Reception time 2:30-8:30pm - thoughts?

Hmmmm.

I hate long gaps.

I like your timeline.

Do it!

I like it. Many guests will probably have had an early lunch so that they could have time to get ready and travel to the wedding, which means they'd probably be hungry enough for an early dinner.

I like this idea! I recently Attended a wedding in which the reception was 3-8:30pm. They had a HUGE selection at the 1.5 hour cocktail hour. They then had speeches/formalities and dancing. Dinner was served around 7:30 and then the final dance party happened. It was great! It helped that they had multiple bars and drinks were flowing all day!

I love that timeline! We’re not late-night people but if some guests want to go do their own “after party” they could. I like eating earlier anyway and would HATE more than an hour gap between at wedding/reception.

Thank you ladies! I was worried about the early dinner time but S is right - everyone probably had an early lunch.

Your timeline is actually very similar to ours! 😊

I love this timeline! I’d much prefer an early dinner to sitting around for a few hours waiting for the reception to start.

This sounds like a great idea, similar to ours! Our cocktail hour is 1-2 and reception from 2-6. I love that we will finish the reception early and have the evening to ourselves to 1) relax and 2) go out for drinks with some of our close friends later in the evening.

Assuming that you are going to be exhausted after your wedding, I can't imagine wanting your reception to go super late. I know most people do it, but I would not want to. Ending at 8:30 seems perfect... you have time for an after party if you want, or just a couple hours before bed to enjoy with your new husband!

Also if you're worried about dinner being too early, is there a reason you can't keep the 2:30-8:30 times but serve dinner at 5?

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I wanted to avoid a super long cocktail "hour" - I feel like 2 hours is pushing the limits of cocktail hour. (I've been to a 2 hr cocktail "hour" and after 1.5 hrs, I started to get antsy for the festivities to start! Although I totally understand why the bride and groom went that route - they were also bridging a gap).

And I think that one of the other PP made a good point - since everyone will eat probably eat lunch early, they will also probably want eat dinner earlier too.