OM & Advise on Timings Of The Day Please :-)

? Bump ?

I have a similar worry about timings.

I'm getting married abroad in Italy next May, I have booked the civil ceremony in a Castle for 2pm which last approx 30 minutes. I'll have a few pictures taken and then head for a lake cruise to start about 4pm (that gives us enough time to get pictures and to walk to the harbour for the boat without rushing), the cruise will last approx 1 hour and therefore finishing about 5pm. This is when my problem starts, the restaurant suggest that the meal starts at 7pm with canapes from 6pm, so that leaves a gap of an hour that I just don't know how to fill? There won't be any need to walk from the harbour to the restaurant as the boat can pull up right outside the restaurant as they have their own harbour (weather permitting) Can I allow 2 hours for canapes and general milling about or would guests get bored etc with that?

I could maybe do canapes from 5-6pm then speeches between 6-7pm though I don't think speeches will necessarily last an hour?

As the wedding is abroad the guest list won't be huge, 50 people max, though in reality I think it will be more like 30 ish (though I am inviting 80, but about 20 - 25 are either in Canada or really elderly or both and won't do the trip)

Have you had your hair & make up trials? This will let you know how long to leave for each of these.

My timings went like this:

7.30am - up, shower, breakfast

9am - hairdressers

10am - back to parents house where make up girls did our make up

11am - dress shop manager came to dress me

11.30-12pm - general mulling around in my dress - I actually helped to dress the bridesmaids!

12.15 - arrived at church for 12.30pm ceremony.

We had a master of ceremony and the wedding co-ordinater to guide things through, but couldn't you write on little cards exactly what needs to happen to give to your ushers and when and then get your ushers to keep track of where people need to be (that is why they are called ushers I guess).

With regards to filling time, I wouldn't worry too much, people will be happy just drinking chatting and you'll be milling around talking to guests. I wish we had had a free hour during the day. I felt like we had to go here, there then back to here again and before I knew it, it was the evening part.

We had our whole wedding in one venue but timings went something like:

8am - chief BM arrives at my house and we have a wedding day breakfast.

9am - drive to my parents house where we meet the other bridesmaids to get ready together

9.15am - 11am - hair, make up, getting ready and a glass of champagne!

11.15am - limo arrives.

12.15pm - arrive at venue and give details to registrar etc

12.30pm - ceremony

1pm - 2pm - photos and milling about

2pm - receiving line

2.15pm -sit down meal

4.15pm - drinks and more milling about

6pm - evening guests start to arrive

7pm - evening buffet and disco starts

12pm - last guests leave, head for bed!

Hiya

as a very old married(!) my advice would be.....don't bother too much with timings!....Obviously you need to give guests an idea when the reception and the evening do will start, but don't sweat the other stuff

Timings will generally go awry....especially photographs and if you have a rigid timetable, if things are a little behind, you will start to get stressed. Go with the flow, let things take their course and ENJOY YOUR DAY.