How far should the wedding ceremony be from the reception? That’s the big question in today’s Ask Emmaline feature! Subscribe now for the latest to your inbox.

If you’re wondering about the distance between ceremony and reception, this blog post is for you! Today we’re talking about the distance between ceremony and reception to give you proper etiquette tips. Bride-to-be Alexis wrote us, as she is booking her ceremony and reception. She wonders, “How far should the wedding ceremony be from the reception?” I’m sure you’ve wondered the very same thing. She writes,

“Hi Emmaline! I’m planning my wedding and know where I want to have the ceremony. However, there are several options for my reception and many are over forty-five minutes away. What is the proper distance between ceremony and reception? There are two ceremony locations under twenty minutes of a drive, but I’m not sure if I like them as much. Please help us decide. Thanks!”

Great question, Alexis! The rule of thumb on the distance between the wedding ceremony and reception is no more than 30 minutes MAX. I would estimate anything closer is even more appreciated by guests; in addition, give yourself bonus points if you have a cocktail hour starting immediately once guests arrive (while you take photos).

Most guests don’t mind traveling the distance between the ceremony and reception, as long as it’s not extremely far or in a high-traffic area. We’d say a half-hour is the furthest in terms of how far should the wedding ceremony be from the reception. Any longer and guests will be hungry, tired of traffic, thirsty, and in need of a restroom, stat.

Distance between ceremony and reception

When it comes to picking your ceremony space and reception venue, proximity is a huge factor — but it is also important for you to loooove both locations. You shouldn’t pick a place based solely on location, but you also have to take into account the distance between the ceremony and reception for guests to travel. You will need to weigh the pros and cons of each location to help you decide.

On your wedding day, you don’t want to waste any time traveling; the day goes by fast enough as it is! When you add travel time paired with the length of your wedding photos, and you’re looking at cutting precious time from your actual wedding celebration. If you can, consider choosing a reception venue closer to the ceremony and add touches to make it as great as possible. If that is not possible, 45 minutes isn’t going to be a deal-breaker. But I definitely wouldn’t go longer than that for distance. An hour in distance would cause your guests to make a detour and grab dinner before yours begins. ;)

And of course, if you can, offer transportation for your bridal party so you can lessen the amount of traveling for photos. Guests can travel in their own vehicles in most cases; however, if you’re able to offer transportation in large cities, busy downtown areas, etc, consider adding it into your budget, if possible.

It is also important to note: if there is no distance between ceremony and reception (as in, both take place at the very same location), great! You lucked out! Be sure to offer cocktails or appetizers to guests while they wait (so your photos don’t take too long).

Hope it helps!

♥

Happy Planning!

xo
Emma