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I need some advice for my wedding. I am going to have a 1 pm Saturday wedding in July. The full catholic mass is scheduled to start at 1 pm and according to the priest it should take 45-50 minutes. The reception site is 15-25 minutes away depending on traffic. I'm not sure what time to start the cocktail hour. We only have 5 hours at the site, and I don't want to use up all of it on cocktails. However, i also don't want to be rushed on church and reception pictures or keep people waiting before the reception starts. I am suppose to sign my contract tomorrow with what time I want the reception to start, and I don't know what to do.

Submitted: 305 days and 6 hours ago.

Category: Wedding

Value: $5

Status: AWAITING CUSTOMER ACTION

Posted by Ms Chase 305 days and 5 hours ago.

Info Request

Hi Tasha,

When are you taking photos (bridal party, parents, etc)?

Chase

305 days and 5 hours ago.

Reply

Some pictures will be taken before the ceremony at my mother's house, but others will be taken after the ceremony at the church and in the gardens where I am having my reception. I undrestand that I need time for the picture-taking, but I don't want my guests to have to wait around too long before the cocktail reception. I'm not sure if I should start it at 3 or 3:30.

Posted by Ms Chase 305 days and 5 hours ago.

Answer

I was actually thinking more like 4 or 4:30, here's why.

Wedding 1pm - 1:50
add 1/2 hr - 1 hr to get pics at church and get everyone in their cars, which puts us at 2:50, so lets say 3:00

1/2 hr to get to the reception (20 min drive, and time to walk in the reception), which puts us at 3:30

To be safe, I always add another half hour to everything, so that would put you at 4:00. You could easily choose 3:30 or 4:00, myself I would take 4:00 so that I would be sure to get the maximum amount of time, and if you're running a little late you won't lose time.

Your guests can go in, while you take your pics in the garden.

Hopefully I'm understanding what your day looks like, let me know if you want to talk more

Congrats on your wonderful day! :)

Chase

305 days and 4 hours ago.

Reply

The first hour is a cocktail hour, so I don't really get announced in for a little while. I pretty much assumed I could use that time for pictures outside. Am I being too optimistic? I just feel like if my ceremony ends at 2 and I do a receiving line then the first guests through the line are going to start showing up at the reception at 2:30.

Accepted Answer

Most people are going to wait outside the church until the two of you come down the steps and climb in the limo. Now if you are taking a lot of pictures at the church, then I would make the reception a little earlier because you don't know how many people will hang around for that.....

so 1-2 church
2-2:30 pictures, recieving line
2:30 - X - XXXXX to reception
3:00 arrive at the hall - reception starts
4:00 you're announced

Even looking at the schedule this way, I still would shoot for 3:30. I like to give myself a cushion for emergencies.

Chase

Expert:	Ms Chase
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Accepts:	85
Answered:	1/7/2009

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304 days and 15 hours ago.

Reply

Assuming cocktails are from 3:00 - 4:00, do you think that 4:00 is too early to start a full dinner service in the summer?

Posted by Ms Chase 304 days and 15 hours ago.

Answer

Hello Tasha,

Not necessarily, particularly if you're going to have toasts, introductions, cake cutting, dancing, etc, and you only have the space for 5 hrs. I think four or four thirty would be fine.

Chase

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Hi Tasha,When are you taking photos (bridal party, parents, etc)?Chase

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Assuming cocktails are from 3:00 - 4:00, do you think that 4:00 is too early to start a full dinner service in the summer?

Answer

Hello Tasha,Not necessarily, particularly if you're going to have toasts, introductions, cake cutting, dancing, etc, and you only have the space for 5 hrs. I think four or four thirty would be fine.Chase

Related Wedding Questions

Hi Tasha,

When are you taking photos (bridal party, parents, etc)?

Chase

Hello Tasha,

Not necessarily, particularly if you're going to have toasts, introductions, cake cutting, dancing, etc, and you only have the space for 5 hrs. I think four or four thirty would be fine.

Chase