What are your guests doing while you take pictures between ceremony and reception??!!

Cocktail hour?

eta: it doesn't have to be booze. apps, drinks, and mingling, they will find their seats and such.

We are doing pics prior to the ceremony for just this reason.

Cocktail hour... appetizers and booze to keep our guests occupied.

We're serving our guests wine and appetizers during our cocktail hour (maybe 2 hours) They will be entertained by a live band.

Gaps are incredibly common around here. Church weddings are usually at 1130 am or 1p or so and receptions at 6p.

We aren't marrying in a church but our ceremony is at 1:30pm and our reception is at 6pm. Almost everyone lives within a 15 minute driving distance so they will go home, I presume.

I wanted the ceremony at 430p but the DJ, rental person and coordinator indicated that time frame wouldn't work for us logistically. Oh well.

Welllll, I guess I should have added that the ceremony and reception will be held in the same room. In this banquet hall. The guests will already be seated at their tables for the ceremony as well. So there won't be finding seats. I'm honestly thinking of doing a "first look" kind of deal with me and FH so that we can get most of the pictures of me and him done prior to the ceremony. Then after the ceremony we will only have the family shots to take care of. I've just been so stuck on this..

Yes that really is probably best, first look. then family pics after ceremony, still offer your guest some drinks (can be non alcoholic) for courtesy.

I will be doing all photos before the wedding. I don't have a wedding party except my daughter giving me away. All family that wants traditional pictures will have to be there early. There will be a group photo of everyone who attends my wedding. There will be 40 guest max.

First look would probably be a good idea. If you are doing a thanksgiving style. You can always do a cheese & fruit trays. Very simple but not super filling. You can have things on your gift table more interactive. Like on my gift table we have a traditional guest book, then a "Give a Future Date idea for the Newlyweds" kind of thing.

I would do a first look.

Whatever you decide to do....do this one thing....Don't worry about what the guests and family members are doing!!! That is YOUR special time as husband and wife to get some amazing images! Don't be in a rush, and don't feel pressured to get back to the reception. They will wait! Just enjoy the moment and time together!

We are doing a cocktail hour with passed appetizers and open bar. Our ceremony and reception are in the same room so they don't even have to leave after the ceremony. We're taking pictures at a park about a block away, so I think we can do it in about an hour.

Are you planning to have some kind of music playing in the background even though u don't have a DJ? We are going to have the bar open and sit out snacks. Our snacks don't match the meal. Chips, nuts, chex mix, popcorn, and our fav candy.

We're having a cocktail hour with apps and wine;

if you aren't wanting to have alcohol...you could do light apps with tea and lemonade or an awesome alcohol free punch...

I see your dilemma. The guests will be sitting at a long banquet table watching the ceremony, then you'll disappear for 45 minutes, leaving them waiting in the same seats for dinner to be served when you come back.

I think you do have to have something scheduled in the meantime. If it's literally a Thanksgiving type of meal, then think of what appetizers you might pass at Thanksgiving. Keep it light -- maybe fruit, cheese, olives, sausage stuffed mushrooms, nuts, deviled eggs (google Thanksgiving apps). Go light on sweets. Add some interesting beverages, and you should be fine. Your guests will enjoy the apps and will spend the time visiting with each other. If you're adding this portion of time to your invitations, I wouldn't call it a cocktail hour (because there are no cocktails). I would simply add "Social Hour with Appetizers Immediately Following".

You guys are awesome!! Your answers have really helped me see what all fan be done! Thank youuuuuu