Church/Ceremony & Reception Timing Issue

thefuturemrsz030115 Posted: Apr 18, 2015 05:36 PM

Church/Ceremony & Reception Timing Issue

Hello fellow Brides!

I am having a bit of a dilemma on timing between the church/ceremony and the reception.

So we are getting married on a Saturday and my original goal was to get married in a church at 4 PM (we are having a mass) and the reception will take place from 7 PM to 12 AM. However, I stupidly forgot that most churches have a 5 PM mass and most churches will only allow us to get married at 3 PM the latest.

If we get married at 3 PM, the mass would let out at 4 PM. My home parish is 35-40 minutes away from the venue. That would still give our guests over 2 hours of waiting for cocktail hour to begin.

My mom suggested that we could get married at a church during the week and renew our vows at our venue, which has space for an outdoor ceremony on the water. However, my thought if we were to do that, everyone is at the venue and go right inside for cocktail hour (say we did the ceremony at 6 PM or so). But we wouldn't be able to eat at cocktail hour because we would need to get some pictures in.

I am not sure what to do here. Is anyone else experiencing the same timing problem? I really do not want to have the reception from 6 PM to 11 PM. Does anyone have any suggestions or resolutions for me?

Much appreciated! :)

Brittney22 Posted: Apr 18, 2015 05:47 PM

Church/Ceremony & Reception Timing Issue

When I first started thinking about church and reception times I started to get extremely overwhelmed and upset but once I sat down and thought about it I realized that almost every single wedding I have been to has had a 2-4 hour gap and I never had a problem and always figured something out to keep myself occupied lol. I'm having the ceremony at 2:30 and my reception isn't until 7. I figure people from OOT will go to the hotel right after the church so they can check in then get ready and by the time they do all of that it will be time for them to go. Some people have already talked about just going to the hotel bar until its time. So I say have your wedding the way you and your FH want it and the guests will figure out how to keep themselves entertained for this short amount of time ;)

NoLiesJustLove Posted: Apr 18, 2015 06:20 PM

Church/Ceremony & Reception Timing Issue

I'm getting married on Saturday and at church. My ceremony is also a mass and it's a 3pm. Cocktail hour is at 6 so I'm cutting it close for pictures. There's no way I'll make cocktail hour which is at 6pm. I say it's your day. I get wanting to accommodate your guests. I've done all I can to do so and in the end it's never enough. Nobody is happy. I say you should do what is best for you and your fiancé. Whatever you Guys decide is what it should be. Of course if you's like you can also take your Mom's suggestion. I was just giving you my opinion. in my experience from going to other weddings and having a large time block, most people change into another outfit, or if they're at a hotel grab a snack and some drinks....they figure out a way to kill time. Hope that helps. Good luck fellow bride!

brirose18 Posted: Apr 18, 2015 06:36 PM

Church/Ceremony & Reception Timing Issue

This timing thing has been a major issue for us as well. We are getting married on a Friday, our church ceremony is at 3:15, only should be about 30 mins in Massapequa, cocktail hour is at 6 in West Sayville. My fiancé and I have already decided we are okay with missing cocktail hour but being a November wedding, we are cutting it close with daylight for pics.
I really wouldn't worry too much about the two hour time gap, as others have said its easy to preoccupy guests. Maybe even provide guests with some bars/coffee shops/touristy things in the area of the church/venue to preoccupy them. I wouldn't drastically change the entire ceremony/day due to a time gap though. I get its alil inconvienent for some people but you're not going to be able to keep everyone happy for the entire day it's all about you and you're hubby to be and what you two want.

thefuturemrsz030115 Posted: Apr 18, 2015 07:08 PM

Church/Ceremony & Reception Timing Issue

Thank you ladies! I am glad I am not the only one out there experiencing this. It is true, it's our day so everyone can deal! A good chunk of the OOTers are most likely coming in on a party bus from Queens, so they'll keep themselves occupied. I guess everyone else can go figure something out

rcotter90 Posted: Apr 18, 2015 07:19 PM

Church/Ceremony & Reception Timing Issue

We have a three hour gap. People will just have to deal.

TeresaMarie Posted: Apr 18, 2015 10:06 PM

Church/Ceremony & Reception Timing Issue

There's always a gap at weddings. I usually stop at a bar with friends/family for a drink. Also, if people are staying at the hotel it gives them time to check in between the church and reception. We have a two and a half hour gap and there's about a 30 min drive. I am not stressing at all. We actually moved our church time up a half in hour so that we can make it to the cocktail hour.

Niccolina Posted: Apr 18, 2015 10:59 PM

Church/Ceremony & Reception Timing Issue

We have a 5 hr gap. People will figure it out. Our reception is at the Allegria so ppl can hang out at the bar, go home in between or visit with family.

Futuremrsrusch Posted: Apr 19, 2015 10:41 AM

Church/Ceremony & Reception Timing Issue

This is so common! When my brother got married, my mom invited guests to her house for simple drinks and snacks. For my wedding, most guests will be at the hotel, so we rented the conference room and will offer the same. You do not have to go overboard!

ls2015 Posted: Apr 19, 2015 02:45 PM

Re: Church/Ceremony & Reception Timing Issue

Posted by Futuremrsrusch

This is so common! When my brother got married, my mom invited guests to her house for simple drinks and snacks. For my wedding, most guests will be at the hotel, so we rented the conference room and will offer the same. You do not have to go overboard!

It is common to have a gap. Yes, people will deal. But having some type of plan such as this one is a good idea, especially if there are a lot of out-of-towners.

thefuturemrsz030115 Posted: Apr 19, 2015 03:38 PM

Church/Ceremony & Reception Timing Issue

That is a nice idea. My mom mentioned she didn't want everyone coming to the house in between, but we'll figure something out. It sounds like the gap is what it is

Lorelei Posted: Apr 20, 2015 10:25 AM

Church/Ceremony & Reception Timing Issue

Our Mass is at 2pm and the cocktail hour starts at 6. I was concerned at first but now I am not. People can find ways to occupy themselves. I'm going to a wedding this weekend with about the same gap and we're just going to go home after the church and change into our party clothes and then head to the reception, haha.