To not have a clue how the timings of a wedding day work? Help!

[leavetheteabagin]

I haven’t been to a wedding since I was about 4 and I have no clue what the timings should be.

We are getting married in a church and then planning on going on to a restaurant for the reception - they are a 20 minute drive apart. Is that too long? I literally have no clue!

If we wanted the ceremony to be in the afternoon at 2ish, when should the reception be booked to start? We are planning on having the same guests there all day but if we do end up having some evening guests, what time do they normally arrive?

I would love for you to share your wedding day timetable with me! Thank you so much for helping a very clueless bride I truly appreciate it!

JUSt to add there was a nouveau cuisine meal with teeny tiny portions at 6pm which just didn’t cut it, but the food situation did eventually redeem itself at 10pm with a plentiful supply of bread, cheese and cold meats. By which time i was completely plastered.

Timings- photographs are an absolute pita for the majority of guests who have to hang about for up to an hour or god forbid, any longer!

Not only is the time a pain in the arse, but the photos are pretty pointless. I don’t know anyone who even looks at them after a couple of years. I have no idea where ours are.

They are a complete waste of money. We had a gig photographer who did natural photos.

Not married but I've been to 15 weddings in past decade.

Not always to ceremony.

Usually the timings I've experienced are

Ceremony.

Allow 1 hour plus the driving time from end until the reception starts.
Drinks and nibbles on arrival and then usually meal within first hour of arrival.

Evening guests planned to arrive 3 hours after reception starts. So just as people have finished at tables and want to move around so they can be moved to create dance floor and new guests don't end up standing around waiting for a vacant seat!

So 2pm ceremony.

Probably 3.30pm finish and if reception 20 minutes away I'd aim for open at 3.30 for 4pm start and 4.30pm food.

Then evening guests to arrive around 6.30/7pm and buffet food 9pm.

Nearly all I've attended have been ceremony 2-3pm start time and those evening times have been pretty constant when I've just attended certain parts (or rather invited to certain parts!)

But also consider what works for you. It's your day and your guests should appreciate that!

Ceremony at 12, was a full mass so about 45 mins long.
Travel to reception, canapés and welcome drink.
Sat down to eat at 3.30pm. Evening guests arrived 7.30, buffet out at 9.

The best wedding for timing I’ve ever been to;
2.30 Church
3.30 photos - friends first, then big family groups, then bride a d groom and smaller groups
4pm - 5pm - Guests served afternoon tea in church hall (I think the b&g had some in the vestry!). There was a seating plan, and age appropriate toys at the places of every child
5.15 ish - b&g arrived and had some tea
5.30 ish - champagne served, speeches
6pm is ceilidh
7 pm - hot buffet
Then more dancing, more mingling
10 pm - more food

Slight twist on the traditional order of things. It was absolutely perfect. Doing the photos of the “masses” first and sending is off for afternoon tea at 4pm was genius. Tea and cake is exactly what we fancied at 4pm.
Doing the speeches between the tea and the main meal - brilliant, one waiting, no one hungry.
The church hall location was excellent - no travelling, open space and playground outside.

It was honestly the best wedding I’ve ever been too. Relatively low key, but really well thought through.