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I had a similar problem (my ceremony is at 3, cocktail hour starts at 6, dinner at 7) and this is what my very wise invitations vendor suggested:
I am doing a separate "Reception" card, and also a greeting line at the cocktail hour. She said NOT to put "Cocktails at 6, dinner at 7" because people may feel like skipping the cocktail hour then, and just show up for the dinner, or come in late.
I agree with Calioteach's suggestion of stating "Reception at 5 oclock in the evening". This is all we put on the reception card:
reception_card.jpg (27.3 KB, 555 downloads) 3 years old 
We're also getting married at 1:30 with the reception starting at 4:30 - we moved it from 5 because we didn't want people to have to hang around forever. What are you "doing" with your guests in the interim? Are you suggesting they do anything with all the extra time? I worry that guests will be bored so we're building in a little afternoon ice cream to tid people over, keep people entertained and delay the reception to a reasonable hour. Any excuse to serve Ben & Jerry's 
I would go for the simpler invitation wording that just says "Reception at 5 o'clock." I think the hour-long buffer between cocktail hour and the dinner start time is enough that most people will be there by then. If you are asking guests for their menu choices, they probably will get the idea that it's not a buffet. Do you have a wedding website? If you do, I would put a reminder that it is a seated dinner on the website and that dinner starts at 6.
But my biggest suggestion is to talk with your venue about what to do about late-comers. No matter what you do there will always be someone who shows up late. Do what you can to get everyone there on time but have a back-up plan too for your own peace of mind. Then leave it in the venue's hands and don't worry about it anymore! Good luck!
You can certainly call out the time for dinner separately from the start of the cocktail hour, but I agree that this will tend to convince people that they can show up anytime during the first hour, and will not be conducive to having everyone in their seats at 6:00. If you simply say that the reception is at 5:00, people should show up well before 6:00. I don't really think that you need to provide a timeline - although it is nice to let people know if there will be dancing, as it may affect their choice of shoes, in particular.
I agree with chelseamorning that you do need to figure out with your caterer how you can make some provision, if possible, for people who might show up a little late for dinner. As the hostess, it is always your obligation to try to take care of your guests, even if they have the bad fortune or bad manners to be tardy. Someone who ends up seated late might miss out on the earlier courses, but should be served along with everyone else from the time they sit down. Since you will have paid for however many guests you planned on showing up, your caterer should have their entree available even if they miss out on the salad.
DSC_2015.JPG (30 KB, 308 downloads) 1 year old 
Funny thing you mention the choice of shoes suzanno! I actually intend on putting "Dancing shoes required" on the Reception card!! :o)
My invites are pocketfold style, so I will also be doing a seperate reception card like touchdownkatie.
BenJerrysBride - I LOVE your idea of the ice cream inbetween! That's a great & fun idea!! Everyone will be invited over to Mr H's parent's house for a social gathering/appetizers/cocktails for the3 hour gap inbetween ceremony & reception. The wedding party will be going about town in a stretch Hummer limo to a few different locations for pictures & other fun things.
I never thought of figuring out the "late guest dilemma". Thanks for the advice on that!!
Well, I think I have finally decided on the Reception Card. I may tweak the wording a little bit here and there, but I think I have the base for what I'm looking for. I couldn't find a sample anywhere online (believe me - I have googled until my eyes are ready to pop out!!!) so I spent some time making my own.
What do you think???
reception_insert.jpg (60.1 KB, 1,001 downloads) 3 years old reception_invite.jpg (10.6 KB, 584 downloads) 3 years old
hey
love the ice cream idea!! ust wondering how you are incorporating the ice cream and how you are serving it etc....love the idea any tips how to use it??
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Our wedding ceremony will be at 1:30 in the afternoon, but the cocktail hour won't begin until 5:00. Dinner will be served at 6:00. It's a sit down style dinner so everyone needs to be there by 6:00 at the latest. I am making my invites and am stuck on how to word this part. I'm doing a pocket style and this part of the invite will be on a seperate card inserted in the pocket. My wedding style is "fun but classy" so I don't want anything that is overly formal, but I also don't want something that is totally off the wall. Here's what I have so far......
I don't like how it sounds like a schedule and would like to word the Cocktails and Dinner part in a little bit more of a fun way. I'm also not sure that I like the "beginning of our wedded life" wording.
Suggestions??