Post # 1
Member
779 posts
Busy bee
My ceremony is at 1 and the reception is probably going to start somewhere after 5. The schedule is still sort of getting mapped out, but the ceremony is being held at our home church and then the reception will be at a hotel roughly 25 minutes away. I have a select few people going to the reception site right after the wedding just to do the finishing touches for the reception, so I’m thinking if guests needed a place to go, they could just head on over to the reception site, but there won’t be any cocktails or finger foods until we arrive at 5. Is it too weird for the ceremony and the reception to be so far apart with nothing for the guests to do? I feel bad, but I’m not sure what to do with them besides maybe saying they have the option to head straight to the reception or just kind of hang out until 5? Maybe i’ll order some more food for the reception for people who choose to head right over? I feel bad not really having anything for guests to do. Most guests are from in town, but the few that traveled… I feel bad to just leave them high and dry with nothing to do.
Post # 3
Member
779 posts
Busy bee
I know this isn’t a super fun topic buuuut I would love some feedback! :S 😀 Pretty please?
Post # 4
Member
236 posts
Helper bee
@silkspectre94: Um, why is there so much time in between? If I were a guest, I would be a little annoyed that there is so much unplanned time in between the two events. If I were an out of town guest, I would definitely be annoyed. Unless there is a really good reason, I think it is kind of rude to expect people to give up their whole day for simply waiting around.
Post # 5
Hostess
2555 posts
Sugar bee
I’ve never been a few of big gaps between the two – but they seem to be more common with couples getting married at church. My grandmother (or another family member nearby the church) has in the past hosted a light lunch at her home – nothing heavy, many finger foods. Can someone do that for you? This will give guests something to do.
Post # 6
Member
13943 posts
Honey Beekeeper
Yes, I do think the four hour gap is way too long, especially since you’re suggesting they go to to the reception hall to either stand around or get your reception ready, with no food or drink. I personally think the gap is a big inconvenience on guests, and would try my best to limit it as much as possible.
As a guest, I might actually consider not attending one portion (ceremony or reception) depending on how far I lived from the reception hall.
Post # 8
Member
779 posts
Busy bee
@maya2008: it’s mostly so we can go take pictures with family and the bridal party. Most weddings I’ve gone to have this gap for pictures. It’s a longer gap because the reception site it’s a little farther away. Is it really a big deal?? 🙁 Now I’m worried.
Post # 9
Member
47430 posts
Honey Beekeeper
@silkspectre94: I don’t mind the gap as long as I know about it ahead of time, but I also know I am in the minority. Sometimes it’s nice to make plans to visit with friends or family in smaller groups, other times we have gone back to the hotel for a drink and laying around the pool.
You could shorten that gap by making cocktails available at 4 or 4:40, or are you planning on delaying the cocktail hour until you arrive at 5?
And what are you going to be doing to fill in the gap?That’s an excessive amount of time for pictures. Even allowing for a 30 minute drive, you are leaving 3 hrs for picture taking.
Is there any possibility of having a later start for the ceremony?
Post # 10
Member
236 posts
Helper bee
@silkspectre94: What time will the ceremony end? Is it short? If it is over by 1:30pm or even 2:00pm, I think that 3 hours is way too long for photos. Even with the 1/2 hour drive, I would think that 1 to 1/2 hours max would be needed.
Perhaps do some photos before the cermony, like photos with your bridal party and family. Then some photos afterward.
Post # 11
Member
384 posts
Helper bee
I have the same situation, my church won’t take us any later than 12 so mass will be done by 1pm but our cocktail hour doesn’t start till 4pm. Our guests know that unfortunately we do have that “catholic gap” but I feel bad. on the other hand theres really nothing i can do about it lol. i’m putting together a welcome bag for our guests and including maps and events around the area so guests can do things during the gap
Post # 12
Member
779 posts
Busy bee
@abbie017: well the ceremony would be an hour, so that brings it down to 3, plus a 25 minute drive so 2 and a half. And they wouldn’t be standing, they’d be in the dinning room, and I said I was open to finger foods and drinks if it was too much of a wait. Ive only been to like 2 other weddings before and theweak had that gap, I sort of thought it was normal. Not cool?? :(:(
Post # 13
Member
236 posts
Helper bee
@julies1949: +1 having a cocktail hour and shortening the photos would help a lot
Maybe do:
1:00-2:00pm Ceremony
3:15-4:15pm Cocktails
4:15pm–Reception
Post # 14
Member
301 posts
Helper bee
I think a big gap is better than a medium sized gap. My friends had a destination wedding with ther ceremony ending about 2 or 3. They took photos for a few hours in between and thre was not a lot to do. We were really hungry and the only option was fast food, and it was really hot that day so we sweated in our clothes because there really wasn’t enough time to go back to the hotel.
Post # 15
Hostess
7547 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I’m not a fan of a gap, especially if it’s more than one hour. I would plan something for your guests to do and try to make the time frame tighter.
Post # 16
Member
2552 posts
Sugar bee
it’s way too long for out of town guests. after so many hours, you’re ready to go home, not to start a reception. can’t you have a later ceremony?
