What do people do during this time? The ceremony would be 2:00-3:00 and the cocktail hour would not start until 7:00 !!! The church and the hall are both an 1 1/2 from where any of us live (hotel near by would be where we would get ready). I have done this before as a bridesmaid and fell asleep in the limo between events and barely made it through the reception. There is only so long we can take pics! I haven't chosen this place yet so honest opinons please? How would you feel as a bridesmaid/guest/bride?
jennbaby
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Re: Time gap b/w church and reception.....?
I have the same situation as you but my reception starts at 6:30.
Maybe your mom or family member can have people over for coffee in between or they can go somewhere for a bit?
Sunny
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Re: Time gap b/w church and reception.....?
I guess you are saying the church is 1 1/2 hours from where you live? Honestly, as a guest, I would find that annoying I think, and would probably skip the ceremony and just go to the reception. Depending on how far I lived from the places, I would not drive all that way to be stuck there for 3 hours because it is too far to drive there and back.
jennbaby
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Re: Time gap b/w church and reception.....?
Oh sorry, yes an hour & a half is far to drive, I am with Sunny
Olgaki
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Re: Time gap b/w church and reception.....?
We're stuck there too - I tell my mom - hey there is a Dunkin Donuts near it - we'll get coupons!
LauraPete
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Re: Time gap b/w church and reception.....?
i agree that i would not be as big a deal for the guests b/c let's face it, you are right, they just won't come to the ceremony (I wouldn't either!) But I don't want to torture my family. And myself! Feeling all dressed up and nowhere to go and nothing to do! Coffe is great but i can't dink 4 hours with of it.
I know nothing is going to be 'perfect' but this deal was offered to me at a place in Peirmont overlooking the hudson for Saturday, Aug 9 2003 and it would save us $5000. So I have to consider it. I could instead, get married at MY hometown church in Oyster Bay from 3:00-4:00 and then begin a possibly ugly traffic-filled journey to the hall. That would sure as hell kill time. What do you girls think of that idea?
P.S. - if I go with my other choice in l.i. on a friday i can get married at my church at anytime so there we be barely a gap (maybe 1/2 hour).
LauraPete
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Re: Time gap b/w church and reception.....?
just to clarify the hall has a church 2 blocks away that i am going to use. So there won't be any driving b/w events. Its just once you are there, you are stuck with only a hotel room 10 minutes away to go relax in. Unless, I got married at my REAL church in Oyster Bay, long island at 3:00 and drive up there with my enterage in the limo (which could take up to 1 1/2 hours without traffic) - but then there will be no lag time!!!!!!
What's everybody think? Pros/cons?
Boop2704
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Re: Time gap b/w church and reception.....?
When my cousin got married they had a big gap in between the church and reception. Her parents booked a lounge or something at a local holiday inn for guests to hang out in between. They served soda, beer and wine and they had little snacks for them. The hotel charged them $250 to do this.
ss2002
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Re: Time gap b/w church and reception.....?
Are you having a full mass for your ceremony? If it starts at 3 and runs about 45 minutes, then receiving line, you can take pictures outside the church from 4 to 4:30.
Then pictures before the reception can run from 5 to 6.
Will your reception hall be able to accomodate you early? Maybe you can get there around 6 - 6:30 and take some more pictures. You'll be ready to greet your guests then at 7.
If you break it down you'll realize that it's not that much time to kill!
You really have to do what makes you and your FH happy!! Don't worry about your guests...they'll find a way to occupy the time. I've done this a million times as a wedding guest.
IMO, I think this is better than using LI church and having to rush to the reception.
LauraPete
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Re: Time gap b/w church and reception.....?
The ceremony starts at 2:00 and I don't know if there is an event beforehand. Good question - I will have to ask.
Rob-luvs-me
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Re: Time gap b/w church and reception.....?
One thing to think about is if you do something like sending your guests to a lounge or a hotel bar - they might be quite drunk by the time they get to your reception
My parents went to a wedding once where there was a long break and the guest just went and drank that whole time - and were completely sloshed by the time the hit the cocktail party. They said the bride was a little upset.
(this could also be an issue if your guests have to drive anywhere after) JMO
ss2002
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Re: Time gap b/w church and reception.....?
Oh, I see...
When you wrote ceremony is at 2-3, I thought you meant around 2ish or 3ish...
