Post # 92
Member
17 posts
Newbee
It’s a really long time without some fixed activities to do.
I am taking all my photos in the afternoon, having the ceremony at 6pm and the reception immediately following. I didn’t want to make my guests wait around.
If there is no way around it then I’m sure they will understand, but might it be possible to give the guests a couple of choices of something to do in between? Maybe even screen a movie at the reception site, with pre-made bags of popcorn?
Good luck to you with whatever you decide.
Post # 93
Member
39 posts
Newbee
@silkspectre94: Does the hotel your reception is at have a bar/lounge area? I’m having a gap for pictures as well. I don’t want to rush through them. We have such creative, amazing photographers, I want them to get as many beautiful shots as they can that day. And I am SO not missing a minute of my cocktail hour!!
Our ceremony (Catholic) is at 2:30 PM (it’ll probably go until 3:30) and cocktails begin at 6:00PM. My plan is to have a sort of itinerary for the day with suggestions for places to grab a bite, places to hang out (including the hotel’s bar area), relax, etc.
My fiancé’s sister had a similar gap at her wedding and it was actually great, people went back to the hotel and had a couple of pre-wedding drinks, the families got to know each other, some people took a quick dip in the pool (the hotel was beachside!) and others took a cat nap in their hotel rooms.
Honestly, it’s a big occasion, and I don’t think that it’s so horrendous to make a day of it. Heck, some people have weekend-long festivities!
Post # 94
Member
140 posts
Blushing bee
umm it’s not that long!!! That’s what we did.. First of all the ceremony NEVER starts on time (at least of all the wedding s that I’ve been to) so figure out this scenario:
wedding: 1-1:15 to 2PM depending on how long your ceremony is
then you have the reception time that could take up to a half hour
then you drive to the site, get settled, relax and before you know it it’s cocktail time, dinner etc.
If people don’t want to come to the ceremony – which by the way IS THE WEDDING itself-then that’s their problem… don’t stress and do what you want.
Post # 95
Member
27 posts
Newbee
I would say if you have such a gap defintely do a receiving line to kill time and maybe offer some places for them to stop to grab a drink in between, like a tgi fridays or something. Or if family lives close offer an open house. This way people will have some where to go without having to spend money
Post # 96
Member
140 posts
Blushing bee
@Eve2024: err meant to say receiving line..
Post # 97
Member
1243 posts
Bumble bee
For a 2.5 hr. gap, snacks and booze will keep me happy. 🙂