As a guest how would you space out our day

[LBF2020]

I'm just trying to draw up an itinerary for our wedding next month. I'm looking for advice on how to time food/dancing etc. help is much appreciated!! We aren't having a formal sit down meal with speeches etc so food shouldn't take too long to eat! We are going for a normal party vibe rather than the traditional wedding formalities.

Ceremony is at 2pm, which should take no more than an hour

Our reception is being held next to the church so no travel needed.

3pm welcome drinks at reception & bar opens

How would you time the rest of the evening?

First round of food - BBQ and salads

Band/ceilidh

Pizza oven

11pm leave

Other things I haven't added and don't know if they should be added to itinerary; photographer and first dance (cringe!)
Thanks!

You should let people know beforehand that there's no formal meal. If they're travelling they may not have had lunch and be relying on a big meal for the wedding breakfast. Especially if people are drinking all day that could be a disaster. Serve food asap after ceremony, perhaps canapes beforehand.

When are photographs and what are the guests during those as they can take a long time

Good point! I hadn't considered this, fortunately we have told most people. But I'll make a note to let everyone know.

So food at 3.30?
Photographs, we agreed we didn't want posed photos with family etc. More natural shots?
I thought we could spend 30 mins after the ceremony having some pics taken whilst our guests have their welcome drinks. Do you think that would work?
Thanks 😊

Yes, start serving food at 3.30-4.00. You will probably spend a bit of time just saying hello and greeting people after the ceremony because you won’t have had the chance before. After that, it will keep flowing nicely if you serve food earlier so that everyone is well fed and had a few drinks before the band starts.

Its worth planning a bit of time for photos even if you want the majority to be informal. It’s too easy for pictures you want to be missed otherwise. Have a think about the pictures you’re sure you’ll want, like with parents/the wedding party and make a little list for the photographer.

You can plan the cake cutting (if you’re having one) to happen right before the first dance, and if you feel cringy about the first dance then you can get the DJ/caller person to invite others to join you on the dance floor after the first verse so you aren’t up there alone for long.

Frankly, nine hours is too long. Just have drinks and canapes from 3-6, and let people go.

Maybe continue to a pub with a few close mates.

What?

All weddings take all day surely ?

I would give them welcome drinks and canapes to put them on.

Food 3;30-4

Pizza 8;30

That all sounds lovely, photos whilst guests have drinks, BBQ then band and dancing. Late night snacks and then home! Perfect.

I thought we could spend 30 mins after the ceremony having some pics taken whilst our guests have their welcome drinks. Do you think that would work?

Unless you are talking about a very small amount of photos, I think you might feel pretty rushed in 30 minutes. It’s surprising how long each shot takes and how many demands will be on your time directly after the ceremony. We put aside 1 hour as we didn’t want guests hanging around too long and it was relatively quick.

If I was you I’d have the BBQ not long after 3-3:30. What time is your dance? Could you try and find some time in there for photos? Pizzas around 8ish. Agree with PP, let people know in advance to have a bigger, later breakfast so they aren’t starving during the ceremony.

We had a 2 pm ceremony and reception next to the church. We did:

2pm ceremony
Straight into hall for tea and cake, champagne and speeches
4 ish photos and games or newspaper reading (we were in an orchard, it was deckchair weather)
6.30 food (pie and mash type food)
Etc.

For people travelling we laid on sandwiches in the local pub who let us use their car park. Do everyone had a place to aim for and so most travellers arrived at 1 ish in time for a quick bite, Loo stop and leg stretch. It worked really well.