Awkward gap between ceremony and reception, ideas for guests to do in that time...

If I am a guest to a wedding I feel honored to attend and if I don't care, then I decline. I am an adult and do not need a whole day planned to my convenience. I'm a guest, for goodness sake, not the queen of England. If people can't amuse themselves for a few hours, or think their time is too precious, then forgive me, but screw off. I wouldn't want you at my wedding. If you can't be bothered to focus one day of your life to celebrate and appreciate someone else's wedding day, then you probably shouldn't have been invited in the first place. I want my guests to be comfortable, but good grief, if free food and drink isn't enough, I don't know what else is.

I would most definitely not make two invitations, if you can't come to my ceremony (unless there is a good reason) then I don't want you coming to eat my free food and drink my free drinks just because you didn't want to find something to do for 2 hours!!!

@KrystalH I agree 100%. In my opinion it is rude as a guest to be invited to both the ceremony and reception and just show up for the reception without valid reason. A 2.5 hour gap honestly isn't that bad in my opinion especially considering the 30 minute drive time. With notice (which there will be since you are putting the times on the invitation) I believe your guests can find something to do. You can always have an informal cocktail hour at the hotel bar (if they have one) or a neighboring restaurant. Sounds the reception hall is connected to the hotel, some guest will take this opportunity to freshen up. I know I would.

All of these comments are old, so I'll leave a word of encouragement for future brides. I am struggling with the same thing. Catholic Mass in the prime hour of everything. Mass is from 4-5 for the Parishioners, so we can do before (at 2:30) or after (at 6pm). If we do the latter, the guests are going to be hurriedly shuffled because times are stacked not to mention we'll be super stressed about time and travel to. Think 5lbs of crud in a 3lb bag. I am not Catholic and this was all new and odd to me. For my fiance', I am making it work. We will start a cocktail reception at 5:30 with the wedding over at 3:30. For in between, Our wedding website will have different options, and a friend is making a list too. OH and the CVB gives free maps and stuff to do guide that I am giving to all guests in their rooms.

As for our family and friends, they would 100% NEVER not go to the ceremony. We are getting married in my home state of Louisiana. We live in VA and most fam and friends have not been (to New Orleans), so we will give them options of things to do AND schedule a bus to pick them up for the reception at a central point near the French Qtr. I hate to do it, but Catholics have mass on Saturday. We have to schedule in around it. I think everyone will have a great time regardless. Even my friends from there scoffed a little, but in the end said (apparently cliched) "we love you, it's your day, we support and will do whatever you want".

I will note: I have chosen invitations that include a separate "Reception" card with all of the details.

I, as well, will have a large gap between ceremony (10:30 AM) and reception (6:00 PM). No Cocktail hour in between. Our church has service in the early evening and the band practices in the afternoon prior to service. We made "Ceremony" cards instead of reception cards and included the cards in the invitations for those who live close to the Church, close friends, and family. Everyone else received invitations with only our reception information. If they ask about the ceremony, I direct them to our website.

Now, I'm figuring out how to feed the bridal party in between.