Our venue gave us 5 hours to have a ceremony and reception, which I think is pretty typical. However, our caterer suggested that we may want to add an extra hour, because we are having a buffet and we are inviting 165 people.
So, after giving it some thought we went ahead and got the extra hour. That cost us an extra $230 with our venue and an extra $75 (I think) with our DJ. So, we're talking around $300 for the extra hour.
Well, now I've started working on a timeline and I'm a little concerned that it might be too much time. We have since decided to do a first look photo shoot which will save us time with pictures. We are not doing a garter toss/bouquet toss either.
Here is my timeline:
Wedding – Day of Timeline 8:00 a.m. Wake up, eat breakfast and shower
11:30 a.m. Leave for hotel
12:00 p.m. Arrive at hotel and eat lunch
12:30 p.m. Hair & make up
3:00 p.m. Desiree arrives – Pictures of dress, accessories, shoes, dresses on hangers
3:15 p.m. Get dressed (Pictures of putting on dress)
3:30 p.m. Leave hotel for Bellevue
3:45 p.m. Arrive at Bellevue
3:50 p.m. Bride and Groom First Look Photos & Other Bride & Groom Photos
4:20 p.m. All Other Photos
- Bride w/ BM’s, Groom w/ GM, Entire Wedding Party, Pictures w/ Parents, Picture w/ Officiant, Picture w/ JBM/JGM, Helthall Family, Vinju Family
5:00 p.m. Nana arrives for guest book/favors/gifts
5:00 p.m. DJ starts playing music – guests begin to arrive
5:30 p.m. Ceremony Begins
6:00 p.m. Reception Begins, Bar Opens, Appetizers Served
6:05 p.m. Bride & Groom pic w/ “Just Married” sign
6:10 p.m. Bustle Brides Dress
6:30 p.m. Bride & Groom/Bridal Party Announced
6:45 p.m. Bride & Groom First Dance
6:50 p.m. Father/Daughter Dance & Mother/Son Dance
7:00 p.m. Dinner Buffet Opens (Bride & Groom/Bridal Party/Parents eat first)
7:15 p.m. Bride & Groom Make Rounds
8:00 p.m. Toasts
8:15 p.m. Dancing
8:45 p.m. Cut the Cake/Desert Table Opens
9:00 p.m. Desiree leaves
9:00 p.m. Dancing Continues
10:45 Last Call for Alcohol 9:45 p.m. Last Call for Alcohol
11:00 p.m. Bar Closes 10:00 p.m. Bar Closes
11:30 p.m. Reception Ends 10:30 p.m. Reception Ends
With the extra hour we have about 3 hours of dancing time. Without the extra hour (in the red) we have about 2 hours of dancing time. I sent this to the caterer to see what he thinks, but am waiting to hear back.
What do you ladies think is sufficient? How long is your reception? I don't want people to leave early b/c it's too long and waste the $300. (Again, sorry so long.)
172 Invited.
130 Accepted.
42 Declined.
0 Can't find the mailbox.