Seeking advice from past brides! How much time did you have between your church and cocktail hour? Was it enough time? Too little of time?

Hi '06ers!

First, Congratulations!
2nd, since you girls have the most recent experience, I would like to know from you girls first hand, how much time did you have in between the ceremony and cocktail hour?

Did you find that you left your guests ( who attended the ceremony) wandering around for too long?
is 31/2 hours too long? i want to attend my cocktail hour....

thanks!!!!!

Lisa

Re: Seeking advice from past brides! How much time did you have between your church and cocktail hour? Was it enough time? Too little of time?

Our ceremony was at 3PM, ended at 4PM, our receiving line ended at 4:30PM and the cocktail hour did not start until 7 PM.

My parents opened up our house as stop on the way to the hall for people to come and I know they opened up the CH a little early, which left us plenty of time to take pictures, which was two hours. We got to relax in the bridal suite for about 20 minutes or so, and then went to our cocktail hour. It worked out perfectly for us.

Re: Seeking advice from past brides! How much time did you have between your church and cocktail hour? Was it enough time? Too little of time?

Luckily You are having your reception at Jericho!!

I got to to the hall at about 6:15 with an 8:15 cocktail hour. I spent most of the time before it began, taking pics while early guests arrived.
But don't worry!!
There is a wine and cigar bar for early guests to hang out in before the cocktail hour starts!

Re: Seeking advice from past brides! How much time did you have between your church and cocktail hour? Was it enough time? Too little of time?

Is this to take pictures?

If it is, are you against taking them before the ceremony? We did and it was the best decision that we made. We got married at Giorgio's, so we got there at about 4:30 and the ceremony started at 6:30, we took all of our BP pictures and had some time to hang out before the ceremony started.

DH and I took a couple family shots after, but then we went to our cocktail hour.

If you are getting married in a church, you need to estimate travel time.

Re: Seeking advice from past brides! How much time did you have between your church and cocktail hour? Was it enough time? Too little of time?

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Posted by kathrynlinton

Is this to take pictures?

If it is, are you against taking them before the ceremony? We did and it was the best decision that we made. We got married at Giorgio's, so we got there at about 4:30 and the ceremony started at 6:30, we took all of our BP pictures and had some time to hang out before the ceremony started.

DH and I took a couple family shots after, but then we went to our cocktail hour.

If you are getting married in a church, you need to estimate travel time.

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thanks girls for the advice! it really helps!
to answer your question, i am opposed to seeing my fi b4 the ceremony.
i think i really want to wait for the moment when we catch eachothers eye for the first time when the church doors open. It makes great sense to take the pic b4 the ceremony but i really want to wait.
we'll have plenty of time after the ceremony but i was concerned that the guests will have to fend for themselves for 3 hours...

thank you girls!
any other experiences?

Re: Seeking advice from past brides! How much time did you have between your church and cocktail hour? Was it enough time? Too little of time?

My church is at 3 and CH starts at 7. I think its enough time for people to go home and relax get ready for the party. I'm really not concerned with what people will do. We went to a friends wedding in teh morning and then went back to our house with a few people had bagels and waited for the reception to start, no big deal

Re: Seeking advice from past brides! How much time did you have between your church and cocktail hour? Was it enough time? Too little of time?

our cermony was 2:45-to around 4PM with recieving line, CH started at 6PM and I got no complaints on timing. St. Pat was about 15-20 minutes away from Villa. I know a batch of folks went home to chance, others went to a bar and we had about 60-70 folks skip the church

Re: Seeking advice from past brides! How much time did you have between your church and cocktail hour? Was it enough time? Too little of time?

Yeah, it was different for us too b/c we got married AT the rh

To honestly, seeing each other before didn't take away from the moment, I actually feel like it made it BETTER b/c we were so excited to see each other AGAIN!

Re: Seeking advice from past brides! How much time did you have between your church and cocktail hour? Was it enough time? Too little of time?

my church starts at 4pm and the CH starts a t 7:30pm

Re: Seeking advice from past brides! How much time did you have between your church and cocktail hour? Was it enough time? Too little of time?

Our ceremony is at 2pm and the reception starts at 6pm. By the time we leave the church it will be around 3:15pm, and then we will have about 2 and a half hours to take pictures together, relax in the bridal suite with our bridal party, and then take more pictures with our family. It will be perfect for us since we want to go to our CH. I also think this will work out great for our family members who are coming to the church with their kids to see us get married and then have to go home and get the kids ready for their babysitters, as well as having to get ready for our wedding. I think it works out perfect for them. My mom will also have people over her house for anyone that wants to go there in between the church and the reception. My mom thought we should make the church at 3pm, but we decided it was best to keep it at 2pm.

Re: Seeking advice from past brides! How much time did you have between your church and cocktail hour? Was it enough time? Too little of time?

our ceremony was at 3:30 and the cocktail hour was at 7. as far as i know there were no problems. people who booked the hotel went back to change and hangout and the locals went home to change.

you should be fine

Re: Seeking advice from past brides! How much time did you have between your church and cocktail hour? Was it enough time? Too little of time?

I'm screwed... 11 Am Mass that won't be done tiol at least 12:15.... then 1:00 PM cocktail hour. there's no way i'll be making my cocktail hour... oh well! :(

Re: Seeking advice from past brides! How much time did you have between your church and cocktail hour? Was it enough time? Too little of time?

2:45 church
full mass
7:00 pm cocktail hour
But about a 45 min drive
guests will have to deal- I want my pictures and I dont want to miss the cocktail hour and I dont want to see FH before wedding

Re: Seeking advice from past brides! How much time did you have between your church and cocktail hour? Was it enough time? Too little of time?

my ceremony is at 4 and ch isnt till 8 about 4o minutes travel. Im not concerned about the guests ...they will figure it out.

Re: Seeking advice from past brides! How much time did you have between your church and cocktail hour? Was it enough time? Too little of time?

Ceremony ended at 4 in Hicksville and cocktail hour started at 6:30 in Wading River. We mad our cocktail hour but would have liked more time to take pictures! We felt rushed.