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Wedding Day Timeline?

ferricfoxferricfox member
25 Love Its 10 Comments Name Dropper
in Wedding Etiquette Forum

So, my FI and I are starting to work out our timeline for our wedding in October, and we're not sure if our timeline makes sense.
A quick note for background reference: We're having a dry reception for cost and health reasons amongst family members, and are planning an after-party at a local pub later in the evening.
Here's our current timeline, very tentative:

8am-12pm: FI, helpers and I arrive at venue, decorate, set up, etc.
12-230pm: Catering arrives somewhere around here to begin prep at their discretion
230pm: Ceremony begins
3pm: "Cocktail hour"
4pm: Reception begins
8pm: Reception ends, cleanup begins
9pm: After-party begins at pub

Does this timeline make sense? Suggestions?
Thanks in advance for any input!

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Re: Wedding Day Timeline?

  • flutteringinflflutteringinfl member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its First Anniversary First Answer
    The timeline looks fine to me. I would just make sure that your helpers are people who have actively volunteered to help or who are being paid (i.e. they haven't been asked to help or aren't expected to help if they're guests). Also, is the after party open to all guests?
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  • mikenbergermikenberger member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its First Anniversary First Answer
    Tell me about this after party. Are you inviting people? Are you inviting everybody? What's the payment scenario? You are buying? Or are you guests managing themselves?

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  • novella1186novella1186 member
    5000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary First Answer
    ferricfox said:

    So, my FI and I are starting to work out our timeline for our wedding in October, and we're not sure if our timeline makes sense.
    A quick note for background reference: We're having a dry reception for cost and health reasons amongst family members, and are planning an after-party at a local pub later in the evening.
    Here's our current timeline, very tentative:

    8am-12pm: FI, helpers and I arrive at venue, decorate, set up, etc.
    12-230pm: Catering arrives somewhere around here to begin prep at their discretion
    230pm: Ceremony begins
    3pm: "Cocktail hour"
    4pm: Reception begins
    8pm: Reception ends, cleanup begins
    9pm: After-party begins at pub

    Does this timeline make sense? Suggestions?
    Thanks in advance for any input!

    It seems like you haven't left much room in this timeline for you to get ready. It may take longer than you think, even if you're not doing over-the-top hair and make-up. 
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  • loveislouderloveislouder member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Third Anniversary First Answer
    What happens at cocktail hour if there are no cocktails? I'm also concerned that you haven't left much time to get ready.
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  • lovegood90lovegood90 member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    Timeline sounds good, but who are your "helpers"? Are they people you are hiring or friends and family? You should only be having "helpers" if you're paying them- friends and family should not have to work on your wedding unless they volunteer without any prompting (ie without you asking).

    Formerly martha1818

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  • novella1186novella1186 member
    5000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary First Answer
    Oh yeah, also set aside some time to eat lunch, and make sure anyone else who's having a long day (like your bridal party) does the same. 
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  • ferricfoxferricfox member
    25 Love Its 10 Comments Name Dropper

    Thanks for getting back to me so quickly, everyone.
    I don't anticipate setting up will take the full four hours, but I blocked that off just in case. I anticipate that, even if it does, I think I can get ready in two hours. It's not a very formal ceremony, so I won't be doing a ton for hair and makeup. Anyone have experience with this though? How long did it take you to get ready?
    My helpers are volunteers. Friends who knew we're doing DIY decorations and offered to help. I'll likely give them a little something as a thank-you.
    As far as the after-party, we hadn't totally hammered it out, yet, but we figured we would at least buy a round or two, and let others buy as they so desired.

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  • ferricfoxferricfox member
    25 Love Its 10 Comments Name Dropper
    @loveislouder "Cocktail hour" has been reserved as the time for appetizers and whatnot as our photographer wants to whisk us away for a bit for photos.
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  • novella1186novella1186 member
    5000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary First Answer
    edited April 2015
    I would do something like this: 

    8am-12pm: FI, helpers and I arrive at venue, decorate, set up, etc. Buy everyone lunch for helping and take a minute to eat, even if it's just sandwiches and chips. Leave to get ready (I'd say get out of there by 11:30 just so you have a bit of a buffer). 

    I'd also recommend making a list of EVERY SINGLE TINY THING that needs to be done and assign it to someone, just to see how much each person is really doing. Based on that, set-up could take way longer than 4 hours or way less. 

    For example, my BMs offered to help set up. There's hardly anything we need to do ourselves, but there are a few small things, so I wrote out a list and gave each person one or two things to do (such as, put the guest book on the table) and set-up should take us about 10 minutes. 

