Timeline for 2:00 ceremony

1 is best

2 if you pick up the bar tab

3 this is not the worst

#1, but 1.5 hrs of cocktails seems a little bit long to me. Start your reception at 4:30.

When you have a wedding that early, people are probably rushing an early lunch in order to get ready and be there on time (My wedding was at 1...I know the struggle). Soooo I don't think your guests will mind a longer cocktail hour (with snacks!) and then an early dinner!

We had the standard Catholic gap (gasp!).

Do not have a gap!

If you have a gap, people might die.

You should let vendors comment! They can't advertise and give really great advice!

So we basically have the same exact set-up. We are getting married at 2:00 at a Catholic Church - we are following your #1 timeline exactly. I get married next weekend so could tell you how it works out after

1 is the best plan, but honestly, small gaps don't really bother me so I would not mind 2 either. That is an unpopular opinion on here though,

I went to a Catholic ceremony that started at 2 and cocktail hour didn't start until 4:30 and dinner wasn't until 6. I can honestly say 2 is your worst option! We ended up going to applebees to hangout. It was a horrible flow and would never want my guests to wait around that long. I would definitely do 1 but have plenty of appetizers/drinks.

We're having a Catholic ceremony starting st 2. It will be over by 3. We are hosting an open bar at the hotel where we have our block from 3:30 to 4:30 and then there will be a shuttle to take the guests that want to use it to the reception venue. Cocktail hour starts at 5. ETA: The hotel is 7 minutes away from the church

Have it start 3:30/4. People will get over an early dinner. I'm always excited for food! And if it's in your budget, you could always have a late night snack to appease the haters, and, hey, snacks are awesome.

lol @Shayna

I typically eat dinner in the 8-9:30 time frame. I don't enjoy eating super early. But you know what I enjoy even less? Sitting around twiddling my thumbs all dressed up with nowhere to go. Gaps are incredibly disrespectful of your guests' time. Go for option 1 because it is the least-bad solution.

I would rather eat early than to sit through a gap.

Thanks for the input, everyone! Every wedding I've been to has had a 1-2 hour gap and it never bothered me but I appreciate the different perspectives. We will try to minimize the gap but won't stress if that's the only way to swing it.

Alternative plan: ask our priest to give a very extensive homily and drag the ceremony on as long as possible.

Definitely not the alternative plan.

I'd go with #1, which is the closest to what we're doing with a mid-afternoon ceremony (longer cocktail hour, early dinner). Make sure there is plenty to drink and snack on at the cocktail hour, as well as comfortable places for guests to sit. Then maybe avoid going *right* into dinner. Do first dance, some toasts, etc. to hold off a bit on dinner so you're not eating *so* early.