[happy_chk]

We are planning to have our wedding in the mountains, where afternoon thunderstorms are common, and we dont want to risk a hail storm interrupting our big day, so we are thinking about having the wedding in the evening, after the storms will have passed.

What recommendations are there for making the reception work for a 7:30 wedding? Obviously, we plan to feed everyone dinner, but I don't want our guests to wait until 8:30 or 9 to eat, and I also am not a big fan of the pre-wedding dinner.

One thought was to have hor d'oeuvres and non-alcoholic drinks at the wedding site and invite our guests to arrive early and enjoy food, drink, and the amazing view, and then the reception site would offer a cocktail hour and a different selection of hor d'oeuvres after the ceremony.

So, snacks at the wedding site around 6:30
Wedding at 7
Cocktail hour/pictures 7:30 - 8:30
Proper Dinner served ~ 9p

This would also allow us to have our wedding photos taken with the sunset falling over the mountains.

Does that sound like an alright approach? I'm really struggling with how to time the wedding and photos around the weather and amazing scenery without causing our guests crazy hunger pangs.

We will provide lodging at the reception site for Friday & Saturday nights. The wedding will be on Saturday.

Thanks!

[Etiquette Now]

Dear Happychk,

Waiting until 9pm for dinner? That might work just fine for those in New York, but for most of us, we would not care to eat so late. It might be best to take most of your pictures before the wedding.

Best wishes,

[Nancy Tucker]

I agree with Rebecca, dinner should be served before 9 pm. I would start the wedding at 6:30 have the cocktails at 7-8 with dinner at 8. If you need to leave the reception in order to catch some sundown photos, then do so but don't keep your guests waiting until 9.

[happy_chk]

Thank you for the feedback. Based on the advice that I have received here and elsewhere, we have decided to forego dinner. The driving factor in having the wedding later in the day is to dodge thunderstorms, which can occur anywhere from 2-5 PM and last for up to an hour. Plus, we will want to give the ground a little time to dry out, lest someone's heel get stuck in the mud during the processional.



Thank you again.