Should we choose an evening affair or an afternoon kiddish luncheon?
Certainly, this will be a topic of discussion for the entire family. Often the choice has to do with how many out-of-town relatives you expect, the amount of money you want to spend, the size of the affair, and many other variables. Generally, it is more expensive to have an evening simcha, but an evening affair lends itself to a more formal atmosphere. You may want to offer a kiddish luncheon after the service for your guests or the entire congregation. In some synagogues, sponsoring a Kiddush luncheon and/or an Oneg Shabbat on Friday evening is expected. So, afternoon and evening events are not mutually exclusive, you could have both. Your family should discuss what type of public event you want to sponsor and what role food will play in that event.