    Then I'm buying lunch for the entire WP (sandwich trays from Jimmy John's) and we have plenty of time to sit around and eat/relax before photos. 
    12-230pm: Catering arrives somewhere around here to begin prep at their discretion
    230pm: Ceremony begins
    3pm: "Cocktail hour"
    4pm: Reception begins
    8pm: Reception ends, cleanup begins
    9pm: After-party begins at pub
    image
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  • loveislouderloveislouder member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Third Anniversary First Answer
    ferricfox said:

    @loveislouder "Cocktail hour" has been reserved as the time for appetizers and whatnot as our photographer wants to whisk us away for a bit for photos.

    Thanks for getting back to me :) I was concerned it was a gap you were disguising as cocktail hour haha
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  • ferricfoxferricfox member
    25 Love Its 10 Comments Name Dropper
    @novella1186 I really like that idea, and I think it will flow really well for our day. I hadn't thought of something like a sandwich lunch -- seems like a really good way to sort of tone back down after setting up.
    Thanks for the insight!
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  • poodledoodleooopoodledoodleooo member
    250 Love Its Third Anniversary 100 Comments First Answer
    edited April 2015
    Are you blocking off any time for formal photos with your family and bridal party?

    ETA: just realized you're doing that during cocktail hour - my bad, must read more carefully
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  • delujm0delujm0 member
    Fifth Anniversary 1000 Comments 500 Love Its Name Dropper

    i'm a little bit concerned about the after-party event?

     

    you mention above that you haven't figured it all out yet but would likely buy a round or two.  Here's the thing though.  If you advertise this event on your website, or include it in your invitations, you are presumed to be fully hosting it.  if i was invited to an official wedding event and then learned when i ordered my third drink that it was on me, i'd be pretty annoyed.  On the other hand, if you want that event to be casual, what you can do is just inform people of it verbally during the wedding weekend.  "we're going to be at X bar later if you want to stop by" is a lot different than "there is an official after party at X bar."  Stopping by implies that the guest is paying their own way; official after-party implies that you are fully hosting them.  there's nothing wrong with having a "stopping by" situation where you wind up picking up a few rounds...but there IS something wrong with implying that you're hosting an event when you really aren't.

     

    i'm also lightly concerned about your getting ready timeline...but if you're the only one getting hair/makeup done, two hours is probably enough time.  it gets confusing and takes longer when multiple people are being taken care of (lke when the whole wedding party is sharing only a couple of hair/makeup people).

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  • hashtag43016hashtag43016 member
    25 Love Its 10 Comments First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Your clean up time might take a little longer than an hour depending on who's helping, how many people are helping, how much you have to clean up according to the venue, and how long guests linger after the music turns off. people will stay and want to chat with you even though they will see you at the after party. I would make sure everyone who is helping knows their clean up task as well. and i would thank those people by doing something, maybe buying them a drink at the after party instead of buying everyone at the after party a drink. 
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  • southernbelle0915southernbelle0915 mod
    Moderator 10000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary
    I got my hair and make up professionally done. Hair was about an hour. Make up was about 30 minutes. 

    However, all my BMs ended up wanting their hair done and a couple wanted their make up done. So all 5 of us were at the salon for about 3-4 hours all said and done. I had mimosas and brunch/lunch brought in so we could eat while we got our stuff done, but it wasn't quick. Then we went back to the B&B where our dresses, shoes, bouquets and stuff were. That took about an hour. Then pre-wedding pictures..  I mean, how much time you'll need just depends on what you're planning.

    Also, if you're formally inviting everyone to an after party, you should host it. If it's just a verbal "hey we'll be heading to X bar for a drink, you can join if you want", then I think you're in the clear.
    *********************************************************************************

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  • ferricfoxferricfox member
    25 Love Its 10 Comments Name Dropper
    Yeah, the after party is mostly a "You can come if you want; we'll be there," sort of deal; nothing strictly formal.
    Also, we're not having a wedding party -- no bridesmaids or groomsmen, so it will just be me and my FI getting ready. I'm doing my hair and makeup myself.
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    My concern is will 2 1/2 hours be enought time for everyone to leave the venue, get back home (or to hotel) to shower, get ready, get back to ceremony location & also squeeze in some photos before the ceremony? Since youa re doing your own hair & makeup, do a trail run for yourself to see how long it takes you to shower, hair & makeup. Also make sure to leave time to eat something so that you don't end up passing out or have a "dude you need a snickers" moment..
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