Sunday evening receptions

I have a weird work schedule, but FH would definitely have to leave around 8pm to get to sleep for work Monday. (earlier if we had an hour+ long drive!!) If we had to travel for it, it would be harder for FH than a Saturday wedding. I think it is asking a lot for people to drive 1.5 hours there and back on a work night.

Following! I'm in exactly the same position. We've been going back and forth about what time to start and we can't seem to come up with a good answer. I'm leaning more towards a 4:30ish start so when we serve dinner it isn't at an awkward time but I'm also worried about it being a work night. Almost all of our guests will be traveling from out of town, so it's unlikely they could fly back home on Sunday night unless we had a very early wedding, which we don't won't.

@Alexa- we're having a 2:00 ceremony (lasts an hour) and then starting cocktail hour at 4 with dinner being served at 6:00/6:30.

I struggled with the timing too but only a 2:00 ceremony was available.

Mary, yeah that timing is tricky. That's a pretty long gap from ceremony to cocktail hour. What's the travel distance from ceremony to reception? Can you move the cocktail hour up to 3:30 and dinner to 5? Or can you host that gap?

I agree with what @Jacks said.

After a receiving line, people will be leaving the church around 3:15/3:30 and it's a 30 min drive to the hall. At most they'd be waiting 15-20 mins.

Still since you're choosing a Sunday, I'd close that 1/2 an hour and host it. Move up dinner, that should work!

There's no 1/2 hr gap. I am hosting the would-be gap with the cocktail hour.

Just went to one this past weekend. The entire event was held at one venue. The ceremony started at 4 pm followed by the cocktail hour and reception. Everything was over at 9 pm. The guest count was 160 and everyone showed. People started leaving around 8:45 pm. What I did notice was that there was not much dancing. I think people were a bit tired.

I agree with timing being the biggest issue for a Sunday wedding.

OK well cocktail hour should really be an hour, otherwise people will start to feel the effects of the alcohol.

So ceremony at 2, how long is it lasting? 1/2 hour max, then receiving line. So they leave the ceremony site at 3 and drive until 3:30. Dinner isn't until 6. That's a looooooong cocktail hour. I'm saying move up dinner.

@Jacks My post earlier said the ceremony is an hour and I said the receiving line would go until 3:15/3:30.

The cocktail hour is from 4-5, at 5 we make our grand entrance and check off all the preliminary stuff, and by that time it's 6. If we finish early, great we get dinner early.

This post isn't about the gap that doesn't exist.

Mary, you asked for feedback. On a Sunday night it works best to serve dinner slightly earlier. You're going to find similar answers for a Sunday reception.

Sorry.

@Jacks- no reason to apologize, just making myself clear.

My post is to learn about other people's experiences with Sunday weddings, that's all.

Never been to a Sunday wedding. Probably would leave right after dinner tho because I need my sleep for work the next day.

I have never enjoyed Sunday weddings due to the fact that I have to work the next day. I am with your FH's family that it is an inconvenience.

There's a reason there's all that "Monday Morning Sucks" stuff on the market; it's because the majority of us have to be back at work on Monday morning. That's why Saturday evening weddings are more expensive than Sunday evening weddings. Remember, everything's the same -- except the day of the week, and that reduces the cost on a Sunday.

Many of your guests do need to leave earlier than they would on a Saturday. It can still be a nice night, but I doubt it will be wild with an after-party organically happening.

If you want to do a Sunday wedding, especially when his family is traveling over an hour each way, try to have it done by 9:00 PM. My best suggestion.

It really depends on when the reception ends. Most people do not want a late night if they work the next day.

I was lucky most people were off on the Monday after our wedding because of Labor Day. My ceremony was 4:30-5pm, cocktail hour 5pm-6pm , reception 6pm-10pm.

We had them place the salads and appetizer on the table right before cocktail hour ended , so that everyone can start eating after the introductions and first dance.

Sept 2017Bride hosted well.

The only Sun evening wedding I've been to required a 2hr drive. Only 1 couple drove back home that night...the rest spent $ on a hotel room n took a vacation day on Mon.