My ceremony is at 3 and my reception is at 7. Neither the church or the hall are willing to compromise on the time, but I don't want to have to find a new hall or church because of this. The problem is I feel bad for my guests. My FH and parents keep telling me not to worry about it (FH actually said it's their problem!!! Real sympathetic!!!), but I do worry about it. Three to three and a half hours is a long time. The trip to the hall will take up about a half an hour of that (which I also feel bad about), but still ... I guess people will check into the hotel, and my mom offered up her house for a pre-reception party, but I wish this wasn't an issue.
Is anyone else having this problem? What are peoples opinions on big gaps between the ceremony and reception?
Thanks!
kase21
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
I have the same issue.
Church 2:30 Hall 7pm
they have about 3.5 - 4 hours to themselves... it's not unusual and they'll have to work it out. My mom may host and 'inbetween' thing, but I'm not stressing too much.
October Bliss
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
My ceremony is at 2:30, CH starts at 7:00. IMHO, the guests will find a way to keep themselves occupied. However, I am having light refreshments served after the ceremony.
tjs
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
my church is at 12 and my cocktail hour starts at 5 .....i figure we get out of church at 1 and then go do pictures .then who knows. Im not worried about it peopel will find things to do. My cousin had a big gap between her church/reception also we went home freshened up changed clothes etc.... I wouldnt worry to much
roxyspark
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
Most of the weddings I have attended have had a few hours in between te church and the reception.
My FH's aunt will host an 'inbetween' party. SOme people might go to the hotel and check in.
Plus the Milleridge has a little 'village' with stores that people can go and check out before the reception starts.
Brassgirl9
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
Having either your parents or FH's parents have a small get-together at the house might make things easier for your guests after the ceremony. I'm personally having the ceremony and reception at the same place since i have family coming from brooklyn. I don't know if you've ever considered that but it is an option. Good Luck
Suzannebride
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
I have the same time lapse. I might try to see about a little hospitality suite set up at the hotel, but I'm not sure yet. Most people tell me to let the guests figure it out on their own!
CLMon7906
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
If there's a park nearby, people could go there as well....it will still be warm enough at your wedding that people would enjoy that....sorry you have this issue.
futuremrsGafforio
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
I have the same gap. My ceremont starts at 3 and cocktail at 7. It's a long time but I think people understand. I also wante dto make sure I have enough time for pics!!!
DandS
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
Our ceremony is at 2pm and the reception will start at 6pm. My family actually enjoys the time gap because the one's that have kids bring them to the church and then go home and get dressed and ready for the reception and get the kids ready for the sitter. My parents will have refreshments at the house for anyone that does not need to go home. It will only be about 2 hours though because by the time we get out of the church and finish taking pictures it will be around 3:30 and then everyone will head over to the reception hall around 5:30. It is also good for people that are staying at the hotel. It gives them time to check into the hotel and get ready (we have a lot of people staying at the hotel to party with us afterwards - our sisters and brothers, cousins and friends).
LBride
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
People will go home to change and get ready for the reception... my brother had a time span in between and some people went back to his wife's mother's house to relax, eat, etc.
kase21
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
I'm not having a full mass and the church has a service at 5 so maybe people could hang around and go to chuch after my wedding!
j/k - posting mainly to up my post number
EGreene79
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
Posted by kase21
I'm not having a full mass and the church has a service at 5 so maybe people could hang around and go to church after my wedding!
j/k - posting mainly to up my post number
Same here! Maybe mine will do the same
I like the time span because I won't have to rush the pictures, I can relax a little, and I'll be able to attend the cocktail hour. It'll be good for the out of town guests staying in the hotel, but I have a lot of family in Brooklyn and Queens that will probably complain. Oh well - I can't change my day around for everyone else, right?
meliss1019
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
my church is at 3 i'm not sure if I'm going to start at 6:30 or 7 but it's still only 2- 2 1/2 hours b/c of the church cermemony & travel time...
reenielady
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
CHurch 2:30 CH : 7:30
Don't worry this is very common problem with evening weddings on Saturdays because the church needs the place for evening mass and the rh's have day weddings People will find a way to pass the time. I have alot of oot guests so we are having them brought back to the hotel for a little happy hour and then to the reception while we take pics.
DanNette
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
My ceremony is at 3 and reception begins at 7:00. Our RH has a bar there that will open 1 hr before the cocktail hour for any early arrivals. It might be a good idea to suggest a bar/restuarant in the area to anyone that asks. Having your parents host something in between is really sweet, but I wouldn't want to put more stress on my parents. Maybe people from out of town can take a breather at someone's house that lives closer and freshen up. If not, your guests will understand, don't stress too much.
The gap made me consider having a full mass to use up time....but I think we are going to stick to a ceremony.
luvmyhuny
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
I have the same issue but we everyone will go back to my Moms or His Moms for drinks and food before the reception.
Nic and Ant
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
We are having our church at 3pm and RH at 7pm. The distance between the two is maybe 30-40 minutes away from each other. At first, I was in the same position. But I figured the ceremony should take up some time and the distance to get there should take up some time. I wanted to make sure we had enough time for pics that's why i left such a big gap. Plus some family and friends will probably stick around to see the church pics. If not, I'm sure your guests will find something to do. Don't stress about.
sarahradio5
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
maybe in their OOT baskets (if you're doing them), you can suggest some bars to go to near the reception site?
I've been to plenty of weddings with gaps in between, and guests just hand out at a local bar or restaurant. There's nothing you can do...
Will your place have a pre-cocktail hour lounge? Mine has a living room-type place where they'll have pictures of us set up and champagne, for guests to hang out before the cocktail hour, which we've extended by a half hour. What if you asked your hotel to start the cocktail hour at 6:30, and make it an hour and a half? Also, can you make your ceremony a mass (if it's at a Catholic church?). That will eat up another half hour.. plus receiving line... plus pictures. You can feasibly not be out of the church until 4:30 that way!
njbound07
Posted:
Member since
Re: Time Lapse Between Ceremony and Reception
My ceromony starts at 3pm and will end about 3:45ish closer to 4pm and it's about 20-30 min drive to jericho terrace and my banquet manager reassured me that if anything the guest can come early and they will take care of them.. like open the bar in the cocktail room and serve the food @ 6pm....
