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Timeline Question

anrforanranrforanr member
100 Comments 25 Love Its First Anniversary Name Dropper
in Wedding Reception Forum
Not really sure if this is the right board...but I'll go with it.
As I'm starting to think about my timeline, I'm wondering how long I should have my reception be. Ceremony and reception are at the same location, so no travel time needed. We can start our ceremony at 4 at the earliest, music must be off by 11, and guests must leave by 12 (midnight). So, assuming the ceremony will be about 30 minutes, should we plan to start at 4, cocktail hour/pictures 4:30-6, and just have a 5 hour reception? Or would it be better to start at 5 and have a 4 hour reception? 
I know I've been to some really long receptions and hated it, so just trying to gauge how long I should make mine. Also if guests would want to wait until 7:30 to eat, which I know I wouldn't as a guest (although we will have appetizers during cocktail hour). Thanks!
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Re: Timeline Question

  • southernbelle0915southernbelle0915 mod
    Moderator 10000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary
    Do you have a party crowd? At weddings, is the DJ basically pushing people off e dance floor because the party is supposed to be over but no one's ready to leave? Are you planning to do all the "stuff" (intros, food blessing, toasts, first dances, cake cutting, tosses, etc.)?

    If yes, I'd consider a 5 hour reception. If not so much, you might consider a 4 hour reception.

    Here's a sample timeline:
    4:30 - ceremony
    5-5:20 - receiving line
    5:20-6:30 -cocktail hour for guests (this really should not be 90 min as in your OP)
    5:20-6:30 - pics for WP
    6:30 - intros and first dances
    6:45 - dinner and toasts
    8 - cake cutting
    8:15-11 - party
    11-12 - clean up
    *********************************************************************************

    image
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  • artbyallieartbyallie mod
    Moderator Eighth Anniversary 5000 Comments 500 Love Its
    anrforanr said:

    Not really sure if this is the right board...but I'll go with it.

    As I'm starting to think about my timeline, I'm wondering how long I should have my reception be. Ceremony and reception are at the same location, so no travel time needed. We can start our ceremony at 4 at the earliest, music must be off by 11, and guests must leave by 12 (midnight). So, assuming the ceremony will be about 30 minutes, should we plan to start at 4, cocktail hour/pictures 4:30-6, and just have a 5 hour reception? Or would it be better to start at 5 and have a 4 hour reception? 
    I know I've been to some really long receptions and hated it, so just trying to gauge how long I should make mine. Also if guests would want to wait until 7:30 to eat, which I know I wouldn't as a guest (although we will have appetizers during cocktail hour). Thanks!
    Why would dinner be at 7:30? It should be served immediately following cocktail hour (which should really not be much longer than ONE hour and absolutely must start immediately following your ceremony) Could you please post your entire timeline to clear up my confusion here?
    image
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  • anrforanranrforanr member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its First Anniversary Name Dropper
    artbyallie said:

    anrforanr said:

    Not really sure if this is the right board...but I'll go with it.

    As I'm starting to think about my timeline, I'm wondering how long I should have my reception be. Ceremony and reception are at the same location, so no travel time needed. We can start our ceremony at 4 at the earliest, music must be off by 11, and guests must leave by 12 (midnight). So, assuming the ceremony will be about 30 minutes, should we plan to start at 4, cocktail hour/pictures 4:30-6, and just have a 5 hour reception? Or would it be better to start at 5 and have a 4 hour reception? 
    I know I've been to some really long receptions and hated it, so just trying to gauge how long I should make mine. Also if guests would want to wait until 7:30 to eat, which I know I wouldn't as a guest (although we will have appetizers during cocktail hour). Thanks!
    Why would dinner be at 7:30? It should be served immediately following cocktail hour (which should really not be much longer than ONE hour and absolutely must start immediately following your ceremony) Could you please post your entire timeline to clear up my confusion here?
    This is why I need TK. I clearly don't know how long things take (pictures, intros, etc). I really like the timeline southernbelle posted, so I'll probably do something close to that.
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  • mlg78mlg78 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments Second Anniversary 5 Answers
    Cocktail hour should be just that...an hour.
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    250 Love Its 100 Comments Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    Also, if the music has to be off by 11, I would expect your guests to start leaving then and not stick around for the extra hour until midnight. Music off = party is wrapping up to me, but again, this is a "know your crowd" kinda thing. 
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  • wrigleyvillewrigleyville member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    Definitely a "know your crowd" thing. My family dances until the DJ turns the house lights back on, and then lots of people stick around to help clean up (we aren't asked; we just do this, and we have fun with it).

