Time between Ceremony and Reception

That 100% is too much of a gap time. Because you’re ending at 230p and let’s say it takes 30 min to drive and park but cocktail hour still doesn’t start for another two hours. Is there a way you can start your ceremony later? Some ppl might be ok with it for instance I’ve done that before for other people’s weddings where I go home or just hangout somewhere but generally that’s quite a bit of a gap time for some people

I think gap is way too long. People will definitely get bored/annoyed by this. I would either move up your cocktail hour or push back your ceremony. Such a large time gap is unnecessary.

I would revise your timeline and do your photos before the ceremony. I agree with PPs that the gap is too long. Are you able to start the ceremony a bit later?

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Will have to look at the timeline. I already asked the venue to move up from 5:30pm to 5:00pm so not sure how much flexibility we will have, and I can also ask the church but they may have 3:30pm wedding, as well as an evening Mass afterward so their schedule may also be a bit tight.

The better question is how would they *not* get bored or restless waiting for more than two hours? Can you find a different venue that would be ready to host your guests at 3:00? That would be the best solution. I do understand you don't have control over the church service time, but there should be a venue that opens earlier than 5:00.

You should expect guests to attend either the ceremony or the reception, not both, unless you revise your timeline.

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Not open to finding a different venue at this point since we've already spent much money working with the current one. I'm thinking either trying to alter the church time or finding some activity for guests to do in-between? But I will definitely check-in with them again on any flexibility. Thanks!

I'm in the minority here, but I don't find any issue with the gap. Every wedding I have ever been to, until a few recently, have had a large gap between the ceremony and the reception. Guests are capable of finding something to do. At family weddings, it's a great time to reconnect with out of town family. I've gone to restaurants, bars, or back to my house/hotel (depending on if the wedding was local). Most people who attend a church ceremony will understand that there is a gap. For your international guests, you can create a list of places they might be interested in, like local bars or restaurants.
Yes, some guests might skip out on the ceremony, but shame on them. You have no control over the time your church and venue host events. Good luck! Don't stress over the gap, it's not that big of a deal in the long run 😊

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@Allison - Thank you so much for your positive perspective. Helps me not feel so bad.

That’s an incredibly large time gab. I would try to find a way to shorten it. Otherwise, you will likely have guests flake on one or the other. I likely wouldn’t stick around for a reception I had to wait around that long for.