Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Weddings

Chat to other Mumsnetters on our Wedding forum.

Original poster

Wedding Timings!

16 replies

ArtyFartyQueen · 12/02/2015 22:04

Hi All.....wondered if anyone can share any advice about the timings on a wedding day. We are having a church wedding at 1.30pm and will be roughly an hour and there is about a twenty minute car drive in-between the church and venue. Also - we're having starters but then hog roast instead of a normal wedding breakfast main dish and then an ice-cream van for pudding. My main concern is working out what time for the evening guests to arrive.... we were thinking about something like this:

1.30: Church Service starts
2.30: Church service finishes
2.30 - 3pm: Photos at church, confetti etc
3 - 3.30pm Travel to venue
3.30pm: Canapes and drinks served, more photos etc
4.15pm: Starter
4.45pm: Hog Roast
5.30pm: Speeches
6pm: Ice-cream Van
7pm: Evening guests arrive
9pm Evening food served

I don't think the timings are quite right so would really appreciate it if anyone has any advice!

TIA :)

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 12/02/2015 22:12

Unless your guests are all local, they are going to be chewing their arms off by 4.45 as they won't have had lunch.

I'd skip the starter, and canapes, moving the hog roast up to 4. Ice cream van at 5.15 - unless you are going to keep it around for the evening guests.

If you are having a cake, you could do that for pudding, and have the ice cream later as well

Original poster
ArtyFartyQueen · 13/02/2015 12:23

Hi CMOTDibbler.... thanks for your advice. We can't really do the ice-cream van later as I don't think we can afford it for the evening guests as well as the day guests!

In terms of food - we will advise people in the booklet when the food will be served so that they know to have a big breakfast/snack etc but its a good point re the food so we will definitely consider that. DP wants to think about swapping the speeches around with the ice-cream van but I think it would be a nice thing to have after the speeches!

OP posts:
NerrSnerr · 13/02/2015 12:26

There will still be day guests using the icecream van when the evening guests arrive which means they might try and use it (and feel bad when they can't)

s88 · 13/02/2015 12:30

I would change the evening food from 9 to 8.30 , this is what my venue have recommended to us .

Original poster
ArtyFartyQueen · 13/02/2015 18:30

Ok have had a bit of a rethink - what about this?

1pm: Church Service starts
2pm Church service finishes
2pm - 2.30 Photos at church, confetti etc
2.30 - 3pm Travel to venue
3pm Canapes and drinks served, more photos etc
4pm: Starter
4.30pm: Hog Roast
5.30: Speeches
6.15pm: Ice-cream van (clear 4/5 circle tables away while guests outside)
7.30pm Evening guests arrive
8.30pm Evening food served

OP posts:
PrincessOfChina · 13/02/2015 18:40

Hhhmmm. This feels like too much food at some times and not enough at others.

I'd do LOTS of canapés instead of starter I think. 45 minutes isn't that long for the drinks and canapés otherwise. And you need to take account of how long it takes to get people seated etc. So I would do canapés and drinks on arrival and the Hog Roast after that. I would also have the ice cream van before/during the speeches.

smithneejones · 15/02/2015 08:57

Do you need an ice cream vam?

ClashCityRocker · 15/02/2015 09:01

I think it sounds fine.

Heels99 · 15/02/2015 09:01

Skip th starter and do more canapés instead. I can't think what starter you would have that would fit with a hog roast, which is essentially a pork roll with bits.
How many people will you have, will there be a massive queue for ice cream van eg 70 people all waiting in turn for an ice cream, or are you thinking adults won't bother with that and it's for the kids?
Apart from that your timings look fine but allow more time for photos at chuch they go on forever.
Have a wonderful day

ClashCityRocker · 15/02/2015 09:03

Actually, I think the ice cream van could come at 6pm.

I'd want it to be gone before the evening geusts arrive.

SmallBee · 15/02/2015 09:10

Unless you've only got a couple of very short speeches I'd definitely allow for more than half an hour for them, they always take longer than you think.

Teeb · 15/02/2015 09:11

I agree with others, don't think you need the starter.

Szeli · 16/02/2015 13:10

Get rid of the starter and/or have the van at the church or during canapes.

When we were having a church wedding the plan was for a 'champagne sorbet' reception at church whilst photos were taking place although it's more commonplace for an ice cream van to welcome guests as they arrive at the reception venue.

If you get rid of the starter AND have the van sooner you can use the money saved on starters on a pudding or on hiring a candyfloss machine - which you hire by the day so eve guests can get involved too as it won't cost you any more

Jackieharris · 24/02/2015 14:51

It sounds quite nice. I take you you don't have veggies or people who don't eat pork coming?

Are people travelling far?

If they have time most will eat lunch at 12 beforehand wont they?

homeaway · 03/03/2015 14:52

We went to a wedding the other week at 1.30, canapes were served at 2.30 and dinner at 4.30. We all knew that dinner was at 4.30 so we had a big breakfast to cover for that. It was a great success.

esiotrot2015 · 03/03/2015 16:22

I think 3pm weddings work better because it gives people longer to get ready/ travel
Dinner can be at 6pm which is a reasonable time to eat
No need for wedding breakfast plus buffet just hog roast for everyone would be perfect

But that my opinion

I do find evening & day guests slightly divisive

New posts on this thread. Refresh page