    I've been to receptions where most people leave after cake and the whole thing is wrapped up by 10:00. If that's how your circle has always done weddings, then stick with the shorter reception.

    As for "hating" long receptions, nobody is forcing you to stay. If I don't feel like partying, I eat my cake and peace out.
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  • artbyallieartbyallie mod
    Moderator Eighth Anniversary 5000 Comments 500 Love Its
    anrforanr said:

    artbyallie said:

    anrforanr said:

    Not really sure if this is the right board...but I'll go with it.

    As I'm starting to think about my timeline, I'm wondering how long I should have my reception be. Ceremony and reception are at the same location, so no travel time needed. We can start our ceremony at 4 at the earliest, music must be off by 11, and guests must leave by 12 (midnight). So, assuming the ceremony will be about 30 minutes, should we plan to start at 4, cocktail hour/pictures 4:30-6, and just have a 5 hour reception? Or would it be better to start at 5 and have a 4 hour reception? 
    I know I've been to some really long receptions and hated it, so just trying to gauge how long I should make mine. Also if guests would want to wait until 7:30 to eat, which I know I wouldn't as a guest (although we will have appetizers during cocktail hour). Thanks!
    Why would dinner be at 7:30? It should be served immediately following cocktail hour (which should really not be much longer than ONE hour and absolutely must start immediately following your ceremony) Could you please post your entire timeline to clear up my confusion here?
    This is why I need TK. I clearly don't know how long things take (pictures, intros, etc). I really like the timeline southernbelle posted, so I'll probably do something close to that.
    That'll work great. We needed less than an hour of pictures because we did all the ones that didn't have the bride and groom together before the ceremony and then the rest while everyone went to get food. Intros took maybe 30 seconds to a minute and then 10-15 minutes total to get through first dance, father/daughter, and mother/son. The toasts ended up happening around the time we cut the cake because that's when MOH and Best Man went up to the DJ and got the mic. Their toasts were probably only a minute each.
    image
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  • MandyMostMandyMost member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments 500 Love Its Name Dropper
    A typical wedding is around 6 hours from the start of the ceremony until the end of the last song. If you write out a timeline, you'll see this allows a reasonable amount of time for everything.

    5pm ceremony
    5:30-6:30pm cocktail hour; you can take pics during this time or join the cocktail hour
    5:30-6:45 people get seated into the reception
    6:45-6:50 intros if you're doing them
    6:50-8pm dinner, with toasts in between the courses
    8pm cake cutting
    8:05pm first dance, other spotlight dances
    8:10-11pm (almost 3 hours) dancing; cake is served whole people are dancing. If you want to stop the party to do other traditions like a bouquet toss, you can do that at any point during the night.
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  • PrettyGirlLostPrettyGirlLost member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    Alternative timeline:

    5pm ceremony
    5:30-6:30pm cocktail hour; you can take pics during this time or join the cocktail hour
    5:30-6:45 people get seated into the reception
    6:45-6:50 intros if you're doing them
    6:55 cake cutting
    6:55-8pm dinner, with toasts in between the courses
    8pm Cake is served
    8:00pm first dance, other spotlight dances
    8:10-11pm
    (almost 3 hours) dancing

    The weddings I have been to in the past 5 years that flowed the best had
    the cake cutting right after the B&G entered the reception. This allows time for it to be plated so that it can be served
    immediately following dinner. . . and that's an ideal time to do
    spotlight dances, while your guests are having dinner.


    "Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."


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