Logistics help: tight timeline between church & cocktail hour

NPTbride Posted: Dec 10, 2005 10:50 PM

Logistics help: tight timeline between church & cocktail hour

Please help me solve this dilemma before my head explodes.

We have an 11:00 am mass in St. James which will take an hour and our cocktail hour is a half an hour away in Sayville at 12:30. Neither times or locations can be changed at all. We also do not want to change the mass to a ceremony. FH does not want to miss a minute of the CH to take pictures. To make things even worse, we live in Northport which is a half an hour away from the church. Did anyone else have a similar situation? How do I make this work? We already decided that we will see each other before the wedding to take some pictures and we will not have a receiving line so that we can take a few pictures at the church before we go, but what else can we do?

I know that the day is going to fly by as it is and I am afraid that due to this timeline I am going to have even more stress during my day.

MrsStefan Posted: Dec 10, 2005 10:53 PM

Re: Logistics help: tight timeline between church & cocktail hour

I am in a similar situation. My mass is at 10 and the recpetion is 12:30. My mass will end around 10:45. FH and I have also decided to skip the receiving line but we have also decided NOT to see each other before the mass. So, we have a tight schedule also because my hall is about 40 minutes from my church. I need help with this also!!!

Laura&Phil Posted: Dec 11, 2005 01:26 AM

Re: Logistics help: tight timeline between church & cocktail hour

First, you did the right thing by seeing each other- that's what FH and I have to do. We have a 10:30 ceremony in Roslyn and 12:30 CH at the Fox Hollow. We are starting pics at 7:30-8:00 (depending- def by 8) and should only cut into CH by 15 min if we are lucky tho the photographer thinks we may be able to make all of it. No receiving line and very short ceremony- much to FMIL dissapointment! I am getting ready at 5 am to make it all work. I am also paying for my BM makeup and having hair people brought to us at the hotel so no one is traveling (they can stay at the hotel with me for free if they want too)

The only other way to save time is to not have a mass, my photographer said that you have to allow an hour and a half for a mass- tho he might have been thinking of a receving line being included...your other choice is to take what pics you can and go to CH and if you have to, step out of the reception....talk to your photographer about it.

Honesly, I think you are going to be tight time wise but maybe it can be done....the mass is what will hurt you overall but I understand wanting it. Good luck!

SummerBride06 Posted: Dec 11, 2005 10:55 AM

Re: Logistics help: tight timeline between church & cocktail hour

i'm having a 10am mass then CH is at 1pm.

i'm not seeing FH beforehand

i may have 7 girls in the BP...meaning 10 women all together need their hair done. i was going to start at 5am and have everyone done by 9am to get a few pics then head to the church. i wrote to my hairdresser (hair genie) and haven't heard back from her yet regarding the time.

now i'm getting worried that there won't be enought time to get ready

lauren09 Posted: Dec 11, 2005 01:50 PM

Re: Logistics help: tight timeline between church & cocktail hour

i think you're making the right decision by seeing each other before. that way you will be able to start pics whenever you want and not feel rushed or stressed. that way the majority of your pics will be done before you start (added benefit - your hair and make-up will be fresh!).

NPTbride Posted: Dec 11, 2005 09:55 PM

Re: Logistics help: tight timeline between church & cocktail hour

Posted by MrsStefan

I am in a similar situation. My mass is at 10 and the recpetion is 12:30. My mass will end around 10:45. FH and I have also decided to skip the receiving line but we have also decided NOT to see each other before the mass. So, we have a tight schedule also because my hall is about 40 minutes from my church. I need help with this also!!!

I feel so much better to know that I am not alone! Even though we are going to see each other before, I still stress that this is going to be chaos. Our priest says the mass will only take 45 minutes. Tonight at dinner FH said I could use the first ten (10) minutes of the cocktail hour for pictures, but that is it. Ten minutes is better than nothing!

69 Posted: Dec 12, 2005 09:24 AM

Re: Logistics help: tight timeline between church & cocktail hour

OH my god... I feel your stress....

I have an 11:00 am church at St. Pat's in Smithtown.. then 12:30 reception... we are not doing a mass and I didn't even think about omitting the line.. that's a good idea....

we are not seeing eachother beforehand and I figured we would miss 1/2 the cocktail hour... I know it ***** but I didn't know what else to do...

I have 5 bridesmaids so hair and make up are an issue and my mother lives in Northport... ahhhhhhhh so I am up that morning with all of you ... 5 am.... I figure I know all this ahead of time so I can freak out now and be used to it later!!!

Katie&Chris2006 Posted: Dec 12, 2005 10:09 AM

Re: Logistics help: tight timeline between church & cocktail hour

I was freaking out about this too. Our full catholic mass was scheduled in Patchogue at 11am and CH at 1pm at Watermill in Smithtown. We knew we wanted to be at least half the cocktail hour. We decided to cut the receiving line and convinced the church to let us start at 10:30. It helps a bit, but I'm still worried about the logistics since we are having a huge bridal party. I'm also disappointed I won't be able to go anywhere in between for pics.