Cocktail Reception Start time

The later you do the more time you give your guests to have a good dinner beforehand. I think you should keep 7:30 ceremony start time, people will naturally arrive early regardless and if you move it up too much they will start arriving at 6:30 or 6, a mealtime for sure.

I love this exactly as is, and I"ve done many weddings like this. I think it's a good idea to let your guests know something about the format;

"Join us for cocktails at 7:00, our fabulous ceremony at 7:30 followed by hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and dancing at 8:00"

I'm coming. When is it?

April 2nd. Lol!

Thanks ladies for all the great advise. I finalized my timeline with my venue. Bonus they are adding on late night snacks (for no extra fee!!!) Holla!!!!

7:00 Guest arrive to champagne

7:15 Ceremony Begins

7:30 Open Bar, Hors d'oeuvres, food stations

8:00 Cake cutting

8:30 Hor's d'oeuvres ends

9:30 Food stations end

9:30 Cake served

11:00 Late Night Stations

12:30 Bar Closes

12:30 You don't gotta go home but you gotta get the F up otta here!!!

This sounds great! Will you have a first dance? Regardless, I think your reception will flow great. Now I kind of want some hors d'oeuvres, lol

Love this reception style. Gotta run this by FH. Timeline seems perfect. It will be a great party no time for formalities lets just dance the night away.

Instead of toast we want to jointly welcome our guest. FH is a man of few words (I'm the talker) so that shouldn't be no no than 2 minutes. We are doing our version of a first dance (signing our song in ASL), cake, and then my sorority song. That's it no other wedding traditions. This should all take less than 15 minutes.