time between ceremony and reception

StephB22 · July 2010

What is the appropriate time you should have between the ceremony and reception? We are probably having the ceremony at a church, and then the reception will begin at 6. I want pictures to be after the ceremony, and would also like to drive around a bit with the wedding party, but I do not want to be rude to the guests. Thanks for the help!

trix1223 · July 2010

How far apart are your ceremony venue and reception venue? Are you having a cocktail hour for your guests while you go "driving around"? What exactly IS the point of driving around anyway.

Pictures: I get it.
Celebrating with guests: I get it.
Driving around for a while? Why?

aerinpegadrak · July 2010

Basically guests should be able to head straight over from the ceremony site to the reception venue, at which point the cocktail hour starts. That hour and change is your picture time. If you need more time than that, take some or all of your pictures before the ceremony.

Why do you want to drive around with your wedding party? I don't get it.

jenn.daniel · July 2010

How long does it take to get from the ceremony site to the reception site? that is the appropriate time to have between the ceremony and reception.

Driving around w/your WP is rude to your guests. Don't do it.

StephB22 · July 2010

alright thanks for the information.

The point of driving around is just to have fun with the wedding party. I would also like to stop at a few places on the way to the reception with the wedding party to get photos--other than the traditional ceremony formal photos. It wouldn't be more than an hour or so, but I wasn't sure if that would be appropriate. I have been to weddings where in between the ceremony and reception they ended up going to the bar I guess kind of to kill time between the reception and ceremony.

StephB22 · July 2010

oh yeah, and its about 20 minutes between the ceremony and reception.

StephB22 · July 2010

and yes, there would be a cocktail hour in between.

girl2bewed · July 2010

As long as you keep it at an hour post ceremony and are having the cocktail hour like you said above, then you are just fine

quotequeen · July 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_time-between-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:10Discussion:15da2f38-8620-4d2b-855f-64750580755dPost:bdcb4c92-2f12-4dac-8866-c1357b2b933d">Re: time between ceremony and reception</a>:
[QUOTE]alright thanks for the information. The point of driving around is just to have fun with the wedding party. I would also like to stop at a few places on the way to the reception with the wedding party to get photos--other than the traditional ceremony formal photos. It wouldn't be more than an hour or so, but I wasn't sure if that would be appropriate. I have been to weddings where in between the ceremony and reception they ended up going to the bar I guess kind of to kill time between the reception and ceremony.
Posted by StephB22[/QUOTE]

Stopping other places to get photos is fine, as long as your guests are being hosted the entire time, and it doesn't take much longer than the hour you suggested. Driving around to "kill time," or going to bars or whatever, is rude to your guests. Have fun with your wedding party another time while you aren't keeping your guests waiting.

stefanyjoy · July 2010

Make sure your guests have appetizers and cocktails if you're going to "drive around" --- I'm assuming you want to party in the limo... But I've been to weddings where this was done.. and it was utterly annoying. The less time the guests have to wait, the better. Spending time with the wedding party is done during the bridal shower, bachelor/bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, getting ready, during the big day, reception, and sometimes the brunch after... Being a bridesmaid at many weddings, I like to get to the reception and finally get to relax after a lot of wedding stress.

Catwoman708 · July 2010

Guests understand you need a little time to take photos, and get from the ceremony site to reception site. But it's rude to your guests be just "driving around" goofing off or playing "fun whimisical photo shoot" while your guests are waiting for you to arrive.

Don't keep your guests waiting for more than 20-30 minutes (after they've had time to drive to the reception and park), unless you have something for them to do, like a cocktail hour, or light refreshements. Even if you have refreshements, appetizers, or cocktails, don't keep them waiting on you more than an hour, tops.

The only exception I can think of is when it's typical in your circles to have the "Catholic gap", and you are limited to an afternoon wedding, and venue won't start receptions before 6 pm. If all your guests are used to it, and are either local, or staying at a nearby hotel, then they will have some down time to rest or change clothes.

I think you should consider doing the photos before the ceremony rather than keeping your guests waiting while you drive around with the WP. It makes them seem excluded from the "VIP" activiites.

Suzzie_stretch · July 2010

ok..im doing exactly this..my ceremony is at 1pm, and the doors to the reception open ar 4:30pm...so from 1:30-4:30...guests are on their own, I've been to plenty of weddings like this, and have just gone home in between, or done something in the area if it was too far from home..

there happens to be a car show n shine in the parking lot of our reception hall which will wind down by 4pm..so people can always go mingle there!

I want TONS of whimsical out of the ordinary wedding photos...I only get to do it once ;D

trix1223 · July 2010

My DD went to a wedding on Saturday that had a gap. She said that there were a lot of people who skipped one or the other part (ceremony/reception) and that people who were at both were talking about what a PITA it was. I agree.

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