How does my wedding timeline sound?

[TastingTheRainbow]

We’re having an early ceremony, no choice as this is the only time available for our chosen date, so we’ve debated over the timeline for ages trying to avoid long gaps and people waiting around.

Also trying to ensure people are not left too long without food. Does this timeline sound ok to you and would you be happy as a guest?

11.30 - Arrive and seated
12.00 - Ceremony
13.00 - Drinks reception and substantial canapés (photos also done during this time)
15.00 - 4 course wedding breakfast
17.00 - Speeches and toast
17.30 - Bar opens, photobooth opens, sweet table opens, all stay open all night then
18.30 - Evening guests arrive
19.00 - Cake cutting
19.30 - First dance
20.00 - Evening buffet served (hot food)
20.30 - Wedding cake served
00.30 - Last orders

Sounds absolutely lovely x enjoy your day xx

It is a very long day you have planned

11.30 - Arrive and seated
12.00 - Ceremony
13.00 - Drinks reception and substantial canapés (photos also done during this time) - Too much time hanging about before the wedding breakfast. Will you have anything to keep people amused?
15.00 - 4 course wedding breakfast
17.00 - Speeches and toast
17.30 - Bar opens, photobooth opens, sweet table opens, all stay open all night then - why does the bar not open util 5.30? What if people want . beer or a G&T (assume you are serving only wine with the food?)
18.30 - Evening guests arrive
19.00 - Cake cutting
19.30 - First dance
20.00 - Evening buffet served (hot food) Bit early for the buffet i think. I would have it around 9 and serve wedding cake on the buffet.
20.30 - Wedding cake served
00.30 - Last orders

2 hours photos!!

I think it would be kind to tell people the timing re food. If anyone has a long journey etc they might have a bit of toast at 8am or something.

Ps agree it’s a very long day generally but that’s not something that can be altered at this point I guess.

I used to feel pressured to stay for the full 12 hours so I’d also,love it if someone said “you don’t have to”. My sister recently attended a wedding where they actually said that, and asked people to let them know what sort of thing they preferred so they could cater for evening guests accordingly.

The furthest away person will be travelling 1 hour, well some are coming from Germany but they are staying over the night before as many guests are. The guests that stay the night before all have a full English breakfast in the morning.

The 2 hours between ceremony and wedding breakfast can’t be changed as we are getting married in the same room we are eating in and they need time to change the room around. Plus all photos are being done in this time and then no more posed photos after that.

There will be a lot of canapés served to keep people full and if a nice day we will be outside and have garden games.

If raining then nothing else planned other than chatting with each other. A lot of guests don’t regularly see each other but know each other so we are hoping catching up will fill the time.

When I say bar opens I mean cash bar. Prior to that we have all drinks covered in the cost and that includes whatever guests want, beer, spirits etc.

I did think about having the evening buffet later but I also thought it forces people to stay late whereas having earlier they can eat and go home as it’s a long day otherwise, particularly for the elderly relatives coming. Plus I worry the evening guests who arrive at 6.30 may not have eaten and be hungry.

Timings will also be on the invites so everyone will know once we’ve finalised them

Sounds great, have a lovely day

I've missed 2 wedding breakfasts getting spannered during the photos and having to retire early. (I don't drink anymore!). It's a long time for people to hang around quaffing!

2 hours is completely normal for time in between photos. As long as you have canapés which you do everything will be fine! This looks like a great timeline x

I personally think that's a very long day. Do you have somewhere for people to sit while photos are being done? I've been at lots of weddings where at that time there was only standing room or standing around outside. Plenty of seating and some free booze would make it bearable.

Also don't put the timeline on invites- no one needs to know this. People fully except to be waiting until 3/4 to eat. It seems to be a weird MN thing that at weddings you have to have the wedding and eat and be done within 2 hours 🙄

There is lots of seating! Outside and inside. We’ve got the whole venue booked exclusively and there is a lounge with comfy couches in the conservatory, tables in the bar and outside seating if it’s nice enough. We have many elderly relatives so seating was a must.

