Timeline for Ceremony and Reception

DeadUtopia

So, I know I still have almost a year and a half to go, but we're booking vendors already (so we can get the ones we really want) but they are asking for timelines and I'm trying to come up with a rough draft. I need some input. I've asked friends, FI and even FMIL, but some things (like cocktail hour and pro-photography) aren't really something commonly done in our social circle.

Since this involves ceremony AND reception, I figured I'd post it here to see if the timeframe is all around reasonable. Give me any critiques or point out something that I may have missed, or if time calculations look unreasonable.

Here goes:
Church doors open an hour and a half before ceremony time. We can't get in any earlier than that. So since I'm using minimal decor in the church, I don't think my flower lady will need much time to decorate, but I know this limits the time that we will have for pre-ceremony pics. We also only have an hour and a half from the start of the ceremony to the very last bit of our stuff being removed. Total: 3 hours at the church.

Church decor set-up: 3-3:30
Pre-ceremony pics (w/o me and Rudy together): 3:30-4
Guests arriving and seating time, prelude music: 4-4:30
Ceremony: 4:30-5
Pictures: 5-5:45-ish (me and Rudy shots with any other posed shots needed in church.)
"Cocktail hour:" 5:30-6:15 (no alcohol, just refreshments and a simple appetizer table {cheese, crackers, crudites, and dips} set up by caterer for guests who arrive early. This gives guests 30 minutes between end of ceremony and beginning of cocktail hour.)
Dinner served: 6:15-7:30
Cake cutting: 7:30-8-ish (We would be doing it right after dinner for the older guests who leave after dinner and because the caterer I think we're going to use doesn't charge for cake cutting and serving.)
After this, we would do the first dance.
Bar would be open from 7:30-11:30 (limited 'open' bar: Sodas, bottled water, punch, coffee, beer, red and white wine and margaritas...maybe a signature mixed drink if I feel like spending that much on alcohol lol)
I think I'm going to nix the bouquet and garter tosses because we don't have very many single people.
Bar would close at 11:30 so hopefully everything will be done by 12:00.

Does that sound like a reasonable timeline??? lol

Avion22

Sounds pretty reasonable to me.

One question:  Is the reception somewhere different from the ceremony?  How far a drive is it?  Half an hour between the two is probably fine if they have to drive somewhere. 

One suggestion:  Have a list of shots that you want to get after the ceremony (allt the different combinations of people) to give to your photographer.  Make sure the people in the shots know not to wander!  This will help you get through a lot of photos quickly. 

Do you plan on doing a receiving line at the church?  This might cut into your time for photography....

DeadUtopia

Yes, they're in different locations so I figured that 30 mintues would be okay since people will talk a little at the church then head out. And we're planning on skipping the receiving line too. I"m just curious if it's weird to have all the important things done so early on in the reception. I've heard conflicting opinions on here about people not liking the dancing to be halted for cake cutting and then I've heard the opposite. We're also planning on a pastry/dessert table to be brought out later in the night, kind of as a snack, but the reception timeline isn't really set yet.

banana468

Is there a reason the bar doesn't open until after dinner? As a guest I'd find that odd and annoying.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_timeline-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:0b134834-5cbb-403a-86db-7bcebdc6d03cPost:51c5efe1-270e-4e8b-af8a-4150636272ec">Re: Timeline for Ceremony and Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]Is there a reason the bar doesn't open until after dinner? As a guest I'd find that odd and annoying.
Posted by banana468[/QUOTE]

I was going to suggest having it open for "cocktail hour" and closing it during dinner, which I hear is pretty common. Then you can close it 30-60 minutes before the end of the reception as well.

