how much time for wedding and reception?

Re: how much time for wedding and reception?

• donethat member

  

  May 2013

  In Response to how much time for wedding and reception?:
  [QUOTE]I am a tad overwhelmed right now. We're looking into a barn wedding on 4/4/14. The problem I am running into is since 4/4/14 is a Friday it would need to be a later ceremony probably around 6pm and every barn I look at wants everyone out and location cleaned by 11pm. I'm just a tad concerned that it's not enough time for a wedding (reception at least, ceremony will probably 1/2 hour- 45 minutes)
  Posted by lookame3639[/QUOTE]
  
  

  so - looking at your scenario:

  
  

  5:30 PM - Ceremony Guests arrival, prelude music

  6:00 PM - Ceremony begins 1/2 hour

  6:30 - 7:30 PM - Cocktails/Socializing/Wedding Party Photos

  7:30 - 8:30 PM - Dinner

  8:30 - 11 PM - Dancing

  
  

  It can be done, but i would make sure that you have someone to "make things happen" (A Wedding Coordinator, or even a professional DJ/MC should be able to make sure things keep moving)

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• Beachgirl624 member

  

  November 2013

  I think you should have plenty of time.  The schedule listed above looks great.  Most places will want you done by 11pm.  There are some venues that will allow you to stay to midnight, but there will be an extra fee since they are keeping employees and such an extra hour longer.    

  
  

  The only thing you might want to consider is if you are doing a receiving line.  I see it all the time with weddings is that the receiving lines take longer then they had planned.  The ones that work the best and are the most time efficient are the ones that lets you just shake hands with your guests, say hello, Thank you for coming and that you will talk to them more during the reception. 

  
  

  I will piggy back on what was written above and go into a little more detail.

  
  

  5:30 Guests arrive

  6-6:45 - Ceremony 

  6:45-7pm Receiving line.

  7-8 - formal pictures for you ( cocktail hour for everyone else ) 

  8-9 Toasts, dinner

  9:10 - Cake cutting

  9:15 first dances 

  9:40ish open dance floor.

  Gives you about an hour of opening dancing 

  
  

  This is with a 45 minutes ceremony and a receiving line. If you figure out that you only need 30 minutes for the ceremony and you are just releasing the people to the reception without a receiving line will save you time.   The fact that your ceremony and reception are at the same location saves you tons of time because there is no need for travel time between sights.  That schedule also took into account that you are doing cake cutting, toasts, first dances, etc.  It will save you time by doing the toasts during dinner since people can eat and listen.  I would suggest staying away from doing a major item during dinner like cake cutting or the first dances so that people can watch you two instead of their food.

  
  

  Most guests that are invited might come right from work, but I know that when I am invited to a Friday wedding I usually take half the day off so that I can get ready after work!   With that in mind, you might be able to move the ceremony up a half hour or an hour. It really just depends on your guests, who is coming from where, etc.  I have been to weddings where the majority of the guests were from out of town/state so they were already having to take the whole day off, if not Thursday to so they could come at any time. 

  
  

  I hope this helps  

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