[SP200]

Our church requires that all weddings be done by 3:30 on Saturdays. We are planning to have a reception and dance after the wedding but don't know what to do until it would start around 5:30. We just don't want everyone to start drinking and be drunk by the time that we start the wedding. Do you have any suggestions?

[Etiquette Now]

I'm not the planner, so I can't advise on the best activities. But, I can advise that you'd have to find something for them to do. I doubt that a scavenger hunt would be appropriate :)

Here is one idea though. I don't know if this is possible where you live, but a tour of the city/town might be a good idea.

[Wedding Queen and MOG]

Speak to your banquet manager and ask if there is a room there where guests can gather - but you'll need to entertain/feed them during this time. What time that starts depends on how far it is from the church to the reception venue or banquet hall. If your ceremony ends at 3:30, and assuming guests will hover and then get into their cars to drive to the reception, I'd say starting at 4:30 instead of 5:30 works better. You can hire a harpist or a few musicians or even play a video/slideshow of the two of you and your families growing up.

[Ohio Wedding Planner]

Depending on your budget, there are a variety of options. If you have the extra funds, it would be great to get a Hospitality Suite at the wedding hotel for your guests. They could gather here, hang out and have some snacks while they wait. If that isn't an option between the site and your budget, you can offer a list of things to do around the city. This could be a list of addresses and description of local restaurants, tourist sites, museums and bars. This won't cost you anything and will allow your guests to decide on what they want to do. If you do have it in your budget, having tickets available to the local musueum or attraction, is a great "extra" gift to give to your guests while they are waiting. Most cities also have "trolley tours" of the city, which is great for the time frame.
When all else fails, I agree with starting the reception/cocktail hour at 4:30pm so that your guests can go somewhere and eat/drink while they wait for the whole event to start. It is a long time to wait if they don't have anything to do but the time will fly by if there is even a few small options to choose from to fill the time!