uk Wedding

Usually, a light buffet style meal is served in the evening - a sit-down meal is not usual.

You don't have to have evening guests. This is a fairly recent thing and is usually due to budgetary constraints. The couple can't afford to host everyone they want to invite for the entire day, so they invite those who are slightly less close to them to the evening only.

Another option I have seen, especially where the couple want everyone possible to attend the ceremony, is to invite all guests to the ceremony, followed by drinks at the ceremony venue. Those who are invited to the whole day then relocate to the reception venue for the wedding breakfast.

The cocktail or drinks reception is usually straight after the ceremony and before the sit-down meal. This gives guests a chance to mingle and have a drink, while the happy couple and family get their professional photos done. It's not a must, but it just keeps people happy with a drink in their hand while the family disappear for photos.

There may be another drinks reception after the sit-down meal, if the same room is being used for the evening and the furniture needs to be rearranged.

As for evening guests, people would only expect a light buffet; the all day guests might be feeling peckish by 8-9pm after a long day. Evening guests are usually requested to arrive 7.30-8pm. As the above person has said, the evening guest invite is usually so that you can have everybody you want at your wedding, rather than limiting numbers. I have colleagues I will invite to the evening only, as we are not very close but share an office. Others will be there all day, as I speak to them outside of work. Just as an example.

I hope this helps.

Thank you