Cocktail Hour Before Ceremony?

I see what you're saying, but can you give an example timeline? What would happen after the ceremony?

It would be nice for guests who are like me, and late as fuck for all events.

Sounds fun! Nothing says cocktail hour has to be after the ceremony. If it makes more sense time wise go for it! As a guest I'd love to be able to sip a drink during the ceremony.

PressTheStarKey--The vineyard is "open" for us to start the wedding at 5pm, but they have a separate house on site for the bridal party to start getting ready available around noon. I was thinking cocktails from 5-6, ceremony from 6-6:30 and then just going right to the reception and have that start at 7 so people can still continue to get drinks and find their seats. I haven't talked it over with my DJ/MC yet, but am playing around with this idea.

Are you planning to have all your pictures done beforehand? Such as first look, full BP, and family members, etc? Otherwise, the cocktail hour is your buffer.

We are doing a half hour cocktail hour first and than a half hour after.

As long as you get to do all of your pictures before the ceremony I'm sure your guests would appreciate this.

Kristin--that sounds like a good idea! Maybe just have the drinks and the stationary display available before the ceremony and then a 1/2 hour of passed hors d oevers after the ceremony. I had planned to do a lot of the formal posed pictures before the cocktail hour, like me and my family and extended family and my groom and his family and extended family and a lot of the bridal party separately so my fiance doesn't see me until I walk down the aisle.

We are actually thinking of doing something like this..but aren't too sure about the timeline etc. It's up in the air for us but I would love to do this!

I've actually been to an event like this. It was really fun! I don't see a problem with it.

I think it is fine. I went to an event like this once, it was a Saturday night wedding of observant jews. The rabbi would not drive till after sundown, so the ceremony had to be somewhat late.

I love it. We do a lot of these on Thursday and Fridays when lateness is a real issue.

I really like it. Thanks for the clarification!

I think it sounds great!

I went to a wedding like this! It was so fun to just chill and mingle before the ceremony. The only thing I would suggest is to communicate the timeline to your guests. This particular wedding had a 2+ hour cocktail "hour" before the ceremony but we didn't know so we weren't sure how to pace ourselves.

I think it depends on your guest. We all have those people at parties who get drunk way to fast. Also, you may have those people who drink eat see the ceremony and then leave, and don't party after because they had all their fun before the ceremony without you. Im selfish so my bridesmaid would be kicking it with me in the back till its time to start. that's what their there for to stick by my side on my special day.

We are doing a 1/2 hour "afternoon tea" welcome party before the ceremony so guests have a chance to mingle and refresh. We will be serving mimosas (limited to 1 per person) and tea sandwiches.

May i ask how this worked out for those that ended up doing it? my FI and i are thinking of doing the same. but cocktail hour is my favorite part of any wedding and i'd hate to miss it! did any brides participate in their pe-ceremony cocktail hour? did you do a wardrobe change into your gown before walking down the aisle (i.e. dress differently for the cocktail hour?).

I am doing this for my wedding on Sept 30!! I'll let ya know how it goes but @SwipedOffMyFeet this is my timeline. I also love cocktail hour and arranged it this way not to miss it.

Our wedding is at a barn where guests need to be transported up the hill for the ceremony.

We have a brunch themed cocktail hour with mimosas only starting at 1:30PM, but be an extended hour to 1.5. I will have a different dress on, and the entire party will participate in cocktail hour. We plan to greet the majority of our guests at this time. We will leave after an hour for me to change into my dress (which is very easy) to do a first look. The ceremony won't start until 3:30PM, since guests need time to make their way up the hill. This gives us and our party about an hour of photos. After our short ceremony, we will do some photos before the start of the reception (4:30). We plan to go straight into dancing until dinner around 6.