FI and I met with the venue and caterer for the first time this week (YAY!) and started talking seriously about the timeline. Our venue is gorgeous and we love it, but it has kind of a unique layout. The dining area is going to be completely separate from the dancing area (two adjoined rooms, but separate nonetheless). There's a seating area in the dancing area, so those who aren't into dancing but want to be in there to hang out can do that.
Then the venue lady started throwing questions at me about the timeline, and with the two separate rooms, I had NO idea how to answer. She said that's fine for now (as the wedding is in Sept), because we have plenty of time, but to start thinking about it.
So can you ladies help me work through this in my head?
4PM - ceremony (same site as reception, just the church next door).
~4:45 - Cocktail hour begins (BP taking photos on the grounds) - Cocktail hour will be exclusively in the dancing room, light music from the DJ. High-top tables. The bar is also located in this room.
~6:30PM? (I think) - Buffet dinner begins in the dining room - B&G will invite each table individually (only 90 guests) to the buffet. I don't love receiving lines and thought this would be a better and easier way for us to greet each guest personally.
~8:30? - Cake cutting in the room with the DJ/dancing
That's the easy stuff. The reception ends at 10PM.
We need to decide when & how to do the first dance, any toasts (if there are any? I'm not sure if anyone wants to. Is that something I should ask BP members about or wait until it's offered???), and introductions - all keeping in mind that guests can't just be shuffled from this room to that room and back to this room constantly.
Thanks, ladies! I know this is a little odd, but I also know that it can work!