this is the code for the render ad
Community› Wedding Discussion Boards› Wedding Reception Forum
Wedding Reception Forum
New Discussion

Timing/gap worry...

levieenroselevieenrose member
250 Love Its 100 Comments Second Anniversary Name Dropper
in Wedding Reception Forum
Hi everyone, 

We are lucky enough to have ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception at the same beautiful venue. Right now our ceremony is expected to start at 12 noon (as the invitations indicated) and our cocktail hour beginning at 12:45/1pm, immediately succeeded by the reception. Unfortunately, due to the way our venue runs things, it seems that the cocktail hour cannot be completely set up before 12:45. It would be rude to our guests and vendors to start late (and heck! I'm not waiting a second longer than necessary to marry this amazing person). And it's about a 5 minute walk from ceremony to cocktail hour. 

My timing problem is that I have written/assembled the ceremony myself and although I have read it through multiple times (readings and all), I'm not exactly sure how long it will run. I'm not clear on how long the processional will take, how long to pause for the exchanges between 5 short readings, passing rings to our guests and back, and presenting our personalized vows to each other. When I've read through it aloud at a reasonable pace I get somewhere between 20 - 30 minutes.

The extra time will get filled in naturally, right? Processional, people getting up to read, sitting down again, getting weepy (me), etc.? Fingers crossed!

Then happy I, that love and am beloved 
Where I may not remove nor be removed.

 --William Shakespeare (Sonnet 25)

Report Reply to Post

Re: Timing/gap worry...

  • AddieCakeAddieCake member
    10000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary 25 Answers
    I think it will probably be fine. 
    What did you think would happen if you walked up to a group of internet strangers and told them to get shoehorned by their lady doc?~StageManager14
    image
    Report Reply
  • STARMOON44STARMOON44 member
    Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    This will be completely fine.
    Report Reply
  • levieenroselevieenrose member
    250 Love Its 100 Comments Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    Thank you, STARMOON44 and AddieL73! 

    I really appreciate the feedback and I'm glad the situation sounds pretty reasonable.

    Then happy I, that love and am beloved 
    Where I may not remove nor be removed.

     --William Shakespeare (Sonnet 25)

    Report Reply
  • lluzzi0923lluzzi0923 member
    10 Comments First Anniversary First Answer
    edited April 2014
    If you really needed to kill time, could you do a receiving line type thing?
    But yea, I don't think people will be upset with a tiny gap.
    Report Reply
  • lyndausvilyndausvi mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its
    I think you are fine.  Like PP said you can fill time by doing a receiving line to slow people down.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
    Report Reply
  • MyNameIsNotMyNameIsNot member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    It will be fine.  When you have people socializing, 15 minutes to take a 5 minute walk is pretty reasonable.  People will linger and chat, stop for the restroom, use their phones, etc.  

    If you're that worried about it, you could put some waters or something out at the end of the ceremony to encourage people to take their time making their way to the cocktail hour.  You could also do a "grand exit" from the ceremony to the reception instead of at the end of the reception.  (Although I think that option is regional.)  
    Report Reply
  • Cookie PusherCookie Pusher member
    Knottie Warrior 2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    I think you'll be fine. We are in the same situation, but it looks like our ceremony will be shorter (it reads as 10 minutes). With the processional, recessional, and receiving line, we are confident we will hit the 30 minute mark so there won't be a gap or, at most, only a few minutes.
    ~*~*~*~*~

    Report Reply
  • levieenroselevieenrose member
    250 Love Its 100 Comments Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    Thank you for the advice, everyone. I really dislike the receiving line because it seems so impersonal/strained to me, but in a pinch it'll do...guess I should organize that as a back-up plan. 

    MyNameIsNot, classy idea! I'll get that going for sure. 

    Then happy I, that love and am beloved 
    Where I may not remove nor be removed.

     --William Shakespeare (Sonnet 25)

    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards