Anyone going straight from ceremony to evening reception?

I our preliminary planning, after looking at prices we're thinking about doing something similar, although our ceremony will still be a bit earlier and a lot of our guests will be traveling to get to us, so I don't think people will think it's a terrible idea However, I hoped to have the dining area still set as a 'sit down' thing and have the speeches then. Failing that I'd hope to do the speeches at the reception drinks.

Again, this is all hypothetical atm, as we don't even have a definite venue! I hope that at least sort of helps...

Friend of mine is doing exactly this. marrying at 4pm, hour or so for photos and travel to reception, hour or so canapes and drinks, with a bit of a relax and then evening guests arriving at 7.45pm. they will be welcomed with speeches to all guests, the cake and first dance and then big buffet opens at 8.30pm.

just be clear with people when the big meal is, incase they want lunch to line their tummy first.

but i think it is more than acceptable- sounds awesome! xxx

Doing that is quite popular in Yorkshire - not sure about other areas?

You can still do the speeches

We're getting married at 3 having canapés and drinks after and doing the speeches at 5 before our BBQ starts around 6. You could always do the speeches before u cut the cake or if your having a drinks reception you could do them then. There's nothing wrong in putting them where ever u want. It's your wedding xx

We got married at 4.30, then straight to the reception venue. Did a small cold buffet for the ceremony guests (90 of them) at about 5.45-6ish. Evening guests arrived at 7.30 and we did speeches and first dance at 8. Hot buffet for all guests at 9/9.30. Didn't have any complaints!

Hi

As we are both getting married for the 2nd time around we are having a quiet registry office wedding and then just a big evening party. We have the following plan for the reception (which is now 2 weeks on Friday EEEEK).

We are staying at the hotel so will get ready in our room with our 4 grand daughters as bridesmaids. (we are wearing our wedding togs as the people at the reception (with the exception of close family will not have been at the ceremony so will not have seen them).

Downstairs we hope things will go something like this:-

7-7.30 Guests arrive (bar open for guests to buy drinks)

7.30 Hotel seat guests - we have a table plan but no names on seats just names to table. Hotel will then serve champagne to all guests (fruit juice for no drinkers & kids)

7.35 We (bride and groom) arrive with bridesmaids - entrance announced

7.40 My brother will announce toast to Bride and Groom

7.45 Groom to make speech. Best man (well he is our 8 year old grandson) will announce toast to bridesmaids. He has been practicing since June - Ladies and Gentlemen please raise your glasses to the bridesmaids! Bride will then thank them and give out gifts

8.00 (approx.) Buffet will be served. Paella and salads and we are having bottles of wine (red and white) on the tables.

9.00 cutting the cake and first dance the on to the disco.

I think in the days of more informal weddings (more people like us sadly are on their 2nd time around, people are older, you have same sex weddings and civil partnerships) so the whole wedding breakfast sit down meal thing is not as expected as it used to be.

I say go with whatever you want. By the way my 1st wedding was 4pm and we went straight from church to reception so even way back then it wasn't that odd (that was 1982)

Must be a Yorkshire thing as this is what we are doing. We're having a November candlelit wedding. Our timings are -

6pm - Ceremony

6.30pm - photos and arrival drinks for guests

8pm - Hot buffet - everyone will be sat as if it was a normal wedding breakfast though.

8.45-9ish - speeches followed by cake cutting, then straight into first dance, followed by a band.

We're having ceremony at 2 followed by photos and afternoon tea, evening guests arriving at 5.30ish, speeches at 6.30ish, hog roast for everyone at 7ish, then lots of dancing! Still having proper set tables and table plan. Do whatever works for you..... Your guests will love it if you do!

Hello. We got married at 3pm in church & ceremony finished at 4.10pm. Photographs, travel to reception, more photos & welcome drinks and then in to dinner for 5.45pm. Sit down meal and speeches were done by 8pm when the band started. It worked really well for us and the day flowed with no lulls.

I am originally from Yorkshire - although not married there!

We get married at 5pm... drinks reception with mini fish and chips, speeches outside towards end of drinks reception then inside for cake cutting and first dance at 7.45pm... Spanish tapas buffet at 8.45pm.....my oh cannot stand sit down meals ... took a while to get my head around no sit down meal but now love the timings and people really seem to be looking forward to not hanging around ... and I get to spend the morning at the spa with my best girls and oh playing golf with his bestmen ... cannot wait :-)

I am tempted to go this way too...

The only thing is, is paying all this money for a day, I want it to be a WHOLE day, not for the latter half... I am a bit torn.

With the speeches, they could be done during the drinks reception (everyone will have a drink to toast then)! OR just before your first dance? My Dad did his best man speech on the dance floor before the first dance of a relative's wedding, it was great!

As a day guest turning up for a wedding at 3pm? Not a problem. I would not be unhappy about not getting a 3 course sit-down meal. Don't fret about that, as long as your guests are fed, watered and comfortable, then you can do this however the hell you please!!!!!