What time should we have the ceremony?

rooney2012 · June 2012

We are having a traditional church ceremony on a Saturday in summer... we can have it at 12:00pm or 2:00pm. The reception is at 6:00pm (but opens at 3:00 for decorating).

Is it too long of a wait for guests if the ceremony is at 12 and the reception at 6? There are 70 guests and they all live in the area. Do people ever take a break in between and meet up again for the reception?

How long is the typical wait between ceremony and reception and what do guests like to do in between?

Simply Fated · June 2012

When you say, "they all live in the area." are we talking, like, 10 minutes in the area, or somewhere in the state area?

rooney2012 · June 2012

The church and venue are 25min apart and everyone lives between the two.

Simply Fated · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_what-time-should-we-have-the-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:10Discussion:8e463e51-302e-4d7e-82f9-b5695adfebc5Post:45b0fd26-bb99-4326-a455-2589fe27b450">Re: What time should we have the ceremony?</a>:
[QUOTE]The church and venue are 25min apart and everyone lives between the two.
Posted by rooney2012[/QUOTE]
Then I would say the later time. This way people can stop off at home, retouch make-up, use the bathroom, maybe watch part of what ever sports game is on, and then head over to the reception.
If you choose the earlier time, it stretches the day out and makes the day very, very long.

Simply Fated · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_what-time-should-we-have-the-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:10Discussion:8e463e51-302e-4d7e-82f9-b5695adfebc5Post:362f65bd-f3a1-44ad-8cf9-0f729b9695ce">Re:What time should we have the ceremony?</a>:
[QUOTE]Even a two pm ceremony is too much of a gap, in my opinion. I'd look at moving one or the other. If you can get into the ceremony space at 3, can you start your reception sooner?
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]
Ideally there wouldn't be a gap. Or there would be, but just to give the guests time to drive from the ceremony to the reception. I despise gaps, but I'm usually in the minority there. :(

rooney2012 · June 2012

Ceremony can be at 12 or 2 and reception at 6. Maybe I can check with our church and see if we can push the ceremony back a little, but they have mass at 4:30 so I doubt it.

The 2pm sounds better after hearing your thoughts. Since it will be in metroMilwaukee, maybe the men can all go to bars and the women and kids can decorate for 2.5 hours... We're pretty traditional. Also, we'll be very close to the lake so maybe photos are another option??

Thanks for the feedback.

Meghannsix · June 2012

Hold up, the men can go to the bar and the women and children can decorate? Your guests are decorating for the reception?

kmmssg · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_what-time-should-we-have-the-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:10Discussion:8e463e51-302e-4d7e-82f9-b5695adfebc5Post:9e89bbcc-88dc-4531-8c90-fd098617967e">Re: What time should we have the ceremony?</a>:
[QUOTE]Ceremony can be at 12 or 2 and reception at 6. Maybe I can check with our church and see if we can push the ceremony back a little, but they have mass at 4:30 so I doubt it. The 2pm sounds better after hearing your thoughts. Since it will be in metroMilwaukee,<strong> maybe the men can all go to bars and the women and kids can decorate for 2.5 hours.</strong>.. We're pretty traditional. Also, we'll be very close to the lake so maybe photos are another option?? Thanks for the feedback.
Posted by rooney2012[/QUOTE]

<div>Um, NO!!! Your guests don't decorate for you and why on Earth do the guys get a pass to go to the bar and women and kids have to work? Do not do this.</div>

MrsKathyC · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_what-time-should-we-have-the-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:10Discussion:8e463e51-302e-4d7e-82f9-b5695adfebc5Post:c6dff68f-9c59-4d81-961d-23cd072b88b3">Re:What time should we have the ceremony?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:What time should we have the ceremony? : Ideally there wouldn't be a gap. Or there would be, but just to give the guests time to drive from the ceremony to the reception. I despise gaps, but I'm usually in the minority there. :(
Posted by Simply Fated[/QUOTE]

I don't like gaps either! I'd end up going home! I agree with PP, if you can get into the reception venue at 3, have the reception sooner.

pkontk · June 2012

Are you volunteering your guests to decorate the venue? That is inappropriate. Many venues have staff who decorate tables, etc, does yours provide that service? If not, I suggest you find a day-of-coordinator who can do that, rather than guests.

