Catholic Church

My church had 3 different times for both Saturday and Sundays, but only 1 time on Fridays which is what we took. I wouldn't know what to do with such a big gap. Why aren't you having a reception right after? Did you book the reception hall before the church?

My ceremony is at 3 pm on a Saturday in a Catholic church. I'm figuring an hour at the church, it takes about a 1/2 hour to get into the town where my venue is at and park. My cocktail hour is going to start 5-5:30 and there is a bar in the lobby where the venue is so guests can hang out, check in, etc. I'd try to close the gap as much as possible but because your venue isn't at your church you will need a little gap for transportation, etc.

We're having the ceremony at 2pm, the cocktail hour at 4pm, then dances/seating for dinner around 5-5:30pm. Since a Catholic mass is usually about an hour, they will get out of the ceremony around or a little after 3pm, then they have time to hang around and mingle a bit afterward, maybe take some photos, and drive to the reception venue, so the wait time will be little to none between events.

I am getting married in a Catholic Church and my wedding is also at 2 pm. My church offers 10, 2 or 7:30 (after 5pm mass). 7:30 seemed way too late for me, so we are doing 2pm with reception immediately following. Not ideal, but kind of the best option in my opinion. I actually think it will be so nice to have the whole evening just the two of us and if you're leaving for your honeymoon the next day, you won't be as tired. Win win!

The latest my church can hold our ceremony is 3 pm. Our cocktail hour is at 5:30. We aren't doing a first look, so we wanted some time to take photos. I know some people take offense, but I personally have never had an issue with having a gap between ceremony and reception. This was really the only way we could do it, so people will have to deal.

Kelly you sound like a fantastic host. This thread is literally filled with comments about how to lessen the gap and you just don't at all care about your guests having nothing to do? It's not the only way you could do it it's just the way you feel like doing it.

We got married on a Friday night. 6:00 start time and about a 15 minute drive to the reception. No gap.

You have more flexibility when you DON'T get married on a Saturday. When we were discussing details with our deacon for the Friday ceremony, he wanted the whole thing to start at 5:00. I insisted on 6:00. I live in a large metropolitan city and rush hour traffic to get to a 5:00 wedding would have been horrible.

@CatBones... Both FH and I come from large Irish Catholic families and every single wedding we've gone to has had a gap. My aunt and uncle are local and are opening up their home to guests during the hour gap. I would like to be greeting my guests during cocktail hour instead of missing it entirely. My guests will be properly hosted regardless.