What amount of gap time is acceptable between ceremony and reception? Set reception at different time Yay or Nay?

I think two hour gap is OK if you’re providing a cocktail hour in between for that 1.5 hours theyd need to wait for you. But I’ve also been to plenty of weddings where there was just a gap with nothing in between. However I didn’t like those at all because I kind of felt like a weird timeframe that I wouldn’t know what to do with especially if the venue is far from where I live. I literally went to a wedding where there was like a 3 to 4 hour gap in between the ceremony and reception and so not many people went to the ceremony.

I just googled it & the max time in between is 90 minutes- unless you give them an activity to do, what are they going to do for 2 hours?

I would not want to spend 90 minutes of my wedding day commuting to a place to get photos done. Also, as a guest I wouldn’t be pumped about a 2+ hour cocktail hour.

I don’t think this is the best idea. An hr there, 45 min back. Plus what 30-40 min for pictures? That’s a long time.

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Yeah makes total sense i probably most likely refund for the botanical because is perfect distance and timing

I don't think this is a good idea either. As a guest, I would be extremely bored and rather annoyed with such a big gap. For our wedding, we didn't participate in cocktail hour at all.

Thanks ladies i decided to get my refund back from the botanical because it would not work out

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Yeah i really was thinking about that i mean for some of the cocktail hour its ok to miss. But also I would not want to miss the entire hour either. so it makes sense to me all you guys ideas just gonna get refunded for the garden thank god its not alot of money we paid. The only way i would see this would work is if we did a first look. But my fiance doesn't want a first look.

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I agree and appreciate the feedback that's why i asked i was also thinking along the same lines as you guys. the only way i would see that this WOULD work if we did a first look and thats not what my fiance wants to do at all.

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Understandable i appreciate i am getting a refund for the garden

I understand that it may not work out on your wedding day, but I’ve seen other brides suggest separate photo shoots in their wedding attire at their preferred location on a different day — almost like a second bridal photo shoot (and with your spouse). It’s not something I would have ever thought to do, but it seems like a great idea
and the best of both worlds if you can pull it off.

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The only other option I could see work is if you wanted to have bridal party or family photos done there before the wedding.

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Yeah only thing is i will not wear my wedding dress a second time like that. Also we are on a budget. You also would have to pay the photographer a second time to come out.

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The problem with that is the garden sets their time for a hour for photos i cant just go at anytime plus they other events as well. i would prefer to just get refunded.

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I would reach out to them and see if they will give you a refund or check your contract if you have one to see what it says about a refund.

We also booked an hour at a botanical garden for photos, but we took them a couple of hours before the ceremony. Would this work in your case if you ask them to switch your booking to earlier in the day? Seems like it would solve the problem of the lengthy gap.

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that would be a first look though something we are not doing.

There should not be a gap longer than it takes to get from the ceremony to the reception. If the gap or drive is longer than 45 minutes, guests will decline.

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No you didn't read my post correctly the gap is my fiance and I from after the ceremony and arriving to the reception

the guests is 18 minutes drive from the ceremony to the reception. they don't have a problem.

View Quoted Comment Sorry. I still stand by no gap or as minimal as you can. And the couple should make every effort possible to attend cocktail hour. Otherwise you will have bored guests leaving early.