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New years eve wedding & church afterwards

Marolynn, on September 10, 2019 at 7:57 AM Posted in Planning 1 13

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We're Getting married in church around 6pm NYE and attending our church service around 9 afterwards to bring in the New Year. We're both christians and usually attend service on NYE.
Is anyone doing this?
The guest list is open; but how do we word our invitations NO RECEPTION since church service is a few hours later... Guest will have bag-favors plc on each chair.
FH wants hors d'oeuvres since most of our guest attend their church service as well. Thanks!

Open to suggestions, comments...

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13 Comments

Latest activity by Vicky, on September 10, 2019 at 7:57 PM

Legend November 2019
Caytlyn · on September 10, 2019 at 8:20 AM
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No matter what time your ceremony is, you should have some sort of refreshments afterward to thank your guests for attending. Since you're choosing to have a meal time ceremony, you need to provide a meal. Can you host something during the long gap between ceremony and church? Can you have the ceremony between 2 pm and 4 pm and just have a cake and punch reception afterward?
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Super October 2019
Sara · on September 10, 2019 at 8:21 AM
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That's an interesting timeline, but you know your crowd better than I do, so if you think it'll go over well, that's great! Are you expecting people to stay at the church between your ceremony and the service? If so, I'd seriously consider providing a meal - most people won't eat before they come to the ceremony at 6, and then would be skipping dinner or leaving to grab something. If you're expecting them to attend the ceremony, leave, and come back for the service, you could say something like "Ceremony at 6:00pm, light hors d'oeuvres to follow. Please join us for the New Years Eve service at 9:00pm."
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Champion August 2017
Mrsbdg · on September 10, 2019 at 8:29 AM
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I agree with PP that some type of refreshment needs to be served especially since there will three hours during a meal time for guests to be hanging around.

I had the same question as Sara. Are you expecting your guests to hang out for the three hour time or will they disperse after your ceremony? If so an extended cocktail hour would be a great plan to get some heavy apps in your nearest and dearest
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Super October 2019
W-K · on September 10, 2019 at 10:04 AM
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Your guests are going to be hungry between 6pm and 9pm. Ceremonies are usually 30mins- 1 hour tops. It's very rude to throw a dinner time event without providing some sort of food.
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Savvy September 2019
Liz · on September 10, 2019 at 11:35 AM
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What a cool idea! Would it be possible to do the ceremony at 7pm, though? That way you might be able to avoid serving a full dinner and just do hors d'oeuvres or a cake and punch reception between the ceremony and the church service. And I would word it on your invitations to say "light refreshments to follow" or "cake and punch reception to follow" so that folks know to have dinner before they come.
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Marolynn · on September 10, 2019 at 1:52 PM
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Yes, it's possible that we could move it later.
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Marolynn · on September 10, 2019 at 1:55 PM
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Guest wouldn't hang out. The reason why we moved our time from 8pm to 5pm because the Leader told us it would be best to change the time so that people can attend their own church for NYE.
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Champion August 2017
Mrsbdg · on September 10, 2019 at 1:58 PM
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If they aren’t expected to hang out I’d still host something even if it’s just a cocktail hour. To host a ceremony and completely skip a reception is in poor taste and the idea can be considered very rude to guests who took time to come witness your ceremony.
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Marolynn · on September 10, 2019 at 2:02 PM
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@Sara. I'm going to use your idea & add.... "Ceremony at 6, light hors d'oeuvres to follow.
Please FEEL WELCOME to join us for the NYES at 9"
That way they can come back if they want....
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Marolynn · on September 10, 2019 at 2:08 PM
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Thanks everyone. Happy planning
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VIP December 2019
Michelle · on September 10, 2019 at 7:19 PM
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It's a wedding and a evening wedding so people are going to expect food. Also, the people that are coming to your wedding on NYE are not thinking about going to their church later on. They're thinking this is what they will be doing for NYE. Your wedding with dinner to follow and then home. I think you're going to have a lot of upset guests. My wedding is on NYE as well and we are also Christian. I think if you decide not to feed your guests you need to pick another day other than NYE and definitely a much earlier time and do something like cake and punch.
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Marolynn · on September 10, 2019 at 7:53 PM
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Like your ideas @7pm. Since most guest are leaving to celebrate at their OWN church service instead of staying.
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VIP January 2020
Vicky · on September 10, 2019 at 7:57 PM
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If you're having your wedding at a meal time, you need to serve a meal. 5 pm, 6, pm, 7 pm are all meal times. Serve your guests dinner, regardless of what you think they're going to do after the reception.
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