Wedding AIBU: to not have an evening reception?

[BriefParanoidNameChange]

What would you think of this wedding timeline, if you were a guest..:

2.30pm Wedding ceremony

3pm (ish) Photos, milling about out and inside hotel, canapés, drinks, chatting

5pm Dinner, speeches, trala.

7/8ishpm...finish?

This is a location about an hour from the city where most guests will be travelling from. Some will be further (sorry) but driveable.
To make matters delightfully complicated, my family won't be coming to our wedding, for sad, hard to explain reasons relating to their religious beliefs. Obviously I'm feeling rubbish about this because I love them very much, and I just don't really want to drag the day out for hours. I'm obviously excited/delighted to be getting married, and want everyone to have a good time, so I was just hoping that people wouldn't see this layout as a bit of a letdown or boring. My anxiety about this wedding is a real pain, so I thought a MN AIBU thread was the way to go 😜 Thanks for reading.

[BriefParanoidNameChange]

Tempus I like that wording too

We're planning to invite around 120

[FoofFighter]

just put 'carriages 8pm' or whatever on the invitation so no one is surprised on the day.

I would not have a clue what this even meant

[BriefParanoidNameChange]

Some of the 120 I haven't met before...Unfortunately, the list is quite heavy on the dh-to-be side. But we do have a lot of mutual church folk (who I guess won't be expecting dancing anyway, but I still don't want them to feel shoved out the door).

[Sedona123]

I think that it sounds great, but that you could maybe consider changing your times a little? I would imagine that most of your guests will want to leave home at least a couple of hours before your wedding starts to allow time for traffic, parking etc, which means around 12:30 (lunch time!). Also, a 5 pm dinner seems really early to me. I would suggest doing everything at least an hour later (if possible), which would give you a 9 to 9:30 pm finish.
Perfect IMO, but then DH and I got married at about 4:30 pm, and our wedding finished at midnight, with a lovely formal dinner and no disco, no first dance and no cake cutting either. 😀 Also, as PP have said, let your guests know the approximate times in advance, and that they are welcome to stay for drinks after your wedding finishes.

[Gooseygoosey12345]

I like this idea. I'm a boring old fart with kids so always find myself thinking is it rude to leave this early or can we go now? every time we go to weddings that drag on past midnight!

[Dagnabit]

We had a very informal wedding...registry office at 2pm (picked a beautiful one about an hour from our home town), followed by a few photos in the grounds next door then had a buffet and drinks in a hotel nearby until about 7pm then we all went out separate ways. In was on a Friday too but we picked a summer holiday date so least the children could come without missing school. Everyone loved the day but we did make it clear about what was happening long before the day and said we wouldn't be offended if they couldn't make it (if they didn't want to take annual leave or travel as some no longer live near by and have to travel quite a way). Most used the weekend to see family etc and a few of our friends went out for a meal together after the wedding. I loved our day!

[BriefParanoidNameChange]

Hmm yes...wondering about a 3pm ceremony instead.

[PigletWasPoohsFriend]

Piglet the wedding is a one hour drive for most people. That isn't what I would call a destination wedding.

By 'desination' I meant it isn't a taxi driver away so there will either have to be a designated driver or stay over.

OP has also said there will be people from a lot further afield.

[BriefParanoidNameChange]

This has been a v helpful thread, thanks all

[ForalltheSaints]

Sounds fine, especially if it is not in the middle of the summer, and everyone who is invited knows this.

[BriefParanoidNameChange]

Oh...it is in the middle of the summer

[Brainwashed]

We did similar at our wedding....I regret not having an evening do now (married almost 27 years)

[PenCreed]

Scottish church folk, in my experience, do expect a dance! Unless they're FPs*, in which case they leave after dinner anyway. So best to say there won't be one, not just assume it's not expected. We put "carriages at midnight" on our invites but nipped off before then so I didn't fall asleep on my feet.

*Free Presbyterian, as distinct from Free Church

[BriefParanoidNameChange]

Yes, not all Scottish church folk expect a dance...😈

[BriefParanoidNameChange]

Do you know much about the FPs, Pen? Have an acquaintance that goes there I think, I'm intrigued

[BeBeatrix]

Sounds wonderful.

Worth mentioning the expected finishing time to guests (e.g. "carriages at 8pm" on the invitation, so that guests don't book an unnecessary hotel stay.

At weddings I've been to with a similar timeline, the bride and groom simply say their goodbyes. Not at all awkward.

[PenCreed]

I have FP relatives, hence knowing they leave after dinner at weddings .

[treaclesoda]

I'm not Scottish, I'm Northern Irish, but I know about the Free Ps. They definitely wouldn't be up for a dance that's for sure. They said a few years back that dancing of any sort was inherently sinful.