My church is at 3:30pm and the cocktail hour begins at 7pm. What can I suggest the guests to during the gap? There is a Hotel next door the the RH so I was thinking maybe they can go there and have a few drinks or something. I was also thinking of going back to my parents house which is right by the church but right after the church we're going to take pictures and nobody will be home (duh). Any help or suggestions???
MichLiz213
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
I'm in the same position you are, only my church is at 3!
I'd say send them across the street to The Source Mall. Maybe they can get a drink at the Cheesecake Factory? There's a lot of shops and restaurants around CB. Also, they can maybe go down to Eisenhower Park if it's a nice day?
xcalystax
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
We are in the same boat, only with a bigger gap. The ceremony is at 2 and cocktail hour starts at 7. We are taking pictures in between. Alot of people probably won't show up to the ceremony and those that do will probably be local, so they can go home freshen up or change.
EGreene79
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
I have a large gap also ... the church is at 3 and the reception is at 7 - and I'm only having a ceremony. My mom is going to open up her house to guests who need some a place to go inbetween and have some cocktails and snacks. The rest of the guests can go check in to the hotel. The way I figure it - people are out of the church at 4:00, the hotel is a half an hour away, so by the time they find it and check it it'll be closer to 5. The shuttle will leave at 6:30, so they'll have an hour and a half to kill. I've had to do this at several weddings, and to be honest I kind of like having the break. I usually go back to my hotel room, clean up, reapply makeup and just relax. Ok, well, maybe have a few drinks as well
At the last wedding I went to the church was at 2, the reception was at 7 ... in her OOT bags she included a card with things to do in the area like shopping, restaurants, bars, etc ...
sarahradio5
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
I was about to post this when I saw you already did! lol...
I'll have about 2 hours between the time our limos will leave the church and the cocktail hour will start. It will take about 20 minutes to drive to The Crescent. They provide champagne and a living room area for guests to hang out before the cocktail hour - and no other wedding is going on that day. They also have a restaurant/bar where guests can go up to get a drink if they get there WAY early.
Should I let guests know about this?
NY031978
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
im right there w/ you.....my church is at 4 and CH is at 8...so 3 hrs where can ppl go?! only thing i can think of is back to the hotel for some drinks and light refreshments?! thats what my parents did for my sisters wedding....we may do that!
sarahradio5
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
every wedding I went to, I had to figure it out for myself. I just like the fact that my reception site actually has an option for them since it's actually also a restaurant (as is Fox Hollow, Westbury Manor, Chateau Briand, etc)... it would be nice to let them know.
elisabeth71506
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
not a long enough gap for you to worry about what they'll do - they'll figure it out !
ali120206
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
We have a gap as well (2pm church, 6pm cocktail hour). Our reception is at a hotel though so people will probably go back and change for the wedding and relax.
All of the weddings I've gone to where there has been a large gap in between I've either skipped the church, went to the church and went back to get ready for the reception in between the church and the CH (either at home or in the hotel), or went for drinks with friends.
citycrab705
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
i was also worrying about this, my ceremony is at 2 ch at 5, not that long but still, fortunately it will take people about 45-1 hour to get to the hall and JT now has the cigar bar for people to wait in
October Bliss
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
Frankly, you the bride don't need to think of anything to suggest to your guests to kill the time. They'll figure it out on their own. I have a huge gap as well (2:30 ceremony, 7:00 CH), and I'm confident my guests will figure it out.
shelby34
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
My cousin had a lot of time between the ceremony and reception and they invited the out of town people to her parents' house where they served brunch (just some platters of bagels, donuts, and fruit). Not everyone went, but it was a nice option fo the people that had nowhere else to go.
AJSBABYGIRL
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
Good question! My church is at 3 and my reception starts at 6:30! I still havent figured out where my pics are going to be taken OR what I am gonna do with the guests!
jennd311
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
we are in a similar situation, our church will end at around 5 and my cocktail hour starts at 730. I am lucky, Villa Lombardi's has the restaurant right behind, so the woman we are working with at Villa suggested our guets to go there and have coffee or something, but they are also welcome to stay in the lobby of Villa, there are sofas and chairs and what not.
same with us about parents house .. no one will be home, they'll be following us for pics
good luck!
roxyvelas
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
Posted by xcalystax
We are in the same boat, only with a bigger gap. The ceremony is at 2 and cocktail hour starts at 7. We are taking pictures in between. Alot of people probably won't show up to the ceremony and those that do will probably be local, so they can go home freshen up or change.
Ours is at 2:30. We feel that even we have too much time in between. The guests can go home and relax. As a result we also have to pay more for the limo
LImama
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
Well girls, if your mom is hosting guests back at the house after the church, give her an extra hug and kiss from me (Mom of Bride)!!!
I thought of doing this, but after my house is used for bride, MOH, 4 of 6 BM's, and me to do hair and makeup and get dressed, I don't think it will be in any shape for hosting guests! Plus I'll be in my party dress. Plus my daughter wants us with them for some of the pics.
How can I suggest parks, shopping, beach when they are all dressed up for a Sat. night wedding?? And I hope they don't go out and drink/eat too much, there will be sooo much at the RH later! A friend offered to host something at my house but I wish she would just offer her house!!
Such a dilemma! Church 3:30, CH 7:30. Actually the OOT guests are not my worry, as someone else said they can check into hotel and chill there. It's the Brooklyn, CT, Queens guests who may not have hotel rooms. They may just not make it to the ceremony
Good luck everyone!!
MrsMichel07
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
I start at 10am but CH starts at 1pm.... I am thinking of having a VERY mini continental breakfast at the church to stall the guests while we leave right away to take pictures at OWG.
My other option is to start my CH earlier... we'll see.... still undecided about my church location.
Bridex100
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
My friend told me about one wedding she attended where they had provided a list of possible places to go to during the time gap. she thought it was very considerate.
maybe include directions to roosevelt field? americana. the beach. anything interesting...
megsm3
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
Posted by October Bliss
Frankly, you the bride don't need to think of anything to suggest to your guests to kill the time. They'll figure it out on their own. I have a huge gap as well (2:30 ceremony, 7:00 CH), and I'm confident my guests will figure it out.
I agree. our ceremony was at 3:30 and the ch started at 7. our guests went home after the church to change or do whatever and were ok.
Bridex100
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Re: Time inbetween Chruch and Reception
I think it only matters if you have a lot of out of town guests. If everyone is local, then you don't have to worry about it.
