Is 9 am too early? what do you think....tough decision!!

Ready. The wedding is at 9, the reception is at noon, then you want to take pictures afterwards. That all sounds good in print but when you really start to think about it you are going to be EXHAUSTED before you even get to your pictures. I know i'm not a morning person at all and just thinking about that schedule makes me tired. Definitely really really really think about all possibilites before commiting. Take FH around to other venues closer to the church, maybe you will get lucky and he will like something else. Good luck!

For me, it's too early. It would be hard to get everyone there on time, ready to go, with all the grooming prep and pic taking.

Ok I'm back folks....i'm going through the comments......ok 2 hrs because i'm afraid of traffic in NYC.....even on a sat morning it is possible.....ok reading...

Don't be sorry people....beause this is what people will say at my wedding so I prefer to hear it here first. the children oh I forgot the children. Well I only invited children fro our family. My parents were gonna provide tportation - like a 40 seater or something.

sarah your comment hit me in the stomach.....lol

Looks like I might have to revisit this topic with fh.....

Thanks for your honesty ....i really wanted to hear what others think.....

I am in the "it's too early" camp.

Yeah 9 is too damned early. Have both the ceremony and reception at one location.

For me that is VERY early to be awake and i dont have to be to work. But remember

this is your day. also you and fh know what you can afford. Like alot of the ladies said you do have to think of all the before prep and if your up to it.

Where about in NYC are the two locations? It might help me visualize the distance and time it might take more easily.

9am, is too early. Did you catch that episode of Four Wedding when the wedding was at 7am or 9am, quite of few people did not show up. I know you have your heart set on breakfast buffet, but could you bump it to later and make it more of a brunch? I know one girl that had a brunch wedding on a Sunday around noon, and atleast 30 people did not show, so anything earlier like 9am is.......

And then with a 2hr gap, people will probably go home, fall asleep and forget to return.

I don’t think its too early... issue as your guest would be to have to travel that distance and then still find something to do between the ceremony and reception for that amount of time...I think it might be a bit unrealistic, you cant start your reception sooner?

I think it is way too early. as a guest i would be upset if i had to get up at 7am to get ready to go to a wedding and then have to sit around and wait until the reception starts. having the ceremony at the same place as the reception, personally sounds like a better idea.

I did not read every comment.

But from experience, our wedding ceremony was at 10AM and we did have a few guests that complained and only went to the reception. As far as getting ready if I had to do it over I would definitely have a later wedding--- it was extremely tough finding a hair stylist and makeup artist that would open that early. I was a half hour later than I wanted to be arriving at the ceremony location, due to the hair stylist not opening early enough. If you are doing your own hair and makeup it shouldn't be a problem.

Well My Aunt is doing my make up and my friend who is a hair dresser will be doing my hair in my room.

Well FH and I discussed it further and our options for the reception are very limited.....this venue is really the best for our budget.

Ceremony in lower Manhattan - thats where my church is located.

Then the reception is at Verdi's of Westbury....in Long Island 12pm - 5pm

FH is set on the ceremony being at our church - I kind of understand because we are both ministers at our church - so this kind of involves our whole church cuz we can't invite them all.......i understand him somewhat

BUT I think we have to move it to 10am (more traditional for a morning wedding)

We will just have to miss the cocktail hour at the reception

That should close the gap

Then lastly maybe I should put on the response card

Ceremony only

Reception only

Both

Will that work?

Thank you all for your comments - well appreciated....

I think it's pretty crappy to invite people to the ceremony and not to the reception. I know you want to include peopel from the church- but why can't you do a small recpetion there if you want to include everyone?

If FH is set on having the ceremony at the church- consider doing the ceremony Friday evening, then the reception Saturday as previously planned. You'll have to get ready twice, but you won't have guests who don't show because of the timeframe and the drive won't be an issue.

Greyash, your wedding is on my birthday, party like a "rockstar".... Are you able to have the reception at the church? I know some churches have reception halls. IMO, 9am is hecka early for a wedding, however, if you know you have a strong support system in your friends and family, and that they will be there regardless of what time you start your wedding, GO FOR IT!!!! Good luck!

So, I have to say that the kid thing and an early ceremony doesn't pose a problem for anyone I know who has kids (as long as they aren't teenagers). My sister has 4 boys under the age of 7 and they are up around 5am each day, already. Plus, on Sunday's they go to Sunday School at least by 9am. What I think poses the biggest problem is the location of the two places. I have done the drive into Long Island and I was about to rip my hair out. Not only is it LONG, but there are way too many toll roads! It cost me at least $15 one way. Then you add in the aggravation of the traffic and it is no bueno across the board. What comes to mind next are all the ppl who live in Manhattan without a car. PT isn't the easiest when going from Manhattan to LI. And I have to agree that inviting ppl to one and not the other seems like it would hurt some feelings. Especially if you are talking about one church congregation. Personally, I wouldn't expect to be invited to a minister's wedding… (cont.)