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Original poster

1pm or 3pm ceremony - help!?

79 replies

WestLondoner1 · 20/07/2022 19:58

Hi there!

I am getting married in April 2024. We have found the venue, and I enquired with the registrar about their availability for a 2pm ceremony, but they only have 1pm or 3pm available.

I'm stuck as to which one to go for. Our ceremony and reception are all in the same place, and we aren't having separate day/evening guest, just everyone for the whole thing!

Part of me thinks that 3pm may be too rushed, but then I also don't want people to do a lot of hanging around at the 1pm.

What do you think!? Is anyone getting married at either of these times and can give any advise! Thanks so much!

OP posts:

savemeagin · 21/07/2022 08:46

3pm - I hate early weddings. People need time to travel, check into hotels, get changed and have done lunch. This is all too tight for a 1pm start. I also hate waiting around for the evening to start when weddings are done earlier in the day.

RampantIvy · 21/07/2022 09:08

That was the other reason for us having a 3 pm ceremony, to give people time to travel. Apart from a winter wedding where you want some daylight I can't see any benefit to having an earlier ceremony, especially for the guests.

Vecna · 21/07/2022 19:23

supersonicginandtonic · 21/07/2022 04:59

All the brides saying they got married at 1pm and nobody was bored or hungry, trust me they were, they just didn't tell you.
There is nothing more tedious than the hanging about for photos, waiting for the food.

Of course people wouldn't tell the couple if they were bored, but surely most people have been to more 1pm weddings in which they themselves weren't the bride or groom.

Original poster

WestLondoner1 · 21/07/2022 20:38

Thank you SO much for all your detailed responses. It seems like 3pm is the more popular choice by far!

OP posts:

simonthedog · 21/07/2022 20:44

1pm for me. 3pm wastes half the day, half hour ceremony, immediate canapes and champagne. Sit down food at 3pm Buffet 8pm

balalake · 21/07/2022 20:46

I'd choose 3pm.

RampantIvy · 21/07/2022 21:05

simonthedog · 21/07/2022 20:44

1pm for me. 3pm wastes half the day, half hour ceremony, immediate canapes and champagne. Sit down food at 3pm Buffet 8pm

I think that would suit most people TBH.

drpet49 · 21/07/2022 21:18

Having been a guest at both times I much prefer 1pm weddings. The later times always seemed so rushed

IHateWasps · 21/07/2022 21:19

Spending hours waiting around for the bridal party's photos is wasting my day imo so the later it starts the better.

DockOTheBay · 21/07/2022 21:21

3pm sounds sensible as then you would start eating at 5.30ish so not way off of a normal dinner time. Whereas a 1pm ceremony you would be eating at 3.30ish which isn't lunchtime or dinner time, and everyone would be starving as they wouldn't have had time for lunch beforehand.

Smogtopia · 21/07/2022 21:24

People can check into hotels if needed and freshen up.

Seated at 2.45, ceremony over by 3.30 latests.

Pictures of you / the 'set up photos' done by 4.30/45

You enter the reception at 5 (guests have then had 1.5 hours of either participating in photos or drinks and nibbles (and it's April so most likely not spending glorious time in the sun...)

5.30-7pm food

7.00 cut cake

7.15 first dance - party until midnight?

BipolarSunset · 21/07/2022 21:24

I'm going against the grain here but I'd go for 1pm.

We got married at 3pm and felt the morning dragged and then the wedding flew by!

Always said if I could change anything about our day I'd start it earlier. Congrats OP!

RaisinGhost · 21/07/2022 21:32

I'd say 3pm.

Steelesauce · 21/07/2022 21:33

3pm. My friends been married 3 times and always says get married as late as you can so you don't have to keep worrying about feeding people 🤣

LarryUnderwood · 21/07/2022 21:35

If you have budget for plenty of snacks/food multiple times then 1pm. If not then 3pm. Early weddings are fab when people are well fed, when theyre hungry not so much.

Coffeaddict · 21/07/2022 21:36

I was going to vote 1 pm. I find English weddings very short (used to long irish weddings) so 1 gives you time to see people.

user1471464218 · 21/07/2022 21:43

1pm.

Guests can either have a big and late breakfast (fry?) or nip out after ceremony. Or deal with being a bit hungry for one day!!!!!!!

As a guest I want to spend time catching up with other people and/or getting to know new people. I am prepared to get up early to get ready/ eat at slightly different times than normal to achieve this.

RampantIvy · 21/07/2022 22:17

Guests can either have a big and late breakfast (fry?) or nip out after ceremony. Or deal with being a bit hungry for one day!!!!!!!

And for the people who have to travel it means paying for two nights in a hotel intead of one. That's why we had a three pm ceremony. My wedding wasn't just about us, but about our friends and family.

Originalusername123 · 21/07/2022 22:28

1pm. We got married at 1.30. Everyone is up so early getting ready that it can be a long morning but once the wedding starts, it disappears in a flash. If we'd married later, we'd have had virtually no time with guests because it would have been photos straight to dinner. It's such a special day, I'd much rather have the extra two hours with DH newly married than hidden away in another room unable to see people until later. You'll just be bursting with happiness and love every minute with your new husband so have as many as possible.

I've never been to a later wedding but I'd probably think it a waste of a morning watching the clock and not getting ready til later on. I've never been bored while the bride and groom were off getting photos - as long as there's a bar, some good music and a few canapés, guests will be absolutely fine. Plus, if I'm getting all dressed up with hair and make up done, I'd want to make the most of it.

Holidaydreamingagain · 21/07/2022 22:30

I would say 4, reception at 5, dinner at 6

RampantIvy · 21/07/2022 22:36

I'd much rather have the extra two hours with DH newly married than hidden away in another room unable to see people until later.

Why would you have to be hidden away in a room after the ceremony? Is the two hours for photos. Do you really need two hours? We had a few minutes of photos outside the church and some taken during the ceremony. Two hours is ridiculous. It is a wedding not an Instagram photoshoot.

savehannah · 21/07/2022 22:39

3pm definitely better as otherwise there's way too much waiting around before the evening meal and party. And everyone is starving because they had to be getting ready and leaving at the time they should have been having lunch.

20viona · 21/07/2022 22:40

1pm. You're paying sooo much you want the day to last as long as possible.

RampantIvy · 21/07/2022 22:48

It appears that the guests would prefer a 3pm start and the posters putting themselves in the bride's position want a 1pm start.

I can see why bridezillas exist.

Abraxan · 21/07/2022 22:49

3pm

Gives the guests chance to have an early lunch/late breakfast so they aren't starving by the time food arrives.

A wedding day is already a long day for guests with lots of waiting around at times. I'd reduce that time for the guests. It really won't feel rushed.

What are your timings for everything else for each of the time slots?

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