Cocktail hour?

My question would be will it prevent your guests from going to the reception? Or maybe they go to one or the other? If the answers no or if you don't mind then I don't think it's a big deal. Maybe talk to your guests and get a feel

I went to a wedding in Michigan that had a huge gap (also Catholic). Since most of the guests I knew were from out of town, we went to a local bar. We were completely fine on our own for those few hours and we all stayed for the entire reception. There was no cocktail hour but there was an open bar. It was a great reception and I don't think anyone found it rude.

You need to move your reception. The last Catholic wedding I went to didn't have a gap, it did have an hour and half cocktail hour with tonnes of food and open bar, but it started immediately after the ceremony.

Most ceremonies here are 2 or 3 and then the cocktail hour starts 3:15 or 4:15 for about an hour to hour and a half then dinner to follow. Gaps are incredibly rude. If there is a gap, I normally choose whether it's easier to go to the ceremony or reception, or not at all. If I have to work hard for your wedding on top of all the money I'm spending, chances are, a) I'm not coming; b) you're not getting a gift.

Just to stick up for OP, she has seen the light (previous page) and closed the gap. OP: you may want to add a line to your original post saying you have a new gapless timeline.

I have no issue with the early ceremony time, mine starts at 12:30. By my reception starts at 1:30. I just think it is a lot to ask that people dedicate 11-12 hours of their day to your wedding. Especially people with kids who may need a babysitter or if they are bringing the kids, they will get cranky for that long period of time. I am an adult and I would be cranky.

ETA: Ok I am glad you are considering moving the reception time up. You don't have to do a cocktail hour unless you are taking pictures after the ceremony. I haven't decided if I am doing one yet.

OP, I don't think you're trying to be rude to your guests. Unfortunately, however pure your intentions are, the result will still be the same -- people will be exhausted after putting in a ten hour day for a wedding (and remember the prep and travel time to get to your wedding). You don't want to start earlier because you're afraid that the event will end too early and people won't be able to party and dance all night. The truth is, lots of them are going to call it a night by 8:30 - 9:00 PM if you keep the schedule as it is. There will also be those who will only attend the reception, not the ceremony.

I would have your wedding at 1:30 and see if you can have your cocktail hour start at 3:00 and the reception start at 4:00. This would also get parents out of hosting hundreds of guests on their children's wedding day (that, in itself, is a monumental task -- but I'm not getting into that now). No gap, and a reception that goes until 9:00 PM will give you happy guests.

If that's not an option, you need to close that gap as much as possible. Do the ceremony at 1:30 and start your reception at 5:00 PM (if the venue is available for a 5:00 PM cocktail hour, it will be available for your reception). That will bring the gap down to 2.5 hours. Not ideal, but better than four hours.

I'm usually all for cocktail hours, but, if you're sticking to your original time line, I would caution you against adding another hour to an already too long day.

OP -- I just read you closed the gap. Please edit your title or this is going to end up being a ten page thread.