Patineuse1124

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_timeline-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:0b134834-5cbb-403a-86db-7bcebdc6d03cPost:51c5efe1-270e-4e8b-af8a-4150636272ec">Re: Timeline for Ceremony and Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]Is there a reason the bar doesn't open until after dinner? As a guest I'd find that odd and annoying.
Posted by banana468[/QUOTE]

<div>This.  I would probably cut the cake before dinner rather than after it.  Our venue does this as a standard practice and it worked really well.  We were announced into the reception and went right over and cut the cake.  The problem with right after dinner is that we were visiting tables during dinner (after we quickly gobbled down something) and I would have felt rushed if we had to cut the cake.</div><div>
</div><div>I'm not sure you left very much time for photos.  Are you taking photos anywhere besides at the church?  We did most of our photos before the ceremony (including a first look photo) and I still felt rushed.</div>

DeadUtopia

My FI has some family that is really religious and doesn't believe in drinking (or dancing for that matter.) I really wanted at least wine service during dinner, but this was the only solution that we could come up with for that situation. But they are OOT guests so if they reply 'no' then we will probably have the bar open during dinner as well as the caterers tea/water service.

Edit: If they rsvp 'no' then we'll have the bar open the whole time, but close it about 30 minutes early.

As for photos, that's what worries me. We really didn't want to see each other before the ceremony, but I'm not sure there's enough time in there for proper photography to happen and we can't afford a more lavish 'cocktail hour.' I have no idea how long photos take. I've been a BM 3 times, but none of my friend's had pro-photogs except for one and even then it only took about 30 minutes which I think was way too fast and was reflected in the quality of the photos.

lyndausvi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_timeline-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:0b134834-5cbb-403a-86db-7bcebdc6d03cPost:51c5efe1-270e-4e8b-af8a-4150636272ec">Re: Timeline for Ceremony and Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]Is there a reason the bar doesn't open until after dinner? As a guest I'd find that odd and annoying.
Posted by banana468[/QUOTE]

<div>Me too.  I would find it odd to have to wait until 7:30-8 for a cocktail.</div><div>
</div><div>I admit I think it's because I come from a stereotypical Irish-Catholic family.  Cocktail hour should have cocktails.</div>

Avion22

You can do your photos that have to be done separately BEFORE the ceremony -- like him and the groomsmen, and you and the bridesmaids.  Then immediately after the ceremony do the shots of both of you with the bridal party/family/etc.  Then let them take off for the reception (or have someone stay behind to pick up the inside of the church), then your photog can do pics of you outside the church, outside the reception location, or anywhere else in between that you might want pictures taken.    It's okay if the two of you show up late into your cocktail hour, or miss it entirely, due to taking pictures.

banana468

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_timeline-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:0b134834-5cbb-403a-86db-7bcebdc6d03cPost:49bd1da1-5065-4cd6-988c-d35c8bbbb773">Re: Timeline for Ceremony and Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]My FI has some family that is really religious and doesn't believe in drinking (or dancing for that matter.) I really wanted at least wine service during dinner, but this was the only solution that we could come up with for that situation. But they are OOT guests so if they reply 'no' then we will probably have the bar open during dinner as well as the caterers tea/water service. Edit: If they rsvp 'no' then we'll have the bar open the whole time, but close it about 30 minutes early. As for photos, that's what worries me. We really didn't want to see each other before the ceremony, but I'm not sure there's enough time in there for proper photography to happen and we can't afford a more lavish 'cocktail hour.' I have no idea how long photos take. I've been a BM 3 times, but none of my friend's had pro-photogs except for one and even then it only took about 30 minutes which I think was way too fast and was reflected in the quality of the photos.
Posted by DeadUtopia[/QUOTE]

This is something I just don't "get".  If someone is really against alcohol then

1) How is a delay in serving the beverage somehow a solution?  Unless it's because you're sure these people will have left by that point I don't understand.

AND

2) How is delaying what you and quite possibly many guests consider appropriate beverages respectful for the REST of your guests?

I'm really trying to be understanding here and I know that some faiths are very much against alcohol.  If that's the case then just don't serve it period.  

Then again, if they're Christians who don't drink I won't understand since I'm a Catholic who believes Jesus turned water into wine.

DeadUtopia

I'm thinking I will just have it open. It's really my FI who doesn't want any alcohol until after everything. But, other than that, does the rest of it seem to flow well enough?

Most people here are used to cash bars or BYOB anyway, so I think they're just gonna be happy to get free drinks. But I myself love wine, and if we're going to spend all that money on good food, I want a glass of wine with it! lol

banana468

It's up to you how you want to do things like first dance and cake cutting.  Personally I'd do the first dance at the beginning of dinner and then maybe mid-meal do the cake cutting.