Gap between ceremony and Reception

My cousin's wedding had about an hour to hour and a half gap in between the ceremony and the reception. A bunch of us got together and went to a nearby Sonic to get slushes during the break. It was nice to just hang out but we were already familiar with the area since we all lived there. I think suggesting things to do or places to hang out would be a great idea especially for guests who aren't from the area.

Personally my FH and I are having our ceremony and reception at the same location so we're sending everyone outside to play lawn games while the vendors set up for the reception.

I wouldn't mind the gap but I come a small town surrounded by small towns and there was also travel time between the ceremony and reception which ate up some of that time. It's also a tradition where I'm from where the bride and groom go bar hopping in between the two. If you have a lot of out of town guests it may not be ideal for them though.

Most ceremonies held in churches have gaps. Some won't come to the ceremony jist be clear in the invitation what time things start. I had a 2 hour gap at my first wedding bit it was 5 minutes from my parents so while we did pictures, they invited everyone there for fruit, cheese, and to hang out (no alcholol) only about 20 people went. Alot went home or hung out in groups. Nobody complained because they knew the timeline. I think issues come up with surprise gaps.

I think honesty is the best policy. Make sure your guests are aware of the times and the lull in the day. The only time it's really bothered me is when I didn't know ahead of time and was unable to plan accordingly- I basically drove in from out of town and ended up at the mall for 2 hours. If I would've known I would've looked into something to occupy my time, or may have skipped the ceremony. I grew up with most of the weddings like this, so it doesn't normally phase me, but it may cause some of your guests to skip the ceremony.

We have had times where the guests have just hung out at the hotel bar, and there was a tab for guests. I don't know if maybe that's something you could look into?

I've been to weddings with gaps and I've always thought they were nbfd. Maybe because I love to travel and explore but I've never been put out by having to wander around a new place and find things to do. As you can see though there's a big difference of opinion. Some people need every second of their day planned out for them and won't be happy if they have to find something to do for two hours. I think you'll be fine though if you give people a list of places to go to in the area. Two hours isn't that long.

My cousins had a two hour gap and they found a party room nearby and provided lots of apps and drinks

Made it way more bearable! But we still drove to 3 locations :-/

Noemi, you got it right, but just to clarify, a lot of Catholic weddings don't have a gap because the brides and grooms don't put their vision ahead of their guests. If their ceremony is over at 2, they have a 2 p.m. cocktail hour and 3 p.m. reception. Or they host refreshments at a parents' home prior to cocktail hour or they run a tab at a local bar prior to cocktail hour. The point is, they host their guests from the beginning of the ceremony until the end of the reception and that is what's expected. Think about it this way: if you invite people over to your home, would you send them out on their own if there's a lag between arrival and dinner? Of course you wouldn't. You'd host them until dinner is ready. It's the same thing with a wedding.

Elizabeth, no one wants to play lawn games when they're dressed up for a wedding. Does your venue have another room that you can put refreshments in?

Megan, the bride and groom going bar-hopping while their guests do their own thing between ceremony and reception is not tradition where you're from. There is no region of the country/world that corners the market on rudeness. That's a tradition in your social circle and if I were you, I would change it. It's rude af.

I have a Catholic gap too and our solution was to host a "gap hour" reception at our hotel. We're having cheese and crackers, veggies and flat breads all passed and an open bar for guests who want to just go somewhere before the Reception starts

Yay for Mrs. Holz! A hosted gap is no gap

Pay attention to Future Mrs. Holz. THAT'S how you handle a gap.

I really really don't like gaps. I would skip your ceremony and just come to the reception. I'm Catholic and have never experienced a gap. Why can't you just have your venue ready directly after the ceremony and start your cocktail hour?

I have this too! Feel the pain we came up with the idea to put out a few tables on the grassy area next to the church with lemonade water and iced tea and some cookies. (Super simple and a few of the church ladies offered to set it up for us) hopefully this will semi-organically get people to chat and hang out to kill time. We are also making it very clear to everyone via the invites and website that there will be a gap. We're giving a few suggestions of things to do in that time too.

Im not catholic but I actually like when there's a gap, as long as there are some bars to go to near by. Have a few drinks with friends, maybe an appetizer, then head to the party! I think that would be fine to put some recommendations in your program or on your website.

Thanks all. I'm looking into closing the gap now. I don't think there should be any problem, but we'll see. It was originally a matter of planning with the venue setup, nothing about a "vision" of mine or ours. We don't quite care about having an evening reception or not, we just want people to have fun and we want to be married. Unfortunately I can't move my ceremony up but I might be able to work something out with the venue, so cross your fingers!

Also, @Elizabeth, I know lots of people who'd be extremely into playing lawn games, dressed however they are. So you really can't generalize when, obviously, you don't know everyone all over the world.

I've been to 2 weddings with gaps of 2 hrs. For one they were able to utilize the hall of the church for snacks and non alcoholic drinks. It was fine. Lots of time to visit. They had music and board games as well as a jar to fill with marriage advice/tips for the couple and a table with their guest book so everyone had plenty of time to fill it out.

The other wedding had the reception across the street from a local history museum (which had a cafe) and they arranged free admission for wedding guests. That was pretty cool. We were almost late for the reception!

The only people I have ever seen play lawn games are drunk groomsmen and little kids, so that idea is debatable.

Part of the gap issue is that it makes for a very long day.

I got thrown a gap when the second wedding got booked at our church. I am going to do my level best to host a slightly extended cocktail hour with apps in our pavilion until bride#2 leaves the Bridal suite of the Event Center to start her wedding.

I had a gap when I was married. Out of all the weddings I have ever been to, only two didn't have gaps (both were OOT). All that being said, when I went to the weddings with no gaps, I realized how annoying gaps were. I never knew any different, but when you see different, it makes you realize that common isn't always good. I really wish I didn't have a gap (but I don't have a time machine).

I went to my cousin's DW and there was a gap. Being OOT, it sucked. It wasn't enough time to do the things we usually like to do in the city. We didn't want to just sit in our hotel room. And I was seven months pregnant, so we didn't go hang out at a bar. It really ate up our whole weekend - travelling six hours Friday to get there. Wedding Saturday - can't do anything except early morning in the city. Early afternoon wedding. Gap. Evening reception. Then drive home Sunday.

That's my dilemma as well. Our church does weddings on Saturdays at 1:30pm because they have mass later on. The earliest we could have cocktail hour at our venue is 6pm with a 7pm start time. I almost decided to just forego a church ceremony and do it at the venue but I knew I wouldn't be happy. I always wanted to get married at our church and I decided to just bite the bullet and do it. We we were able to switch our ceremony start time to 3pm. So that helped a little. Moral of the story do whatever you want to do just let your guests know and they will understand.

Edit- spelling

I used to think a gap was annoying (as a guest) but boy I would have loved a gap as a bride. My ceremony (45 mins...that was 10-15 mins longer than I anticipated) was at 3. We did a receiving line and family/BP photos in the church from 3:50-4:30. Talk about RUSH. The cocktail hour began at 5, most guests got there by 5 or shortly after (there was distance between ceremony and reception). I could have easily done a 5:30 cocktail hour just so everyone could enjoy a FULL hour of apps and liquor. But- dinner was announced at 6.

Big gaps are very inconvenient especially for OOT but some regions I've noticed- it's a bit more the norm. Now that my wedding's over, I have no advice (haha!). Just be careful in your timing. A gap of what may essentially be one hour isn't too big of a deal imo. Know your crowd..