What time to book the Registrar???

How many guests are you having?

We are getting married at 10.30 in the morning. There are a number of reasons for this. I had the same thoughts as you that there will be too much of a gap between "things" in the day. We are getting round this but have a garden fate theme and setting up games like hook a duck and a a bouncy castle (to name a few things plannned for the day). Do you have any entertainment planned?

Blimey! I'd struggle to get myself ready for someone else's wedding at that time let alone my own!

Bloody hell, what time are you getting up?? ?

Ours is booked for 3pm - I don't like long weddings as I think the guests tend to get bored and it costs more because you need to provide more food!

Oops sorry, realised I didn't actually reply to the OP, I think 1pm would be fine. We went for 2pm I think (is it bad that I can't remember!)

We're getting married August 2014. When we went to book the registrar (beginning of July this year) the only times they had left were 11am or 5pm. 5pm was too late so we had to go for 11. I think its too early but the date and venue mean a lot to us so i didnt want to change it. It'll be a struggle in the morning getting ready but then we'll have the rest of the day to enjoy. 13 hours is a long day though!! ??

1pm is a good time. I got married at 11.45am as there were only 2 times left & the other was 4pm! It was a bit of a rush to get ready for then & I would have preferred 1pm! I worried about the gap between the day & night do but to be honest, it was welcome. Everyone just sat chatting & drinking. Some went & checked into hotels. Me & the OH had chance to chat to our guests aswell as go to our room & have a breather & freshen up. Booking your time slot asap is definitely a plan!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who will have had a stupidly early wedding! Ours was due to the venue and we loved it so much it seemed worth it. I'm getting ready with the help of my bridesmaid and a team of hair and make-up. I belive the wake up call is 5am ?

I think 1pm is ideal. My sister had hers at 2.30 and that was too late, the day felt rushed and she didn't get time with many of her guests. 1pm would have been what i'd have done if I could have.

I thought this!

I had my hair and makeup trial a couple of weekends ago as I had something to go to and it wouldn't be a waste of makeup etc.

I got hair done at 9:00am and then went straight to makeup girl. I wasn't finished till 11:00am.

I'm getting married at 2:00pm beause when I booked it just before the year to go mark the only options they gave me were 11:30am (too early for me and would mean feeding guests more!) or 3:30pm which I thought might be a little late as I didn't want to feel like my day was over with really quickly.

1pm would have been perfect if I had been offered it.

We're having ours at 1pm. I'm a little worried there might be a bit of time to kill between the meal finishing at the reception getting going but everyone will just have to drink through it! ?

1pm is a good time, mine will be booked for 12:30 (not getting married until May 2015)

You can't book your registrar more than 12 months in advance, in my region anyway, as the licence is only valid for 12 months, so you have to get married in that time, otherwise you have to pay again etc and I think you have to wait a while as well, but as I said above, that's for my region (Bridgend, South Wales)

I've already contacted my registry office to make sure that they pencil me in when they get the 2015 diary (which they did last week when I pestered again lol) and then I will be contacting them to arrange everything properly next May/June time.

Hope that helps a little

Our wedding is 1pm and we've planned the day out so that there are as few gaps to fill as possible.

We have 2 x hairdressers and make up lady arriving at 8am!

xx

I was told this by someone but happened to call the registry office just to find out what was what. It was then I found out that you can book the date & time 2 years in advance. I rang 18 months before our wedding date & there were only 2 times left! It's giving notice of marriage that you can't do any sooner than 12 months in advance in my area. So glad I rang that day!

We went for 13:30 x

Thanks girls, I rang the registry office and I can book it now!! They said they had lots of availability for that day but I want to book it ASAP to avoid only being left with really early or late times! Think 1pm is ideal, will discuss it with my partner and might email the wedding planner to ask her advice!!

If i was you id book it as soon as you have spoken to your partner as a few people i know are getting married in 2015 and they rang up and only had 11 available even though its 2 years in advance. - just so you don't get disappointed!

I am also having an early wedding think around 11:30 but that's because its January and with the light for photos!

Booked it for 1pm!! Excited

Ours is currently booked in for 12pm, but we're considering changing to 1.30 (either that or 4 which is too late I think) what is everyone's thoughts on 1.30? My mum (and OH's mum) thinks it's better. More time to get ready beforehand etc. I'm just a little concerned about food - might people think it's a bit late for food as the breakfast wouldn't start till about 3.30, and then there'll be a smallish gap between that and evening buffet... Though we're having the same guests throughout and nobody extra for the evening... Really not sure!

Changing to 1.30 will definitely give you more time to get ready. Are you having any canapés after the ceremony? I got married at 11.45am n had canapés and photos at 12.15, moved into the wedding breakfast room at 2, had the speeches then food at 3. It was over by 4.30 but people seemed happy chatting & chilling. It also gave us chance to mingle as well as go to our room for a breather and freshen up before the evening do.

No, we're not having canapes, so I guess that's less food to squeeze into a smallish space of time! And the buffet will be nibbles rather than another sit-down meal so people can eat as little as they like... Hmm!

I had mine at 1pm. seemed right. the time from after the meal to the evening seemed to be alright. guests went outside to chat or sat in another room to chat. me and hubby went around talking to the guests and eventually made our way up to the room to talk to one another and freshen up. then evening continued at 7pm.

We're having a church service, but that's booked for 12:30pm.

It's (hopefully) the only wedding day we'll ever have so I want the day to last as long as possible!

We had a 12pm ceremony (all at the same venue) but invited our evening guests from 6pm.

I think for a 'traditional' set up (ceremony, drinks reception, wedding breakfast, speeches and evening reception) and an average amount of guests; any time between 12pm and 2pm would be fine.

Obviously, there are weddings that don't run as the above so you'll see people with earlier and later weddings. As long as you are realistic with how long everything will take then it doesn't really matter - your guests, and you, will have a great day regardless.

Thanks for this!!

I shall get on to them now!! They already think I'm a phsyco bride! haha

P.S I'm a Sarah W too but that's my maiden name obvs

Whoop!

My maiden name started with a W but luckily my married name does too

Takkaeli, I don't thibk an hour is too much of a gap & your dinner/speeches may even run over. My gap was 2 & a half hours. That was probably too much but everyone was fine & we were very grateful for the chance to have some time alone to chat & a breather

My venue recommended 2 or 2.30 so we went for 2.30 but now wish I'd gone for 1.30 or 2 as it feels like it will be a little bit rushed

I think is a good time, it's the latest I would probably consider.

Mine was:

Registry Office Ceremony: 11.30am (although we were early and were out for 11.30!!)

Visit to hospital for Hs great gran and photos, meal at a little pub, home and had a sleep and shower and had a night reception from 7pm although loads of people showed up at 6.30 so I was glad we were organised! If I hadn't been ill I would have considered a late ceremony. I would have been bored waiting around for a late afternoon ceremony though!