How long of a gap between the ceremony and reception?

@lilly RIGHT?!?! the first thing I look for at a family event is the bar.

I hour max as far as I'm concerned. That's why it's called cocktail hour.

We're having our venue open the bar upon arrival (before the ceremony). I know our families and friends.

Who the fuck socialises without alcohol?

FH and I don't even drink and we are having a full open bar because we care about our family and friends having an amazing time. It's a party. I'm not saying there HAS to be alcohol, but you could easily host beer and wine only and forego tequila in a plastic machine for probably close to the same price. I bought all of our wine and beer from Bevmo during their 5 cent wine sale (last week) and got 50 bottles of wine, 8 (24 bottle) cases of beer, and 5 bottles of champagne for less than $600. Adding the liquor is going to be around $300.

Wait, let me get this straight. Your guests will be driving for an hour only to not have alcohol at your COCKTAIL hour. Is the margarita machine nonalcoholic? This is just a bad idea all around. I would not go to this wedding if you paid me.

ETA 80 people is NOT small and intimate by any means.

80 is not small.

There should be no gap.

You have to have cocktails at a cocktail hour, ESPECIALLY if you're asking them to drive an hour, tolls or not.

By the time they get YIPPEEE lemonade, they're probably three hours in, with travel.

Not only does no one want alcohol free self serve margaritas in November, they don't want lemonade either.

That is just a rude way to handle people you theoretically love. Replan

My recommendation:

3:00 - 4:15 - take pre-ceremony pictures with family, bridal party, first look (if doing)

5:00 - 5:30 - ceremony

5:45 - guests drive to reception location

5:45 - 6:30 - additional photos for couple, minister, etc.

6:30 - first guests arrive at reception location

6:30 - 7:30 - wine, beer, appetizers provided

7:30 - you arrive for reception to begin

7:45 - seated for couple entrance & dinner

As is? 5:00-5:30 ceremony

5:45 Celia goes home

6:45 Celia is in her yoga pants having a glass of wine.

Celia - you look so much like the actress Kathryn Hahn or is that a pic of her in your profile?

I would say have an hour to an hour and a half cocktail hour to allow time for pictures. I'm actually having ceremony at 4, cocktail hour at 6, and reception at 7.

WTF IS A SOCIAL HOUR?!

5:00-5:30 Ceremony

5:30-6:30 we take photos at church

6:30-7:30 Social Hour with Appetizers and Margaritas with Tequila!

7:45- Dinner.

Shout out to @KSera for being the ONLY ONE to actually answer my question and not pick apart my celebration.

If you're only doing family pictures, 30 minutes is plenty of time. We both have big families are were done with our pics in less than 20 minutes. Be organized and it can happen.

5-530 - ceremony

530-6 - pictures

630-7 - Apps and Margs

715 - Dinner

FWIW: I would drink a margarita in November. I would and do drink them every month of the year. However, some people do not drink tequila, so unless you know everyone does drink it you need something else too.

What about portraits of you and your FH?

It is a double margarita machine which is equivalent to two margarita machines. It is all you can drink margaritas. You guys do what is best for you and your guests, and I will do the same. I simple asked about a timeline.

I'm with Celia on this... Unless you were my bestie i'm not driving an hour between places.

KSera had a good schedule she gave you. I'd try to get most pics done prior to the ceremony. The gap will be awkward, mainly due to travel time and "social hour"..

I don't drink margaritas... Soo.... MsB is right, there should be another choice.

Just because you don't want a drink during social hour does not mean your guests do not want to. You are hosting a party and need to think about what they would want as well.

I live in Houston, Texas. It will be 80 degrees in November. Any day is a good day for a margarita.

@mersadaz why are you ignoring everyone's questions???