Ceremony at 1pm.. what time for food?

[MickeyMouseShithouse]

I’ve booked our registrar for 1pm - what time would you then have food?

I hope your venue is absolutely lovely as that is so much money.

I agree 1 is the worst time for a wedding as it’s so hard to have lunch before and you almost certainly won’t get fed til about 4pm, meaning many guests won’t have eaten 8am-4pmish which if you think about it is no fun. I think I’ve only been to one wedding where the canapés were sufficient enough to get us through that without being uncomfortably hungry!

We had a later start for several reasons but I think it’ll feel quick for you however early you start. It’s the guests it might feel long for. Please don’t do a 2.5 hour drinks reception, unless the scenery is lovely or there are things to do.

We bought in evening food (think sausage rolls) and thought no one would be hungry but they really were!

surely even with in house catering you’re allowed to provide some stuff yourself

To me the ideal time for a wedding is 4pm.

I dread weddings where they start at 1pm. You have to have a late breakfast or early lunch at 11.30. There's always so much hanging about throughout the day that I just want to go home by 9.

If you do get married early you absolutely have to serve two meals.

We’ll provide two meals and if guests are tired they can go back to their accommodation.. but we would like to get our moneys worth from the venue since it’s costing nearly a years salary😩 I suppose that’s the pros of it all being in one place.

I’ve actually never been to a wedding that’s been any later than 1pm, and I’ve been to a fair amount of weddings so I’m wondering if later weddings are more intimate, register office then meal/small party rather than a ‘event’?

Surprised at some of these comments, it’s like a mad rush for food.

if ceremony Is At 1 then I’d say canapés at 2.30 food served for 5.

im perfectly capable of eating breakfast and having a sandwich for lunch before the ceremony.

I find it's the standing around that makes me long for the sit down meal. Awkwardly sipping one drink with heels and handbag and one canapé.

Sit me down with a coffee and I am happy!

3pm

I’ve actually never been to a wedding that’s been any later than 1pm, and I’ve been to a fair amount of weddings so I’m wondering if later weddings are more intimate, register office then meal/small party rather than a ‘event’?

In my experience it’s actually the opposite- the late ones were all 100+ guests, church ceremonies and then on to a separate reception venue. Whilst the early ones were all civil ceremonies with more like 70-90 guests. Probably just coincidental though- I think it just comes down to personal preference and what time you can get the church or registrar. Nothing wrong with either as long as no one is left hungry or thirsty! The worst weddings are the ones where you have to skip a meal to get there on time but then after the ceremony you get a single welcome drink, there aren’t enough canapés so you’re lucky to get more than one and you’re just left standing around for 2 hours.

2pm allows time to grab a bit of lunch first, 1pm doesn’t especially if guests are travelling.

canapes and drinks straight after the ceremony. Meal at 3pm

No not at all.

I'll be honest I find weddings quite boring, I love the ceremony part and then I enjoy the meal/evening bit but but it's all the hanging around during the day I find really quite dull. Between 1pm and say midnight is 11 hours. 11 hours of what? Standing around chatting? Far better to have a ceremony at 4, drinks and canapés then into the evening party.

The best weddings I've been to that have started earlier are ones that actually have things going on to fill the time between say 2pm and the eve ing starting at say 6, so something like a Casino tables or fairground style stalls. Both of those were brilliant and the day didn't drag but
there's nothing more dull than standing around having drinks and canapés for three hours between ceremony and evening part

so we have got giant garden games, a private beach with fire pit which we’re planning on doing s’mores on, I have looked into private boat hire to take people around the coast, there will be sparklers in the evening, I haven’t decided on entertainment yet whether to have a band ect so hopefully there will be plenty to keep people entertained.

I got married at 2pm it went like this, so you could shift it all an hour earlier

2pm ceremony
2.30 drinks after
3pm photos - you will need to allow some time as there will be people who want a posed photo - think elderly relatives
4pm speeches - depending how long they take or how long you want to tell people they have for the speech will dictate the food time
5pm food - if you can have food at 5 then your plan for cheese at night would be great - but will there be little ones who might get hungry and want something that's not cheese - particularly if you're having a kind of destination wedding?

Like others have said, don't rush the day, especially if you've spent a decent amount on it!

I think 4pm at latest for food is a happy compromise. if it's in the summer people will still be able to enjoy the outside stuff afterwards.

I’m wondering if later weddings are more intimate, register office then meal/small party rather than a ‘event’? - don't think so, I've been to church/hotel and reception weddings that start at every time from 11am to 3pm.

My ceremony is at 1 pm but we are having a small wedding at an intimate location.
Ceremony at the venue then Champagne and canapés straight after while photos happen then Vintage afternoon tea served at 2.30 .. all done by 5 as we aren’t having an evening do …

Depends what the food is

Think our hog roast was £14/15pp

This sounds perfect.

I’m hoping it will be ! We are trying to keep it small and relaxed as this is second time for me and I’m in my fifties . I’m wearing a green vintage style tea dress .. very unlike my first wedding 25 years ago !

For ours we are doing:

1pm ceremony then roughly 50min or so drive to venue
3 30pm on arrival at venue- tea/coffee and shortbread and fizz & beers. Might see if we are ok to bring any thing else ourselves to serve.
5.30pm called for dinner and speeches.
6pm meal served -3 courses
8pm cut the cake
8.30 first dance
10pm buffet
Disco on til 2. Anyone still standing will be moved to 'the wee bar'😁👍

It'll be quick for you but interminable for your guests.

Tbh when faced with this sort of schedule we attend the ceremony, maybe have one drink, wish the couple well, and leave. No desire for an 11-hour event plus time getting ready, driving, etc.

I miss the days when bride & groom couldn't wait to be off alone together.

@Rockschooldropout that sounds lovely!

If you are planning a long day you really need to think about your guests' comfort - make sure they aren't hungry or thirsty, cold or too hot and don't keep them waiting around.

I agree that 11 hours is a long time to be a guest at a wedding.

The problem with weddings around lunchtime is that people who have travelled won't have eaten since breakfast.

I think you need canapes asap after the ceremony then a proper meal could be served at 6ish. I would state that on the invites so people know to eat lunch or something before the wedding. I'd be starving if I was expecting lunch and had to wait until after 2 to eat and then there was no other meal.

I had a late wedding at 3pm, we served canapes and drinks straight after at the ceremony venue, whilst we had photos done so the guests didn't get bored. Then we had a meal at 7 at our reception venue.

Do people spend more time having photos taken than before?

Of all the weddings I have been to I think the photos only took between half an hour and an hour.

@RampantIvy I’m not sure, we’re going documentary style and aren’t having posed photos so we won’t be ‘off taking photos’ for very long at all hopefully🙈🙈

That sounds good. I hope you have the right weather for your wedding.

We're doing the same. Then chips at 9.30/10pm but we also have further evening guests joining us for the party/band/disco