How Long Between the Ceremony and the Reception and how Long Should a Reption be?

[AngelRoseFyre]

We are getting married at 2:00pm, we want a simple yet sweet ceremony probobly no longer than 30 minutes. We had our reception planned for 3:00, but we are thinking pictures are most likly going to take longer than half an hour, so we are thinking of moving the reception time to 4:30 instead (we want to enjoy it too). Another reason for this is we will be servinga dinner buffet so we figured that time is a little more appropriate. But we are unsure of how the guests will repond to the time gap. I went to a wedding recently that did the same thing, and it worked well, but I would really like some other opinions on if this should work or not.

My other question is short and to the point. We are debating between a 4 or 5 hour reception and we can't decide. Any insite?

[ljeagle]

How far is the ceremony location and the reception from each other. Also have you thought about adding in a coctail hour so it can be going on while u take the pictures.

[AngelRoseFyre]

They are reletivly close to one another, but Cheyenne is not a big town, you can get from one side to the other in 20 minutes in bad traffic.

We may be able to set up a coctail hour, however with some of our family and friends I don't know if they could find the reception after that hour.

[ljeagle]

You could do light drinks and a few appetizers.

[555Ann555]

I think that time difference should be fine, but it'll probably smoother if they do have access to some sort of drinks, even a cash bar... (although I know that can be frowned on in some areas over there...)

I don't have any reall insight on the length, because ours go on from the wedding (usually about 2pm) till midnight or later It's true that the Scots like a drink

[Lizbet]

Our wedding started at 4:30 and lasted about 1/2 an hour. Our reception went from 5:30-9:30 for our guests. DH and I arrived at the reception around 6:30 after pics. We had a lot of children at our ceremony and reception, which is why we chose to limit the time. If we had done more of an "adults only" thing, we probably would have done like you with more time between the two, so that he and I could be present for all of the reception.

I think that whichever way you choose will be fine. Just keep in mind the type of people you're having at the reception. Are they partiers or homebodies? Are there a lot of kids or elderly people?

[maroki13]

Are a lot of your guests coming in from out of town? If they have 2 hours between the ceremony and the reception, are there things to do in town, or would they go back to their hotels and wait?

Our ceremony is at 1:00 and our reception is starting at 2:00. We are doing half of our pictures before the ceremony so it won't take so long afterwards, so we are hoping to get to the reception before the appetizer hour is over (goes until about 3:00/3:30).

[Emily]

For us our ceremony is starting at 4pm and will def be done by 4.30pm at which time we will shoot off and have our pictures taken. Then we are having a Jazz Band play from 4.30 - 6.30 which is when we will have champagne and cocktails, oysters and canapes etc.. in the garden with our reception starting at 6.30pm - our ceremony and reception is at the same place. We wanted to have this time for two hours because we figure we will take 1 hour to have our pictures taken then we want to have an hour when we can mill around in the garden with the guests before we go into the reception.

But I would definitely recommend having some drinks and food if people will be waiting around while you have your pics taken etc... I went to a wedding once and the couple went off for about 2 hours, we were able to walk to the reception site from the ceremony but we all had to mill around and wait in the lobby of the Hotel until they turned up - it was bad bad bad as we had 2 hours to wait with no food or refreshments and people were not impresses!

[mommy03bride]

wow now im reconsider my time. my wedding is going to start at 2 and my reception is at 4:30 to 12:00. were only having the kids from the wedding party at our reception which are my kids and my brothers kids. my mom normally doesnt stay that long at things so hopefully she will take them all with her so we can really party!

[AngelRoseFyre]

The idea of a coctail hour is a good one, but I will have to find a place to host it. Our reception is on the Air Force Base at the Officers Club, and I think they already have the bar booked at that time (it's memorial day weekend). So I will have to check around town and see if I can set something else up. Or everyone can just go to my moms house untill then and socialize in her garden, she lives only about half a mile away from both the reception sight and the ceramony sight.

[Emily]

I dont know about miles etc... as we use Kilometers - but if it is doable for people to walk from the wedding to your Mums then I would do it in her garden - it would be nice and personal too!

[breezy]

Check with the O club about extending the reception time and just serving apetizers for that hour or 2 for guest.

Then they will have time to socialize, have a small bite to eat and relax while you're getting your pics done. I don't think I would set up a cocktail hour at another location.

Is the bar going to be open for your recetption?

[Emily]

Yeah Breezy you are right actually it will be too much of a hassle to have people going to three different places!

Or what about moving your ceremony to a couple of hours later if it means getting use of the Officers Club for the Cocktail hour???

[Robyn Lynn]

I know that with my family that lived in Illinois, whenever there was a wedding, everyone went to someone's home between the ceremony and reception for drinks and snacks. I don't think a third place(especially in a small town) would be that bad.

Regarding a cash bar..... I have only been to one wedding with an open bar. Usually beer and wine is free, but you pay for mixed drinks (or even soda!!). When I started going on wedding sites I learned that many people are apalled by the idea of a cash bar!!! I always thought it was fair.

[AngelRoseFyre]

It is a great idea to reseve the club for an additional two hours, but my mom is paying for most of the wedding, and she is already chalking up a ton of $$. Since we are already paying an arm and a leg to reserve the officers club for the 5 hours we have, I think if I asked my mom to reserve another two hours he would flip. It is a great idea though, just financially I think is a lot to ask of her. Besides she loves entertaining, and most of the out of towners would be family or close family friends who will be at my moms house all the time anyway, so I don't think anyone would really mind. Most of our guests however live in town.

[Lizbet]

I think your Mom's house is a great place for the cocktail hour.

[AngelRoseFyre]

I was also thinking since my mom has a huge garden backyard, which is just beautifull (she spends hours a day on it). Since May/June is beautifull weather here, I was thinking maybe would could set up a bar out back, it would be beautifull. In fact we are planning on doing the rehersal dinner there, maybe. As per the after wedding get together, I sure we could come up with some little ordourves(I can't spell) and drinks. The only problem is I'm gonna miss my pretty little party. Oh well, thats what the reception is for.

[Robyn Lynn]

here's a thought....if you are having the rehearsal dinner at your mom's you can decorate for that and leave the decorations up for the cocktail hour!!

[AngelRoseFyre]

Originally Posted by Robyn Lynn

here's a thought....if you are having the rehearsal dinner at your mom's you can decorate for that and leave the decorations up for the cocktail hour!!

GREAT IDEA!!! I think we may very well use that one, Thanks Robyn!!!

[AlwaysABride]

I think the entertaining at your mother's house is the perfect solution!!!