Wedding not during meal time

If it's at noon-1:30, I would expect some sort of lunch. 1:30-3:00, you can get away with a cake and punch reception (which you would write on your invite: Cake and punch reception to follow). Later than 3:00pm, I'm expecting dinner.

1pm=yes

noon=yes

non-meal time=2-3pm and last two hours at most

Please join us for refreshments at....

I find it a bit problematic in all cases, especially if you have people traveling. Typically, your guests will get up, have a little something, get dressed, come to the wedding, sit through the ceremony, and by that time, no matter what time that is, they are going to be hungry.

Yes, 2:00 PM for a reception to start is different than 8:00 to start, but if you think about the logistics of a guest getting to a 2:00 wedding....it's not that much different.

You can put, on the invite, "join us for light refreshments after the ceremony", or "hors d'oeuvres and cocktails to follow", which kinda clues people in, and WOM is your friend.

1pm ceremony with appetizers and cocktails to follow.

@Celia I actually agree; I'd probably be hungry in that case. I didn't really consider that. Perhaps we can do heavy apps, that way in case people have eaten and don't want a full meal, they don't feel obligated to eat a lot, but it would still be there in case they haven't.

ETA- Plus, alcohol without food is a no go for me!

I think an ideal start time would be 2:00 p.m. if you're trying to avoid mealtimes. Then you could have the ceremony and party from 2-5. I think "Hors d'evours and cocktails to follow"

ETA: I spelled it wrong, but obviously you should spell it correctly lol

3 PM - No meal.

Noon-1:30 I would want food. I vote 2 pm start time, cake and cocktails to follow or something like that on the invites

@Stoked-Most of the weddings I go to have a 3pm ceremony followed by a cocktail hour, then dinner at 5:00-5:30pm. Keep in mind that most of the weddings that I've gone to, go until about 2am. So yes, I see a 3pm ceremony, I assume meal.

My wedding is at 12 and i am providing a full meal. I would say yes you need food.

I would go with 2 or 3. I get the point re people traveling, only OP knows how local the people are.

If a Friday or Saturday, 8PM is prime dinner time here, no one would expect a meal at 5. Its a know your crowd type thing.

I think you're fine if the ceremony starts after 1:30 and ends around 4.

Don't be like my friends, who eloped and are now having a wedding celebration out of state (that will cost my FH and I over a grand to attend) and only serving cocktails and hors d'oeuvres from 4:00-7:00pm. Am I salty? Absolutely.

I think a 1:30 or 2pm ceremony is good -- I will have already eaten lunch ahead of time, because that's way too late for me for lunch. Often invitations say "dinner and dancing to follow" so you could say "refreshments and dancing to follow" or if you're thinking something more casual, "refreshments and cocktails to follow", something like that. Your reception should end by 5 or 5:30.

I agree with pp, start at 2. on the invitations write cocktails and appetizers to follow

I had my ceremony at 1, cocktail hour 1:30-2:30 with appetizers, and a full meal at 3. Feed your guests.

I say a 2:00 ceremony. State "light refreshments to follow" to indicate it won't be a full meal. And have it wrapped up by 4:30.

I think it really depends on where you are because both expectations and meal times are different

I'd say

Prior to 10:30 am I wouldn't expect a meal (maybe a bagel bar, brunch, mini sandwich thing)

1-4 I wouldn't expect a meal (but again closer to meal like hors d'oeurves sliders, sandwiches, etc on either end)

And after 7:30 I wouldn't expect a meal

Also the reception venue plays a role. I know if the reception is in the church hall not to expect a meal.

1pm yes.

I wouldn't expect a meal for a 2pm or 3pm ceremony, or like a 9pm ceremony, but that's it.