Wedding reception venue question

JadziaDax

Hello, i'm planning a February wedding and i'm trying to figure out what time would be best to book the reception venue. The ceremony will be at a Church and the reception will be at a location 30 minutes away. The Church can schedule a 3pm ceremony and i'm wondering if I should book the reception hall from 5-10pm or 6-11pm.

The wedding will be taking place on a Sunday night before Presidents day, which I know is only a holiday for some (I've never had it off). The venue is a hotel so if guests arrive early there is a bar/ lounge area to sit at and the people who are booking rooms can book early. I would like to attend some of the cocktail hour and just want to make sure that I have enough time to arrive to the venue after the ceremony.

I appreciate all opinions and any feedback you can offer. Thanks

lauralaur

I vote 5-10. More people will be able to stay for more of the reception that way and there will be less of a gap. If I can't take that Monday off, and I decide that 10 pm is the latest I can stay that night, then in the first scenario I'll be staying for the whole reception, in the second I'll be leaving early.

danieliza1127

I would start the reception as early as you can.  The shorter the gap the better, plus on a Sunday people won't want to stay as late.  I think most people don't have President's Day off.

JadziaDax

Thanks! I was leaning more towards 5-10pm but wasn't sure how long a ceremony would last and how long pics usually take after the ceremony..I'm going to check out some sample timelines to get some ideas. Thanks again..

mica178

5-10.  Assume an hour for most church ceremonies if you do readings, etc.  That leaves short gap in between.  You might miss a bit of your cocktail hour for pictures, but do not increase the gap for pictures!  Let your guests eat and drink while do you pictures.

Myroni03

Try to get some pics out of  way sooner. I think with a Sunday wedding you have to be more thoughtful about how late your guests will stay out. I vote 5-10 but be forewarned that a lot of ppl if they have to work the next day they may leave at 830 or 9.

ootmother2

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-reception-venue-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:515eccbb-6ede-4a47-a62c-bd063902ca09Post:812a60c8-e505-43cc-a720-9ee580b1c897">Re: Wedding reception venue question</a>:
[QUOTE]I vote 5-10. More people will be able to stay for more of the reception that way and there will be less of a gap. If I can't take that Monday off, and I decide that 10 pm is the latest I can stay that night, then in the first scenario I'll be staying for the whole reception, in the second I'll be leaving early.
Posted by lauralaur[/QUOTE]

given your options, I would say 5 - 10

Most people do have the day after off work so I wouldn't worry that mcuh

HisCB

i agree with the 5-10 block i never liked having a gap between ceremony and reception and you will already have the drive, i wouldnt want to keep guests waiting. people will probably leave by 10 anyways so having it until 11 is going to be a waste.

quotequeen

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-reception-venue-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:515eccbb-6ede-4a47-a62c-bd063902ca09Post:d73453c0-caaf-46a3-9eca-d1efbdb963af">Re: Wedding reception venue question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Wedding reception venue question : given your options, I would say 5 - 10 Most people do have the day after off work so I wouldn't worry that mcuh
Posted by ootmother2[/QUOTE]

I don't think most people have it off.  I didn't even have it off when I was in college.

Calypso1977

5-10.  gaps should be avoided at all costs.

btartaroind

I am having the same issue with my wedding. Our ceremony starts at four and is a half an hour long. We are leaving right after to the venue (20 minutes away). The guest are all going to go straight to the reception and expect to get a drink, relax etc. You dont weant them to be confused and wondering where to go because they have a half an hour or an hour of extra time. Unfortunately, that is what the cocktail hour is for (I dont want to miss mine either)...

noodle_oo

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-reception-venue-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:515eccbb-6ede-4a47-a62c-bd063902ca09Post:5dd9d752-adfa-4010-b4ca-f75bc2a55680">Re: Wedding reception venue question</a>:
[QUOTE]5-10.  gaps should be avoided at all costs.
Posted by Calypso1977[/QUOTE]

Agree 100%.  I hate gaps.  If your ceremony is at 3 PM, figure it is about 1 hr, you'll be done at 4 PM, have 30 mins for pictures and then have 30 mins to get to the venue just in time for the cocktail hour at 5 PM.  Perfect!  Also agree, 10 PM is probably the latest I would stay on a Sunday night if I have to work the next day.

mags0607

I really think 5-10 would be the best choice. It makes for little to no gap when you consider ceremony time, mingle time, and travel time. Plus, people might not want to stay out as late on a Sunday, so if the wedding ends at 10, they will miss just a little of it, if they have to dip out early due to jobs/travel time/