Large gap between ceremony and reception

My FH and I were late in booking a church (despite it having been a yr away!), and the only time available was 1pm. My FH loves the church, so it was booked.

However, our reception begins at 5:30pm -- is this a problem for our guests? My father has been pushing us to change the church or make the ceremony later at 4:30pm (the only other time available). He feels his family from out of town will be left with nothing to do for hours and that it is rude.

Only the thing is that I was hoping to not see FH before the ceremony and a later time would mean we'd have to take pictures before.

What did other brides find their guests did in the interim?

Hmm I dunno this is tough....b/c I've heard of some others having like a 2 or 3 hr break but 1:00 to 5:30 seems REALLY LONG! How far away are the venues?


Maybe people could go back to your familys house for drinks and appetizers???

i'm having the same problem!!! We have alot of time inbetween the church and rh. Also we are getting married out east and most of our family is from out of state or nass. county!!! i also dont want to see FH before the church. We are thinking of extending our cocktail hour. i dont know what to do!!!

i don't think that's a large gap at all.

remember--- the ceremony probably won't start exactly on time---so you might wind up starting at like 1:15 or 1:30pm---then it could take anymore between 25-45 min. (unless you're having a full mass--which is an hour)

then after the processional you have the receiving line--that can take a while depending on the # of people who attend the ceremony---then there are pics outside the steps---and such. trust me the time goes fast!

you want time for pictures before the CH so you can enjoy that time

trust me--if you only have an option of 1 or 4:30 pm---do NOT make the ceremony 4:30pm---if your reception begins at 5:30pm---this WILL NOT give you enough time and you will wind up rushing the day!!!

the old saying is that if people WANT to be there they will find a day--1pm time is not that bad at all.



ETA: is there anyway that your dads family can perhaps come back to their house for a little get together with finger sandwiches or something before the reception? or perhaps head to a local bar or something? i was in a friends wedding in september---and while we headed to the reception location to do pics (Flowerfield has a cottage that you can hang out in as the BP doign pics on the property while the wedding in the daytime is going on)---and both sets of parents invited family to their house and they had sandwiches and drinks for them to enjoy before the CH

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Posted by UKsunshine

Hmm I dunno this is tough....b/c I've heard of some others having like a 2 or 3 hr break but 1:00 to 5:30 seems REALLY LONG! How far away are the venues?


Maybe people could go back to your familys house for drinks and appetizers???

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Its actually not that long.

if you are having a ceremony it will end (after receiving line) at about 2 o'clock...people will find something to do with themselves, if its close to the church have you thought about paying for the bar to be open at the hotel? Or having all your guests go to someones house in between?

My Ceremony started at 3 and my reception didnt start until 7 pm and all the guests went to the hotel and hung out. They were very happy.

Regardless, do what YOU want!!! If you dont want to see FH before the ceremony DONT CHANGE IT!

I have been to plenty of weddings that had alot longer of a gap and as much as there is nothing to do....Ive dealt with it and that is just the way it is. I think its not an annoyance its just people are anxious to get the party started

HTH

do what YOU want!!

I personally don't like big gaps between, especially since we have a lot of OOT guests, but then again I don't mind seeing FH before -- we have to sign the ketubah before anyway.

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Posted by PegaLega

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Posted by UKsunshine

Hmm I dunno this is tough....b/c I've heard of some others having like a 2 or 3 hr break but 1:00 to 5:30 seems REALLY LONG! How far away are the venues?


Maybe people could go back to your familys house for drinks and appetizers???

---

Its actually not that long.

if you are having a ceremony it will end (after receiving line) at about 2 o'clock...people will find something to do with themselves, if its close to the church have you thought about paying for the bar to be open at the hotel? Or having all your guests go to someones house in between?

My Ceremony started at 3 and my reception didnt start until 7 pm and all the guests went to the hotel and hung out. They were very happy.

Regardless, do what YOU want!!! If you dont want to see FH before the ceremony DONT CHANGE IT!

I have been to plenty of weddings that had alot longer of a gap and as much as there is nothing to do....Ive dealt with it and that is just the way it is. I think its not an annoyance its just people are anxious to get the party started

HTH

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this is the same gap we'll have (ceremony at 3, CH starts at 7) and I'm not too concerned. People will figure it out....I think my parents might host a gathering at their house for local family to hang out, and everyone else will go back to the hotel. Don't worry about it!

like girls have already stated you re only looking at like a 2 hour window that yur guests need to entertain themselves, and i thin they will understand knowing that yu want to get your pictures out of the way before the cocktail hour.

maybe you can put a little note in some of the cards that states where as nice bar or something closer to your RH is for them to hang out until the cocktail hour ( if you dad doesnt want to do anything at his house-- but he will be with you taking pics so you have to weigh that out too)

Anything these girls said above is a great idea.

Another thing to consider if your parents don't want all those people in the house or if your parents will be with you for a big chunk of this time is to maybe set up a hospitality suite at the hotel you blocked out. . . .It just has to be a conference room or a suite and you can have food and drinks in there, a tv, etc. You might be able to designate a close family friend to help out with this while your family takes pictures. Most people will go home in between, but if your father is concerned about the OOT guests, this might work.

HTH

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Posted by MJDoc12

i don't think that's a large gap at all.

remember--- the ceremony probably won't start exactly on time---so you might wind up starting at like 1:15 or 1:30pm---then it could take anymore between 25-45 min. (unless you're having a full mass--which is an hour)

then after the processional you have the receiving line--that can take a while depending on the # of people who attend the ceremony---then there are pics outside the steps---and such. trust me the time goes fast!

you want time for pictures before the CH so you can enjoy that time

trust me--if you only have an option of 1 or 4:30 pm---do NOT make the ceremony 4:30pm---if your reception begins at 5:30pm---this WILL NOT give you enough time and you will wind up rushing the day!!!

the old saying is that if people WANT to be there they will find a day--1pm time is not that bad at all.



ETA: is there anyway that your dads family can perhaps come back to their house for a little get together with finger sandwiches or something before the reception? or perhaps head to a local bar or something? i was in a friends wedding in september---and while we headed to the reception location to do pics (Flowerfield has a cottage that you can hang out in as the BP doign pics on the property while the wedding in the daytime is going on)---and both sets of parents invited family to their house and they had sandwiches and drinks for them to enjoy before the CH

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I agree with MJDoc12 even though she is a Patriots fan.

My church is at 1:30 and the reception is at 7.... My parents will have something set up at my house for the time in between, but i am guess a lot of people will probably go home and freshen up and maybe take a nap or something.

I originally stressed about this as well but then i realized that no everyone is going to come to the church unfortunately, so as long as FH and I are happy than that is all that matters! I just want to get all the pictures b/4 the CH so I do not have to worry about it through out the night!

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Posted by Nelle5757

I agree with MJDoc12 even though she is a Patriots fan.

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i'm feeling DA HEAT these days!!!!!!

I stand by the Pats---I hope they wipe the floor with big blue

I am not sure...people who are not part of the BP or immediate family are always in this boat...not sure it can be helped really...I think you should do what you want ultimately and people will do what they need to do in order to be there...JMO...I know I have spent time in between for people's weddings, you deal and when you care enough about the people getting married...it is fine...again JMO

i would not worry. I'm getting married at 3:00 and having a cermony and my CH starts at 7...
their is a hotel right near my RH and I will make everyone aware of that!

I also have a long gap. ceremony at 3 and CH at 8:30. I think you're better off because you'll be able to take pics in the daylight...I know that's why we decided to have our ceremony so early. We're going to a park to take pics and our guests will just go home and change after the ceremony. You're big day will last even longer!