Friday Night Start Times - Opinions Please

What does everyone think about a late start time on Friday night? I am talking about the cocktail hour starting at 8:00. We are still debating about this but have to decided soon.

http://www.giftideacenter.com/Occassions/Wedding/bridesmaids_gifts.htm

Friday Night Start Times - Opinions Please

That's what we're doing!!! Our cocktail hour starts at 8! We didn't want to interupt anybody's day ...besides I personally hate it when i have to go to an early Friday wedding!
Was it weeks ago?

Friday Night Start Times - Opinions Please

I think an 8pm cocktail hour is great (anytime 7 and after is good)! My friend is doing this also. It leaves enough time for people to come home from work and change and then come to your party. Or go to your church straight from work and then allows enough time after church to go and change before the reception.

GO FOR IT!! :):)
If a customer really changes their mind and doesn't want me within a reasonable time after booking (and well in advance of the date) I generally return the deposit (or a major portion.) otherwise I keep the deposit on file as a credit for the future (and people HAVE used it. Even friends or relatives who I might have lost if I were adamant about contracts.)

Friday Night Start Times - Opinions Please

We have ours set at 7:30. I think 8pm is fine..lol maybe I'll see if we can change it

I am using Hank Lane. I think it is the Arthur Stewart band I have booked. I have heard all of their bands are very good but I am frustrated because they don't showcase or even show a video tape. You have to just listen to a CD. That is very scary. Which band were you considering?

Friday Night Start Times - Opinions Please

Fran, we also have our cocktail hour starting at 8 on a Friday. I think not only does it give your guests enough time to relax and get ready in between the church and reception. But it gives you more time to have the formals taken so you can actually enjoy the cocktail.

With my DJ he said that the deposit is refundable because he has insurance for such a thing. Is there something like this? An insurance policy for job cancellations? So either way he gets paid if a job gets cancelled? I just thought about it as I was reading. I never thought about cancelling, but I was just curious. He is privately owned and small. I think he has a few DJ's that work for him. Could that be why he would have this type of insurance?

Friday Night Start Times - Opinions Please

Our cocktail won't start until 8;30PM on a Friday night. Although it will be summer then and a lot of people will be taking Friday's off, it makes it convenient for those that decide to go to work.

I forgot to mention that my make up was done by Carol from MAC at Macy's in Smithaven Mall. It came out wonderfully, she came to my house and was very pleasant. She did such a good job on me and mom that one bridesmaid wound up getting hers done. I highly recommend Carol for your make up. The make up stayed on all night and even looked pretty good the next morning. Her price was reasonable and comparable.
I have a meeting with Stan Wiest on Saturday about having his band play at my wedding. He sent us a package of marketing material, including fabulous recommendations from happy couples. Do any of you have any experiences with Stan Wiest that you'd like to share -- good or bad?

Friday Night Start Times - Opinions Please

A cocktail hour at 8:30, dinner at 9:30 I presume. Kinda late isnt it?
I have a meeting with Stan Wiest on Saturday about having his band play at my wedding. He sent us a package of marketing material, including fabulous recommendations from happy couples. Do any of you have any experiences with Stan Wiest that you'd like to share -- good or bad?

Friday Night Start Times - Opinions Please

Yes it does seem kinda late but it works with our schedule. We have the ceremony at 5PM and it will be a full Catholic mass. We didn't want to make the ceremony too early that no one would attend. This way, once the ceremony ends, people can go straight to the reception and not have to wait too long in between. With the Friday traffic on the LIE we figured the timing works. We will make it a point to make people aware of the lateness of the hour so that they can have a snack before going to the church.

A cocktail hour at 8:30, dinner at 9:30 I presume. Kinda late isnt it?
I have a meeting with Stan Wiest on Saturday about having his band play at my wedding. He sent us a package of marketing material, including fabulous recommendations from happy couples. Do any of you have any experiences with Stan Wiest that you'd like to share -- good or bad?

Friday Night Start Times - Opinions Please

What's the general age range of the guests? We've got a lot of them - over half - that are probably 65 and up. You might find a lot of the guests start drifting out around 11:00, after dinner with only the younger crowd staying on.

On the other hand, if most of the guests would be heading out for a night on the town around 8:00 on a Friday anyway, then it sounds like a good way to accomodate those that are working and would otherwise have to get off work early.

Friday Night Start Times - Opinions Please

Our ceremony will be at 5:30 at the church(no mass) and the cocktail hour is at 7:30. The two places are about 15 minutes apart(with traffic) so I didn't want too much time in between.

On the other hand, if most of the guests would be heading out for a night on the town around 8:00 on a Friday anyway, then it sounds like a good way to accomodate those that are working and would otherwise have to get off work early.

Friday Night Start Times - Opinions Please

We are trying to decide same thing; we want to make sure we have enough time after ceremony to get all pictures done and also enough time for people working that day to make it to cocktail hour in time. We are probably going to go with 8PM.

Friday Night Start Times - Opinions Please

I think 7:30 may be a better time, just because you don't want people leaving too early from the reception.

Hi. I used Colonial taxi in Sayville. I hired a 14 person van to take my bridal party from the reception to the hotel and it was $60. Hope this helps!

Carol was a doll. Her number is 474-1525 and that's her home number. Tell her I sent you. We have a rapport now!

Friday Night Start Times - Thanks Ladies

Thanks to all for your input.

I think we are going to stick to the 8:00 start. We have a late night crowd. A good number of our guest's will be traveling from the tri- state area, 8:00 gives everyone enough time to get to the reception.