It is a very long day yes but can’t be helped as that was the only time we could have the registrar at. The venue was booked for the date 2 years in advance as it’s very popular and was told could only book registrar 1 year in advance.

Phoned exactly 1 year to the date and they had recently changed it to 2 years in advance and all the times we wanted (1 or 2pm) had gone. Tried to change the date but every Saturday was already booked at the venue so we had to go for the 12pm ceremony.

Believe me I am NOT looking forward to being up at 5-6am to get everyone ready. I doubt I will last much later than 9pm never mind anyone else!

Your ceremony won't be anywhere near an hour so the gap there will be even longer.

I'd be begging the venue for a slightly faster turnaround. 2 hours is bloody ages. What are they doing to the room?! They might need more staff but they will be able to do it faster.

I'd get everyone seated a bit earlier, 4 courses will take a while. How many guests do you have?
Also eating at 4ish then buffet at 8 doesn't leave much time for food to go down.

You don't want a situation where evening guests arrive and the speeches are still on!

My day was this long though and it did work. Some people nipped for a nap after dinner 😂

I think you'll need something to entertain people in that two hour gap.

I went to a wedding with a similar time line and that 2 hours dragged on. Most of us ended up leaving the venue and walking to a local shop purely out of boredom and to get some magazines to entertain our children.

I think it's great!! I've been to weddings with that amount of photo time and its actually really nice to be able to relax and have a catch up with people, especially if there's lots of seating. It sounds a lovely day x

YY to entertainment in the 2 hours. We had a band who people danced to etc. Also big canapés.

Sounds perfect to me, we had a 2 hour gap in between ceremony and meal too. Absolutely tons of food and our photographer only had us away 45 minutes or so, we spent the rest of the time chatting to everyone and listening to the quartet we had. We also had a caricaturist for the gap which was great, tons of drawings which got a good laugh.

I think it’s fine; I’ve been to weddings with 1pm ceremony and 4pm dinner and it worked fine. You could always do the speeches before dinner to fill it a bit.

Glad you’re putting the timeline on the invitations, really helpful.

My dh is a wedding photographer and 2-2.5 hours gap between ceremony and wedding breakfast is perfectly normal. Only on mn do people think photos should take no longer than an hour. He tries and limits group shots but they take time because key guests often disappear and time is spent tracking them down.

We had a 12:30 ceremony with 2 hours after for photos /drinks /canapés. It all worked out fine - we dipped in and out of chatting to guests in between photos (we specifically asked not to be dragged away for the whole 2 hours for photos). Everyone was chatting to people they hadn't seen for a while, we got the chance to chat to several groups of people and everyone had plenty of food and drink to keep them satisfied until dinner at 3. For us at least it flew by, and judging by the buzz coming from the courtyard, our guests seemed to be having a great time. So I'm sure it will all be fine for your wedding - at least you get more wedding day for your money with an earlier start!

The ceremony will last an hour, we’ve timed it. 2 brides and both walking down the aisle separately with our fathers. My eldest daughter is doing a reading mid ceremony also. Plus the legal bit is around 30 mins.

Faster turnaround isn’t possible as there’s a LOT to do. Uplighters to set up, candles to be placed and lit etc. The deco alone has cost nearly £2000 there’s a lot of it that needs arranging.

50 ish guests for the meal and they will start being seated from 2.30pm to start at 3pm. We have a singer at the meal, could move her to the drinks reception I suppose but is a singer really much more entertainment than just music playing?

No one will be walking off to the local shop, it’s in the middle of nowhere in a VERY rural location so unless someone fancies a good 5 mile hike they are staying put 😂

Is 2 hours definitely long enough for a 4 course meal?

We had starter, sorbet and main course and that took 2 hours for 120 guests

Even religious ceremonies don't last an hour (unless they have Communion). It won't be an hour.

More fool you for spending £2k on decorations. 50 people shouldn't need a 2 hour turnaround.

How loud is the singer? I think I'd find that a bit strange while eating.

It sounds long...but sounds gd fun and dinner isn't too late so ur guests won't starve!

I've never been to a wedding as early. Not sure if that's a thing more where you live. I'm in Scotland. All weddings I've been to start at 1/2pm.