Ceremony and Reception on separate dates?

I wouldn’t plan a ceremony and reception on 2 different dates. I’m assuming you mean you’d have a ceremony and reception during the same weekend but not on the same. You’re essentially asking all of your OOT guests that are flying in to pay for an additional night in a hotel AND rental cars (unless you’re providing transportation from the hotel to the church and then from the church to the reception and back to hotel). I also think this will probably cause you headaches with your budget as well. For example: Are you going to pay for a photographer for both days? Are you going to pay for your hair & make up for both days? Can your bridal party all commit to one day for the rehearsal, one for the ceremony and one for the reception? I think you just have to decide which is more important: the ceremony site or the reception? Once you figure that out, plan the other around that location.

I agree. Seems like more work and money for you and guests to have 2 separate days... if you are super committed to 2 separate sites I would just adjust the timeline so that you have enough time to do everything in one day. Otherwise, I'd move one of the sites so it's closer together

No.... Same day. And, yes, 2 hours is too far to ask guests to drive from ceremony to reception. Especially if they have to drive 2 hours back after the wedding. But also too far for vendors as well. My guess is that you’ll be charged additional travel fees.

Your guests won't be fine with the drive. Find a way to have the entire event on one day.

No, that is too far.

I feel like separate dates is even more inconvenient than the 2 hour trek. I think you should keep everything on the same day. Could you provide transport to shuttle everyone between the venues?

Nope. Too far. You need to host guests with a reception (food & drinks), especially for OOT guests. Find a different ceremony or reception venue.

If you go with the venue 2hrs away or even on two separate dates, be ready to lose most of your guest list. If I were a guest I definitely wouldn't come. That is a big inconvenience for your guest. You need to decide what's more important the church or reception venue

Neither. You need to figure out a different plan.

Thank you all for your insight. I hadn't thought everything through. I am reworking my plan.

My wedding and reception #1 will be in NorCal
and my reception #2 will be the next day in SoCal about 6-7 hours drive.

I’m Indian and our weddings are already a week long so nobody will mind the reception being a different day