Wine & Cheese Reception Time....

Following...We're basically doing the same thing!

What time of day? You should not have it during meal time if you are not serving a meal. It should not be longer than 3 hours if you are not serving a meal. Change your avatar.

This sounds great, and really well thought out, as long as you aren't planning to do it at a meal time. Around say 1:30 pm would be perfect for something like this. Everyone is done by 4:30....sounds nice to me. I think you can still have music and dancing, but it probably won't get as lively as an evening reception. Maybe something to conplement the wine and cheese, like a cigar bar might be nice.

You can't serve wine and cheese as a meal. Make it short and sweet or feed your guests a proper meal.

Your reception will need to be after lunch but before dinner. I would suggest 2-6 at a maximum. If you aren't feeding people a meal you can't ask them to be there during regular meal hours. You can still do a party with a DJ if you want but you have to be prepared that people may not stay long. Also people may not be in a party and dance mood in the middle of the day.

As for the after party - you shouldn't invite people to an official after party if you aren't hosting it. If you just tell people you are heading somewhere after the wedding and keep in informal then they should know you aren't hosting it.

Ceremony at 2pm, event over at 5pm. I would probably do wine, cheese and desserts. It can just be cookies and brownies or cupcakes, but have something sweet besides the wine.

You can hire a DJ if you want, but you might not get the same level of dancing at a cocktail type reception as you would at one where lunch or dinner is served. It's a different atmosphere.

Thanks, everyone!

I should've mentioned that I wasn't planning on doing it at a mealtime

The main reason we had to change it was because we can't afford a sit-down meal. Also, none of the approved vendors even offer buffet options within our budget

We really want to do it in the evening, but I don't know how to make it work.

For the after party, we are having a cabin. This will include just the bridal party and about 15 close friends. It's more those who want to really get down.

I'm so torn!

I'd save my money and the DJ and put it towards more food and drink in this situation. People are unlikely to really rock out at 3pm, so an iPod is likely to work just as well for your purposes. And then you'll have a few extra hundred bucks to buy cupcakes or something to flesh out your menu a bit.

If you really want an evening wedding, barbecue catering can be cheaper than you think, and is still a proper meal.

We are having a cake and cupcakes.

Unfortunately, bbq is not an approved vendor

The thing is, I have half my guests that will rock out and party and drink no matter what time of day...and half that don't drink and are more reserved. There's no in between, which makes it difficult.

What about later reception

Like around 7 or later?

Are you already locked into a venue? I'd look at other places that have more options for caterers if I was in your situation. I also like the advice of forgoing the DJ for additional food and/or beverages.

Unless it is after dinner - early evening - if I'm just served cheese and crackers I'm probably going to leave the wedding and go out to dinner. If you do the wedding at 7, then that would porbably work.

Have you consider a nighttime ceremony and reception instead? Maybe 8pm to 11pm or midnight? Its not a meal time and you can still hire a DJ and have dance party feel.

I would say 8 is the earliest I would have it in the evening if you're not serving a meal. I think you need to have appetizers or snacks too. Serve something other than cheese if people are going to be drinking.

In my opinion, better to spend the money on food and drinks than a DJ. A simple afternoon wedding can be very nice, but I'd try to go beyond wine and cheese. You know, since not everyone drinks wine and not everyone can eat cheese. Doesn't have to get fancy or expensive, but cover a few more bases. Veggie or fruit platters, meat trays, trail mix, etc. And dessert! Even if it's just cookies, cupcakes or sheet cakes. You're on the right track.

Thanks for all the ideas!

Generally, at least around here, a "wine and cheese" reception includes wine, cheese, crackers, fruits, veggies, non-alcoholic drinks. We are also including our wedding cake and cupcakes for dessert.

I should've clarified that.

Does that make a difference?

I agree with others, it does need to be before or after mealtime. I would be mad if it was a 4-8pm wedding and no dinner. HANGER is real.

Is there any other alcohol offered besides wine?

I would do the afternoon reception, and then go have your cabin party with the people that you know what to party. Give everyone a break between the reception and afterparty to go get dinner (and you and your FH can have some time to yourselves).

If you decide to do an evening wedding and have a dance you should see if you can add any meats to the wine and cheese package (like a variety of cold cuts maybe). If I'm dancing at a wedding late in the evening I will want to have a few drinks, but I am a bit of a light weight. With just cheese, crackers, fruit, and vegetables I would probably be wasted after 2 drinks, which I would not want. I doubt I'm the only one.