Wedding timeline

meganrosej

I'm trying to come up with a rough timeline to give to our photog/videographers.  I've been to very few traditional American weddings, and never paid much attention to how they did things, so I am totally clueless.So here is what I have so far:4pm - arrive at venue to set up/meet vendors~get dressed~formal shots with bridal party (no first look, unless I can finally convince FI to do it)6pm - ceremony starts6:30ish - formal photos with family7ish - buffet dinner~champagne toasts~first dance~father/daughter, mother/son dance~cake cutting~bouquet toss10pm -  bride/groom exitAnd this is where I get stuck.  My dinner is in a separate room from the dance floor, so I can't do our first dance before dinner starts, and I don't really want to do the whole introduction of the bridal party, since it will be a smallish crowd and most everyone is family or in the wedding party.How long into dinner should we do the toasts do you think? I know there will be at least 4 people giving toasts. So should we just wait for everyone to get their food, and then do it?Once we move to the dance floor, that is also where the cake will be cut, and where we will do the bouquet toss. When is the cake usually cut?  I feel like our reception is going to be so short, and with all the first dances, cake cutting, bouquet toss, people aren't actually going to get to party much.Any advice would be hugely appreciated. I'm hoping that one of these days I'll be able to give advice on here, instead of always having to ask for it.

reddie36

Are you having a seated dinner or buffet? If seated you could work a toasts in before dinner, two beween courses and the last as dinner ends and the party moves to the other room. If buffet - you could still do the first and last the same then work the other two in during dinner or right after when you have moved to the dancing room before the dances begin or in between them. Or if you cut the cake directly after the formal dances put them in there. Your dinner will probably last until 8:30 - then if you are doing a toast, first dances, formal dances you could cut the cake right before the open dancing begins or about 20 minutes before you guys make your exit since I have read a lot of people leave once the cake is cut - in your case though with your guests that may not be the case. It will be a short night because all that formal stuff takes up time. If there is something you can cut to give you more 'open' time (if that is what you'd rather have) then I think it's perfectly acceptable. Also, you may check with the people giving toasts and let them know you'd like them to keep it at 3-5 minutes tops. Of course, once they are talking there is really nothing you can do about it. But the shorter the better for everyone!

meganrosej

We're doing a buffet. But that's a great suggestion. It never would have occurred to me to split up the speeches.  And wow, I was greatly underestimating the time it would take to eat.  Thanks!

jennyfromblock

What we did was ceremony from 6-630. Cocktail hour/formal pictures to 7:15. 7:16 announce wedding party, lead right into our first dance. Right after the first dance, my dad gave a quick welcome. Food started coming out about 7:30. Soup was served, rest was buffet. After dinner, there was a small break then we did father daugher and then mother/son. Another break (dancing/mingling) then right before we cut the cake the toasts were done. Since your cake will be in the room where the dancing will be, I think it could work out great to have everyone sort of gather by the cake and make the toasts then that could lead right into your cake cutting followed by dancing. My wedding ended two hours after yours will and I still could have used more time. No matter how long we set it up, we'll always want more. I was so not ready for it all to be done. Just enjoy everything you're doing and I swear, don't stress the timeline. I was ready to completely drop the garter/bouquet toss. I was having so much fun, I didn't want to stop for it. DH wanted to do it so we did, but going with the flow is more me. You'll get it to where it's perfect. Enjoy your day!