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Just Said Yes June 2022

Help with timeline! Cocktail hour long enough or too short?

Logan, on July 6, 2021 at 7:44 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 6

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Hi - looking for advice on wedding timeline... catholic mass that is super early - trying to determine ideal timeline for reception

1PM Ceremony - Catholic Mass - should be done by 2PM

(**Reception venue is 30 min drive from the church)

4:30PM Cocktail hour -5:15PM ... is 45 min too short? or should it be 1 full hour? - they will have had a 2.5 hrs between ceremony & reception, but 1/2 hour is the drive, they can go check into hotel & take provided shuttle to the reception

5:15PM Reception begins - bridal party entrance?

**things to consider - we have to be cleaned up & out of venue by 12AM, bar service is 5 hours - will need to add additional hour if we have bar open 4:30-10:30

Some have suggested starting reception at 5:15 due to time for entrances etc. before dinner

Thanks for any thoughts/help from anyone else with a big catholic gap!!

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6 Comments

Latest activity by Jacks, on July 7, 2021 at 3:00 PM

VIP December 2021
mrswinteriscoming · on July 6, 2021 at 9:06 PM
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I think you can get away with lengthening cocktail hour and starting it earlier since your ceremony is around lunchtime, though I definitely would have guests seated by 5:15pm because having likely had an early lunch to attend the ceremony, they will be hungry!
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Expert September 2021
Marianne · on July 6, 2021 at 9:09 PM
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Since your ceremony and reception are at different locations, I'd probably go with a full 1-hour cocktail hour since some guests might not arrive right at 4:30pm. Four hours for introductions, dinner, dancing, etc. is still plenty of time!
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VIP August 2021
Michelle · on July 7, 2021 at 7:42 AM
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I agree with Marianne, 4 hour reception is plenty, so 5 hours total bar service is sufficient. I would probably add more food in the cocktail hour to bridge the gap as few people would have snacks in their hotel room.
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Master July 2018
Mcskipper · on July 7, 2021 at 10:13 AM
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No need for an additional hour, a 45 min cocktail hour is great. There is very much a “too long” for a cocktail hour ! But sometimes that happens when there’s no gap and people are trying to cram in all their photos during the cocktail hour. At a wedding with a gap, cocktail hour isn’t strictly necessary except that it gives guests time to trickle in , arrive and get a drink before the formalities of a reception start. 45 minutes is plenty of time for that.
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Rockstar December 2022
Michelle · on July 7, 2021 at 2:48 PM
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I have attended many Catholic weddings and none have had any gaps beyond driving time.
While you have the best of intentions, your guests will not nap/shower/change clothes/sightsee and the list goes on. Some guests will even skip the ceremony and go straight to the reception. If moving the reception/cocktail time earlier is not possible, can you arrange a get together at someone local’s house or a park to kill time and they aren’t neglected?
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