Wedding Reception Forum

Need help filling a 5- hour gap between ceremony & reception!

So, I was just informed this morning that the time slot I had originally booked for my ceremony was already booked and was written down in the wrong book.  So I have been bumped from 2pm to 11am.  And my reception is at 5 (can't be changed).  So my guests are going to have 5 hours to kill.  To say that I'm upset is an understatement (everything had been going so well up until this....) I feel awful and am at a loss at what to do to fill the void.  At least a few dozen are coming from out of town.  Has anyone else had this problem!?  Any suggestions?  

The wedding is this September and taking place in upstate NY.

Re: Need help filling a 5- hour gap between ceremony & reception!

  • I think it's time for you to find a new ceremony venue. 5 hours is a LONG time and even having an extended cocktail hour isn't going to help fill up the time completely. Plus, it will be monopolizing the whole day instead of just the day time or the evening. What would out of town guests do during that time?
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_need-filling-5-hour-gap-between-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:e5dc0750-7713-4f3a-a75b-982c035a93f6Post:683c3806-4bfb-40e0-9452-521333c1c141">Re: Need help filling a 5- hour gap between ceremony & reception!</a>:
    [QUOTE]I think it's time for you to find a new ceremony venue. 5 hours is a LONG time and even having an extended cocktail hour isn't going to help fill up the time completely. Plus, it will be monopolizing the whole day instead of just the day time or the evening. What would out of town guests do during that time?
    Posted by SuMmErKuTiE[/QUOTE]

    Ditto, I would look for a new ceremony venue ASAP.  A 5 hour gap isn't okay.
    Anniversary
  • Definitely start looking for a new venue. And if you put a deposit down already, they should definitely give it back since it was their error that messed everything up.

    Sorry about this...it sucks.
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  • Can you talk to your ceremony venue about getting you in after 2 PM?

    If the reception starts at 5, what about a 4 PM start time at the ceremony or maybe 3:30?

    Since the ceremony venue screwed up, I'd see what THEY will do to work with you.

  • If your reception starts at 5, your ceremony should have been at 3-4 in the first place.  Having it at 2 would still have been pretty rude, although not as rude as having it at 11.  If this is their mistake, they need to figure out a way to accomdate you at the right time.  If they can't, they need to give your money back.

    If you can't find an alternate venue, talk to your reception venue.  You should be able to add on a ceremony at a reasonable cost.

    In any event, gaps are rude.  You need to come up with a way to get the ceremony and reception back to back one way or the other.
  • blush64blush64 member
    Sixth Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited May 2011
    EDITED to clarify that I am speaking of the church weddings I have been to:

    All the church weddings have had huge gaps between the cereomny and reception so that is not odd to me.

    I know it's better not to have a gap if possible but I know in some churches it's not as simple as finding a new venue.

    If you can change it then try to change it. If not you can have a house close by either the reception or ceremony site set-up to receive the guests who have nothing to do.  A fair amount of weddings I have been to have had an open house with beverages (non-alcoholic mostly due to driving) and snacks, finger food so that people can go there if they have no where else to go. (the bride's parents house or a relative's house)

    EDITED
  • I'd rather have a five hour gap than a two hour gap, personally. Five hours is enough time to really go do other stuff. Two hours is a lot of thumb-twiddling and counting minutes 'til something happens.
  • LuluP82LuluP82 member
    500 Comments

    I'm assuming you're getting married in a church, since the times feel very church-like to me. And if you are, then it might not be as easy as switching venues.

    Have you thought about having a luncheon reception instead?

    I once went to a wedding where the ceremony was in the morning (for religious reasons). It was followed by a luncheon. Then at 6 pm, they had an evening reception scheduled. It was cocktail hour, dinner and dancing-- the works. Not sure if that's in your budget, but you could do that if you're set on an evening reception. I was out of town and staying at the hotel where all these things were going on, so I went to the morning ceremony, had lunch, went to my room, napped a bit, worked out, then showered and got dressed for the evening. A lot of their local guests attended one or the other (everyone was invited to both, some people chose to only attend the ceremony and luncheon and not the evening reception, and vice-versa). The huge downside is that people won't show up even if they say they will, because on the day of, they get annoyed. this venue was huge-- and during the ceremony there were tons of empty chairs. Like, very noticeably over half the room was empty. I was close to the bride, and she said lots of ppl didn't show for the ceremony who had RSVPd. I guess they decided to just wait for dinner. At luncheon, I was seated with a group of the groom's coworkers, and they said they had been planning to attend the evening reception, but didn't end up showing (there were more than a few empty tables at dinner). And, the dance floor was a bit dead even though they had a fun DJ, open bar, the works-- people were just tired. We all left before the end, even though we were close friends. It was just a heck of a long day.

