Cocktail Reception Invite Wording Help!!

Please join us for cocktails & hors d'oeuvres while we celebrate the marriage of ____ & _____ on XX/XX @ XX:XX. I would keep the invitation clean and straight forward. Only mention one location and one date. People are easily confused.

Then, you can include an insert that explains that you were married in Napa on 10/13 and include some details about the venue & guest list to make it interesting.

Welcome to WW Nicole ~ congrats ~

So, it is a private ceremony and then you are having a small reception upon returning??

You can have the ceremony mentioned if you like.

Are you going to do a little renewal ceremony for your guests to witness or just a reception?

If it is a cocktail reception, be sure that it is in between meal times (1 - 6) or (2 - 7) and state someplace in the invite that it is a cocktail reception so that your guests know to eat a full meal before they arrive.

We were thinking of doing 7-11PM since we will have heavy hors d'oeuvres. Is that inappropriate?

Maybe start at 8pm?

And heavy hors d'oeuvres are sometimes just as expensive as a full meal, because it takes a lot of work to make all those individual little food items. If it is a budget reason for a cocktail reception, maybe see if there is some other dinner options if you are going to stick with 7pm.

The later time is helpful for those driving a long distance. They will be getting ready and driving (5:00 - 6:45) to arrive at your location on time. If they eat dinner at 4:30, that is a long time to go with out a full meal. If it starts at 8pm, that puts them eating a full meal at home, at a time closer to dinner, before they travel to your celebration.

Just curious, Are you going to have a video playing with your ceremony? Or a photo slide show? Or do a small ceremony/renewal for your guests?