Repost from BHB re: what to do between CH and ceremony?

Repost from BHB!

Hi Ladies,

sorry, a little long, but I really have been struggling with this . . .

I really need help with this . . .
I am having a full mass ceremony at a Church which should end around 5pm, and my CH does not start until 7. There is a two hour break and I need to find something for my guests to do.
Here's the thing: My wedding is in the city and my guests are largely from Long Island and Brooklyn so many of them won't be staying in the hotel we have booked since they are within driving distance of their homes. However, they live too far to go back and forth to their homes and the reception in between!

I've thought of having city bus tours, but I'm not sure that would be the best since most people have seen NYC before and besides, they'll be all dressed up. Granted they could just walk around the city, but again, what if it rains or is very cold? (my wedding is Oct 29th) . . . I've also considered having buses drop them off at our hotel where they could at least drink and socialize at the bar if they don't have a room . . . But then we're thinking that's the point of cocktail hour and it's going to get old to have them do that for so long. Besides, my cocktail hour is my favorite part of the wedding (we have a sushi bar, raw bar, martini bar, etc) and I don't want people to be too drunk already to enjoy it!

I believe it's poor etiquette to give these people nothing to do for 2 hours. Does anyone have a suggestion? Anything would help!

TIA!

Re: Repost from BHB re: what to do between CH and ceremony?

ok... you've got 2 hours...

first of all, can you yourself delay the ceremony by 15 minutes or so? any longer than that is obnoxious, but everyone forgives a slightly late bride . so that can narrow the time gap to 1 hour, 45 mins.

secondly, you are going to have a receiving line, right? and of course, you can delay that a little bit as well, by talking a little bit with each guest. depending on how many people you have, that could buy you another 45 minutes, at least. so now you're down to 1 hour or so.

then your guests have to get from the church to the tribeca rooftop... how far is that? depending on that distance, your guests may be left with up to 1 hour of free time. would the tribeca rooftop be willing to provide some kind of hospitality for your guests when they arrive? or is there any chance you can move your cocktail hour up by 30 minutes?

Re: Repost from BHB re: what to do between CH and ceremony?

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Posted by alexlynn7

ok... you've got 2 hours...

first of all, can you yourself delay the ceremony by 15 minutes or so? any longer than that is obnoxious, but everyone forgives a slightly late bride . so that can narrow the time gap to 1 hour, 45 mins.

secondly, you are going to have a receiving line, right? and of course, you can delay that a little bit as well, by talking a little bit with each guest. depending on how many people you have, that could buy you another 45 minutes, at least. so now you're down to 1 hour or so.

then your guests have to get from the church to the tribeca rooftop... how far is that? depending on that distance, your guests may be left with up to 1 hour of free time. would the tribeca rooftop be willing to provide some kind of hospitality for your guests when they arrive? or is there any chance you can move your cocktail hour up by 30 minutes?

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Thanks for your response!
Well, I kind of already figured in the receiving line and everything else when I said we'd be out of there by 5 - and we really have to be out at 5 b/c they have mass at that time...
Also, my reception site is only about 2 miles from the Church. Granted, there may be a delay in getting there in city traffic, but even in traffic, it would take maybe 20 minutes.

I am going to take your advice and talk to my contact over at Tribeca Rftop and find out if there's anything we can do earlier than 7pm . . . I believe she once told me guests could come maybe a half hour early (6:30) and hang out in the cocktail hour room and have drinks . . .I have to double check and see if my memory is correct on that . . . But then I still have about an hour and a half to kill!

Re: Repost from BHB re: what to do between CH and ceremony?

Bump . . .For more ideas from the afternoon/evening ladies!