Is 3 and a half hours a big gap in between the church and coctail hour on a friday night? our church is at 5:00 but coctail hour starts at 8:30. is this too much time inbetween? the church said we can move it to 5:30 but then we wouldnt have any day light for outside pics. what should i do?
MrsQ-in2007
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Re: Is 3 and a half hours a big gap??
Are you having a mass or a ceremony?
How far is the church from the RH?
ETA: My church is at 4pm, reception at 8:30pm, but I don't consider that a 4.5 hour gap because I'm having a mass so it will probably be over by 5:15pm, then pics in front of the church etc., so we'll be done about 5:45pm.
Travel from the church to the RH is normally 35 minutes but with Friday night traffic I assume it's going to take almost an hour. So in essence, after travel time and the ceremony itself, guests will only have 1 hour of an actual 'gap' where they need to fill their time somehow.
I've heard of WAY bigger gaps, and sometimes it's not something you can control at all, so it is what it is. If I were you, I'd rather take my outside pics - you never get that day back - than push it down a half hour. JMO.
Fall07Bride
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Re: Is 3 and a half hours a big gap??
just ceromony - not full mass.
its about a half hour drive.
hmv12
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Re: Is 3 and a half hours a big gap??
I don't think so... My church is 2 and the cocktail hour is 730... I figure that I have more time to take pics and really enjoy the day instead of trying to rush and fit things in..
magbride
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Re: Is 3 and a half hours a big gap??
No, I have a big gap, too. My church is 3:00 and my cocktail hour is at 7. We plan to be at our CH so I think we'll be glad that we have all that time to get the pics out of the way.
Nina_m74
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Re: Is 3 and a half hours a big gap??
I think the gap is a little long - what about doing your pics before the ceremony?
Future Mrs R
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Re: Is 3 and a half hours a big gap??
We had about 3 1/2 hours between our ceremony and reception. We took pictures at the Oakdale Aboretum and we made it to the hall just in time for the cocktail hour to start. It goes by really fast.
malagian
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Re: Is 3 and a half hours a big gap??
i dont think its bad. im doing the same thing getting married at 4:00 and cocktail hour starts at 7:30. Plus you need daylight for some pics. Say you will be at church until about 5:45-6pm. So basically there is only 2 1/2 hours between. Plus friday night there will be traffic getting to the hall. So i dont think its bad all.
BrideToBe24
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Re: Is 3 and a half hours a big gap??
My ceremony is at 2:30 and the cocktail hour is at 7. We're using the time to take all of our 'posed' pics so we can enjoy the cockatail hour!
someone on FH's side may have some people back to her house in between. Otherwise they have time to get ready and relax a little before the CH.
leafgirl
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Re: Is 3 and a half hours a big gap??
i think that is fine. Our church is 4 it's a half hour service, you have a receiving line... and will the ceremony really start perfectly on time??? I don't think so lol Our ch starts are 7... We have time too. Don't sweat the pics lighting I am getting married first weekend in Nov and that is actually when we turn the clocks back now... So you will have light... check the sunset time for that day too. =)
drpepper318
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Re: Is 3 and a half hours a big gap??
I don't think it's too much of a gap. A lot of people will want to stop home in between anyway, and some won't go to the church at all. And this way you'll have plenty of time for pictures, and also remember there will be traffic on a Friday night. I'm having 3:30 mass with a 7:00 cocktail hour so I have the same amount of time in between as you do. I think it'll work out. Do what's best for you! Your guests will be fine either way.
ErinC0119
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Re: Is 3 and a half hours a big gap??
Im getting married at 1:30 with a full mass so we should be getting out at 2:30-3:00 and our CH starts at 6pm but it takes about an hour to get to the RH from the church. so we need the time inbetween.
lunabride
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Re: Is 3 and a half hours a big gap??
I'm having my ceremony at 4pm (full mass) and my cocktail hour starts at 8:30pm. Pictures in between. It happens!
EGreene79
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Re: Is 3 and a half hours a big gap??
I think that's pretty average ... and a half an hour change won't do much anyway. I say leave it as is.
Summer07Bride
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Re: Is 3 and a half hours a big gap??
I have the same problem - yes the gap is long but people will get over it. PLUS - since it is on a Friday night, it will allow people to actually make it to the cocktail hour on time if they can not make it to the wedding at 5.
TreAnt425
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Re: Is 3 and a half hours a big gap??
No - we had about a 3 hour gap
PegaLega
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Re: Is 3 and a half hours a big gap??
My ceremony was at 3 and my CH didnt start until 7....guests just went to the hotel and chit chatted at the bar
Keep it the time YOU want it to be. Dont lose on the pictures you want to make the gap shorter
