Church reception gap-lookin for help from the ones that know

Church stress, reception hall stress, questions!!

So I booked the Somerley at fox hollow in woodbury and St Patrick's in bayshore, now here's the problem the church is at 2:30 I'm doing a full mass so I don't know what time I'll get out but the ch is at 7:30. We got a good deal at fh and they threw in an extra hour so it's over at 1:30. So my questions are this.....

*** do I do with the in between time?

Should I switch the church or the hall? The latest we can do the ceremony is 2:30 and fh won't budge ch start because they said so, a change would be a different venue all together?

If I wanted to supply my guest with somewhere in between any suggestions?

Is this too long of a day all together for guests it's 11 hours between the ceremony start and reception end?

Please help:(
Message edited 2/5/2012 8:46:34 PM.

I had a gap of 3 1/2 hours. People will come either way and if its too much they will still be at the reception. I wouldnt worry about it too much

I'd keep everything the way it is. I had my wedding in the Garden Terrace room and they were REALLY good with their service!

Look at it like this:

Your ceremony begins at 2:30. A full mass can last about 1-1.5 hours (without the receiving line). So let's say for argument sake, it's all over by 4:30pm (Late I know). You're guests will have time to fix themselves up, check into hotels if they hadn't done so already, and you get extra picture time! You can take MOST of your pictures during this time (church, venue, possible off site location) and still enjoy your cocktail hour.

With the CH starting at 7:30, you're early guests will be escorted to the restaurant to relax before they allow them in.

It's not such a long day for them IMO. You have a nice gap that they will be able to relax before the fun starts! HTH!