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Dedicated July 2018

How much gap between ceremony and reception when at different venues?

Allyson, on April 20, 2018 at 6:55 PM Posted in Planning 0 10

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My church ceremony is scheduled to start at 3:00 pm. The reception venue is about 20-30 minutes from my church. We will be having a cocktail hour before the dinner. I expect everything to be wrapped up at the church by 4. We are not doing a first look and will be taking photos after the ceremony. What time do you think I should have the cocktail hour start? Most of my guests live in town. My wedding coordinator suggested starting the reception at 6 so people have time to go home in between and drop off kids, etc but I’m afraid that might be too long of a gap. I read somewhere that one hour gap is an awkward amount of time where guests can’t go home but it’s a long time to wait around so maybe 2 hour gap is actually more ideal? What do you all think?

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10 Comments

Latest activity by Mrs.D, on April 22, 2018 at 1:00 PM

Expert November 2017
BohoRN2017 · on April 20, 2018 at 7:09 PM
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Are gaps normal in your area? They aren't not normal in my area, most people consider them rude. We had a 3pm ceremony at a church. Reception site 20 minute drive away. Our cocktail hour started at 4pm. We also did not do a first look.
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Master May 2018
Forestwed · on April 20, 2018 at 7:13 PM
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I would start cocktail hour at 4:30. If the ceremony is over at 4 that’s gives them the 20-30 minute travel time. I would not leave a gap. Guests have nothing to do for that hour. You can have cocktail hour from 430-530 or 6 then start the reception
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Champion December 2017
earias · on April 20, 2018 at 7:56 PM
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I agree. We had a similar timeline. Our ceremony was at a church from 3-4 p.m. Our reception venue was about 10 minutes away. We took a few group pictures with our guests and then they headed to the venue for cocktail hour which was from 4:15-5:45 p.m. We took some more pictures with just family and the wedding party and then joined the cocktail hour at around 5 p.m. We did a first look so got a lot of pictures done before the ceremony.
You should avoid a gap. Have a longer cocktail hour instead. Our guests LOVED the 90 minute cocktail hour. We had a solo guitarist, fire pit with chairs and blankets, tons of passed apps, a few cheese and charcuterie stations, etc and an open bar.
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Dedicated July 2019
Brittany · on April 20, 2018 at 9:45 PM
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I agree, only leave a small gap for travel time. If anyone wants to drop off kids before the reception they can skip the cocktail hair to do that. Others who have nothing to do can go straight there to start the celebration! 😀
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VIP December 2018
Casey · on April 20, 2018 at 10:21 PM
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Yeah, people don’t need to go home or go to their hotels and “freshen up” or anything like that, they just want to get to the reception venue and get a drink and start the celebration! Lol
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VIP January 2020
Vicky · on April 20, 2018 at 11:34 PM
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No gap; start cocktail hour at 4:30 and host it from 4:30 to 5:30 while you take pictures. That's the point of a cocktail hour.
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Dedicated July 2018
Allyson · on April 21, 2018 at 12:23 AM
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How would you all recommend handling the bar then? 4:30 is a bit early to start drinking but cocktail hour should have...cocktails right? Package is only for 5 hours of open bar. 9:30 would be a bit earlier than ideal for the reception to end. I’m not sure if I can push back the church ceremony time
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Expert June 2018
Pina · on April 21, 2018 at 10:00 AM
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Similar timeline here. Our ceremony starts at 3. It’s a full Catholic mass so it’ll be almost an hour. We are not doing a first look so we’ll use 4:00-5:45 for pictures (this includes the 25 min drive to the venue from the church). Cocktail hour will start at 5:00. This gives guests time to drive over to the venue and check into the hotel right next door before cocktail hour starts. 1 hour gap time is normal in my family, but longer than an hour would be frowned upon.
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Expert May 2018
2018wedding · on April 21, 2018 at 11:00 AM
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4:30 is not to early to start drinking. : ). It’s 10am and I am drinking a mimosa. Yes. It should have cocktails. I would just close the bar at 930 with an annoucement. I would rather have a drink when I get there then one at 10pm.
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Master July 2016
Mrs.D · on April 22, 2018 at 1:00 PM
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Long gaps are HORRIBLE. Start cocktails and hours deoeuvres about 30 min after ceremony ends.
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