Wedding Day Timeline

CrystaH11 · June 2014

I did a timeline for my wedding - ceremony starts at 6 by invite, but everywhere online says to start a bit later because of stragglers that are always late, so they don't interrupt. Does this look ok? Cocktail hour is set to start at 7

11:30 to 4:00 – Hair and Makeup at Roxy's Beauty Salon

3:00 – Flowers picked up by Groomsman

4:00 to 4:30 – Travel to Dow Gardens

5:00 – Ladies to Barn at Dow Gardens (back entrance) to get dressed
Gentlemen to front entrance to get ready

5:15 – Guys head over to barn

5:30 – First look and photos

6:00 – Ceremony invite time

6:15 – Ceremony start time

6:45 – Receiving line and finish photos

7:00 – Reception starts for guests, bar open

7:30 – Bridal party line up and entrance – Bride and Groom first dance

7:45 – Dinner served

8:15 – Maid of Honor and Best Man toasts

8:45 – Cake cutting

9:00 – Open dance floor with Father Daughter dance

11:30 – Thank you from Bride & Groom

Last call for Bar

12:00 – Reception ends

emmyg65 · June 2014

Ladies on this board feel pretty strongly about starting your ceremony exactly on time, as stated on the invite.

Half an hour is probably too long for toasts. Maybe make that 15 minutes.

You should probably do your thank you earlier. By 11:30, many of your guests (especially older ones) may have gone home. Maybe stand up and say thank you during dinner?

CrystaH11 · June 2014

My toasts are being done During dinner, so they won't take half an hour, the time I put is just when the toasts will start.

AddieCake · June 2014

Do not put a different start time on your invitations than your ceremony is to start. I am always early to things, and it is unfair to people like me to have been deceived and have to wait around while inconsiderate people get accommodated. Definitely do your thanks earlier.

kimnf · June 2014

I also agree with starting your ceremony as stated on the invite. I would not enjoy sitting around wondering when it was going to start.

mysticl · June 2014

kimnf said:

I also agree with starting your ceremony as stated on the invite. I would not enjoy sitting around wondering when it was going to start.

Agreed. Plus it could lead to people speculating about what went wrong and wondering if one of you made a run for it.

[Deleted User] · June 2014

I would aim to start at the time indicated, or within 5 minutes of that time. If it's 5 minutes after and you still have a large amount of people coming, then maybe wait. But you can't wait for everyone. Anyone that come more then 5 minutes late should have the respect to wait until the ceremony has started to be seated or go up side to sit instead of down the center isle.

CrystaH11 · June 2014

Thanks for your input ladies

dinnerparty3 · June 2014

I don't mean to rock the boat or go against what the other ladies are saying (I too like to be early or on-time for things) but my officiant (who is very experienced) recommended that I put 4pm on my invites for a 4:30pm ceremony start. If I chose what to do on my own I would not have thought to do that, but I trust his expertise...he said it gives people time to arrive, settle in, use the rest room, mingle, etc. I think your timeline is good for starting the ceremony 15 mins later than the invite time. From your timeline, I do think you should allot more time for photos, especially if you're doing first looks before the ceremony.

Wedding Day Timeline

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