Timings

I think if you're only planning to provide the one meal at that time, then you can probably expect people to start leaving around 6pm to go and get something to eat. It really does depend what you want from the day.

Did you want them to stay up until the night time for a DJ and things?

If so, you're going to have to provide more food, whether that be a meal, or a buffet - but something substantial. Speaking from experience, a hog roast is nice, but I don't think it would keep me going all day (we had one for my sister's wedding, but she got married at 4pm and then provided a hog roast later on).

You could think about getting married later so people can have lunch first?

Exactly what soontoberiley said. I only provided one meal but I didn't marry until 4.30pm

You could push everything back to a later wedding and allow time for guests to eat lunch before the wedding. Unless as said you're happy for your party to finish earlier or provide a second meal.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Thanks for the replies. Will have to speak with my partner but I think maybe it would be a good idea to have the wedding ceremony a bit later on in the day.

Im also getting married at 12 (next week ?), because we're only having all day guests we're not having 2 big meals but there is a lot of food. My hubby to be hates at weddings when we eat the sit down meal , then like 2 hours later the they bring out the evening food and he's still full so doesn't want anything, then by the time he's hungery it's all packed away.

So because of this we're having a picnic theme

1:30 Canapes and cocktails, I've made these my self and bought a few bits like mini cakes and tiny cheese biscuits from Sainsburys

3pm Main meal- hog roast, also having lots of meat, cheese and bread, sausage roll, pork pies and quiches. All the usual salads. For the sweets we're having loads of little cakes like French fancy and cherry bake wells (Sainsburys) we're having a bake off compitation so guest are also bringing stuff.

8pm ish we're having snacks. So a cheese board, chips and dips, pate, crackers and nuts etc. And a sweet buffet which I've done myself.

I'm getting everything from Sainsburys (obviously not hog roast) and choosing easy things I won't need to make apart from the saldes. I think people will leave early if there hungery so maybe supply snacks and nibbles. You can even buy sandwich platters from the supermarket if you want something more.

Hope I didn't this helps.

I agree that if you're only going to provide one meal, and what the reception to go into the evening then you should have a late ceremony. Providing snacks instead of a meal isn't great especially if there is alcohol being consumed/served.

Most people wouldn't expect to eat until mid-late afternoon at a wedding anyway and will probably get an early bit to eat before the ceremony.

I wouldn't worry. By the time you have had your ceremony (1pm might be best), everyone has arrived to the garden party, you have a few pre-drinks/nibbles and photos, it'll be time to have food (say 3:30-4pm) - it's pretty standard in timings. If you're worried about hungry tums in the evening - a nice cheese board or bacon rolls about 7-8pm will keep energy up. Keep it simple.

I shot a similarly timed wedding recently where they married at 12pm (25 guests) at a about an hour away, they provided everyone with a goodie bag of a homemade sandwich, water and fun-size chocolate bar to 'fill a hole' after. Then everyone went back to the family home where they had nibbles before a traditional brai (BBQ) early evening when another 40 guests arrived. Then it just flowed as normal - food, drinks and dancing.

As a idea - they actually hired a jukebox which really worked and broke the ice with people who didn't know each other and everyone got to take part.