timeline help

MrsHtobe2015

Just hoping for some input on my timeline.i don't want a gap, ceremony is on sight of reception. my photographer would like 1.5 to 2 hours. ceremony will be close to 30 mins long. pictures will be at the same place. cocktail is immediately after and will be hosted well. what time should the ceremony start for a smooth transition into supper and dance etc

littlepep

MrsHtobe2015 said:

Just hoping for some input on my timeline.i don't want a gap, ceremony is on sight of reception. my photographer would like 1.5 to 2 hours. ceremony will be close to 30 mins long. pictures will be at the same place. cocktail is immediately after and will be hosted well. what time should the ceremony start for a smooth transition into supper and dance etc

That seems like a lot for post-ceremony pictures. Can you do any pictures beforehand? Are yall open to doing a first look? Even if not, you should be able to get some bridal party/family pictures beforehand. 

I'd need more info to tell you a time, but something like this: 

Ceremony: 30 minutes

Cocktail hour: 1 hour (you take pictures this time)

Introduction/Dancing

Dinner

aphrodite0869

my wedding is the same, everything is at the same site.  So we are doing this break down.  We are starting at 4. so wedding starts at 4 ends at 4:20-4:30. Cocktails pictures until 530, dinner about 45 to an hour, then dancing afterwards with cake cutting after dancing. 

Maggie0829

No good, professional photographer needs 1.5 to 2 hours to take pictures between the ceremony and reception.  Seriously you need to push back on this.  It would be incredibly rude to your guests to keep them waiting, even with food and beverage, for 2 hours while you take pictures.

Say your ceremony were to start at 3pm.  Then cocktail HOUR is from 3:30-4:30 with reception beginning at 4:30.

kvruns

split up pix between before and after ceremony.  1.5 to 2 hours of cocktail "hour" is too long especially since it is all at one location.  Is there anything to see/do nearby? Unless I know a ton of people at this wedding and it's the most fun thing in the world I would be hightailing it out of the reception after I ate probably because I've already spent 2 hours mingling with other guests and probably don't want to spend much more time after eating.  although after a 2 hour cocktail hour I'm probably not too sober so I might have to stay longer by default

novella1186

I agree with PP, 2 hours for photos is out of control. Either do a first look, or do your photos with your family and bridesmaids beforehand. FI can do photos with his family and groomsmen beforehand. Then during cocktail hour, you and your FI can spend about a half hour doing photos together and with the entire bridal party. 

My ceremony and reception are at the same place. My timeline is like this: 

3pm - 4pm first look and photos 

5pm ceremony 

5:30(ish) to 6:30 cocktail hour

6:30 dinner

then dessert and dancing 

Newborndoc2008

We also had a single location for our ceremony and reception.  Our timeline was along the following:

2:30-3:30 first look and bridal party photos

4:00 wedding

4:30-5:30 cocktail hour (shot about 5 minutes of family photos and then just did bride and groom in the walkable historic area for the rest of the hour)

5:40 introduction and first dance followed immediately by dinner

I think we cut the cake and did speeches around 7 and then danced until 10