Ladies I need some advice. My Greek ceremony (in Astoria, Queens) is currently set at 3pm and cocktail hour starts at 6pm. Knowing how long Greek ceremonies last I am guessing it will end around 4:30 then I'd like to take some pics in LIC and head to Sand Castle. I am sure we wont make it for the entire cocktail hour but I am hoping we can at least get there to taste some of the yummy food during CH. My photographer suggested I change time of ceremony to 2pm but thethought of a 2pm wedding sounds too early to me and my guests will have a 3 hr gap until CH. My other alternative is to try to extend my CH another half hour. any thoughts or similar issues? thanks.
futuremrsfab
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Re: Not enough time between Ceremony and Reception??
Our ceremony started at 2pm and our cocktail hour started at 7. We went to our college to take pictures- and just made it for the cocktail hour.
The only thing is the bigger the gap between the ceremony and cocktail hour- the less people you get for the ceremony- probably half showed up for the ceremony for us
Espo22
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Re: Not enough time between Ceremony and Reception??
well if your ceremony is ending at 4:30pm then figure in some time with pics outside of the church and receiving line, and then by the time you get to LIC it will be close to 5pm. I also had my ceremony in astoria and took pics in LIC and reception was in LI, so i had a very similar scenario as yours.
But i took pics for 2 hours at LIC and then headed towards LI and we hit some traffic but we still got there a little before 7pm and ch started at 7:30 so it was ok.
If you get to LIC lets say about 5pm, then even with just an hour of taking pics, then it will be 6pm before you are ready to leave queens and head to LI. So figure you can get there anywhere from 6:30-7pm depending on traffic that day.
I really dont think 2pm is that early. My ceremony was at 2:30pm and it was fine PLUS i was not rushed at all during anything the day of. We were able to relax, have more than enough time for everything and not rush once. Ceremony was at 2:30pm and ended around 3pm. Then we did receiving line then pics outside of the church and talking to people. We got to LIC just a lil before 4pm, then took pics at gantry park and 5 points and had enough time to take pics we wanted. At 6pm we headed towards Jericho terrace and got there a lil before 7pm and was able to go into the bridal suite and eat a little and relax before it all started.
RitasEngaged
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Re: Not enough time between Ceremony and Reception??
I personally don't think you will make your CH. I have a 3 hour difference and my church is only 15 min away from my RH and we are taking all of our picks there and we will be cutting it short on making it to the start of the CH. Also I am not having a mass.
LeeAnne
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Re: Not enough time between Ceremony and Reception??
my ceremony is at 230 and the CH is at 630. i think ti will be fine
Espo22
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Re: Not enough time between Ceremony and Reception??
also it doesnt matter if your guests have a 3 hour gap, this is the norm for weddings and as guests you are used to it, ive had to do it many times. Also if most of your guests are from astoria or around that area then they will come to the ceremony dressed regularly and then after just go home to get ready and leave when they are ready to.
I had a bigger gap than yours and have been to weddings with even bigger gaps
MrsL2010
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Re: Not enough time between Ceremony and Reception??
my brother and SIL had a 5:15 church at cocktail hour at 8, they made it to their cocktail hour
Espo22
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Re: Not enough time between Ceremony and Reception??
Posted by dmc1727
my brother and SIL had a 5:15 church at cocktail hour at 8, they made it to their cocktail hour
what was the distance from ceremony to reception? and also did they take pics at RH or went to a different location?
I mean it can be done, i just know it can depend alot also on the distance between all these things. Plus the time to take pics, we took them for 2 hours and with one hour drive to RH, plus drive to picture location before that there was no way.
And the OP is travelling from queens to LI but also stopping at a picture location that is actually going further away from LI. Astoria and LIC are close to eachother but astoria is closer to LI and close to the highways. LIC is closer to the city so youre going in the opposite direction and then have to drive back towards the way you originally came from
MariaSak
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Re: Not enough time between Ceremony and Reception??
Thank you ladies this is very helpful. I am the most undecisive person in the world I have changed the ceremony time twice already LOL
megsher
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Re: Not enough time between Ceremony and Reception??
I'd keep it as it is. I actually just arranged to shorten my gap. I've been to so many weddings, and honestly as a guest gaps are annoying. I know you don't want to miss your cktail hour, but you also don't want to much of a lag during the festivities.
meara
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Re: Not enough time between Ceremony and Reception??
Just as an alternative - would you consider doing some pics before? Or do you want the first look to be in the church?
bubberflys
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Re: Not enough time between Ceremony and Reception??
This will probably cost a little bit extra, but if you want to put the reception ahead or the ceremony back, to shorten the gap for your guests, ask the reception hall if they can set up a small room with light snacks/coffee for the guests to wait out the time until they are moved to the room for the Cocktail Hour. My cousin did this at Lenords of Great Neck and it went over very well.
