Wedding Day timeline

Will you be having a sit down meal with speeches etc? If so then 6pm may be too early. Our evening guests will be arriving from 7.30 with buffet around 8/8.30 as we won't get to eat sit down meal till 2/3 ish so your day guests may be too full for another meal at 7. Also getting married at 12 pm

A bit extra info needed really like is it a church or wedding at the the reception venue - if its a church what is the expected travel time to the reception, is there a first dance to get in there before people eat, cutting cake on dance floor ?

Yes that would have helped wouldn't it

We are getting married at a hotel so the ceremony and reception are in the same venue. Hadn't thought about the cake cutting but yes I would assume we will do that before the evening do.

The meal on the night will be a Hog Roast but it will be a full sit down meal for the Ceremony.

Ugh. I'm so confused!

Thank you both for your replies!

If it helps, my timeline was as follows:

2pm - ceremony

2.30pm - 5pm - welcome drinks / photos / casual time for guests to mingle

5pm - 5.30pm - speeches

5.30pm - 7pm - wedding breakfast

7pm / 7.30pm - evening guests arrived

8pm - cut the cake and first dance

9pm - buffet and wedding cake served

It worked brilliantly on the day, no "too big" gaps and the wedding breakfast had finished by the time the evening guests started turning up. We got married 2 hours later than you are planning, however everything was in the same venue so no travelling. You need to decide the middle part of the day, i.e. when your wedding breakfast will be, speeches, etc (if having them) in order to decide when evening guests should arrive. I'm not entirely sure what you mean by supper either, is that the main meal, or the buffet?

By 12.30 you will be out with a drink in your hand

call in to eat at 2.00 (but this depends if you are having a receiving line or not ) also if it is summer then you could leave this part to go on a little longer for a more relaxed afternoon

done by 5 (this allows for speeches but the time is also dependent on how many guests you have)

The most common run of things is first dance then a bit of a boogi with eve food about 1.5 - 2 hours after that

7pm I feel will be too early for your day guests to start eating again, I would say time this for 8.30-9 after a few dances

Thank you everyone for your input

I will look at still having reception guests arrive from 6pm but maybe move the Hog Roast to 8pm

I think that should work well then

I don't know what I'd do without you guys! (Apart from kill my guests with too much food apparently!)

Ive seen plenty of weddings where the eve food is just too soon after the day reception- and there is a lot of leftovers as its mainly the eve guests that were eating but the catering was for everyone.

Hog at 8 sounds good for your times.

The only thing with your evening guests arriving from 6pm is ensuring that leaves enough time for your main meal to be served and the room to be switched around. You are probably best to ask your venue as they will have a better idea.

Our ceremony is at 1, go down for dinner at 4.30ish, aiming to finish speeches, meal and entertainment (booked a surprise for OH at the end of the meal) by 7, evening guests arriving from 7.30 then first dance at 8. Buffet is served at 10.

6 does seem a bit early. You don't want them sitting outside while you all finish your meal.

I think we're going with:

2pm: ceremony
2.30: photos and mingling
3.30: go into room for wedding breakfast
Speeches
4.30: food served
6.30: food finished
7.30: evening guests arrive
9pm: evening buffet

This isn't set, but what we're thinking so far - this is a really useful thread, I'm worrying an hour between food finishing and evening guests might be pushing it ?

Its this bit on yours that may not be quite right

Try and give until 4 into room = 1.5 hours for mingling and photos and allows for you (possibly being a little late)

And then from 4pm to 4.30 should be enough for speeches. but that includes getting everyone in the room which also depends on how many there are.

So lets say start eating by 4.45

Then again a lot depends on how many guests you have and how good the venue are at serving and clearing, but 2 hours is ball park BUT I dont think I have seen many that are quicker than 2 hours

I think your eve invites should say 8pm, first dance at 8.30 - gives 1/2 hour boogie then we are back on your time line of 9 pm for food

Can I ask a question?