Reception to Follow - proper usage on invitations

Everything is at one venue? I think you need to figure out how to host cocktail hour at 3:30 or push the ceremony to 4. If I’m being honest, I wouldn’t hang around for an hour waiting for cocktail hour to start. I’d either skip the ceremony or I wouldn’t attend the reception.

I’m assuming your ceremony and reception are at the same place since you mentioned flipping a space. What is available on-site for guests to do during the hour between ceremony and cocktail hour? Are there any near-by bars or restaurants guests where guests can grab a drink? I would ask the venue coordinator what others have done during this down time so guests don’t feel like they are literally standing around and waiting!

Move your reception forward or push the ceremony back. Do not have a gap. If you don’t, you will have some guests skip the ceremony.


“Reception to follow “ means the cocktail hour starts as soon as your ceremony and receiving line or dismissing the rows is over at the same venue. If there is a gap for driving time to the reception at another location, then you have a separate reception card.

I agree with everyone else, you need to eliminate that hour gap in between ceremony and cocktail hour. The purpose of cocktail hour is to host your guests while you are taking photos.

View Quoted Comment Or if possible take pictures before the ceremony so you can mingle with guests (which couples say they don’t have time to do) and enjoy the food you ordered

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Yes, that's correct it's at the same place. My venue told me they require 1.5-2 hours to flip the room, which was surprising to me as I wanted to do a smooth transition between ceremony to cocktail hour to reception and thought that cocktail hour would be enough time to flip. There's a rooftop bar guests can use and it'll be in a downtown area with other spots and it's also at the hotel where most guests will have a room so they can also go to their rooms (again not ideal).

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Yes, the venue told me they require 2 hours to flip the space hence the gap. So as a guest would you prefer the invitation to be worded "cocktail hour to start at 4:30 PM?" so you knew when to attend?

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We're taking photos prior to the ceremony the issue is the venue requires 2 hours to flip the room (which I didn't realize until I asked them what time they recommended for ceremony start time.) We'll be rejoining guests for the second half of the cocktail hour but totally agree I'd rather be present for the entire thing, I'll talk to my photographer to see if we can do formals prior to the ceremony, that's a good idea, thanks!

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I can't eliminate it as my venue requires 2 hours to flip the room, this is straight from my venue's coordinator . I wish I'd known as I'd have made arrangements to have ceremony elsewhere if I knew.

View Quoted Comment If they require a 2 hour flip then they need to provide a space onsite for the cocktail hour during that time as compensation for the inconvenience. Do you have a day of coordinator not employed by the venue? Ask them to smooth this over.


Asking your guests to entertain themselves offsite during this time is unacceptable.

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I don't want to have the gap but my venue requires the two hour gap to allow for them to flip the room (the ceremony and reception are in the same space at a hotel). So should I write, "cocktail hour to start at 4:30 PM" on the invitation so guests that don't want to wait around can skip the ceremony? Thanks!

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I'll call my venue tomorrow! They do not have a day of coordinator, and they're a newer venue so I'm wondering if this is why? Thanks for your help!

View Quoted Comment A 2 hour flip is ridiculous. Do they have a courtyard or some space where your guests can mingle with cheese trays and bottled water at minimum while this is going on? If not, you will have some very upset antsy guests leaving early and not returning.

View Quoted Comment You do NOT want a coordinator employed by the venue. They do not work in your interests, because they only care about making sure the venue rules are followed. Go on Instagram for your city and look up day of coordinators who will work for YOU, not the venue.

I've never heard of a 2 hour flip. I'd push back on the venue.

I would ask of they have another place to host cocktail hour while the room is being flipped. We checked out several venues where they would flip the room and cocktail hour was hosted within a different area at the venue. It is ridiculous that it takes them two hours to flip the room. Sounds like they need more staff or are very inexperienced.

View Quoted Comment Since there is a rooftop bar, nearby spots to visit, and many guests’ rooms, I wouldn’t worry too much. It seems like these options will help keep most people occupied!