Large gap between ceremony and cocktail hour.

Most ceremonies only last 20-30 mins. I’d do the 4:00 ceremony. You can do a majority of the photos before the ceremony, then do the rest after the ceremony while your guests are at cocktail hour (that would give you from 4:30-6:00… way more than enough time!)

If the ceremony and cocktail reception are at the same location (no travel time between them), the 4pm ceremony option should work just fine! Assuming it's not a religious ceremony that will run more than an hour, since some religious traditions have very long ceremonies, but in general a ceremony isn't more than 30-35 minutes.

Are you planning to take pictures while your guests are at the cocktail reception, or did you want to experience the cocktail reception with your guests? I know some couples recently have preferred to attend the full cocktail reception so they have more time to connect with guests. You could even split the difference by taking pictures for 35-40 minutes and then enjoy 20-25 minutes mingling during the cocktail reception.

Happy planning!

I would do the photos before as that’s way too long of a gap to be considerate to guests. Believe me, there is no loss of magic.

I would do the 4 o clock ceremony. As others have said, you can do a first look and family portraits before the ceremony. Those are very popular now, and it makes everything go much smoother! Don’t worry about the magic. I recently listened to an interview with a wedding videographer, and they said that the majority of the time the shot of the groom’s face when the bride comes down the aisle that they have in the video is actually when the FLOWER GIRL comes out lol!!! So you can still have a beautiful and intimate moment in private with your fiancé and it won’t ruin a thing. I would only consider the longer gap if there’s plenty of entertainment conveniently located right there, and that is something guests can enjoy in wedding attire. That’s a pretty short list. Otherwise your guests are just gonna have to go back to their hotel rooms and twiddle their thumbs waiting around for the rest of the activities.

The three hour gap is too long. As the host you're responsible for the guests from the start of the ceremony to the end of the reception. I would do the 4 pm ceremony, and figure out your photos around that. You may need to be flexible, as it sounds like the resort isn't.

As a guest, I would be much ore likely to attend if it was the 4 o’clock time. I would dred waiting around for hours and hours

Are all your guests staying at the resort? Normally I don’t like gaps but if. I was staying at the resort where the ceremony and reception were taking place I wouldn’t mind it as much. I d pop down to the ceremony and then go back to my room relax have a snack and have fun glamming up before the party. That only works if all your guests are staying at the location though, the 4pm ceremony would probably work well too and you wouldn’t have to get ready as early, might be a more relaxed morning for you. Best of luck!

View Quoted Comment Majority of the first will be staying at the resort. The more I’ve thought about it and talked to folks I’m going to try n switch to the 4pm. Apparently means having to do a different day but as long as same weekend I’ll be happy. Wish me luck!