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Time help needed

moniqueortiz24moniqueortiz24 member
First Comment
in Wedding Etiquette Forum
Hello,
I did not get a wedding planner, and need some help creating my timeline for the day.  My ceremony starts at 6p.m and would like the reception to end at 11:30p.m.  We have the venue til midnight but want to give the vendors time to close up shop.  I had wanted to include a cocktail hour before the dinner but not sure there is enough time.  Any help would be greatly appreciated : )

Monique

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Re: Time help needed

  • moniqueortiz24moniqueortiz24 member
    First Comment
    Side note and big detail, ceremony (outside) and reception (inside) are at the same location : )
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  • MrsMarendeMrsMarende member
    100 Love Its 100 Comments Name Dropper
    As @scribe95 has said you only need a cocktail hour if you will be taking pictures after the ceremony creating a gap of time that your guests would need to be hosted. 

    I think you would be fine starting your ceremony at 6pm then move everyone to the reception. You can do a first look and pictures prior to the ceremony. 

    If you are against the first look you will need to have a cocktail hour and then move to reception. If you decide to do that I would think about cutting a few of the "activities" such as bouquet or garter toss to give more party/fun time for your guests. 
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  • MandyMostMandyMost member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments 500 Love Its Name Dropper
    6-6:30 ceremony
    6:30-7:30 cocktail hour
    8-9 dinner
    9-11:30 dancing

    That looks pretty doable to me. Personally I like the cocktail hour for more than just "something for the guests to do while you take pictures". It's a chance to get up and mingle before going directly to your assigned tables. You could also just do a half an hour if you wanted--no reason it has to be an hour. 
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  • LondonLisaLondonLisa member
    Eighth Anniversary 2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    I agree with @MandyMost. However, I would also add that you should close the bar at 11 to signal people that the event is winding down.

    Also, are you planning on doing a grand exit? That would signal to me that the evening is over. I would do that at 11:15 to give people a chance to pick up their things and say goodbye to each other. I have been to plenty of weddings where the B&G are partying with everyone (and encouraging people to stay) until the early morning so I wouldn't necessarily take it upon myself to just leave unless I was signaled it was ending. 

    I love cocktail hour as a good chance to meet people that you may not be seated with. It doesn't need to be a whole hour- if you want longer dance time, have a first look and have your cocktail time end at 7 with dinner at 7:15/7:30 and dancing starting at 8:15/8:30.
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  • KickAssMOHKickAssMOH member
    Sixth Anniversary 250 Love Its 100 Comments First Answer
    MandyMost said:
    6-6:30 ceremony
    6:30-7:30 cocktail hour
    8-9 dinner
    9-11:30 dancing

    That looks pretty doable to me. Personally I like the cocktail hour for more than just "something for the guests to do while you take pictures". It's a chance to get up and mingle before going directly to your assigned tables. You could also just do a half an hour if you wanted--no reason it has to be an hour. 

    I used this exact same timeframe for my wedding and it worked perfectly.
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  • msuprincess04msuprincess04 member
    Knottie Warrior 500 Love Its 1000 Comments First Answer
    6-6:30 ceremony
    6:30-7:15 cocktail "hour"
    7:15-8p dinner
    8p-10:30 dancing
     
    Ours is all at the same location, so there's no travel time built in.
    "There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness." -Friedrich Nietzsche, "On Reading and Writing"
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  • huskypuppy14huskypuppy14 member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    Totally doable OP, and plenty of time to have a cocktail hour. I have the same time frame, just half an hour ahead (ceremony starting at 5:30). Most weddings that I've been to have had 5 hour receptions (including an hour for cocktail hour). 
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