I am getting married in a Catholic church and the wedding HAS TO BE at 1:00pm. But I can't get into the reception hall until at least 5:00. The wedding will probably take an hour and a half at most. So what should I have my guests do for 2 and a half hours? About half of the guests will be coming from out of town. Any Ideas for what to do during the time gap??
2006-10-05 09:30:25 · 35 answers · asked by Lara 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
It will be in May in the mid west. It is nice here then. And I have no control over the wedding time. so even if I could have the reception somewhere else it would have to start at like 3:00 and that is pretty early.
2006-10-05 09:45:33 · update #1
Tailgate party in the parkinglot. Bring beer (catholics like to drink), bbq pits, fajitas and tortillas
2006-10-05 09:32:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Even with communion and a couple of songs, most catholic weddings will be over and done with in 45 minutes or less.
Don't worry about the out of town guests, hopefully they can go back to the hotel and relax a little while.
The wedding party should find a nice park or something like that and take pictures during that time. Obviously since the wedding start is so early and the reception is so late, taking pictures before the ceremony is probably not a good idea anyway because the photographer will be on duty a long time if she starts right at 1:00.
2006-10-06 03:00:42 · answer #2 · answered by superchrisw 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well since you are getting married at the church, you will probably have a meet and greet with you guests, so they can congratulate you, kiss you on the cheek, perhaps meet your husband for the first time since they are out of town guests. During that time many family members will want to take pictures, use the time to take pictures with the photographer and the guests at the church. If there is no wedding following yours. Your photgrapher may want to take pics with you and your husband and the bridal party. Reverse it and use the time to take scenic pics with the guests, then take pics with your husband and the bridal party. If you finish guests pics at 4, then the guests can make their way to the reception and won't worry about waiting for too long. Many will stay and watch you take pics. Some others will go back to their hotel rooms or run and pick up a last minute card or change clothes. The cool thing about the pics w/guests is that you can send it too them as part of a thank you note. Don't worry too much, things are always late and you will find yourself rushing to get to the reception. If anything you will time to relax catch your breathe, and get some pre-honeymoon smooching in with your new hubby. All the best to you!
2006-10-05 09:44:06 · answer #3 · answered by NoPeace4Me 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you are having pictures taken you will probably be busy for another hour after the ceremony. What about having a relative or close friend that does not live to far from where the reception is being held, have cheese and crackers some cold drinks and a place for people to gather and talk. If the church has a fellowship hall maybe you could have it there.
2006-10-06 04:12:57 · answer #4 · answered by roeskats 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest givng your guests a list of attractions in the area for them to check out or have a cocktail hour at one of the hotels that some of your guests are at- it might make the time go by quicker.
Between the time of my wedding and the reception I will have about 1 1/2 hours so I have set up a few family members who are going to give a few guests tours of the area. Then they are going to another family members house for drinks and to park their cars (we rented a bus to transport guests home from the reception for about an hour or two, pretty cheap too- about 100$).
2006-10-05 10:49:17 · answer #5 · answered by glorymomof3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
killing time is difficult between a wedding and reception because you don't want your guests getting separated or ruffled up so Id suggest you put on a small tea and coffee in a local park get some chairs from the church if possible set up an urn and biscuits use this time to get all those family pictures of the bride and groom done in a lovely out door setting its also a great time to introduce all the guests to one another set up a pass the parcel game for the littlies father of the bride or groom could take control of that . in all just take the time and have a nice sit out in the park with loved ones .Oh PS wear a wide brimmed hat you don't want to known as the well done bride because of sunburn
2006-10-05 13:00:13 · answer #6 · answered by slick 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Party suite at the hotel. Ask an aunt or cousin to help host. Have drinks, snacks, cards or other games and a CD player with upbeat music.
I hate when there is the gap and I understand you don't have a choice. It makes a huge difference to me when the bride simply acknowledges it. I've had so many bride friends complain about this without acknowledging that it is the guests who are the most inconvenienced...
Definitely provide a list of parks, coffee shops, ice cream places, shopping malls or areas, anywhere where they could take a walk. If you have any little museums around, even better.
2006-10-05 12:20:03 · answer #7 · answered by Katherine 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have an early reception then duh. 3pm is not early because at 3 people dont eat, they have a cocktail hour then. They dont get seated and eat until 4ish.
The bridal party goes out and takes photos between ceremony and reception. You should have planned this better.
My friend was married at 230 and reception started at 6pm she was dumb too. My parents and I lived close enough so we went home for the few hours in between.
You know what will happen? The guests will show up SUPER EARLY to the reception place and they wont be ready for your guests. Therefore you may get charged extra or run out of cocktail hour food way before the reception is suppose to start.
You could assign relatives/friends to take people that are out of town back home with them or to some location.
2006-10-05 11:37:07 · answer #8 · answered by Educated 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
This is actually a really good thing! You can have time to do your photos without the stress of knowing your guests are waiting for you and want to leave.
There is enough time between the wedding and reception to allow people to go rest at the hotel and get re-energized to celebrate all night!
If you already have guests staying at a hotel, you might want to set up a pre-reception suite where guests who have nowhere else to go can relax, get a snack and get freshened up. My friend's parents opened up their home for this purpose.
I have been weddings just like this, and actually more peole showed up for the reception than the wedding itself. Not a bad thing- just not a very full ceremony.
2006-10-05 09:38:24 · answer #9 · answered by pknutson_sws 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Usually that's what happens at every wedding there is a gap between ceremony and reception. My sister's wedding the families and the bridal party went to a beautiful park and had wedding pictures taken. Your guests can go to happy hour? or if your home is close by, you can go tell them to go there and you and your husband can go get pictures done if you have a photographer... It's a little difficult i understand... good luck!
2006-10-05 09:35:32 · answer #10 · answered by Lydia J 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This depends on how many guests there are. Does the church have a separate house or reception area? If so, it is a great time to serve tea/coffee, light refreshments. Get your pictures taken. Otherwise, let them go back to their hotels and relax, before the rest of the evening begins.
2006-10-05 16:24:52 · answer #11 · answered by Jennifer J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