Did Anyone Have Their Ceremony in NYC and Reception on LI???

I'm having my ceremony in Manhattan and my reception on LI (North Ritz). I am thinking of having the ceremony start at 3pm (no mass), leave the church at 4pm, then take pics around the city, leave the city at 5:45pm or so and head to LI. The cocktail hour starts at 6:30pm. Is this enough time or will it be rushed (holiday weekend too)?

Message edited 3/11/2003 3:51:02 PM.

Re: Did Anyone Have Their Ceremony in NYC and Reception on LI???

I think you are cutting it extremely close. LI Traffic is so unpredictable.

To save money I was thinking of having my wedding on a Friday night, but to travel to Long Island on a friday night from the city would be murder.

You may have to schedule your ceremony earlier.

Re: Did Anyone Have Their Ceremony in NYC and Reception on LI???

Should I schedule it for 2pm? This was a last minute change in the ceremony location and I would rather not pay the extra time for the photographer.

Re: Did Anyone Have Their Ceremony in NYC and Reception on LI???

Can you go straight to the reception site and take pictures there?

Re: Did Anyone Have Their Ceremony in NYC and Reception on LI???

We are having our ceremony in the city and reception at the Milleridge which isn’t far from the North Ritz. Our ceremony is at 3 (full mass) and our cocktail hour begins at 7. We plan to take pictures in the city before heading to the reception. Traffic to LI is very unpredictable but most of the traffic for a holiday weekend will be on Friday. Also, if you are flexible about being late to your cocktail hour, I think you have enough time.

Re: Did Anyone Have Their Ceremony in NYC and Reception on LI???

I had my Ceremony on the Upper East Side and the reception in Glen Cove.
We had a full mass that started at 3 and ended at 4:30.
By the time we were settled into the limo- people like to stand around and meeting and greeting in front of the church actually chews up a lot of time. Even though we went straight to the limo-no rose petal toss or anything- we were blocked in and then all the guests were standing around. They didn't want to get on their bus until we left- and on the road it was 4:50. We got to Glen Cove at 5:45.

Then there's more settling in...started taking pre-cocktail hour pics at 6:15 (schedule was to arrive at 5:30 and take pics at 6:00-6:45) and that ran into 7:00.

We did city pics from 1:00-2:30 before the ceremony.
I'd give at least an hour to get out to Long Island.

Re: Did Anyone Have Their Ceremony in NYC and Reception on LI???

A girl I know is having her wedding at St Patricks Cathedral and her reception at the Garden City hotel - I think she is having her ceremony at 2 and her reception at either 6 or 7

Re: Did Anyone Have Their Ceremony in NYC and Reception on LI???

Thanks everyone!! I'm going to be a grumpy bride running around in the heat. This better be all worth it!!

Re: Did Anyone Have Their Ceremony in NYC and Reception on LI???

I WOULD ALLOW MORE TIME. I HAD MY CHURCH IN BKLYN AND RECEPTION AT JERICHO TERACE. IT WAS COLUMBUS DAY WKEND AND IT WAS POURING! WE WERE DEFINATELY RUSHED AND I WAS KINDA STRESSED ON THE RIDE OUT THERE SO I'D GIVE MORE TIME. THE WORSE THAT COULD HAPPEN IS THAT YOU'RE EARLY!

Re: Did Anyone Have Their Ceremony in NYC and Reception on LI???

Our church is in Bklyn and our reception at the Manor East in Massapequa on a Sat. in Sept.. We are having our full mass at 2 p.m. and figure that by the time it is over, we take pictures, etc. It should be about 3:30-3:45. We have precocktail hour scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and cocktail hour scheduled at 6 p.m. We are taking pictures there, so we figure that by the time we get there 4:30-4:45, we will have plenty of time to take pictures and not miss cocktail hour. Since you are coming from the city and taking pictures in the city, I think that you should give yourself some more time.

Re: Did Anyone Have Their Ceremony in NYC and Reception on LI???

Can you change the cocktail hour to 7PM? I am having a 3:30 ceremony (not a mass) on LI and I am not even starting my cocktail hour at North Ritz until 7PM. We want to take our formal photos at Old Westbury Garden in between and don't want to be rushed. We will offer our guests cocktails and such at my FI's house nearby for the in between time.

Re: Did Anyone Have Their Ceremony in NYC and Reception on LI???

Our church is in Queens, about 45 minutes from our reception hall. Wedding is over Labor Day weekend. I figure timing will be something like this:

Wedding (w. receiving line) 3-430p
Travel to Picture location near reception hall (1 hour) 430-530p
Take Pics 530-615p
Cocktail Hour 630p

We are not seeing each other before the wedding, but I will take pics w. my bridal party and parents before. I figure we will take pics in a park or something near reception (in East Northport). Cocktail hour starts at 630p, but I am not too concerned about making it to the cocktail hour....if we do, great if we dont, oh well. I just want to be sure to get there by 730 for the reception. Long story short, we have 2 1/2 hours between the church and cocktail hour, and even that may not be enough. I dont want to rush around, so I gave up being determined to get to the cocktail hour.

Re: Did Anyone Have Their Ceremony in NYC and Reception on LI???

So I should have the ceremony at 2pm and move the cocktail hour to 7pm? I'll have to pay the photographer overtime.

Re: Did Anyone Have Their Ceremony in NYC and Reception on LI???

I had my church in Queens (just ceremony) at 3pm and cocktail at North Ritz at 6:30 and I cut it close and we flew to the church no traffic (30 minutes) - we actually had to rush some of my pictures (esp. becuse guests starting arriving at NRC early and interrupting my pictures we were taking lobby pictures - I was getting so angry at that).

If you could move your church to 2 - I don't think you have to move the cocktail hour....IMO

Re: Did Anyone Have Their Ceremony in NYC and Reception on LI???

What's really funny (and sad) but my MIL complained/yelled about the big time space between church and reception (she made me want to cancel the whole wedding - she had me in tears over this actually) and when we were rushing to take her pictures she was like oh boy does this go fast...Uuuuurrrrgggghhhh!

Re: Did Anyone Have Their Ceremony in NYC and Reception on LI???

I am getting married at 10 am and having my cocktail hour at 1 pm...pics are gonna be taken in the church and the Coral house.