Cocktail hour FIRST ? Is this a first ?

Personally I wouldn't.. just because I want to do pictures right after our ceremony so our photographer can capture that "just married" facial expression. But.. If you like the idea of a "first look" this could work out for you. Keep in mind, you also need to sign your marriage license and a few other things after your ceremony. Curious as to what other people have to say!

We are having the " first look " pictures prior no matter what before any of the wedding festivities take place to get those out of the way. Interesting on marriage license part though, did not think about that.

I think that would give the event a very strange flow.

After a long drive I would be very excited to be greeted with food and drinks! Yes!!!

I like it! I went to a wedding this summer where the bar was open upon arrival and we were able to get drinks before the ceremony. The only thing that would have made it better is if there were snacks!

For your reasonings it seems like it would work fine. Like PP it would give it a strange flow. Just be different and weird because of how weddings normally flow.

Could you do a welcome drink sort of thing beforehand and then proceed as usual? Maybe have champagne and a charcuterie board or something for when people arrive, then the ceremony, and then a somewhat abbreviated cocktail hour flowing into dinner?

Hmm I kinda like it!! As a guest it would be a nice surprise!

I wouldn't.

If I had to attend a wedding 3 hrs away, I'm most likely spending the night before in that town so I don't have to drive a long distance and then go to a wedding.

If I had to drive up the same day as the wedding I'd probably stop along the way for food.

I like the idea of it, but knowing my family they would be hard to wrangle from food and drinks to get to their seats for a ceremony.

I'd like it! Maybe you can find out a rough estimate of how many are staying and how many are driving back. If most people are driving back, then I'd recommend going with your current timeline and maybe closing the bar a little early. I'd hate for my guests to drink then drive home 3 hours.

I'm toying with this idea because my venue doesn't allow anything to start until 5pm and at 5pm I feel people are hungry and could go for a bite and a drink. Check with your caterer/venue to see if this time frame is doable because if they don't have enough time to set up, you won't be able to start with cocktail hour. Also, think about your timing for pictures. Pictures of the couple with the bridal party and the couple together typically happen during cocktail hour, so check with your photographer if you're not planning a first look.

We do this a lot, and it works absolutely GREAT on a Friday especially. Most of our venues invite for a half hour ahead and do drinks and sometimes a little food, after the ceremony there is a little more cocktail hour, then dinner.

I like it.

I would not do this. I am sure they will plan accordingly for the drive. For me I would most likely be spending the night in a hotel because I am not driving home for three hours after a wedding. So I would arrive early, check into my hotel, eat lunch and get ready and then do to the ceremony. I personally would like the party to start after the ceremony. Drinking gets people a bit loose.

You're getting married on my birthday!

I say go for it. If I've been in a car for a long time, I'd love to have a beer and be able to mingle for a bit before sitting down again for a ceremony.

Are people going to be staying over anyway? They aren't going to drive three hours home, right? So I wouldn't assume they are going to drive to your wedding and come right to the ceremony before checking in/eating.

I like it!!!! We are having our wedding in our home town but we are having a lemonade stand at the shelter house next to the ceremony location for any guests who arrive early since it's an outdoor ceremony and may be hot, plus they can wait in the shade if they want, particularly grandparents or friends with younger children.

My photographer also said he usually has the wedding party go to the ceremony a few minutes before the bride and groom so he can take a few pictures with just us and not have our friends as distractions. During that time, I think we are going to have our DJ do a "get to know the bridal party" as they enter and do a fun little something with them for a few minutes before we get there. Maybe you could do something like that where your bridal party goes in while you guys take a few minutes to finish up any paperwork or other things normally done during the cocktail hour? Then the guests are still occupied and usually everyone is wondering who all the bridal party members are anyways!!!!

As a guest, I'd love it! I went to a wedding with the bar open before the ceremony and I thought it was a great touch. Snacks would make it even better.

I would love it! I think if you put it in your invites so people know the start time and not miss it by being at their hotel that would be good. I usually just drive the morning of especially for a later wedding even if it is 3 hours away, then hang out in the hotel and have a drink or two or three before the ceremony anyways. Pretty sure people won't be getting too crazy before your ceremony, and if they are most people know how to behave at a wedding ceremony even if drunk. I went to a wedding this summer that had an open bar as you arrived and everyone loved it. ETA: it's common in my circle to "tailgate" at every wedding we go to and have a drink with friends in the parking lot or in the hotel...but then again, I live in Wisconsin and that's kind of our thing.

I definitely like the idea! A welcome drink and snack before I find my seat. Nice to have after a 3 hour drive.