Time Gap Between Ceremony and Reception

libbylo

Please settle a discussion between my mother and I.  Is it customary to have a place for relatives to go after the ceremony and before the reception?  My fiance and I are planning a 2:00 full Catholic Mass with a reception near by at 6.  There will be about at 2 hour gap.

Thanks!

SaraAndrew2010

If at all possible, I think you should have someplace for the guests to go in between.  Guests don't want to be wandering the mall or going site seeing all dressed up.  We are also having a 3:00 mass and then a 6:00 reception.  We will either set up a hospitality suite at the hotel or have a relative host an open house.  It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just water, soft drinks, and light snack.

jagore08

I want to know if you or your mom is saying you don't need to do anything for your guests. 

mensentobe71

So I'm having a full Catholic mass at 1pm and the reception is about 25 minutes away from the church. Reception time is 4pm. So I'm figuring guests will have about an hour and 30 min or so before the reception starts. However I'm having my reception at a hotel.

Encourage your guests to get checked in, invite them to join you and your party if youre planning on stopping at a couple of bars before the reception, or maybe check with the reception location for ideas.

You shouldn't worry if its only a couple of hours in between, but it would be considerate to think of them- see if you can start the reception earlier and offer apps. Good luck.

heather_shadow

I attended a Catholic wedding in which they had a 2 hour gap. I enjoyed the downtown area of the town (including a Starbucks coffee). I don't think there is anything wrong with a gap. During my wedding, we utilized the gap for wedding photos.