What is the proper etiquette for an evening Winter wedding?

Question

Date: New Year's Eve 2007
Time: ceremony begins AFTER normal dinner hours
Attire: most likely cocktail attire
Invitations: roughly 75 people, no children for obvious reasons.
Reception: planning an upbeat party w/DJ. Serving alcohol and heavy hors d'oeuvres.

We have several conflicts:
1. Should we offer a "group babysitter"? Family and friends will be in from out of town and all staying at the same hotel where the ceremony/reception will be held. Some have small children.
2. Should we offer dinner instead of heavy hors d'oeuvres? The wedding would start late enough that serving a dinner seems inappropriate.
3. How late is too late to actually begin the ceremony, considering it's New Year's Eve?
4. What time should the bride/groom depart? Right after the ball drops, or around 1 am?
5. Should we officially end the party at, say, 2am? Or, let it run it's course?

Answer 1

1)if you can get a sitter then that would be nice. I would just be worried about finding one on new years eve until that late and depending on how many kids will need a sitter. you could ask your guests if this is something they would be interested in before you start looking.

2)I dont think you need a full dinner. as long as the evening starts late enough so people can eat before hand., it might eve ngife them time to have a new years eve dinner with their kids and stuff before hand. just make sure all drink are free. dont charge for drinks if you arent serving a meal. that would look cheap. hors d'oeuvres are good though and shoud be enough

3)I would start around 7 or 8 at the latest to make it worth coming and people have plenty of time to socialize

4)I would leave as late as you can. people are there for you so you should be there as long as possible

5)2am is a good time to end it. people will want ot be getting back by then anyways.

Answer 2

1. In this case, probably yes. Since they will be in from out of town and you are doing this later in the evening, they will need someone to watch their kids. If you do not offer childcare and are not allowing children, your friends may not come at all.

2. After normal dinner hours, offer hors d'oeuvres. Let them eat dinner before the ceremony. Be sure to have a wide range, though.

3. I would not start the ceremony after 7 pm. People want to party on New Years Eve!!!

4. Many brides and grooms stay until close to the end of the party nowadays. You are the reason people are there anyway. Deifnitely stick around awhile after the ball drops, if you are definitely intent on leaving before many guests leave.

5. Unless you are holding this in your home, you will probably be contractually obligated to have an ending time. Deejays, caterers, photographers, etc, as well as the building, MUST have set times, and these will be in their contracts.

Answer 3

Group babysitter would be nice. The hotel may have access to baby sitters and you could advise your guests of the hotels amenities and let them arange it themselves. Late evening I would not expect or want a big dinner. My friends got married on New Years Eve and they said I do at midnight. How late? Whatever you want and whatever the venue will let.

Problems with holiday weddings - it becomes very expensive to travel. Hotels many times charge 2 or 3 times their normal rates. Honeymoons and anniversary trips will need to be planned a year in advance to get anything decent. (I am a travel agent)

Answer 4

1. No. Let people bring their children! It's not a wonderful wedding celebration without them! Some people won't come if you won't allow children!
2. Of course you should serve a full meal.
3. Have the ceremony whenever you want.
4. Leave as late as possible; spend time with your family and friends.
5. The time it ends depends on the venue, liquor laws, etc.

Answer 5

WEe hired several sitters at my daughter's wedding and it worked out great. People enjoyed and appreciated it. We had the room loaded with loys of fun stuff for kids to do. You should probably discuss with DJ ahead of time what time he is willing to play to and end your party accordingly. You two leave when you are ready. Mt daughter had planned to leave earlier thn she did but they were having fun so stayed until the party was almost over.