those of you having late weddings

We got married back in March and to save money we got married at 4pm and skipped the sit down meal. I'd have no hesitation in doing it again as it worked really well for us, and we enjoyed the relaxed, informal atmosphere it created.

We did:

4pm Civil ceremony

4.30pm Outside for photos which took about 45mins - 1hour then we went and chatted to our guests in the bar and got a drink and mingled, and had a few more photos done.

5.30-5.45-ish Start to let everyone back in for the reception as the room was ready by then. The bar had been open throughout for anyone who didn't want to stand outside watching us have the photos done. Waiters took round canapes and sparkling wine (which also saved money, couldn't afford Champagne!)

6pm-ish We were announced into the reception, and did speeches more or less right away, which took about 45 mins I think?

About 6.45-7pm We cut the cake, and posed for photographs.

We then did our first dance, so we could do it before the tog left for the day as we'd only paid her for a set number of hours.

By the time all that was done, it was about 7.15-7.30 I think. We had put 7.30pm on the evening invites so lots of people started arriving so we had loads more people to greet.

At 8pm they opened the buffet and it took til probably 9pm before everyone had finished eating, at which point our entertainment came on, a singer friend of ours, he played for maybe an hour then the normal music came back on, which we were playing through an Ipod hooked up to the singer's PA system, which we had also used for the speeches.

HTH ?

I'm going to a wedding in a few weeks where they are skipping the main sit down meal thing and having a hog roast! WIth a veggie option too (I hope!). Or you could have a BBQ - professionally catered for - they are completely different experiences to at home home BBQs.

Or a hot buffet with a selection of roast meat / fish, potatoes, salad etc.

What time of year are you getting married?

17th july 2010. so really if its hot then people may not want a heavy diner anyway x

That gives you lots of options then - such as a hog roast or BBQ which probably wouldn't work so well in cooler months!

Hi there,

I am getting married March 27th 2010. Having a civil cremony in a hotel @ 4pm, then photographs afterwards, this should go on til 5.30 ish. We then have some drinks with our guests and go back into the room for speeches and cutting the cake. Nite do to start at 7ish, hog roast at 7.15- 7.30pm. we have splashed out on a band, to start at 9pm (didn't look into the cost beforehand (oops) and its £900, but it is the one thing I wanted to create a party/informal apmosphere) We decided we didn't want anything formal, and the stress of doing table plans etc with a complicated family set up!! I'm not quite sure how it's going to flow, but have been re-assured by the wedding organiser its quite common now. We had a bit of a nightmare trying to find a venue that won't charge for room hire twice due to not having the sit down meal!!!

Good luck with your plans