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 😊

Not enough time for service/photos. If it is a no e day guests will linger to chat and take pictures. The ushers should be getting guests to move on to the pub.

sounds very similar to our wedding. We got someone to tell everyone to head off to the reception where there was food and drink.

The timings worked well. We also put out bacon rolls and cheese at about 9.30/10.

Not Scotland but that sounds fun!!
I mean, if everyone's having fun I guess we could carry on...need to learn the words to loch Lomond 😁

Eaten before the wedding - if you plan 45 minutes drive, arrive at least 15-20 minutes early, have to eat before you get dressed then most people will eat around 11.30am.

I would ensure you have plenty of canapes or small cakes available.

Make clear that the guests should leave to the pub and ensure you also go there quickly or you have no chance to chat to them. Ensure you have enough usher/bridesmaids who will be on hand with organisation, get someone dedicated for the pub staff to talk to.

Sounds like we need to ask friends to have specific roles...the 'bridal party' is us and our children 😄😬...I didn't want to burden other people but I think we'll have to ask for some responsible adult help!

We are having speeches before dinner ( just a short maid of honor and groom speech) but we are having a twilight wedding starting at 4.30 and dinner at 6. I don't think people.will be too hungry if your planning to eat at 5 most people will eat at lunchtime and most people eat dinner normally around 5-6.

This is why Ushers are called Ushers, they direct guests to their pew in the church ( nowt worse then someone not family nabbing the front pew imo ) and they ensure everyone is where they are supposed to be at the time they are supposed to be. They tell the guests as they are showing them their seats, whats expected after the ceremony " when we exit the church dont wander too far from the building as we will be getting group photos there and then once those are done head on to the pub, theres drinks and canapés whilst we do the family shots - blah blah ) Then when at the pub they should be mingling and ensuring everyone knows , in a chatty informal way , whats happening next " dont worry about taking a drink to the table - wine is provided for the toast " "hungry? Just a couple of short speeches then dinner, wont be long now" kind of chat

Worse wedding I went to was a nephews ( by marriage ) no one had a clue what was happening and everything took way too long because those needed for the photos went walk about so there was 4 hours between service and dinner just standing around . No ushers, no master of ceremonies .Most were off their faces by time dinner was served

Yes, everyone with any sense will have eaten beforehand.

I think you will need longer between ceremony and starting the drinks reception.
45min service, then it takes several minutes for everyone to get out of the Church. Then to organise people into a group photo (I would 100% get this announced before you exit the Church and ask everyone to go straight to the photo, and ask your ushers to shepherd people there). No-one is going to have got to your drinks venue by 3pm.

Re you having photos at the Church, your families and friends will also want to take photos. Plus, won't you want some "B&G with parents" "B&G with in-laws" "B&G with wedding party" type photos ? So you won't want everyone to leave until after they are done.

I also think any speeches are much better received when everyone is relaxed and full after a meal rather than standing there bored and hungry. People will laugh along when fed and watered.

Honestly I think you need more time between service & sitting down for photos. Service not finishing until 2:45, then you have to sign the papers (usually get pics then), by the time every filters out, nips to the toilet etc, it’ll easily be 3pm. If you then want photos with everyone outside and photos for yourselves you’ll be tight on time to get everyone sat down for speeches at 4:30.

I would bring the ceremony forward a bit to 1.00 or 1.30 and use the extra time for the drinks reception. It's a lovely part of the day and you'll miss most of it by the time you get to the pub.

Thank you.
Yes do want some family shots but just in a muddle about when to do it all. Worried about people getting fed up or bored. I was considering asking the vicar to push the wedding back to 2.30pm for this reason, but it sounds like 2pm is a better time to fit everything in.
Definitely going to have to organise some ushers!

Worried that if the ceremony is 1pm/1.30pm people will be starving and bored as there's just drinks and canapes, and no gardens/outdoor games or anything like that. Think we'll stick with 2pm but be organised about any photos and just have a few formal ones

I'd do fish.Pick the food YOU like best.Thats the one regret i has at my wedding.Opting for the "safe" chicken.

When I worked in a pub we did bacon or sausage barms at 11pm for events like NYE and stuff and they always went down brilliantly

Far too long a day.

DP also likes fish and never chooses chicken when we're out! But still wants chicken 😂 I think I might actually ask for veggie, and then that ensures the veggie options is lovely (if the bride is having it!) , although I'm sure they'd make it lovely anyway.

By the way, did you all have any background (recorded) music playing quietly during dinner? Not sure if that's necessary?

Think I've only ever been to 2 weddings as an all day guest...I'm clueless!

No, I can't say I've ever noticed any background music playing during the meal at any wedding I've been to. So if it ever were, then I've not heard it !
People chat.

Great, thank you! One less thing to think about..

Thank you everyone for your advice 😊