    If I went to a ceremony at 11, I'd be expecting lunch after. I'd find it annoying to have to go find my own lunch and then sit around waiting until the evening.

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  • I don't think gaps are rude, we are having a 2 hour gap between ours so that we can take all of the pictures before the cocktail hour and enjoy our entire reception with our guests. We have made accomodations for our guests to go back to the hotel and they will be able to freshen up and take a bus to the reception site. We have been to weddings that have had between a 2-4 hour gap and most comments of other guests and ourselves were that they enjoyed it, no rush, and they had an opportunity to change if they wanted to or freshen up and have a few drinks. ( if the ceremony is day and reception is nice I am sure that most women will want a different outfit to match each occasion)

    If you can find a new ceremony site that would be ideal, but then that may screw up other details... especially that most churches do not let you wed there unless you are members of the parish.  If you decide to keep the 11am ceremony, within the invitaiton include local attractions, maps, etc. ( go onto the chamber of commerce website for help) and a note asking your guests to take advantage of the time they have to enjoy the area! stay positive :) I have had a lot of humps within the planning process, but you get over them.  You need to continue to remind yourself that the most important thing is that at the end of the day you and your sweetheart will be married!! :) And don't feel like you need to explain your decision to anyone
  • bsn1752bsn1752 member
    Seventh Anniversary 2500 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_need-filling-5-hour-gap-between-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:e5dc0750-7713-4f3a-a75b-982c035a93f6Post:8aa3b14e-44bf-4755-86f4-7cd6ee53d48b">Re: Need help filling a 5- hour gap between ceremony & reception!</a>:
    [QUOTE]I'd rather have a five hour gap than a two hour gap, personally. Five hours is enough time to really go do other stuff. Two hours is a lot of thumb-twiddling and counting minutes 'til something happens.
    Posted by SparrowSong[/QUOTE]

    With any gap, be prepared to lose guests.  They will go off and "do other things" and not come to your reception.  Just a fair warning.

    I would find a different ceremony venue.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_need-filling-5-hour-gap-between-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:e5dc0750-7713-4f3a-a75b-982c035a93f6Post:6e46592f-8baa-4d50-b8bb-bf8360debf23">Re: Need help filling a 5- hour gap between ceremony & reception!</a>:
    [QUOTE]I don't think gaps are rude, we are having a 2 hour gap between ours so that we can take all of the pictures before the cocktail hour and enjoy our entire reception with our guests. We have made accomodations for our guests to go back to the hotel and they will be able to freshen up and take a bus to the reception site. We have been to weddings that have had between a 2-4 hour gap and most comments of other guests and ourselves were that they enjoyed it, no rush, and they had an opportunity to change if they wanted to or freshen up and have a few drinks. ( if the ceremony is day and reception is nice I am sure that most women will want a different outfit to match each occasion) If you can find a new ceremony site that would be ideal, but then that may screw up other details... especially that most churches do not let you wed there unless you are members of the parish.  If you decide to keep the 11am ceremony, within the invitaiton include local attractions, maps, etc. ( go onto the chamber of commerce website for help) and a note asking your guests to take advantage of the time they have to enjoy the area! stay positive :) I have had a lot of humps within the planning process, but you get over them.  <strong>You need to continue to remind yourself that the most important thing is that at the end of the day you and your sweetheart will be married!! :) And don't feel like you need to explain your decision to anyone
    </strong>Posted by AlisonW4885[/QUOTE]


    This is just bad advice.

    If all you need to know is that at the end of the day you're married then why invite your guests at all?
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_need-filling-5-hour-gap-between-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:e5dc0750-7713-4f3a-a75b-982c035a93f6Post:28ff2e1d-7c2e-46af-b8df-e3571e1ad21d">Re: Need help filling a 5- hour gap between ceremony & reception!</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Need help filling a 5- hour gap between ceremony & reception! : This is just bad advice. If all you need to know is that at the end of the day you're married then why invite your guests at all?
    Posted by banana468[/QUOTE]

    Ditto. While getting married is the main idea you also have to rememer that you invited all these guests and need to take their plans  into consideration.
  • pic+robopic+robo member
    First Comment
    edited May 2011
    We found another venue for the ceremony!!!! Laughing 
    I was on the phone allllll morning calling places.  We got so lucky that another church down the road wasn't booked and we were able to get our time slot!  YAY!  And its a beautiful building!  So excited!

    Thank you all for the support and responses!  I'm keeping them handy just in case (cross your fingers something doesn't!) goes wrong again!
  • bsn1752bsn1752 member
    Seventh Anniversary 2500 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    Congrats!  
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