Breaking up the gap

hoffse

So our church doesn't allow weddings to start later than 2 pm.  So we have the 2 pm time slot on our day.  The wedding will last about an hour since we're having a mass.  Our reception is probably going to start at 5 or 5:30 at a different venue, about 10 minutes away.  The hotels for most of the guests will also be about 10 min away - it's going to be in a small town - but there may be some people just driving in for the day.  So today my mom suggested that we put out some cookies and coffee in the parish hall to give people a place to sit for anybody who doesn't want to go home or who can't between the ceremony and reception.  It wouldn't be formal and the wedding party probably wouldn't even check it out until after photos are over - probably minimal decoration, as well.  We were thinking of putting a little card in the programs about it.  If we do this, we need to go ahead and reserve the parish hall too, so that's why I'm posting it now.  How does that sound?  Weird? Good? Unnecessary?

Thanks for your input!

mica178

We used the parish hall for that exact purpose.  It went over very well, or so my mother told me.

Rosie109

3 hours is a long time to go without food? I am sorry, I think cookies and coffee sounds like a nice thing to put out for people.

hoffse

Ok we can do more than cookies and coffee.  Mom threw out a $200 budget for it and we can get some party platters and things from Costco.  The reception is going to be a full blown meal with apps and multiple desserts and all that jazz, though, so we were't sure what to do to hold people over.

July2012bride

To me, cookies and coffee sound fine.

hoffse

OK awesome.  I'll tell her to go ahead and reserve the parish hall too.  Thanks ladies!

hoffse

Nope we're doing a cocktail hour at 5 and dinner at 6.  The cocktail hour will have its own appetizers and things.  We can put out some salty snacks, too, though instead of just cookies.  Not everybody loves cookies as much as I do

specialk84

Maybe have some cheese and crackers or fruit in addition to the cookies. It's a little more substantial, but not too heavy. 

I don't think you need to go nuts with the food, but I would probably not want to eat just cookies.

mica178

Our gap was less than an hour, but we served white wine, sparkling and flat water, fruit, crackers, cheese and cookies.

I like food, and I like my guests to be well fed.

hoffse

Thanks, that sounds like good ideas for what to serve.  Our mass is prob going to be a little long, so we're hoping the gap will be less than 2 hours when all is said and done, probably just an hour and a half when you take into account the time it takes to get to the reception site.  I know gaps aren't popular but our venues have rules about when things can start and end so there's not much we can do about it.  Do you think that will make people less annoyed?

specialk84

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_breaking-up-gap?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:90cfa802-c7c3-44cc-b9b2-c9612f3704d9Post:e0e99660-d772-49a8-ac2c-7fe31043d0fd">Re: Breaking up the gap</a>:
[QUOTE]Our gap was less than an hour, but we served white wine, sparkling and flat water, fruit, crackers, cheese and cookies. I like food, and I like my guests to be well fed.
Posted by mica178[/QUOTE]

<div>If you ever invite me to a party, I will most definitely attend.</div>

StephBeanWed61502

I like the idea of a mix of salty and sweet snacks, just to cover all tastebuds. 

toothpastechica

We are putting out coffee (and a cold drink, juice or lemonaide or something) and cheese and crackers and some veggie trays in between the ceremony and reception, give people something to mingle around while killing time as well as keeping them from going toooo hungry since the reception isnt till 5 (wedding is at 3)

junieolive

This is very sweet of you to do.  Years ago I went to a friends wedding that was 3 hours away and I wasn't staying over ( the hotels were way too expensive) and there was a 2.5 hour gap.  I was in an unfamiliar area and had no where to go.  Thankfully her mom's secretary took pity on me and took me to her house for the gap.  So what you are doing is great! 

Melissa603

I think addin some fruit and cheese would be a good mix too.