wedding day timeline

thundernlightnin

ok so we are having the ceremony and reception in the same location.... we are planning some little fun things to keep people busy between ceremony and reception while photos etc get taken...  my question is time line for the day....  i want the entire day broken down on the programme... how much time do i set aside for everything... 

Avion22

What kind of "little fun things"?   Most guests can keep themselves entertained for an hour or so with soft background music, mingling/socializing, and light refreshments.   Keep in mind that people will want to chat and catch up with friends and famly that they don't see often, so anything else you plan could actually intrude on the time that people get to spend chatting with each other.

We had our ceremony and reception at the same venue...our day looked like this:

5:30pm:  Ceremony

6:00 - 7:00:  Cocktail hour while we did photos

7:00:  B&G introduced, welcome speeches

7:15 - 8:15:  Dinner served, we made the rounds of the tables

8:15:  Best Man and MOH speeches

8:20ish:  First dance, parent dances

8:30:  Open dancing

9:15ish?:   Dessert served (we had no cake)  

10:45:   Last dance

11:00:  Shuttles departed (we didn't have a grand exit)

thundernlightnin

hmmm lol ok "little things planned" was perhaps he wrong way to put it...

there will be a slushie machine, light fruit and snacks in between, there is a walking trail next to the river by the venue, a few little things like outdoor bowling, some small carnival type things, maybe a karaoke machine, etc...but its also close enough to our little "town/village" they can check out shops if they want to as well

Avion22

How much time are you talking about here?  It shoudln't be more than about an hour, which really isn't enough time to go check out shops or do karaoke.   It's really only enough time to get a drink, nibble on some refreshments, mingle some, use the restroom, and get another drink.

libby2483

I agree with PPs that you really don't need to coordinate activities during this time.  There is certainly nothing wrong with doing so, but it just seems like an unneccessary expense and headache if you ask me.  As long as you have light refreshments available, most people can entertain themselves just fine.  I am a firm believer that if you have good food, drinks, and music, people will have a good time without a lot of extras.  We also had our ceremony and reception at the same place.  Our timeline is below.

3:30-3:55 - Ceremony

3:55-4:15 - Receiving line

4:15-5:15- Pictures for us; cocktail hour for the guests

5:15-Grand entrance, cake cutting

5:30- Dinner served, toasts throughout dinner

6:30-Cake served

7:00-Dancing

9:30-Late night snack served

12:00-Reception over

Summer2011Bride

Yeah, I think having a scenic location with a walking trail for those who want to, some refreshments, beverages, and perhaps some background music is more than enough to entertain guests for an hour, and you really shouldn't have more than an hour between ceremony and reception. I don't think that's enough time to have karaoke, games, shopping, etc. People like to just catch up with family and friends and socialize.

thundernlightnin

i am rethinking things now.... i am trying to put together a rough sketch of the day breakdown and it might not be a big break between aftr alle

J&K10910

We also had ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception in the same location.  Our timeline went like this:

7am wake up, breakfast
730am: bride's hair
8:30-12: BM hair, makeup, last minute decorating at venue
12: lunch, relax
12:30: put on dress
1:00: first look
1:30: family and bridal party photos
3: ceremony
3:15: receiving line
3:15-4:30: cocktail hour (we did just a few more photos, and attended most of this)
4:30: reception entrance, cake cutting, toasts
5: dinner
etc

J&K10910

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-day-timeline-4?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:27806781-c411-4596-934c-d05d25e1cfbePost:b2805f0f-8d38-4e34-864a-87837a71860a">Re: wedding day timeline</a>:
[QUOTE]i am rethinking things now.... i am trying to put together a rough sketch of the day breakdown and it might not be a big break between aftr alle
Posted by thundernlightnin[/QUOTE]

This would be good.  Especially with everything all in the same location, a large gap is really not an awesome idea.

If you need to, you can cut down on picture time between the ceremony and reception without having ot see the groom before by doing photos with your side of the wedding party and family before the ceremony to get some out of the way.