- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
You could just say something like, 'Festivities start at 4:30, Ceremony at 5pm"
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |


Anyone have suggestions on how to word the invitations if we want our guests to arrive and have a drink and food before the ceremony?
We're getting married in the gardens of a small museum (Edgar Allan Poe), and the reception will be in the same place. Our ceremony will happen at 5pm, but we want it casual, so the "cocktail hour" will start at 4:30. (after the short ceremony the guests will continue cocktail hour, there will be an actor reciting a Poe poem and they'll be encouraged to leave the garden for the museum exhibits while the caterers set up/transition for the heavy hors devours reception and dancing)
Should I just put the time on the invitation as 4:30 and leave it at that? Or do I put that the ceremony will be at 5, and please join us for cocktails before and a reception with dancing after? (I'm not telling people about "Poe" because that's a surprise.)
I'm probably overthinking this.
Anyone else have their ceremony after the reception started?
Thanks!