Time of ceremony and food?

[Littlebigcat]

I've been offered either 12:00 or 16:00 for a registrar on our prefered weekend. I've provisionally gone with 12:00 as I think 16:00 is a little bit late. Now I'm worried 12:00 is too early and have visions of everyone sitting round bored. Will they be? Will I have time to get ready? Is it too early? The licence for the venue is till 1am.

I also can't decide between afternoon tea or hog roast or elements of both at different time. Does anyone have any suggestions of how to work this in to the day and how to fit around speeches and photo's etc. I had thought of possibly having sandwiches and scones instead of canapes.

I've not really been to many weddings as an adult so I don't really have much to compare with.

[worldgonecrazy]

If you're getting married at 12.00 then guests will expect some sort of lunch afterwards, and probably something more substantial than sandwiches or canapes. It might be better, and cheaper, to go for the 16.00 time, then allow an hour for the ceremony and photos, perhaps have canapes and drinks at around 17.30 and a hog roast or other food at 18.00 or 18.30.

Hope you have a beautiful day.

[Littlebigcat]

I was thinking more of a sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, perhaps some quiche rather than canapes with that in mind really, so it's more of a lunch. It's slightly more expensive but not horribly so. I am hoping the day will be fairly informal though hopefully not too chaotic. We'd probably do hog roast around 6pm-ish but I'm worried there might be a huge gap in the middle as I can't see the speeches taking too long.

I did consider 16:00 but we've chosen the venue partly based on the outdoor space being so nice (even if it's overcast and dry I think we'd use it) and the fact our guests can choose to inexpensively stay for the weekend so would prefer it to be earlier than that really. Also we have a toddler and so do quite a number of our guests (children will be invited) so think it's best for it to be earlier otherwise they'll get cranky.

Ideally I'd have liked the ceremony to be at 1 or 2pm but it's unavailable on the weekend we wanted. We could still at this stage look at changing the weekend if the concensus is that noon is way to early as everything is provisional at the moment.

[JuniorMint]

I got married at 4pm and I loved it as it was quite relaxed and no hanging around

It went something like:

3.30pm Guests arrive, welcome drink and music playing
3.50pm Guests ushered to seats
4.00pm Me, my dad and bridesmaids arrive, ceremony starts
4.40pm Post ceremony drinks and canapés, music playing, photographs
5.30pm Guests sit down for hot buffet (visit buffet a table at a time)
6.30pm Buffet things cleared away, cut cake, teas and coffees brought round, speeches with a glass of fizz
7.00pm Evening guests arrive, live band with jukebox in between sets

9.30pm Evening light buffet (sandwiches, cheese and crackers, the cut up cake etc).

[overmydeadbody]

noon is fine as long as you have lots of things planned for the afternoon and make a proper day of the wedding.

If you just expect your guests to hang around doing nothing in between the lunch and the dinner then it might not work. Could you all go for a long country walk after the lunch and before the supper? Are you near the sea? A trip to the beach maybe?

[CalamitouslyWrong]

I don't think many wedding guests will be keen on a long country walk in their wedding outfits, somehow.

[Littlebigcat]

I think I'm as worried about 16:00 being quite rushed and that it might not be ideal for those with under 5s. I think as well that it just doesn't fit with how I envisioned the day and that's quite difficult to overcome.

I can't see most people fancying a long walk, but I think its confirming that noon would be fine if we could guarantee the weather as there are woods and garden games available. Obviously we can't guarantee it so we would have entertainment issues if it rained, and given it's in Cheshire it's hardly unlikely

I think I might tentatively see if the venue has the week before or after available and if I can get a registrar for 2pm (or between 1 and 3). A bank hol weekend would be have been nice but if we're going to worry about filling the day or it not being the day we wanted it probably isn't worth it at this stage. It's a year away so hopefully we'll have some options.

[AnythingNotEverything]

We got married at midday in a church, travelled to venue, did photos, had canapés and say down to dinner at about 5. Music started about 7.30 and buffet out at 9 I think. It was fab.

If you have lots if guests things like photos and dinner service can take ages. Your venue will be able to give you good ideas of timings I would think.

[FamiliesShareGerms]

1600 can be witching hour for small children

I'd go for 1200 and have things like giant jenga to keep people amused all day

[Littlebigcat]

Anything we're doing everything in the one place so we haven't even got travel between venues to stretch it out. I see what you mean though, everything is always going to take longer than you think for 80+ people, even if it's fairly informal. I've emailed the venue giving my concerns over times and enquiring about availability so I'll see what they say.

Families That was exactly my concern. Our 15 month old is a nightmare when he's tired now and while I think he'll be very different in many respects in a year I don't see that changing. I'll have a think about what activities could be easily done indoors if the weather was bad.

[MaxDeronto]

in wedding time is very precious and with time ceremonies are also very special so avoid being late in doing every ceremonies people use to gather toegether and then star ceremonies.

[s88]

We had the same problem , we have booked the 12.00 slot and I'm quite happy with this now, as the day will fly by so at least this way the celebrations actually go on longer I shall however make sure my guests are fed and watered