Who's having an all day wedding?

We had a DW so it was a little different. Our ceremony was at 2(the last time available, not our first choice), champagne and cake toast at 2:45, cocktail hours/appetizers for the guests from 3:30-5:30, dinner/reception from 6-10. We tried to have as small of a gap as possible.

I don't think that was ever common. People used to get married in the afternoon, have cake and punch for a reception, and call it a night. I would say evening weddings are common now. Is there a reason you need to have such a long event?

I agree that the long break takes away some of the excitement. I've been late to a reception because I fell asleep. I've also seriously questioned going to a reception because I didn't feel like waiting around.

Ceremony at 4:30, reception immediately to follow which will start around five and go till ten.

I'll be having a 4:30 pm ceremony and reception starting at 6 pm (at a location about 10 min from the ceremony site). I'd prefer not to have a gap, but this was the best option with the two venues. I plan to have some light snacks and nonalcoholic beverages after the ceremony so guests don't feel like they need to kill time--sort of a pre-cocktail hour.

I would totally push my ceremony back a little to two if it was an option, but we are getting married at my church and latest we could go is 1:30.

First look pictures prior to 6 pm ceremony, cocktails, buffet dinner, dancing...over at 11. Ceremony and reception both at the same B&B.

Wedding is at 5pm with reception immediately following.

@JK8115 my BP is apprehensive about the long day. I have been to many weddings, in quite a few, and only a handful that the ceremony with the reception following right away, and now it looks like the tables have reversed. I and FH come from a pretty large Italian family. Traditionally for us when I say an all day wedding I mean you are doing wedding things sun up to sun down. I have a huge BP. So we would have to be up Farley early to get hair and makeup and be at church by 12:30 for ceremony. Need to be out by 2:00 for something at the church on Saturday but cocktail hour doesn't start till 5. Hence the gap. I am also a professional photographer and I know the value of time to get all the photos wanted. 3 hours may seem like a lot, but drive time to and from photo spots takes time also. I rented a limo bus so the party and drink listen to music and have fun. Hopefully that will help and I willbe supplying snacks. As for guests my fear was what the majority of people said here, being annoyed with the gap. I don't expect everyone from the 200+guest list to come only immediates will prob be at the ceremony. Also I'm getting married in Cleveland, so you have uptown restaurants, bars, museams, tons to occupy the time of someone wanted to make a day out of it, or they can go to hotel and relax, or go home, everyone is within a 20-45 min drive. I guess I felt bad about the gap but unless I change churches there isn't much of an option forme.

I'm in Cleveland also. What you are describing really is the norm. I'm suprised they (bridal party) would think it would be a shorter day with a church ceremony. They are usually before 1. I guess I'm confused as to what they are apprehensive about? Being up early?

My 3 girls are making a weekend of it beginning with Thursdays rehearsal dinner. They are all off Thursday and Friday and the wedding isn't until Sat. Willingly btw, I never asked, they just want it to be a big ordeal, with a sleep over Friday night etc.

Nope my whole wedding is 5 hours. 3pm ceremony with reception right after.

Our wedding will be late morning with the reception immediately after. The ceremony and reception are in the same location so we don't have to allow for travel time. I personally detest gaps. This way our guests can celebrate with us, then still have time in their day for other things they may have scheduled. Plus I won't be exhausted from an all day even and can enjoy the rest of the afternoon/evening with my new husband.

Honestly, I hate huge gaps. If you're doing it, skip this post. You'll either get offended or say that this is normal in your area. For those of you thinking your guests don't care or will relish the opportunity to sight see between the wedding and reception -- okay. I can tell you how I feel (and, I know for a fact -- because they've told me and each other in my hearing -- how many of your guests feel when they are at a wedding that will take up ten hours of a day with three or four empty hours to kill). This is the way it plays out -- "Oh, we are going to a wedding that starts t 1:00 Pm. Great! I love weddings. What? The cocktail hour starts at 5:00? What are we supposed to do between 1:30 and 5:00 PM? We're not far enough away to stay in a hotel room, nap, and watch TV for three hours, and I'm not going to a bar, having mozzarella sticks and two drinks between the ceremony and reception. The zoo? A movie? No, I don't want to do either of those in a cocktail dress and heels. If we drive home, we'll have to turn around in 45 and go back. Let's just go to the reception". If "the gap" is normal for you, fine. If you've done it for others, then they should do it for you. For me, what's normal is a wedding that starts and ends six hours later.

