Ceremony time

Rbfh

Hi Everyone, I am newly engaged and new to the message boards but I have been looking through the knot for some time now. I was just hoping to get other people's opinions regarding ceremony times. I talked with my priest today, and on a Sat. the options are 1:30pm (or earlier, though we wouldn't want to go earlier than that) or 6pm... I personally think that 1:30 is a bit early while 6 is a bit late, and was just wondering what other people would prefer to attend as a wedding guest. Also, I was wondering how far people think is acceptable to travel from the ceremony to the reception. I was thinking if we went with the 1:30pm ceremony we may go with a further away (about a half hour) reception, while if we hold the ceremony at 6pm we might want to hold the reception closer since it'll already be pretty late by the time the ceremony gets out as it is.

Thanks in advance!

ring_pop

Choose 6:00!!!

That way your guests can go straight to dinner. They'll love you for it, I promise. We had a 5:00pm ceremony and 7:00pm dinner and our guests still rave about how wonderful and convenient that was. (They didn't have to kill time while wearing their nice clothes, travel far to the reception, or waste a whole day for my wedding.) And a nearby reception venue is even better. Really, what's not to like about that plan?

If you're worried about dinner being too late... consider skipping the cocktail hour.

Riss91

I think 6:00 would be more ideal than 1:30 (assuming you would be doing an evening reception either way). You'd want to have all of your photos taken beforehand, though because you'll want to get right to the reception if you start the ceremony at 6:00.

I've attended a 1:30 ceremony where the cocktail hour did not begin until 6:00 and the bride and groom had an expansive hospitality suite in the hotel for guests since there was such a large gap. They provided food and beverages and there was plenty of comfy seating. I think that's really the best way to do it if you can't reasonably avoid the gap.

pjseabee

We're purposely getting married on a Friday evening for this very reason.  I don't want the big gap between ceremony & reception.  Our guest will go directly to our cocktail hour while we finish whatever pictures we couldn't get done before the ceremony.  We will have a slightly later dinner time, but it will state that clearly on our invites, so our guests can plan their lunch times accordingly. 

As for travel distance, I think it's kinda mean to ask guests to travel longer distances when going from ceremony to reception.  I've been to a wedding where the commute was 1:45 long.  People carpooled, but it was annoying to be in a car in dress clothes for 3 hours (roundtrip).  I wouldn't want the travel to be greater than 30 minutes. 

wparsons1223

I guess I'm the dessenting vote here. Ours is scheduked for 1pm. We are having a 3pm reception  - so no long delay. The main decision is we live about 1/2 way between our families. Each is 1.5 hours away by car. The early reception will allow most people enough time to get home at a reasonable hour without having to spend $ for a hotel room.

Theresa626

I would be so excited if someone had given me the choice of six o clock.  You'd definitely have to choose a venue pretty close to the church though so if you want to go that route, make sure there's a venue you like close by.  Also, if you chose six o clock, you could have a ton of time to take pictures before the ceremony. YOu could have a private meeting with your fiance and take pictures and then go to the ceremony.

You could do ceremony from 6-7, cocktail hour from 7:15-8:15, people go in the ballroom then and at 8:30, dinner is served.  I would do the first dance and all that after dinner if you do it this way so people don't have to eat too late.  You could dance until midnight. 

akg0053

We are getting married on a Friday as well specifically to avoid this gap. But, for your purposes, I would do the 6pm option.

berrytr

I'm getting married on a Saturday morning, 8 am, with a brunch reception.

PressMe

I chose the earlier time.  We're taking pics at the church and outside the reception location so we won't have a huge break between the two events.

missmis99

We are having a 2:00 ceremony.  So here is what I am thinking:
2-3 ceremony
3-3:30 pics in Church (we have to be out due to 4:00 Mass)
3:30-3:45 travel time to picture site
3:45-4:25 Pics
4:25-4:45 Travel to reception site
5--6  We need to check into our hotel room (our reception is at the hotel) Freshen up, etc.
6:00 Cocktail Hour
7:00 Dinner

This is all VERY rough.

AlexaGrant

I was given similar times and chose the later time - I've always wanted an evening wedding and I had never even heard of the Catholic gap until I came on The Knot.

AutumnEnchantment

My reception is going to be at 1:30 and we're having a cake and punch sort of reception afterward.  In my opinion, go with the 1:30 or 6, whichever your preference is.  Our church has a saturday mass at 5, therefore making 1:30 the latest wedding time. 

Best of luck with your planning.  I don't think a half hour is too far at all!

Calypso1977

do which ever one does not result in you having a gap between ceremony and reception.  if you can find a reception that will allow you to do cocktails and early dinner right at, say, 3pm (hour for ceremony, 1/2 hour for travel) then that works.  otherwise, go iwth 6.

as a guest, if i'm driving distance, i'd prefer the 130 so i can avoid hotel expense.

flutgrl1

I love afternoon receptions! I would pick the earlier time. I've never been to an afternoon reception that differed from an evening one (Except it was light out) there was still food, drink, dancing, and merriment.

GulfCoaster

We got married on a Friday evening specifically to avoid the gap.  We had an evening Mass and then went straight to the reception.  The guests loved it b/c it was so convenient and they didn't have time to kill in between.

I also went to a wedding last year that began at 10:30 on a Saturday morning and was immediately followed by a lunch reception.  It was a lot of fun and, again, super convenient.

So, which time I'd pick in your shoes depends on what reception venues you can find to eliminate the gap.  If you can find a venue that allows you to start a cocktail hour at 3 p.m. (1 hour for ceremony plus 1/2 hour for travel), then 1:30 would be ok.  If not, then I'd suggest choosing the 6:00 timeslot.

capecod1986

I would go with 1:30. If you get married at 6, your service will be over at 7, Then you have the receiving line and that can put you at 7:30.  Then you do family pictures back in the church. Forget about outside pictures at that point. Getting too dark.  And you would have to rush from the church to the reception to make sure everything didn't end too late.

JMU_Bride09

I would pick 6pm over 1:30pm, bc with the 1:30, your reception will start around 2:30 and probably end around 7:30....which is right inb/w lunch and dinner and would make a dinner difficult...not impossible, but the 6:00 sounds like it would just flow much better.