2 questions...

vk2204

1. Does anyone know if there is a Catholic church around the Livonia-ish area that has a later Saturday ceremony? My church only does 1pm and the reception would start around 530 or so. I feel that the gap is unavoidable, but my parents don't want it. Or any ideas for what people can do in the gap?

2. How early do I need to start looking for my dress? I am 18 months out and I don't want to go too early, but some people say it might take 12+ months for the dress to come in. So I am just wondering what did everyone else do.

Thanks!

Allycat11

1.  I'm pretty useless on this one.  People will disagree with me for saying this, but is your family used to a gap?  I think the current plan is too long of a gap, but I have never been to a wedding with a reception immediately following the ceremony.  I truly did not realize it was an issue until I came on here.

2.  I think you are good to start looking anytime.  I wouldn't order it less than 8 or 9 months out though.  We ordered my Maggie Sottero gown from Becker's Bridal in Fowler in January for my October wedding.  They told us it would be here in Early August but it came in right around the beginning of July.  You definitely have to make sure you have time for alterations.

It depends on where you order it from on how soon you should order.  David's has a super quick turn around time, smaller boutiques with designer dresses typically take longer.  If you are having something customized, it will take even longer.

acaponi87

I have been to St. Maurice several times in Livonia they have a 6:00 mass on Saturday and a 4:00 at St Genevieve.

I bought my dress about 11 months out. Still hasn't come in. I've been told about 6 months is what to expect.

vk2204

Thank you!

My family IS used to the gap. But still that is 3 hours of downtime for guests. If we buy an extra hour from the hall that is like $1000 more. But an hour doesn't really help much anyways.

Blah this sucks haha!

Meg1036

1) Its hard to find Catholic churches that allow later ceremonies, since they use Saturday evening for mass.  That said, there are a few options I know of in metro Detroit (none I know of in Livonia specifically).  First, I was married at St. Mary Student Parish in Ann Arbor.  In the summer months, when school is not in session, they allow for later ceremonies.  I had a 4:30 PM ceremony there.    Other options are chapels associated with schools, but not necessarily parishes - think Orchard Lake St. Mary's and Sacred Heart.  I believe St. Hugo's in Bloomfield Hills also does several ceremony times in its chapel.  However, with St. Mary's, St. Hugo, or any other parish, they are going to want you to be a registered parishoner (in the case of St. Mary's, being a U of M alum works, too).

I agree with you that a 3 hour gap is a long time, especially if people have nowhere to go.

2) I think its too early to look for your dress.  I've never heard of a year for dresses to come in; more like 6-8 months.  I started looking at 10 months out, and had plenty of time.  You don't want to give yourself time to have dress regrets!

Milsey32

I started looking for a dress 10 and a half months out and they told me 4-6 months but it came in 4 months, so it sat in the salon for 4 months before I went for my first fitting (I would rather blame the salon for ruining my dress then keep it at home, honestly). 

And I'm no help when it comes to ceremony location - HOWEVER - I reeeeally don't like gap time. Even if it's common, I still don't like it, haha