Critique my wedding?

[MustardMonster]

Inspired by other threads I've read recently - does this sound ok? There are some aspects I am worried about, especially as there's a lot of 'traditional' (in my mind, unnecessary ) parts missing.

Whole wedding is being held in two venues, a 2 minute walk from each other. In the beautiful village where we live. It is quite a touristy area of interest as it's a world heritage site. It has a train station (another minute walk from the venues), that has very quick connections to nearest cities. Local hotels are decent and cheap. All of our families and some friends live 1.5hrs drive in opposite directions so most people will be staying overnight.

Ceremony is in a gorgeous Victorian hall. Reception is in the social club round the corner. It's very 1960's retro but immaculately kept and we love it. The drinks are incredibly cheap (I hate going to weddings where the bar is extortionate!!).

The day will go like this:

2pm - 2.30/3pm: ceremony
3pm - welcome drink/toast at reception venue
3.30pm - buffet/drinks (we are having a local artisan bakery doing the buffet. It's very fancy and nice and there will be lots of food!)
We will probably go for some photos during this time but won't disappear for hours!
6pm - evening guests arrive
7/7.30ish - wood fired pizza (lots of different flavours - they basically dole out slices of pizza for 2 hours straight) and we will have brownies and wedding cake for pudding.

My DP is a DJ and some of our friends also are so we are doing our own music. It will be a mix of Motown, soul, funk, disco, 80's pop. Lots of stuff we know our families and friends love.

Does this sound ok? The bit I'm concerned about is the wait between the ceremony and evening party but my DM keeps telling me people will be happy to eat, drink and chat with background music on during this time. We don't really have to budget to put any 'entertainment' on during this time. We aren't having speeches or first dance etc. We basically wanted the ceremony and a big party afterwards.

If anyone has any suggestions they are welcome!

Sounds lovely.
Please can I come ?

Sounds great to me too. Enjoy!

Sounds lovely.

Sounds fab! Mine was the most stressful day of my life. Try to enjoy it!!

Oh thank you so much! I'm really pleased. Do you think that gap between the ceremony and evening party will be ok then? I'm putting a bit emphasis on good food and drink because I think that's the thing people remember most about weddings!

Sounds perfect. I am a wedding photographer and you don't need all that other stuff. Have a lovely day!

Definitely sounds a nice day for everyone 🙂 plus having the ceremony that bit later means most will have had a light lunch before or en route so grazing on a buffet mid-afternoon is a great choice of food rather than a stiff sit down meal at a time of day when most people wouldn't be eating. Pizza sounds a great choice for the evening too, love how relaxed but tasteful it all sounds. I'm sure everyone will have a fantastic time and if I were to get married that's the sort of day I'd like.

Buffet, pizza, brownies and cake? I have a posh frock that needs an outing!

Sounds nice and I agree, you don't need the other stuff but I do think that gap is way too big. Can you move the ceremony and hour later? And although you've got "evening guests arrive" as part of your itinerary this is not actually an event. It won't mean anything to the day guests. Can you not get a singer or something from 5.30-6.30?

Sounds lovely !

I did want the ceremony a bit later but 2pm was the latest time available for the registrar. Budget won't stretch for any kind of entertainment like that, and a singer isn't really my kind of thing anyway. When evening guests arrive is when DJ will start etc.

Thank you for the feedback by the way

Sounds fab!

Have a wonderful time

Sounds like the perfect wedding! People will be happy to drink, eat and chat during the gap I'm sure.

It sounds lovely!

If you add something to do to your tables for when you are having photos done, those not included in the photos won't notice you're missing too much... disposable cameras and a list of 'must photograph' items or travel games etc

Sounds like you will have a lovely day

Tell your guests what is happening so they’ll know they’ve got about three hours to kill before the evening so. MoC can announce that you’re disappearing to take pics, please help yourself to food and drink etc. As there is stuff to see in the immediate area, maybe information about that could be given for those that want to have a wander?

Could you get hold of some lawn games like giant Jenga or similar for the gap? I bet you can hire them at a push but there's bound to be someone whose knows someone who can borrow them for you 🙂

Garden games, table pub quizzes, background music, bar open? Sounds like a lovely afternoon.

Sounds exactly like my wedding! Including pizzas!

It sounds lovely, but as a coeliac I would be rather worried that I wouldn't get anything to eat in the evening

Perfect

I don't think there's a gap between ceremony and evening, because you'll be having a party with music, food and drink.

Just make sure there are enough chairs if anyone needs to park their arse for a while. But if it's a social club, there should be.

Sounds grand tbh.

@CMOTDibbler there will be vegan and GF pizza on offer. I have a friend who is coeliac who will be coming to the evening do

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I'm glad you all think it sounds fine. I'm including info on timings and what's happening with the invitations so people are free to leave and freshen up at hotels or whatever if they want to.

Loads of tables and chairs. Bar will be open as soon as we arrive and we will be providing tea and decent coffee and possibly soft drinks with the afternoon food. Hoping we can save a bit extra to put some money behind the bar for the evening but we will see.

You've made me much less stressed about it now!

It sounds good to me
If anyone you know is on their own then you could ask some of your other friends to say hello and make sure you talk to everyone obviously

Sounds lovely. If you've got guests who don't know big groups of people I'd make sure there's some bits to break up the 3 hours even if its a group photo with all guests / lawn games / basic guestbook to sign
Generally plenty to eat and drink and you're good!