Wedding day timeline - what do you think?

[Weddingquestions]

Would love some feedback on our wedding day timeline please 🙏
For info - church and reception in same village. Around 50-60 all day guests (inc. a few children). No evening-only guests. June wedding.

2pm - ceremony in church (about 45 mins) followed by confetti and would like a photo of everyone outside the church

From 3pm - cocktails/drinks and canapes at reception. It's a nice pub, there's an outdoor patio with tables and chairs but no gardens.

4.30pm - get everyone seated and do best man speech. Will be just 1 shortish speech and groom will also say thank you.

5pm - 3 course wedding breakfast followed by coffee/tea
7.30pm - cut the cake
8pm - first dance and then dancing (live band)
9pm - serve cake and some light snacks
10.30pm - music finishing
11pm - end

Do you think people will eat some lunch beforehand? I hope so! Most guests fairly local (up to 45 mins drive), a few others coming from London area and we are in the north.

We'd like to have some photos by the church as it's so pretty with views of hills. How do you get guests to head onto reception if bride and groom are hanging around at church for photos??

I know it's unpopular to have speeches before dinner, but my DP really wants this part done so we can relax for dinner. Also, who does the 'toast' before desert?

Thanks everyone 😊

Our photos took around 2 hours and if we'd known we'd have suggested they go to the pub

I think this sounds perfect and yes people will know to eat lunch before a 2pm service. You sound like you have a good amount of food after the service which is nice

All looks good to me 🙂
Have a lovely day 💍

Sounds great, make sure that the food at 9pm is carby

We gave everyone wine and cake at the church while we had photos taken. Kept them happy.

I'd feel really self conscious if people are hanging around at the church while we have photos. Maybe will nominate someone loud to shepherd everyone to the pub!

Yes to carby food at 9pm. Not sure what yet though...maybe baps/sandwiches/chips...

Thank you everyone, very reassuring

If I was going to a wedding at 2pm I would definitely have lunch beforehand.

Re photos, some people will hang around, some will drift off. You could get a best man or bridesmaid to usher everyone to the pub.

(But don't take forever, some of the worst weddings I've been to is where the bridge and groom disappear off for an hour or two for photos - your guests have come to see you!)

Great. Looking forward to my invite. What’s on the menu?

Appreciate your husband doesn't want it this way, but I'd absolutely eat prior to the speeches happening. Jokes/Content isn't going to land if everyone's hangry!

Oh and first wedding, we did speeches before food, second one we did them after. Nobody was mithered either way.

I think it would be better to do speeches after food, however short they are.

Sorry just saw it’s that way round because of your DH. Fair enough!

Was thinking of us getting to the cocktail hour after our photos at the church between 3.30/4pm to join in and chat to everyone

Well, DP thinks we should stick to the chicken dinner option to be safe...but I know everyone complains about dry chicken 😐...it is a gastropub so hopefully will be nice! Was going to consult the veggies about the veggie options to see what's most popular

What time of year is your wedding?
Gastro pub can open up a while load of tasty options away from a chicken dinner 😋

It's June. We have to choose 1 dish (plus 1 veggie/vegan)
Pub have suggested:
Rump of lamb
Roast chicken
Fish (I like fish best, but not everyone does)
Or fillet of beef

Veggie options are:
Nut and veg wellington
Harissa bean and butternut squash ragout
Mushroom, spinach and blue cheese wellington
Roasted veg pithivier

I might go veggie! 😄

It sounds good, but I don’t agree with doing the speeches before eating. People won’t be interested, they will be hungry and wishing for the speeches to end as quickly as possible. Probably not the audience you want if you’re nervous.

Hi, wedding photographer here.

Timeline looks great.

Are you planning on doing any family photos outside the church or just the whole group shot? I usually ask the best man (or the groomsmen who is the loudest) to announce to everyone that either all guests to head on to the reception address or / all guests aside from immediate family to go..

Then I would only need 15 mins at that part of the day for couple photos around the crouch. It'll be bright, harsh sunlight and not the most flattering. It's better to break that up and do a short session mid afternoon and another 10 mins early evening for the sunset / before or after cake cutting.

Speeches prior is always best (in my opinion) and those speaking can enjoy their meal, and secondly the tables are clean and tidy for the photos. Afterwards it just looks messy, napkins everywhere, things spilled etc..

And finally.. just bear in mind the band will need an hour to set up if they don't have an allocated space / you need to make room. As this will impact the time frame between the meal finishing and first dance..

Otherwise, your wedding photographer will help with the logistics etc.. I have lots of my couples reach out for things like this.

Good luck 🥰

I went to a wedding once where the 4 ushers were responsible for shepherding guests to where they needed to be - they were brilliant! Whilst the previous group were being photographed, they rounded up the next group and it cut down the photo taking time hugely. One of them was also last to leave the church so they knew all the guests had got transport to the reception.

@baytreelane23 thank you, that's really helpful. We would like a few more formal shots with close family too at some point. I like the idea of some photos after cutting the cake when we're more relaxed and the light is more gentle.

I totally appreciate what people are saying about the speeches. Thing is, Best Man is actually our DS (19), he's so laid back and sweet but he might be unexpectedly nervous and DP will be nervous on his behalf. Friends are helping with stories etc for the speech but it will be short and not crude! I'm hoping, as he's so young, everyone will be kind and encouraging and not too hangry! If they've eaten lunch beforehand and some canapés...

I've never been to a wedding that's ended at 11pm, I'm guessing it's not taking place in Scotland?! If you haven't danced in a circle around the bride and groom at gone midnight drunkenly singing Loch Lomond, you really haven't lived!

We did speeches before food and it was fine. Makes dinner much more enjoyable for the speakers. And guests have had a bit of drink by then so it will all be fine. Go for it.