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Beginner April 2018

Advice on timeline for later afternoon ceremony

lee1a, 2 February, 2016 at 12:03 Posted on Planning 0 5

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Hi all,

We have finally decided upon a venue and I'm just trying to sort out with them the order of the day. We have decided on a later ceremony with a BBQ buffet in the evening. We do not want the 3 course wedding breakfast. So far I have a timeline as follows :

4.30pm Civil ceremony

5.15pm Canapes/drinks and photos

7pm Evening guests start arriving

7.30pm -8pm BBQ buffet

Does this sound okay? We do have the option of having a later ceremony at 6.30pm instead but felt this was too late and not enough time for photos. We are hoping for a relaxed atmosphere but I'm unsure if there is too much time between ceremony ending and evening guests arriving?! or should we say evening guest could arrive earlier?

Any help appreciated as I'm a bit stuck on this bit.

thanks

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Latest activity by ExpensiveBrownDiamonds1257, 2 February, 2016 at 16:01

Beginner April 2012
squidgybob · 2 February, 2016 at 12:08
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Are you all in one location?

We did:

4.30 ceremony followed by photos

Back to the reception venue (15 minute drive) for a small cold food buffet with the ceremony guests including some more photos and background music from the DJ

7.30 evening guests arrive

8.30 cake/first dance etc

9.00 evening food (sausage/bacon/chip butties)

You'd be surprised how much time is taken up by photos/drinks/mingling, that 5.15 - 7pm will fly by!
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Click Clack Photo · 2 February, 2016 at 12:10
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Hi Lee, what time of year are we talking? Summer I take it? A 4:30pm kick is actually pretty cool, your guests can have their lunch at a normal time... and then dinner at 7:30pm - probably when they would be having it anyway. It actually makes more sense this way than having the ceremony at 1pm and then seating everyone at 5pm.

It all looks good on paper... it usually changes though! ;-) Mark.
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Beginner August 2016
Mrslh2b · 2 February, 2016 at 12:28
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I think that looks good - 5:15pm - 7 will go really quickly and you'll always have some that arrive early
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Wedding Photography By Bill Haddon · 2 February, 2016 at 12:28
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I think you have got it perfect with just the right amount of time between ceremony and guests arriving, nice and relaxed and plenty of time for photos, some guests will turn up at 7 anyway.
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Beginner April 2018
lee1a · 2 February, 2016 at 12:33
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Thanks for your input guys! It really helps

Yes we are in one location and I'd completely forgot about cake and first dance... oops! ?

We were thinking initially April/May - would consider later but we both don't enjoy the heat too much. Our venue is quite rustic and has a lovely outdoor area between the ceremony room and building for the evening reception. They also supply outdoor heaters and fire pits.
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ExpensiveBrownDiamonds1257 · 2 February, 2016 at 16:01
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Our wedding is all in one location and we won't be having any evening guests but this is our tentative schedule:

3:00-4:00 Photos (we are doing a "First Look" and getting our couple photos out of the way before the ceremony)

4:00-4:30/45 Ceremony

Cocktail hour with drinks and canapes ending between 5:30 and 6:00 while we take group photos

6:00-7:00 Dinner

7:00 - 10:00 Dancing (bar service and amplified music must end at 10 but we have a bonfire after)
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Advice on timeline for later afternoon ceremony

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