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Original poster

Does this order of the day sound ok?

47 replies

ImInStealthMode · 13/01/2022 15:52

I'm ordering printed orders of the day from Vistaprint and their 40% off sale finishes today! Need some views on whether our timings sound right?

2pm : Ceremony (I'll probably be 10 minutes late as it tradition!)

3pm : Fizz, Photos & Canapes (guests encouraged to explore our venue which is a lovely landscaped attraction if they'd like)

4.30pm : Speeches

5pm : Food (2 course buffet)

6.30pm : First Dance

9pm : Cheese & Biscuits (we're having a 'cheese' cake rather than a normal wedding cake)

11pm : Finish

Thanks!

OP posts:

KiloWhat · 13/01/2022 16:48

Sounds good but I'd start the cheese and biscuits a bit earlier personally. And I would be 5mins late rather than 10 and made sure the person taking the ceremony agrees to this.

DPotter · 13/01/2022 16:50

Looks lovely - just be sure your photographer knows you have 1.5 hours for photos - some of them do take an age!

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 13/01/2022 16:52

Is it just one lot of guests?

MayThePawsBeWithYou · 13/01/2022 16:56

Congratulations. I wouldnt be late, not in these covid circumstances when time is restricted. I would probably have the photos and fizz earlier unless you are expecting the Service to last an hour, is the Service being held at the venue or in a Church.

maddy68 · 13/01/2022 17:05

I think your timings are perfect. Cheese and biscuits at 9 sounds fab X

garlicandsapphires · 13/01/2022 17:09

2.5 hours between ceremony and speeches feels too long for me.

garlicandsapphires · 13/01/2022 17:11

Oh sorry it’s only 1.5 hours. Still feels long! But I’m a big fan of weddings that are short and sweet!!

VerveClique · 13/01/2022 17:11

Make sure you add a line to say that cheese and biscuits at 9pm is definitely a social thing, and no one will be required to do any work

Plan looks great BTW

CandleWick4 · 13/01/2022 17:11

Honestly I think you’ll have hungry guests. 3 hours between service and food is a long time at a wedding and then the evening food just being cheese and biscuits up to 11pm. Maybe just me but I’d be starving! Sorry I don’t want to be negative when it’s your lovely day but I’ve been to lots of weddings and lots of getting ready in the morning and standing around through pictures leaves you hungry.

CandleWick4 · 13/01/2022 17:12

@CandleWick4

Sorry that was a lot harsher sounding than I meant OP. Your day sounds lovely

Original poster

ImInStealthMode · 13/01/2022 17:31

Thanks all, very kind.

To fill in a bit of info I missed; yes I'll only be 5/10 minutes late on the agreement of our celebrant; guests are advised to be there 1.45 latest. My aim is to arrive at the venue at 2pm, but the nature of the venue means it might take 5 minutes to get to the ceremony area. The ceremony probably won't be an hour but the canapes/fizz bit will be poised to go from 2.45 if needs be.

It's all in the same place but there's a 5 minute walk between ceremony and reception areas.

No evening guests, everyone is there for the duration.

We went for a 2pm ceremony rather than earlier as it gives people a bit more time to get some lunch beforehand if they want to (nobody is more than a 15 minute drive from the venue, and there are actually 2 cafes within the venue if they wanted to be early and get a bite there).

I was a bit worried about the 1.5 hours but as I said it's a place that people like to have a wander round so they can if they'd like, rather than standing/sitting about in one place. At risk of being wildly outing, it's a conservation centre, lots of animals to look at, scenic places to sit, things to read etc.

We have our photographer for most of the day, so it'll just be the 'nice semi-posed pictures of the 2 of us' and some family group pictures in the gap between ceremony and speeches.

OP posts:

RosieGuacamosie · 13/01/2022 17:48

Can I suggest you do speeches after food? Nothing worse then having to sit through the speeches thinking how bloody starving you are, it’s a much nicer experience when everyone’s fed and had a few drinks.

actiongirl1978 · 13/01/2022 17:53

We did photos for 10 mins and that's it. No one likes hanging out while photos are taken and even if it's a lovely venue people want to crack on with food and drinks.

Also make sure you have enough canapés!!

mugoftea456 · 13/01/2022 18:01

Agree with speeches after food. Guests will be starving.

Cheese cake sounds amazing !

Original poster

ImInStealthMode · 13/01/2022 19:25

Thanks! The thinking about the speeches is so that the speech-givers (2 of whom are likely to be extremely nervous, including DH2B) can get them out of the way and relax over the meal.

OP posts:

Original poster

ImInStealthMode · 13/01/2022 19:25

Ps.. I'll make sure there are plenty of canapés!

OP posts:

Doidontimmm · 13/01/2022 19:31

I’m getting married in June & didn’t know an order of the day was a thing?!

derekthe1adyhamster · 13/01/2022 19:36

Speeches after wedding breakfast. Everyone is in a good mood then, and more likely to listen and appreciate them

LeQuern · 13/01/2022 19:38

I would really try and switch your speeches to after the food - a well oiled audience will respond far better to a nervous speaker than one who is hungry and wishing that stage in the proceedings were over.

Other than that, sounds good (but I’d ensure there was bread as well as biscuits for the cheese - people will have been drinking since 3pm and buffets have a tendency to run out. Bread and cheese will help stop raging drunks (and make sure you cater for any vegans / lactose intolerant at that course too).

Original poster

ImInStealthMode · 13/01/2022 19:40

@Doidontimmm

I’m getting married in June & didn’t know an order of the day was a thing?!

If we were having a formal do that was a bit more structured or a toast master to announce things I probably wouldn't bother, but with a quite relaxed reception and scope to wander about I just want people to have an idea of what will come when (also they'll double as fans, because hopefully it'll be warm!).

They'll go on the ceremony seats with little boxes of confetti.

OP posts:

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 13/01/2022 19:41

I've been to a few weddings with speeches before dinner. It works well, especially if short and sweet.

Original poster

ImInStealthMode · 13/01/2022 19:42

@LeQuern Yes there'll be bread! Just checked my last email to the venue and I definitely mentioned bread.

I think we have one vegan so we'll speak to him separately (assuming he accepts the invite) and arrange something different for him. Good point.

OP posts:

Original poster

ImInStealthMode · 13/01/2022 19:43

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

I've been to a few weddings with speeches before dinner. It works well, especially if short and sweet.

This is the thing. I have 2 nervous speakers and a Step-dad who loves an audience and would blather on all night if we let him. Dinner being served would provide a clear stopping point

OP posts:

LakeShoreD · 13/01/2022 19:48

It sounds great! Just make sure you have substantial canapés and maybe a small alternative to the cheese since you might have vegans, lactose intolerance guests or just weirdos that don’t like cheese!

ApolloandDaphne · 13/01/2022 19:52

I would worry 1.5 hours to serve a 2 course buffet might be a bit tight. How many guests and what type of buffet are you having?

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