Time Between Ceremony and Reception

I agree with the mentality that two hours is really long for cocktail hour but at the same time I’ve been to weddings with a very large gap in between and it’s ok. Kind of inconvenient but if this works out best for you, people will figure out ways to be kept entertained

Ours will be quite similar to yours! We are getting married on a farm and will have food, drinks, lawn games, etc for our cocktail hour. However our photographer suggested we have a three hour break for photos between the ceremony and reception as we will be going to a second location for our portraits after we do family/bridal party portraits on the farm. I am a bit worried about it, but we are going to plan some things that people can do at the farm as well as give them information on a few close places the could go if they want to leave during that time.

For my family, a long break is normal and nobody has questioned it. However FH's family have voiced their concerns about it.

I dont think thats bad. Our wedding ceremony is ending at 3pm and reception starts at 5pm. As long as they have a appetizers/drinks they should be fine.

Two hours is too long to expect guests to entertain themselves for you to take photos. Cocktail hour should be just that, an hour. If you're worried about timing, take some photos before the ceremony.

I agree that it’s too long. I don’t think cocktail hour should be more than an hour or maybe 90 minutes at the most or people will get restless. If you aren’t doing a first look I would still do most of the wedding party pictures beforehand and any individual shots you want, then during cocktail hour do a group wedding party shot and couple pictures. Pictures should not take 2 hours.

My sister had a 2 hour gap and people were restless and bored and hungry.

We are doing a 1 hour gap. I think 90 minutes is the max to keep people from boredom.

Sorry, 2 hours is too long.

If you're not doing a first look, you'll need to be much more time efficient before the ceremony with family, bridesmaid/groomsmen, and solo shots, then be as succinct as you can for cocktail hour (emphasis on the "hour") for couple shots and maybe more group pictures.

View Quoted Comment I know some people who do church weddings have a huge gap since they have to be in the church earlier in the day. Do you think a bigger gap for people to go back to their hotels would be preferable over a 2-hour gap at the reception site?

I think 2 hours is too long. There are lots of pictures you can do in advance even if you don’t want to see your FH. Do everything with your girls, your side of the family, you alone, etc.

View Quoted Comment That's good to know! I feel like having lawn games and stuff makes it fun for everyone so they're not just sitting around. We would, ideally, have a shorter break, but that's just what our photographer suggested for what she needs to get photos done.

View Quoted Comment

I'm with you! We weren't originally planning to have a long break as we would like to be able to spend as much time with our guests as possible. But we are just planning for what our photographer is recommending. We are also hoping the lawn games will make the break more enjoyable, but I'm sure some of our guests will go into town either to do something or change outfits.

2 hours is too long. I think it’s important to understand it from the guest’s perspective — those 2 hours are time spent at your party. By the time you guys get around to joining, some people may already be running out of steam as they’ve already been partying for 2 hours....and on the other side, I’d be concerned that you guys too will start feeling like you’re missing the party. We didn’t do a full hour of photos after the ceremony, and even so we were chomping at the bit to get to the party to hang out with all our beloved guests who had traveled to celebrate with us.


I went to a wedding last summer and the cocktail hour felt L O N G, though it was probably not more than 90 minutes. It was a really neat venue so for a bit it was fun exploring, then snacking and drinking and mingling, but the novelty wore off. Guests were really getting ansty by the time we moved over to the ceremony and frankly, by the time dinner was over, I was feeling ready to call it a night, not start dancing !
I’d really try to knock out some major photos pre-ceremony, even if you’re not doing a first look, so that you can get through the photos faster, and so you’re not missing 2 hours of your party!

I am also in agreement that 2 hours is too long. I would suggest maybe 1 hour for this break if you can help it. Whatever you decide, good luck!

Aren’t you getting family pictures too? Considering many guests are family, they will have to stick around for at least 30 min for pictures. Then they have to meander over to the cocktail hour spot, which could take time. So REALLY most guests will be waiting 1 hour - 1.5 hours. This isn’t bad. If your non-family guest list includes friends that know each other, they will have a good time hanging out for 2 hours while you guys do pictures. Not a big deal. Especially if you have food, drinks, and a little bit of music available at cocktail hour.

We aren’t doing a first look either, and our cocktail hour will be 1.5 hours, which I think will be long enough for guests already.

I recently went to a wedding where they took photos beforehand and then had their cocktail hour for almost 2 hours. At one point I was trying to decide whether I should get another drink because I didn't want to if we were going to be seated soon for dinner. That's when I looked at my watch and noticed we'd already been there an hour and a half so I went and got a drink. I'd say maybe 20 min later, they announced dinner. By the time the venue shuffled everyone to their seats it must have been 2.5 hours or so from when the ceremony ended.


They did however have like 30 different food stations during the cocktail hour so we had alot of things to try which made the time go quickly. I would however say that if you can keep it to an hour, that is probably ideal. Yes I didn't notice but I could potentially see others being annoyed by it.

Another vote for a cocktail hour that lasts no more than an hour. If I'm going to a wedding, I'm dressed for a wedding and will not enjoy playing lawn games for two hours. Maybe I'm old and cranky, and thankfully, I've never been invited to a wedding like this, but your guest list might include people just like me. A skilled wedding photographer should be able to take pictures in an hour, especially if you take as many separate wedding party and family photos before the ceremony (if you're against doing first look and potentially getting most photos done before the wedding).

I agree, 2 hours is too long. Cocktail hour should be an hour. I wouldn't side eye an hour and a half too hard, but two hours is rude to guests.

If it is all at the same location, the gap should not be more than an hour.

Typically the cocktail hour is just that, an hour or maybe slightly longer depending on how much food you are offering at your cocktail hour.