I know some people who have catholic ceremonies do have gaps, because the churches will only do a wedding mass at certain times of the day, but I'm really not a huge fan. Even though guests are local, that takes up a lot more of their day than, say, a reception from 3-8 or a ceremony at 5 directly followed by an evening reception.

rooney2012 · June 2012

My guests are mostly family and we are closeknit. My mom actually wanted the reception at 12 so that they could have MORE time to decorate! hahahah. I was just worried about what to do with the men... who did not volunteer to decorate. Otherwise, my family is a group of DIYers and enjoys projects like that. The venue does offer the service, but my family is insisting that they would like to do it and I'm okay with that. I'm also okay with the staff decorating, but if my family has their hearts set on it, I don't mind.

Once again, we cannot change the times. Although we can set up at 3, the building is still open to the public until 7pm. I was just wondering what other ppl do when they have a gap, because it's not going to take too long to decorate.

Thanks again!

futuremrsbruno · June 2012

At first I thought this was an easy question, and then I reread it and was like, hold up!

Are you saying that you can't decorate your reception hall until AFTER the ceremony the day of the wedding?

I've never heard of such a thing! I'd go with 2 because if I had a ceremony at 12 and a reception at 6, chances are I'd either end up being late to the reception or would forget or fall asleep or whatnot. 2 to 6 is even too long. The longest gap between weddings I remember was an hour and a half. The church was 40 minutes from the reception, but guests still ended up with an hour or so between times. That was annoying.

rooney2012 · June 2012

[QUOTE] Are you saying that you can't decorate your reception hall until AFTER the ceremony the day of the wedding?
Posted by futuremrsbruno[/QUOTE]

Yes... but the staff at the venue would decorate for us. I think the difficult part is that my family wants to decorate.

Maybe I could just have my family make the centerpieces and give those to the staff to put out. That way they would still feel involved.

So maybe the new question I have is: my ceremony is at 2 (lasting an hour) and the recepetion is at 6, with only a 25min travel time. Any ideas for the gap? It is a summer wedding.

Summer2011Bride · June 2012

I would have the venue decorate. Even if some family members offer, I really don't think it's a great idea to have guests, family or not, decorating for your wedding between the ceremony and reception. What venue is this if you don't mind me asking? I'm familiar with some in Milwaukee. I've never heard of this type of situation. It seems absurd that if you're paying to rent it out, you can't get in there earlier to decorate.

If you're stuck with these times, definitely do the 2:00 one so the gap is less. I know there are riverboat cruises that go along the river and onto the lake. Don't know your budget, but you could host that for after the wedding as an option for guests who'd like to do it? That would eat up some time and be something fun.

rooney2012 · June 2012

Milwaukee Public Market. The lower level is the market and the 2nd level you can rent out. That is mainly why the reception cannot start until later. They are still open for business to the public until 7pm which may make an awkward atmosphere if your reception is from 3 to 8. Here is a link to photos of another couple who had their reception there:
http://craigjohn.com/index.cfm?postID=110 (scroll to the bottom)

The reason for the gap is because we are having a Catholic Mass which has time restrictions of 12 or 2.

The cruise is a good suggestion! I'll have to start an extra savings for that though!

OliveOilsMom · June 2012

I had my Catholic Mass on Friday to avoid the gap! I would have been stressing about what to do otherwise! But my parents told me that when they got married, my mom's family went to her parent's house for drinks and light food and my dad's family went to an aunt's house for drinks and light food. So whether you split up the guests into 2 different location or have 1 gathering, you should hosts your guests somehow in between. It does not need to be fancy or expensive. The riverboat idea is great if you can work it into your budget.

I would also have your venue do the decorating.

Simply Fated · June 2012

It's awesome that your family wants to help you decorate, but I'd have the venue do it, instead. I love helping to set stuff up, but if I were in my best dress and fancy shoes, I'd be half-way done with set-up, then regret volunteering.

"Maybe I could just have my family make the centerpieces and give those to the staff to put out. That way they would still feel involved."
That could work! Then you can use the time during the gap to take pictures with them, instead, or something.

I'm not familiar with that area at all, but have you tried posting over at your local board for some suggestions?

rooney2012 · June 2012

Thanks for the tips and the support! I am grateful to be able to discuss with other knotties! The idea about spending time at families would work very well for us. My grandma has a large property and both sides of our family get along well

Thanks everyone!

What time should we have the ceremony?

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