Outdoor Wedding Start Time

christianavocal

I live in Texas where the sun sets at around 8:00 in August (which is when my wedding is). We are having both our ceremony and reception in the same place (the ceremony will be outdoor and the reception will be indoor).

In my facility contract, we decided to set the time for 7:00 PM (it's a Thursday wedding, so that should leave time for people to get off of work) and our send-off is scheduled for 11:30.

I have been thinking about it though, and it just feels supremely short. I sent the facility an e-mail which played with the idea of moving it back to 6. They responded with the following:

I received your email regarding your ceremony start time. We typically suggest scheduling your ceremony approximately an hour before sunset so that you have an 1/2 hour for the ceremony and a 1/2 hour for photos, so that is why Lisa suggested a 7:00pm ceremony time. With the current time block you will have about 4 hours from the time the ceremony is over to the send-off for your reception. This is a pretty standard amount of time for a wedding reception.

If you would like to move your ceremony time we can certainly do so. However, we have to have at least 30 minutes from the time the facility opens to the ceremony start time. So basically you have 3 options:

1.      Shift your time block:

Facility Open Time: 5:30 PM   Ceremony Start Time: 6:00 PM    Event Ending Time: 11:00 PM   Facility Close Time: 11:30 PM

2.      Keep existing time block but move ceremony up 30 minutes:

Facility Open Time: 6:00 PM   Ceremony Start Time: 6:30 PM    Event Ending Time: 11:30 PM   Facility Close Time: 12:00 AM

3.      Keep existing time block and add additional facility rental time to 1:00AM. The cost is $500 for each additional hour.

Facility Open Time: 6:00 PM   Ceremony Start Time: 7:00 PM    Event Ending Time: 12:30 AM   Facility Close Time: 1:00 AM

Which option should I go for?

cschuma2

I answered you on the ceremony board.  There's really no need to spam the boards with this thread.

christianavocal

I wouldn't call it spam. I posted on two boards that would hopefully have two different perspectives on this issue. Hopefully this did not seriously inconvenience anyone. My apologies.

medusia00

I think you will be fine with the time you have set already. People will be happy that they didn't have to rush around to get to your ceremony if they decide not to take the day off work. Also 11:30 is a great time to end.

I didn't mind you asking on 2 boards, I would have never gone to answer your question if you had not asked it here. Maybe next time post on 1 board, see what responses if not too many then ask on another!

HTH

Ghoti

I don't mind 2 boards either, although just as an FYI, you can put XP in the title, meaning Cross Post, to soothe posters like the one above. 

As for the times, I think 4 hours is about average. Which makes it even more insane the amount of $$ that goes into it LOL!!

Avion22

I think the time block you have already booked is just fine for a Thursday evening wedding.  That way you give them time to get home from work and change before the ceremony, and you're not keeping them out too late on a work night.  You could move it from 6:30-11:30 if you want, but I think 7:00-11:30 is fine.

kristeno90

  I agree. Keep your time the same. $500 is not worth it for 1 more hour.