Help me choose a time!

jamjar11

Okay, so its getting to the point where we need to nail down the time for our wedding. We have some ideas in mind, but I'm not going to tell you what they are so I can get all fresh ideas! I'll give you a run-through of my wedding. And please, if you see something else you might have suggestions for, do tell.

My wedding will be on Sunday, February 20, 2011 in Tucson, AZ. The average temperature for that day is high 70 low 43. Sunset is at 6:20. My venue is a historic house with a garden courtyard and "cantina" which is like a little house with a bar. I can use any sections of the venue I want at any given time. We get a total of 5 hours including ceremony and reception (not including set-up and get ready time). We have to be out of there by midnight. We will have about 70 guests.

We are having a non-religious ceremony in the courtyard, which should take no longer than 15 mins. Then, while we do pics, guests will go to the cantina for drinks and snacks (nothing fancy, just a snack buffet and maybe either a veggie/fruit board or a cheese board). Then after the first dance and toasts, the guests will have a plated dinner (again, nothing fancy: think chicken, potatoes, veggies, and bread). I originally wanted to have dinner in the courtyard, but now I am having second thoughts about it, because of the chilly factor and the candle factor.

Here's the candle factor: I have landed on non-floral candle centerpieces because I got a flippin fantastic deal on some beautiful candle holders, more than enough for centerpieces. So if I do the dinner outside, and I want the ambiance of the candles for dinner, it needs to be at least a little dim for the candles to be worth it. But then if that's the case, my guests might get chilly outside, and no one wants to eat dinner when their cold. If I do dinner inside the house, which small but just big enough for tables, my qualm is that the dance floor would be completely separated from the dinner tables. We would probably have the dance floor in the cantina, but that seems awkward to me to have them in separate places. If I keep it in the courtyard, I can have a dance floor in the courtyard along with the tables.

So, what time should we start the ceremony in order to time it right with the candles/nightfall/etc? I don't want it to be too late since its on a Sunday. And/or... opinions on indoor/outdoor situation?

Super-TIA!

JessAndTrav

I would probably have a 3 o'clock wedding.

danieliza1127

I would start at 5 and end at 10, if your total of 5 hours includes ceremony and everything.  I don't think people would stay past 10 on a Sunday night.

frogurt814

Discuss it with your FI.  You two should be able to figure out a time together.

MattsPenguin

If you're intent on staying outside, I'd start earlier, like 2-3pm.  That way people wouldn't be cold.  With a high at 70, it could get chilly awfully fast in the evening.  Also, that way you'd be finished by 7-8pm and people could go home with plenty of time to go to work in the morning (if they're local that is).

cad5033

i would look into renting space heaters and pass along by word of mouth through your mom and his mom that the wedding will take place outside so your guests will know to dress appropriately. if that's not in your budget though, you should probably move the dinner inside. A temp under 65 is going to be really uncomfortable especially when most women will wear skirts/dresses. Your guests will be a lot more annoyed about being cold the whole time than they will have dining and dancing in different rooms.

as far as timing goes. where are the buildings located compared to the courtyard? that area might be completely covered by shadow by 3 or 4. if that's the case you could start you ceremony around 3 finish by 8, people would be home early enough on a a sunday night and your candle ambiance wouldn't be ruined by direct sunlight.

tigerlily25

I would have my ceremony at 6, that way the sun would be setting right as you are getting married...so romantic lmao

danieliza1127

Oh wait, will dinner be outside?  If dinner is outside, I change my suggestion and think you should start earlier while the sun is still out so your guests aren't cold.

jamjar11

<div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;line-height:normal;">In Response to <a style="text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal;color:#1f1f1f;" href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_choose-time?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:a1dd2196-e88c-424e-ac50-9ca603252f37Post:e8800a3c-ce32-43f3-8c73-952617db06e7">Re: Help me choose a time!</a>:
[QUOTE]Discuss it with your FI.  You two should be able to figure out a time together.
Posted by frogurt814[/QUOTE]
</div><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;line-height:normal;">
</div><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;line-height:normal;">We have discussed it at length. We both can't decide. We have been going back and forth from anywhere from 3-5 for a ceremony start time. The thing that gets me, is that if we start the ceremony later in the day, say around 5ish, we would definitely want to move the dinner inside, I think. </div><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;line-height:normal;">
</div><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;line-height:normal;">But how weird is it to have the dance floor separate from the dining area? To give you a better idea of what I mean, the courtyard is in between the cantina and house. So guests would actually have to make a conscious effort to move to one side or the other. I'm worried that it will cause a divide amongst the guests, and Fi and I will constantly be going back and forth to socialize and if we want to dance. I'm afraid the older guests will feel left out because they don't want to hang out in what is essentially a bar/lounge type of area. </div><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;line-height:normal;">
</div><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;line-height:normal;">cad5033... the buildings are to the north and south of the courtyard. There is a small 2-story building to the west, but it is small enough and far enough away to only help a little. But its a thought. </div><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;line-height:normal;">
</div><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;line-height:normal;">With most weddings I have been to, people pretty much hang out at the dinner tables if they aren't socializing or dancing. So I suppose that it is not a waste if the candles are not burned during dinner, because people will be at their tables longer. I don't know? </div><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;line-height:normal;">
</div><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;line-height:normal;">I over think things... <span style="line-height:14px;" class="Apple-style-span"><img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-undecided.gif" border="0" alt="Undecided" title="Undecided" /></span></div>

Celles

I'm also getting married in Arizona in February.

If it helps, our ceremony will be outdoors from 4:45 - 5:00, cocktails outdoors from 5:00 - 6:00, and dinner and dancing indoors from 6:00 - 10:00.  Our venue created the time line and will be providing space heaters, if necessary.

Since you're taking pictures during the cocktail hour, I would recommend something similar so you'll have both daylight and sunset lighting for photos.  Also, since it's on a Sunday, I'd try to avoid going any later than 10 since many of your guests will have work in the morning.

Move the dinner inside.  The candles will look fantastic indoors or out, and you don't want to stress over whether or not people are comfortable. 

I don't think there's anything wrong with separating the dinner from the dancing.  In some ways, it might be nice: guests who are lingering at their tables will be able to chat without shouting over the music.  If you do it that way, though, you'll probably need someone to MC the reception and move people from the dinner area to the dancing area (or vice versa) for events like the cake cutting, etc.

jamjar11

Muahah! I looked around on my venue's website, and it says they do provide space heaters if necessary! I guess I hadn't noticed them before since I hadn't really thought about them. It brings another reason to the table to consider outdoor dinner. 

I just don't know about the dance floor thing. I mean, my grandma and FI's Nana are not all that mobile, so they would probably stay at their table most of the night. I don't think they'd like to miss out on dances and face time with us. And I don't want to have to worry if we are spending enough time with this person or that person. On the other hand, most people (not really the g-mas) will have to go over to the cantina every now and then anyway since that's where the bar is.