Ceremony timing

melnkl · March 2012

I was just wondering what a normal time is for the ceremony to start. We're probably going to have a non-denominational ceremony with pictures after and then dinner and reception. What are typical start times for the ceremony? Thanks!

dumdumfroggie · March 2012

Does your venue have any rules about start times?

Since you're doing pictures after, I would do:

Ceremony 5pm
Pictures/Cocktail Hour: 5:30-6:30
Reception 6:30 - end

Lisa50 · March 2012

Everyone has a different normal. I'm no sure how long your ceremony lasts, so it's tough to suggest a timeline with specific times. What time do you want to be seated for dinner? Work backward from there -- allow an hour for photography and then work backward to a ceremony start time.

Our timeline was:

5:30 p.m.      Ceremony
6:00 p.m.      Cocktail hour (guests)/Photography (wedding party)
7:00 p.m.      Dinner

Good luck!

clcranda · March 2012

Ours is a little earlier.

3:30 ceremony
4pm cocktails and pictures
5-9 reception

rlavach · March 2012

I'm assuming that your ceremony & reception are in the same venue, so you can probably do times that are close together. My ceremony & reception venue are 15min apart, so my times are close as well.

ceremony 4p (30min)

leave for pictures 4:45p

cocktail 5p

reception entrance 6p

reception end 10p

HobokensFury · March 2012

We did:

6pm- ceremony
6:30-7:30 coktails/ pictures
7:30 - 12 reception.

toothpastechica · March 2012

Depends what time of year. If you are having a summer wedding, a 5pm start and pictures after would be fine, if you are getting married in the fall or winter, a 5pm start would garuntee it will be too dark for outdoor pictures after.

We are getting married in May, and our start time is 3pm, pictures from 3:45-5:00 and reception at 5:00/dinner at 6:00 (reception venue will be available to guests before that and there will be snacks out.)

librababy · March 2012

I am struggling with time. I changed my ceremony time from 3pm to 4 pm.

So far I have:

4-4:30 pm Ceremony

4:30-5:30 Coctail hour at ceremony site (there is a rancho area for parties in my yard)

4:45-5:30 Pictures (bridal party)

Reception site is like a 15 minute drive away (maybe less) but I'l add 20 minutes drive time for people)

6-10pm: Reception

FI wants an afterparty, so we'll come back to our yard to the rancho and have a party there with late night snacks.

Ceremony timing

Re: Ceremony timing

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