still brainstorming!

View Quoted Comment Us too. I just really love the idea of getting to visit with guests before and after.

View Quoted Comment We do to too. That and everyone needs a good drink before a wedding! I wouldn't be out before the ceremony because my FH has specific demands as to not see me in my dress or the morning of. And I'm totally okay with that!

We are doing a champagne greeting for our guests. It is listed on the invitation separately from the start time. If you do this, make sure there is food available so people are tipsy for your ceremony.

There is really no need to do a cocktail hour before the ceremony. The cocktail hour is mainly to give your guests something to do while you're taking pictures and allows them to unwind and mingle before the reception. You can still take all your pictures before the ceremony and join your guests for cocktail hour after the ceremony. That's what we did. Also, some guests may really enjoy a few cocktails during cocktail hour and it might be awkward for them to then sit through a serious, sacred ceremony after indulging.

My husband and I attended a wedding where the cocktail hour was before the ceremony, but primarily for religious reasons. The ceremony was at a synagogue on a Saturday so the ceremony had to happen after sundown, which didn't happen until 8pm. We had cocktails from 6:30-7:30 then moved into the space for the ceremony.

I will say it was nice to have cocktail hour before the ceremony. We enjoyed a bountiful spread and then had a good 30-45 minutes to digest that before heading in to dinner. The big drawback was how late it made the evening, as dinner wasn't in front of us until almost 9:30pm and the cake didn't get cut until almost 11. By then we were exhausted and couldn't wait to leave.

Of course, if you have your cocktail hour much earlier than 7pm so that dinner service is at a more 'normal' hour, I see nothing wrong with that.

You could have a cocktail hour after the ceremony and attend it so you are with your guests. Just do a first look and take all your pictures before.