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Do we have enough time?

agnes16agnes16
First Anniversary First Comment
in Canada-Ontario
My church only has a 2pm time slot available. Our reception is scheduled to start at 5:30pm. Assuming that the ceremony is an hour long, is 3-4:30 enough time to take pictures and get to the hall by 4:30 to make sure all is going smoothly? I'm thinking to maybe move the reception to 6pm. Taking pictures before is not an option as we do not want to see each other before. The Chruch, picture site and hall are all within 15km of each other so travel time won't be too long.  What do you think?
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Re: Do we have enough time?

  • unplainjaneunplainjane member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    My concern for your schedule is the amount of time your guests will be waiting around. If your ceremony is over at 3pm then your guests are going to wait 2 1/2 hours already before the reception. Are you having a cocktail hour? I’m assuming if you are that starts at 5:30pm. Do your guests have something to do for 2 1/2 hours while waiting? Generally couples use the cocktail hour time as the time to take pictures so the guests have some entertainment before the couple arrives for dinner (if you’re serving that).

    Why do you need to get back to the reception at 4:30pm to make sure things are running smoothly. Nothing would have started yet no? If you are concerned about things being ready for the reception you should try to do everything before you leave for the church or have someone else responsible for setting things up like your family or better yet someone from the venue.

    My suggestion is to not move the reception later. If anything it should start earlier. I think 1 1/2 hours is plenty of time for pictures, and if you are not concerned about getting back to the venue for 4:30pm then you will have even more time if you are hosting a cocktail hour.

    Our guests had about and hour wait between the ceremony and reception which I felt bad about but had no other choice. The street that our venue was on had some cafes and stores so people entertained themselves for the hour doing that. Everyone was from out of town so it’s not like they could go home for the break. Some people went back to their local hotel though.
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  • mattycammattycam member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I think a 5:30 reception is ideal. Assuming that your ceremony starts on time (2-3), people will want to greet you (will you be having a receiving line?) this may take you up to 3:30-4:00 depending on the number of guests. That leaves you with approx. 1-1.5 hours to take pictures and guests can head to the reception hall for cocktail hour which starts at 4:30.
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  • orlykahnorlykahn member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    One of my most recent brides did the following:

    do all your pictures before the ceremony that are not including you two together.

    so you can do your bridesmaids pics, your pics with you family, his pics with his family, his groomsmen pics..
    then after your ceremony you do all the pics of you two together
    Orly Kahn *Makeup Artist* www.orlykahn.carbonmade.com
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  • LittlinLittlin member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Our ceremony was from 3-4, our cocktail hour started at 6.  We got back to the reception venue at 5:45 from taking pictures, but by the time I bustled my dress and took a few more pictures with DH, I was down at the cocktail hour by 6:30.  If you plan everything beforehand, there will be nothing to check on.  Designate this if necessary to a parent if you are worried about it. 

    There was a bar across the street from our church that people grabbed a drink at between the ceremony and reception while others went back to the hotel to change or freshen up.  

    Push it to 5:30 if you are doing a receiving line, but 6 would be a bit late. Other than that I think your timeline is fine.
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  • agnes16agnes16
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    all weddings that i have gone to the church part ends and then ppl go home and change and come back to the reception for the party.  Our church and venue are very close to each other.  Our out of town guests will be coming back to my parents house for some drinks and snacks.  The receiving line will behing at 5:30 with antipasto bar and drinks and dinner will begin at 7pm.  Ive never gone to a wedding where right after church I go to the hall. 
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  • mattycammattycam member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_canada-toronto_enough-time?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:613Discussion:dd3ad575-a7af-40a5-98d8-ed457a50593aPost:38dfbecb-2431-4da0-99cc-c0faa6e19c34">Re: Do we have enough time?</a>:
    [QUOTE]all weddings that i have gone to the church part ends and then ppl go home and change and come back to the reception for the party.  Our church and venue are very close to each other.  <strong>Our out of town guests will be coming back to my parents house for some drinks and snacks.</strong>  The receiving line will behing at 5:30 with antipasto bar and drinks and dinner will begin at 7pm.  <strong>Ive never gone to a wedding where right after church I go to the hall. 
    </strong>Posted by agnes16[/QUOTE]

    Not many out of towners have the option of going to someone's house after the ceremony. Many are left lingering until dinner starts. That's why previous posters were concerned about the gap between the ceremony and the reception and how long it was going to be. Glad to hear your parents are able to accomodate <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />
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  • khkhskhkahjkwaehrkwkhkhskhkahjkwaehrkw
    First Comment First Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    I have a lot of out of town guests and we have a large gap between ceremony and reception (ceremony at 12:30 and reception at 5pm).
    From the weddings I have been to in the past there is always a gap. Most ppl go to the bride or grooms home for cocktails, but a lot of times they just go home.
    To answer your original question about there being enough time, there is time to take photos, but you won't have a lot of them, you will have just enough, make the most of it. You can also take photos at the reception. It will be more convinient for your guests and they won't have a lot of time to kill.
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  • LittlinLittlin member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Yes, the gap isn't ideal for guests, but most people understand.  I don't think I've ever been to a wedding without a gap either.  I wouldn't stress about that, and again, your timeline seems fine the way it is! :)
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  • agnes16agnes16
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    thanks for all the feedback ladies!
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  • likeadeadstarlikeadeadstar
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I've never been to a wedding with a long gap, on the flip side of this.  I'm baffled.  Is this common with church weddings? (I've only attended nonreligious marriages).  The gap between ceremony close and cocktail hour has never been longer than an hour for me.  Now I'm worried about my timing being TOO short.
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