Need help (long)

My fiance just called my work all upset because he was discussing the time schedule of the church and the reception with his mother. Ok right now, the ceremony is set for 3pm and the cocktail hour starts at 6pm. Now the 2 things he was freaking out about was this:

1) All of his family is coming from Staten Island (traffic can be messy to begin with) and he is worried about them being in their dresses/tux's all day. His sister is one of my BM's. And he is worried about if they can make it by 3pm. ARG!!! I said they have a year plus to make the arrangements!

2) He is worried about what the guests will be doing from about 4pm (about when the ceremony ends) to 6pm (when the cocktail hour starts). What are your guests doing? It only takes about 30 min- to 40 min between the church and hall.

Thanks!!!

Our ceremony starts at 3 and the cocktail hout starts at 7. My feeling - they can do whatever they want. I've done it for plenty of weddings and so I stopped stressing. This is the way it worked out. People can go back to FMIL's for coffee, drive around for a while, go home or they may want to skip the church and just go straight to the reception - whatever they want is fine. Don't stress - but maybe the parents can have people over to the house for a while?

I have the same issue.....I figured some guests will go back to their hotels or to my mom's house, or my uncle's...or else they have 2 hrs to just drive around.....
I am not too worried.....the hotel is near our hall...so guests can always hang out there and have a couple drinks at the bar..... i hope!

i have a 4 hour gap if that makes you feel any better as far as my guests go...i am telling them to go the the hall
just remeber this its not 2 hour gap b/c the
ceremony is at 3 (an hour for mass) ends at 4 THEN there is the receiving line pictures by the photograper at the church people seeing you off in the limo/car with FH so here goes another 1/2 hour.... THEN they have to drive to the reception u said thats 30-40 minutes then they have to wait to have there car valetd they can go freshen up and before they know it the food will be rolling out...thats what i imagine now for me i have 4 hours...my guests are on there own

hmm.. my guests after considering travel, have a three hour gap inbetween! I think somone from each side will entertain the guests that have no where to go...

as for his cousin whos a BM, why doesnt she sleep over at someones house who is nearby, so she doesnt have to come out the morning of...

My guests are going to the hall. Floral Terrace has only one reception a day. So our guests can start arriving anywhere after 430 for champagne and strawberries.

Have you spoken to your hall about your guests arriving early?

I have the same gap and was worried about the same thing
1) tell your FSIL to sleep over the night before.. that was she makes it on time and for pics.
2) they will find something to do... between the recieving line ( if you have one) and if its a nice day people usually linger outside the church talking for awhile. plus if they are from staten island... they might not find the hall right away. by the time they get there and go to the bathroom and freshen up.. it will be almost time for the ch. - maybe your hall can provide a strawberry and champagne cart for guest when they arrive? maybe your FMIL can have some people over her house after? ( my fmil offered but I didnt not want to do that)
Dont worry it will all work out.

soon2b i just wanted to say i was reading your response and thought i was reading mine!!! we have the exact same suggesstion!!!!

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Posted by diamondgrlie

My fiance just called my work all upset because he was discussing the time schedule of the church and the reception with his mother. Ok right now, the ceremony is set for 3pm and the cocktail hour starts at 7pm. Now the 2 things he was freaking out about was this:

1) All of his family is coming from Staten Island (traffic can be messy to begin with) and he is worried about them being in their dresses/tux's all day. His sister is one of my BM's. And he is worried about if they can make it by 3pm. ARG!!! I said they have a year plus to make the arrangements!

2) He is worried about what the guests will be doing from about 4pm (about when the ceremony ends) to 6pm (when the cocktail hour starts). What are your guests doing? It only takes about 30 min- to 40 min between the church and hall.

Thanks!!!

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I had this problem. Our ceremony was at 3 and reception would be at 6. This is very standard. This allows the bride and groom to have time to have there pictures taken.
As far as people not making it by 3, tell them to get out of bed earlier. Seriously. This is your wedding and if they want to come they will make it there on time. As far as the waiting period goes, I think sometimes people stop at a relatives house or go back to their hotel rooms to freshen up or something. Either way, you'll make yourself crazy if you worry about each person.
Unfortunalty my advice didn't work for me.. my mother refused to come to my wedding unless i had my party during the day immediatly after the ceromony. My ceromony is now at 11 and the reception is at 12:30 so my FH will be missing an hour of our wedding just so my mothers friends are happy. Don't let this happen to you.

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Posted by bride2B04

soon2b i just wanted to say i was reading your response and thought i was reading mine!!! we have the exact same suggesstion!!!!

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lol too funny!!! I didnt even read it untill now!!

Thanks everyone! When I get home I will call my FMIL (we have a great relationship) and tell her what all you guys said. Hopefully it will make her feel better.