My mother had always inivisioned a church wedding for me, her only daughter. We came to a compromise and are having the ceremony at a beautiful 19th century Gothic Revival Brownstone Chapel, but are getting married by a JP. How long do civil ceremonies average? The wedding is at 10 am, it's about a 20 minute drive to the reception, which starts at 12 pm. The woman who runs the place said if guests arrived at 11:30 and made their way in, it was fine, and everything would be ready. I don't know whether to put "Reception Immediately Following" so they don't feel obligated to stand in the parking lot until 12, but I don't want them there too terribly early either. There will be about 110 at the chapel, so by the time everyone gets out and headed to the reception, we should be safe, yes?
2007-08-14 03:59:53 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
The Chapel is a Civil War era building on a college campus. They also hold Buddhist classes/meetings there. Very liberal college. Multi-denominational. The JOP is a good friend of mine that I have known for 6 years, that's how I got a civil servant to do it, lol.
2007-08-14 13:54:11 · update #1
A civil ceremony may last less than a minute (bare bones, simply covering legalities) or it may last a great deal longer depending on how many additions you make. You can still have readings, songs, the unity candle, etc. all of which take time.
Also, weddings notoriously run late. There's always someone who gets caught in traffic or some small snafu that needs to be dealt with, or a bride who loses all track of time without a watch on.
You've got a two-hour window, over a hundred expected guests, a picturesque wedding site, and a twenty minute drive to the reception. I'd say if you make sure the ceremony lasts at least twenty minutes (which is a pretty typical wedding if you're having one with lots of guests, etc.), you'll be fine.
But I would still tend to put 'Reception At x location 12 Noon.' You won't have a huge gap, but fewer people will feel a need to race off because they'll know they have a few minutes to enjoy the lovely setting.
Best of luck and all joy to you and your intended. It sounds like you're going to have a lovely wedding.
2007-08-14 04:21:09 · answer #1 · answered by gileswench 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well the ceremony should last about 30 min, give or take a few. Then everybody will want to congratulate you and visit with other people as well so I would say that the guests would start leaving at about 10:45-11:00 which would get them to the reception site about 15-30 min prior to 11:30. I would put that there is a "Reception to follow at 12:00pm." The guests will find something to do for an hour or so.
2007-08-19 08:03:36 · answer #2 · answered by Emily G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To estimate the time I would need a little more info. Such as are you are having a processional song for bridesmaids etc? Did you want a special song for the seating of the mothers/families? Are you having any readings/poems/unity candle? On average I would say a civil ceremony that includes some of these options last about 20-30 minutes.
As someone else stated most often things run a few minutes late. You probably won't be walking down the aisle right at 10AM, it will probably be more like 10:10 or 10:15...being any more late than that is in bad taste though.
Plus there will be pictures afterwards and if you opt to have the receiving line that will kill some time. I like the idea of a receiving line to free you up for socializing, dancing and eating at the reception!!
Anyway feel free to email me with specifics if you need more info, I'd be happy to help!
2007-08-14 13:04:18 · answer #3 · answered by Reba 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My first reaction is . . I am truly amazed that you got a Justice of the Peace to perform a ceremony in a chapel. Civil servants usually don't do that. Civil servants are neutral, they are supposed to be "non-religious" so I am assuming this chapel is also neutral or non-religious or not affiliated with any religion.
A ceremony performed by a Civil Servant (Justice of the Peace) usually ranges from five minutes to twenty minutes unless you have made a special request for something . . like a Unity Candle Ceremony.
Answered by: A Certified wedding specialist / A Professional bridal consultant / A Wedding ceremony officiant
2007-08-14 11:38:47 · answer #4 · answered by Avis B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The actual vows part of the wedding can last no more than 10 to 15 min. How many people you have in the wedding, how long it takes them to walk down the isle, the length of the songs sung, etc., determine the length of the entire event. From that, determine how quick everyone needs to be at the reception.
2007-08-16 02:00:27 · answer #5 · answered by Mom of 2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
reception to follow and let people manage their own time getting there. some might want to arrange car pools, etc so giving extra time is ok.
2007-08-14 04:10:48 · answer #6 · answered by spadezgurl22 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