I'm looking for help with a wedding timeline! The ceremony and reception are at the same location (country club). I have the reception venue for 5 hours (up to 11pm) and 1 hour for a cocktail hour. The ceremony is before that, obviously. Some say to do the first dance right after the grand entrance because all attention is on you. Some say to do speeches right away too because everyone is there and paying attention. Some say not to cut the cake right after dinner because it signals it's OK to go and others say to cut it right away because you don't want to interrupt the party for cake cutting.
My thoughts --- what do you think?
Ceremony~ 4:30 PM
Cocktails/Hors d'oeuvres ~ 4:50 PM - 6:00 PM
Grand Entrance~ 6:05 PM
First Dance~ Immediately after Grand Entrance
Toasts~ 6:15 PM
Dinner~ 6:45 PM - 7:45 PM (buffet or family style)
Cake cutting~ 7:50 PM - 7:55 PM (Cake served during following dances)
Father/Daughter Dance~ 8:00 - 8:05 PM
Mother/Son Dance~ 8:05 PM - 8:10 PM
Bouquet Toss~ 8:10 - 8:15 PM
Dance/Party~ 8:15 PM - 11:00 PM
Also, any DJ recommendations? I have been considering Columbus Pro DJs (would be Rob) and Team DJ (would be Patrick). Anyone have experience with these specific DJs? I know Team DJ is $670 for 5 hours of DJ service and I'd like to stay around that price range. Any other recommendations would be appreciated. Buckeye Entertainment is booked as well as Matt Ryan Mobile DJ.
I'm trying to save money on flowers. Is it worthwhile to pay a florist to do my bridal bouquet, bridesmaid bouquets, corsages, and the boutonniere and then do DIY for the ceremony flowers and centerpieces? My artistic ability isn't much )
Anyone know an affordable place to rent table linens and table runners? My venue provides white linens, non floor length. They have a place they can get them from and say they charge me at cost, but they're $14.50 per linen and $8 per table runner and that seems expensive to me?
So I have no desire to see my fiance prior to the ceremony. Me and the girls are getting ready at his parents house and him and the guys will be getting ready at our house. We'll take pictures at our respective "get ready houses." Our get ready house backs up to beautiful woods which ends up at a river and the guys get ready house is across the street from a beautiful park and the house backs up to cornfields. We'll likely each stop elsewhere to take pictures on the way there. We're getting married at a country club and can also take pictures there. My fiance and I will do "look no look" pictures prior to the ceremony but that's it. We have the 1 hour cocktail hour to take all the family photos, photos of the entire bridal party, and photos of just the two of us! Yikes! Anyone have any tips on how to pull that off? We'll have 2 photographers. We also plan to sneak off during dinner to take sunset photos together.
Finally, any engagement photo ideas? We have thought about Homestead Park as it's close to home but would like another location too! We're also going to wait until May/June when it is pretty and green to take engagement photos. We'll take a few photos for save the dates before then with a family friend amateur photographer.
Thanks!