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New Jersey
new girl with a question!
Hi ladies,
I'm new so I will introduce myself - I'm from Essex County, recently engaged, and planning a June 2012 wedding, so I am currently working hard to ensure that I get my date! Honestly this whole process is a bit duanting to me, although i am extremely organized and I love to PLAN.... and hoping the Knot will help! Not sure if that's the best intro but if anyone wants to know more, please ask, lol!
So my first question... (I also posted this on the Etiquette board)
I will be signing contracts with venue and church within the next week and am wondering about timing.... My church ceremony will begin at 4 pm (saturday) and should last about 45 minutes. The reception venue is about 10-15 minutes away from the church (driving). Of course, I'd like to take pics with my BP (bridal party? lol) before the reception begins and do not want to miss A MINUTE of the cocktail hour. I am figuring about an hour for pics (too long? too short?). So my question is, is it rude to have the ceremony end around 4:45 and begin the reception at 6 or 6:30? Should I suggest "activities" for guests in the in between time? (if so, what activities? there are a few bars near the venue. is that weird?) HELP!
Thanks
Nice to meet you all!
I'm new so I will introduce myself - I'm from Essex County, recently engaged, and planning a June 2012 wedding, so I am currently working hard to ensure that I get my date! Honestly this whole process is a bit duanting to me, although i am extremely organized and I love to PLAN.... and hoping the Knot will help! Not sure if that's the best intro but if anyone wants to know more, please ask, lol!
So my first question... (I also posted this on the Etiquette board)
I will be signing contracts with venue and church within the next week and am wondering about timing.... My church ceremony will begin at 4 pm (saturday) and should last about 45 minutes. The reception venue is about 10-15 minutes away from the church (driving). Of course, I'd like to take pics with my BP (bridal party? lol) before the reception begins and do not want to miss A MINUTE of the cocktail hour. I am figuring about an hour for pics (too long? too short?). So my question is, is it rude to have the ceremony end around 4:45 and begin the reception at 6 or 6:30? Should I suggest "activities" for guests in the in between time? (if so, what activities? there are a few bars near the venue. is that weird?) HELP!
Thanks
Nice to meet you all!This discussion has been closed.
Re: new girl with a question!
As far as your questions - No, I don't think it's rude to do that - it's very common to have an hour or two in between the two events. A couple things to keep in mind - will there be a lot of people not from the area? Then, you may want to make some suggestions for things to do, but keep in mind they may not have TOO much time to do stuff.
Are you blocking rooms at a hotel? If so, are you providing transportation for your guests? Most weddings that I have gone to when I am not from the area and stay at a hotel - I got to the church, then check in and settle in at the hotel and by the time that happens, maybe grab a drank at the hotel bar and head to the reception. I'm ok with that! If it has been near my house I've gone back to my house (or a friend's house in the area) between the two. I wouldn't stress over it....4:00 church and 6 or 6:30 reception is completely normal/acceptable by my standards. I think it is good that you are keeping your guests in your thoughts with planning, but make sure your first concern is that you and your fiance enjoy your day.
We will be doing the hotel thing and that was my original idea - figured guests could even bring their cars THERE to park and hopefully have a shuttle over to the reception (and back to the hotel later of course). We won't be having too many older people, the majority of the guests will be our friends and my parents friends (so like late 50s, early 60s), so I dont feel that they will be totally put out by the whole thing. My lovely mama, however, thinks that it's totally awful and inconvenient. I think she just doesnt want people to wind up at her house in between, lol! (they live close by). Good to know i am not as crazy as she's making me feel.
I am realizing that everyone has different opinions on EVERYTHING! as i said, the knot seems daunting but i think its great to be able to chat with girls who are actually planning weddings of their own at the same time as me!
Our mass is at 4:00pm and cocktail hour starts at 7:00pm. We decided not to see each other until after our ceremony, and our photographer would like about two hours for pictures.
Some of our guests live locally. Many others will be staying at a hotel down the road from our reception venue and will probably go and check in after the ceremony.
If you would like to include information on what your guests can do to kill time between the ceremony and reception consider on putting it in the welcome letter in your oot bags and/or on your website.
Good luck with everything!!
Sorry! That just made me laugh! Not at all because you didn't know, but because I HATED all the abbreviations when I first discovered this board. (Basically I had no idea what anyone was ever talking about!) I guess I've come full circle! Please don't be ashamed to ask questions!!
OOT bags are out of town bags, that your guests receive upon checking into a hotel at which you've set up a room block.
another thing... I am not certain how much time to allot for photos - i dont have a photographer yet... i was thinking an hour, as i want to have less posed and more photojournalistic/candids. does that seem right? one hr delay vs 2 hr delay makes a difference, dont you think?
I think an hour gap is fine. Just remember that you will also be getting a send-off from your church (or receiving line, if you wish). So even though mass ends at 4:45, but the time that everyone gets out of church, etc, etc. If your reception starts at 6:00, it really won't be a huge gap, at all.
Good luck!