Gaps and Activities between Reception and Ceremony: Fun or foul?

Honestly, I am very used to gaps in between ceremonies and receptions as most of my family is Catholic and were married in the church. For the weddings I was in, the gap was 2 hours and we were busy with pictures and travel the whole time but the guests were entertained with food and booze for half of it. Another wedding had a 3 hour gap and I was bored out of my mind. And then another one had a cocktail hour immediately after in the reception space and they had a comedy group come entertain for about 30 minutes to fill most of it. Then the cocktail hour continued for another 20 minutes or so until the reception. It was pretty neat and the comedy was hilarious! I think if you do a gap correctly it can work, but it should be pretty short.

#teamnogap

How will your mom handle this "lite lunch" on her daughters wedding day when she should be enjoying her daughters wedding day and probably having pictures done?

I'm definitely anti-gap, but I think there are other ways you can incorporate this activity!! You could make the tour optional for guests who arrive earlier on the wedding weekend, or include it as a suggested "local activity" on your wedding website or in a welcome bag for your OOT guests!

I've never been to a wedding with gaps. It's usually ceremony and then immediately to the reception site for cocktail hour (maybe the cocktail hour is considered the gap? not sure) but definitely would hate a 3hour (or more per some PPs) gap with nothing to do.

No gap! I am Catholic and had to search to find a church that allowed us to get married later on a Saturday to avoid it. Our ceremony is at 5, cocktail hour starts at 6:30 (45 minute ceremony, people mingling in the church for 15ish minutes afterwards, then heading to our reception venue a few blocks away.) If anyone gets to our reception site slightly early, there is a bar there that I know our guests will have no problem hitting up for a drink.

I went to a wedding with a 3 hour gap and it was awful. We changed out of our wedding clothes, went to a cookout at a friend's house, then had to get re-dressed and go to the reception. My friends and I thought it really killed the whole wedding day excitement mood.

Less gaps is best.

Gaps are generally considered rude and should be avoided when possible. I think your idea isn't terrible, but doesn't work with the logistics of a wedding. Guests should be able to drive from the ceremony site to the reception site and get cocktail hour started right away!

Gaps are inviting disaster, even if you try to offer up some activity.

I have a friend who, according to all his stories, has been invited to many weddings where looooong gaps happened for one reason or another. The trend is for the guests to find the nearest bar and get utterly shitfaced. Keep that in mind. You can offer up the tour, but some people may just say "To hell with this" and go get drunk.

No gaps. Guess should be considered in decision making after all you are inviting to entertain them for the day. A long period absence is considered rude when hosting an event.