How would you do this?
Our wedding ceremony is at 4:30. Our reception site is a 30 minute drive from the church. I'm not sure how long our ceremony will be yet, but we're initially planning on half an hour. So, guests will likely arrive to the reception at 5:30.
The reception is at a brewery and the taps open at 6. We have from 5 to 6 to set up. Guests can arrive (no one will be locked out) anytime after we're allowed in at 5, but there will be no beer until 6. We are planning to have fruit and veggie trays for light apps and other drinks (water, tea, non-alcoholic punch, not brewery provided) for a "cocktail hour" and to avoid any gap, even a short one. We are taking large family photos and that's it after the ceremony (doing everything else before), so we plan to arrive at the reception site by 6.
We are having a BBQ buffet with 3 meats and 4 sides, including salad. We are inviting 224 (max seating for brewery) and expect about 150. We do not have a wedding party.
Now, I have no idea how to structure this reception. The tricky part is that it must end at 9. We only have the space for 3 hours max, because that is the maximum amount of time they will rent it. At 9, the taps close and people need to leave. By 9:30, everything that we brought in needs to be out, and all the trash needs to be in the cans. The brewery will do the mopping, sweeping, table wiping, etc.
So, if you were having a 3 hour reception, what would your timeline look like?
Would you let people eat as soon as they arrive?
When would you dance (first dance, mother/son, father/daughter)? Cut cake?
I'm just really struggling with this one and I appreciate any ideas you lovely people may have.
"They say there's no such place... as Paradise. Even if you search to the ends of the Earth, there's nothing there. No matter how far you walk, it's always the same road. It just goes on and on. But, in spite of that... Why am I so driven to find it? A voice calls to me... It says, 'Search for Paradise.' " - Kiba, Wolf's Rain