Cocktail Reception?

I wouldn't have a dinner time reception if you are not providing dinner. What about a 1:30 ceremony time and a 2pm cocktail reception? This way you are inbetween meals.

Are you doing the tighter ceremony to save money? You will spend most of your money on the food/drinks for reception. I am a strong believer that anyone invited to the reception should be invited to the ceremony as well. It's almost like saying "You weren't good enough to make the ceremony list but please come to the reception anyways and bring a gift to congratulate us and celebrate the marriage you were not invited to."

I know that isn't anyones intention but that's how it comes off to a lot of guests and how it would come off to me.

How many passed apps can you have? Can you do enough to fill people up?

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I am working with the bar we are having it at the create a good list of appetizers. My goal is to have food passed around the entire time.

I've been to weddings before where many of the guests, including myself, filled up on appetizers and barely touched the dinner. So I'm hoping to have enough appetizers for a similar effect.

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My cousin had a heavy appetizer wedding, they had a station with fruits/veggies/crackers/cheese/meats then 10 passed appetizers. It was a ton of food, but my main issue was we didn't know it was only appetizers so we didn't grab enough to sustain ourselves.

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I definitely plan to make sure all guests are informed that it will be appetizers and cocktails only beforehand.

I agree with what PP said about not doing the time where it's dinner. If you can do midday that would be better

Do an earlier ceremony and snacks. I wanted a more cocktail style reception initially but had the option to do a meal.
I think it's a sweet way to end a wedding, a gathering with snacks and friends. It sounds really intimate and lovely.

We considered just apps since we're having a New Years Eve Wedding and during my research this is what I found. We ended up going with a buffet because the heavy apps that I chose ended up being much more expensive. Good Luck!

For a cocktail party, estimate about 8 to 12 appetizer pieces per person for an typical cocktail party of about two hours in length. Guests will generally eat about 5-7 appetizer pieces each during the first hour and then about 2-4 appetizers in each subsequent hour.

A party centered around a mealtime: Your guests will be hungry, so planning on 12-15 total pieces or servings per person will leave them with full and satisfied.

A party in between meal times: Allotting 8-10 pieces per person is usually sufficient, as your guests may only be peckish and want things to nibble on.

Parties with alcohol: Plan to serve enough for each guest to have an additional 1-2 pieces, as alcohol can often whet the appetite.

Long parties: For parties lasting longer than 4 hours, be sure to provide a touch more food; 2 additional pieces per extra hour should be adequate.

https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-menu-etiquette-no-dinner

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This is super helpful. Thanks!

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YW!!! Be sure to come back and let us know what you decide!!!!

We are having a cocktail party reception as well. Our ceremony is scheduled for 2pm followed by the reception. We will take the first look photos before the ceremony so our wedding pictures shouldn't take very long at all. We plan to have very light apps like veggie and cheese platters until we return and the heavier hor d'oeurvres are served. This way we can still celebrate with friends and family without being confined to a table for an hour during dinner, but if they still want a dinner can always grab a late one after the reception. Just make sure you have enough food and make them relatively filling so guests don't feel like leaving early for something more substantial.