Break between ceremony and cocktail hour???

I'm no expert, but I thought the cocktail hour is to keep guests busy and fed while you're taking photos?

Are your ceremony and reception in the same place or do you have to drive to the reception venue?

Why wouldn't you use the in between hour AS the cocktail hour? I think that's what most people do. That's what I'm doing anyways. Or just make your cocktail hour longer maybe.

BP usually doesn't attend the cocktail hour because they are taking pictures.

It would be very rude if your ceremony and reception are in the same place.

I wouldn't do this. Our timeline was ceremony 330-4, cocktail hour 4-5, then reception 515-10pm.

Some people left during cocktail hour and I was pissed!

Need more info. Same place or different place? Do your guests have to travel from ceremony to reception?

I would start the cocktail hour right after the ceremony ends. You don't want guests doing absolutely nothing for an hour.

Yes, I know pictures will be during cocktail hour and the BP will not be attending - Everything is at the same location. Pictures will be offsite. I am afraid we won't have enough time to take pictures. My question is in regards to the hour break for guests between when the ceremony ends and cocktail hour begins.

You're getting your pictures with your BP and the groom with the groomsmen before the ceremony right?

Write down a list of which pictures you want to have. Have a conversation with your photographer. Pictures should not take more than an hour.

And to answer your question...yes it would be rude to leave another hour for your guests to entertain themselves.

We cannot push back ceremony - invites already printed. Everything is at one location except the BP will be traveling for pictures offsite. And yes, we are going to try to do all separate pictures prior to the ceremony. So our option is to extend the cocktail hour - but I feel like that is too long of a cocktail hour

I always thought once cocktail hour ends then everyone goes to the reception area and mingles until the BP is ready, that's why the bride and groom are always making some grand entrance to the reception area.

No. The point of the cocktail hour is for guests to have something to do while you take pictures. You should take as many pictures as possible (bridal party, bridal portraits, family pics) before the wedding. During cocktail hour, you take a *few* pics of the bridal party and family with both you and new hubby, then "dismiss" them to cocktail hour and spend the rest of the time taking portraits of the 2 of you. If you need more time, then you extend the cocktail hour to an hour & a half but that's it. Otherwise, its not only super rude to your guests but you will end up with a bunch of drunk guests before the reception starts.

Avoid the hour break between the ceremony and cocktail hour. It's extremely inconvenient for the guests. People will skip the ceremony (and maybe cocktail hour. Which you are paying for).

ETA: I wasn't speaking English.

Yeah I would definitely not make people wait around for cocktail hour to start. That's the whole point of cocktail hour, to keep the guests entertained and happy during picture taking.

Either do first look or get all those photos done in that hour. How far is the site where you want pics taken? It's rude to make guests wait that long - I don't care how good the food and alcohol is.

First look is not an option for us, neither one of us want to see each other before the ceremony (while I understand there are pros to doing it, it's not what we want). Thanks for all the advice everyone - we will figure something out that works for everyone!

Do not have a gap. If I find out there is a gap, chances are I'm a) not coming to the ceremony just to the reception; b) taking my gift and booting out after the ceremony.

Move your cocktail hour back, make sure your guests are fully hosted the entire time.

Agree with Mrs.Atwood. The cocktail hour should be immediately after the ceremony to keep your guess entertained while you take photos.

I didn't want a first look either, and I did my wedding this way. I took photos with my bridesmaids, and my family before the ceremony. After the ceremony, the formal pictures were quick. We just wanted family shots and one big wedding party shot. We then joined in for the end of cocktail hour.

Don't make your guests stand around with nothing to do for an hour.

No, it's not okay. I've been to maybe two weddings like this and it's freaking awkward, partly because your guests assume the party starts right after the ceremony. Have an hour and a half cocktail hour (kind of the norm here) and then you can be there for part of it, but don't make your guests stand around for an hour