@Centerpiece, I am so surprised that people go to those ceremonies. Idk if it's just the people I know or a midwest thing or what, but ceremonies tend to be super small with a good chunk of people skipping and only attending reception. I just thought this was normal. What is your experience with this?

Edited. Actually I'm wondering also why travel doesn't seem to be such a factor here, but I'm thinking that's because unless you literally go into another county, nowhere in Cleveland really requires travel. Like, you could drive from one side of Cuyahoga County to the next in less than an hour, actually probably less than 45 minutes really. Nothing is far I guess.

@The Centerpiece Flowers I agree I'm not a fan of gaps. I'm not a big fan of night time wedding either. I don't know where this whole you wedding have to last until 2am came from. But then again I'm a old lady and it's well pass my bed time already lol

In my original post I never really asked if you or anyone hated gaps, I asked what the norm was because apparently what I have experienced isn't. This is what my guests expect actually, it's what my family does. Like JK in many instances I have seen many people not come to ceremony. I didn't want to do a first look and wanted plenty of time for photos. In the end it is what it is and I will try to make it the most enjoyable for everyone. They are capable of saying no on the RSVP if they truly don't want to be there

JK8115 -- Well, I love wedding ceremonies. I may not look like it in real life, but I'm a sap, lol. I really do love seeing the pageantry, the bride, and the vows. I am touched at every ceremony. I know this sounds corny, but I find hope in the prospect of love and eternal commitment, and I really want to see these couples last until death do them part (despite the fact that I am now at an age at which I'll never ever know if the couple survived life's BS or not). I always feels privileged to be invited to a wedding, and a ceremony is something I really look forward to.

Unfortunately, I live just far enough away from most of my family (they're a large group, but they always seem to be getting married an hour/hour and a half away). This means I can make the wedding, but can't justify staying overnight. The big gap has happened once in my life. There was a wedding at 2:00 and a cocktail hour at 6:00. Most of the extended family, those who were local, attended the ceremony, went home, and came back for the cocktail hour. Those who lived out on Long Island (over an hour away) came for the ceremony and then had a few hours to kill. They went to reception venue and sat in the bar. They had apps. and drinks. By the time the cocktail hour started, they had already had a few drinks and were already fading. During the reception, they left early because the day was just too long for them. To be fair, I have to admit the groom's mother (my connection to the couple) said she completely understood if long distance family members chose to attend the reception only. From what I gathered from the guests who attended both the wedding and the ceremony, about 100 guests attended the wedding while 300 attended the reception.

@Amanda, I anticipate my family members, close friends who come to ceremony to be dressed more casually and not as "dolled up" and genuinely expect them to go home in between. I mean granted the furthest person lives in maybe Olmsted Falls or Lakewood and the ceremony in is Bay Village, but I mean I have never experienced anything different. If a ceremony was in say Shaker, and I was close to the couple, I'd go and then drive the 25 mins back home, or I'd skip it altogether and just go to reception if I wasn't that close.

@Centerpiece, explained that way it makes way more sense why people hate them. That is really an issue for guests. It's hardly like you could just drive on home and then come back.

I guess after hearing your reply, I'm more wondering why more people aren't attending ceremonies around here!

I'm having an all day wedding, but they're pretty typical in my culture so guests won't be alarmed. I tried to minimize "gap time" as much as possible because I myself hate them as well, especially when I'm all dressed up. My wedding ceremony (which will be long... probably around 2 hours) is at 2:30 and the reception (which is half an hour away) is 6-11pm. So really it's a 1 hour "gap", but we are having a receiving line of hundreds of guests so there goes that 1 hour for a good chunk of people.

To be honest, I'm more concerned about me, FH, and the bridal party being exhausted from this all day wedding because we'll probably have to be up around 6am because I want to leave the house around 10am for our first look. I'm sure the day of the adrenaline and coffee will do wonders though, plus the sheer excitement!