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1:00 weddings

AshleyK2011AshleyK2011
100 Comments
in Illinois-Chicago
So being the completely indecisive person that I am, I decided that I wanted to switch churches.  I found another one that I liked, called to check and make sure that they had the date and time available, which they did.  I talked it over with my fiance and parents and by the time we (read: everyone besides me) had decided to go ahead with the switch, the time we wanted is gone.   For those brides that are doing a 1:00 wedding, what do you do for the time in between?  In true bridezilla fashion (I just had a mini meltdown in my office-it happens to all of us right?!) I'm more concerned about the wedding party than the guests right now - I don't want to take pictures for 4 hours, so what are we supposed to do with the extra time?  I don't think we can start our reception any earlier than 6:00.   

I have my heart set on this church now and I don't know what to do.  Suggestions??
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Re: 1:00 weddings

  • maria.pedrozamaria.pedroza
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Have a small meal with your wedding party? Immediate family?

    Go to far-out picture places.
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
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  • beautifulnryanbeautifulnryan
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I have a 1 o'clock ceremony at Old St. Pat's, but for our reception, it's in the suburbs, so we figured maybe 2 hours of going all over and taking pictures and then the rest of our time would be the transport to our hotel reception.  If we end up going to the venue early, I just figured we'd get the party started off by buying them drinks at the hotel bar or keep drinking whatever ends up being left in the trolley.  Haha.  

    Lunch would be a good idea since the Church is at 1:00 p.m.  Like pp said, you could go out to far out places -- maybe explore ALL of Chi-town or maybe stop in somewhere like a museum to take pictures.  I'm sure they also wouldn't mind relaxing at their hotel for a bit before your reception gets started.
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  • mandybear7mandybear7
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I was in my cousin's 1:00 wedding, with the reception at 5:30 or 6:00 (I really can't remember the time). By the time the wedding was over and we took pictures at the church, we didn't leave until 2:30. Then we went to a bunch of places and took pictures, with plenty of beverages and food on the trolley, until about 4:30. My cousin's MIL was hosting refreshments at their house for the guests during the gap and we all stopped by there for awhile, for more food and beverages. Then, we went to the reception.

    Figure out travel times and photo locations. I'm sure it will all work out!
    7/10/10 imageDandy
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  • jbll326jbll326 member
    Fifth Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited December 2011

    I was in my friend's wedding with 1pm ceremony and a 6pm reception that was only a 20 minute drive in between. It sounds like a lot of time in between, but it really wasn't. They had some subway sandwiches on the party bus and a bunch of beer and champagne. By the time we got out of the church it was already 2:30 and then we went to 2 other locations outdoors for pictures. We got to the venue by 5, took some more pictures there, and had some time to just relax and have some drinks before the guests started arriving. It went really fast and it worked out really well. I wouldn't worry about your wedding party - just feed them and give them booze and you'll have a great time!

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  • SheDiva4SheDiva4
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    A few years back I was a BM in a friend's wedding.  After the 1:00 ceremony we took pictures downtown then went to the Botanical Gardens for more pictures.  Afterwards we went to the hotel where her parents had light snacks and beverages for the WP before the reception started.

    As for her guest which were mostly OOT family, she scheduled a boat tour downtown for the guest to take while we took pictures.

    Not everyone went but I would suggest that since you have a while in between provide your guests with some options to do a little sightseeing, especially if they are not from Chicago.
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  • morgie44morgie44 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Where is your reception and what time does it start?  I would if possible bump the reception up so cocktail hour starts at 5.  If you are having a full mass, it will go at least an hour, then figure 1/2 hour or so for everyone to clear out of the church.  That puts you at 2:30.  Half hour for family pictures at the church puts you at 3.  Then you have 2 hours to take bridal party and bride and groom portraits and get to the reception.  It sounds like a lot more time than it actually will be on the day of.  Our ceremony was at 2 and our reception started at 5.  If I could do it over again I would have pushed the reception back at least 1/2 an hour and our ceremony, picture sites, and reception were all within blocks of each other.  It would have been nice to have a little bit more time alone with the photographer, and a few minutes to relax in the bridal suite before the reception started.  By the time we got to the reception, guests had started to arrive already. 
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  • TatiMarieTatiMarie
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Definitely agree with Mandybear.  How long is your ceremony going to be? I have attended a few that were an hour long.  Then guests stayed around to talk to bride/groom/their family members, then took pictures at the church. So that takes a bunch of time as well.  Plus, where is your ceremony reception and what season?  Keep in mind, traffic in the city can be bad.  What may seem like a long 4 hour gap will go by super fast I'm sure
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  • ladygaudetladygaudet
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I think it is fine if your ceremony is an hour, and then you have between 2-4 hours between your ceremony and reception. The obstacles you will have are: entertaining your out of town guests, staying pretty for those added hours until your reception, and finding out if there is an extra expense to have your videographer or photographer stay the extra time.
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  • SKeenan76 SKeenan76 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011

    Our ceremony is at 1pm at Old St. Pat's, too, beautifulnryan!  :)  I know that we have a set amount of time at the church since there is another wedding after ours. 

    I have been going over this in my head...what we plan on doing is having a cocktail hour (or hour and a half) at around 4:30 or 5, that way people can mingle and we wouldn't have to worry about them.  (We have a ton of OOT guests, too.)


    Is there a favorite spot you and your wedding party can go to?  I know we actually are taking lots of pictures downtown, but we plan on heading to where we met (Murphy's!) and maybe having a drink there.


    Good luck!

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  • beautifulnryanbeautifulnryan
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011

    Oh a longer cocktail hour would be a good way to get around and see all of your guests :)

    I still can't decide on where we are going for pictures -- I guess i have about 3 weeks to figure that out!  Ahh!

    Murphy's Bleachers or Monsignor Murphys?  I have a friend who used to bartend at Monsignor - he's currently living in San Antonio now - but we'd often frequent the place.

    Good luck with everything :)

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