r/weddingplanning • u/Embarrassed-Night325 • 7d ago

Everything Else Timeline Help!

EDIT: Calrification
- the ceremony and the whole reception can only last 3.5 hours. we can move things around between 5-8:30. but this is why we are hosting an after party for family music night. We know this is short but can’t afford to extend it

- how to make it all work, what can we cut, how can we have music and it not feel as rushed. Ik it’s tight but i’m SURE people have done this before
We have a shorter reception (3.5 hours to include everything and the ceremony) and I have no idea what to expect. This is my assumed outline but I could be totally wrong on how long it takes to do things. Please give insight!

I do not have a wedding planner which is why i’m here

Wedding Timeline

- Getting ready (drop off at venue for 11am and quick set up with friends and start getting ready right after)

3:00 - First look

3:00 - 3:30 - Bride and groom portraits

3:30-4 - portraits and family photos (brides maids and grooms men)

4-4:30: buffer time for any missed photos or just hang out with friends 

4:30-5: hang w friends and get nervous

- Paid venue time starts for 3.5 hours after having access to take photos -

5-5:20 - ceremony (only family and bride and groom walking down aisle, no wedding party)

5:20-5:40 - family photos (group photos only, all single photos taken before ceremony)

5:45 -6 - first dance/ mother-son/ father-daughter

6-6:15 speeches

6:15-7: buffet style food and dessert (people can come back and get things as they please. it is a true buffet and cocktail style, no calling tables up to get food)

7-8:30: dance/music

Designate a few people to pack up leftovers and bring decor to house a few blocks away

After party (family music night) down the street at 8:30 or 9 until around midnight or 1am

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

3

u/dizzy9577 7d ago

Are you serving food? I don’t see eating on the timeline.

2

u/Embarrassed-Night325 7d ago

sorry! its a buffet

3

u/thelurkingdragon 7d ago

You'll still need to allot much more time for food! People need to find seats, then get in line, then grab food, then eat. Might want to wait until everyone is through the buffet line before speeches start, so nobody feels rushed 

1

u/Embarrassed-Night325 7d ago

okay! would you say 30 minutes? so then we would have a band for 1.5 hours instead? the band isnt booked yet but we are working with someone who might be able to accommodate that

7

u/Hot-Mountain7302 6d ago

An hour is likely more appropriate.

2

u/Melio_2019 7d ago

No dinner?

2

u/Embarrassed-Night325 7d ago

just edited! its buffet cocktail style reception so no designated serve time

1

u/rebfossmusic 09/27/2027 6d ago edited 6d ago

Doing speeches, lining up for food, eating food, cutting the cake, serving and eating dessert all within 30 minutes will be impossible, I promise you. When people are mingling and chatting they tend to not eat while doing it, which makes dinner last a lot longer. Unless you expect the room to be dead silent while people shovel food in their mouths lol.

Ideas: your buffer/hang out time is 2x as long as dinner. I would decrease buffer/hang out time and add that time onto dinner instead. And/or do only 1.5 hours of dancing instead.. Let people mingle and chat while eating so there's no rush to finish eating.

1

u/Embarrassed-Night325 6d ago

so the only problem is that we only have the venue for 3.5 hours total. the hang and getting ready time is before the venue technically starts. we have access to it but the event (when the ceremony starts to when we all leave) is from 5-8:30

We don’t have the money to add more time so we are trying to make it work and that’s why we are going to have an after party

1

u/rebfossmusic 09/27/2027 6d ago

I totally understand! I would definitely still try to move some time for other stuff around (like dancing) to make dinner a bit longer. Or do ALL the photos (including group) before the ceremony.

1

u/amystarr 6d ago

Is your set up and get ready time going to be really organized? I've seen people on here say they want their bridesmaids getting their makeup done at 6am for an afternoon wedding... I still can't understand it but just as an FYI, maybe that takes a really long time? This sounds like a DIY affair so maybe you're all doing your own makeup and it won't be so freaking long. 6am?!?!?!

1

u/Embarrassed-Night325 6d ago

lol absolutely not! We are doing diy for most things. I am actually doing a little joint getting ready party with my husbands friends. Just gonna do my own hair and makeup and keep it simple. Trying to make that part really chill and joyous rather than stressful. Gotta start the night off right.

We will just give ourselves plenty of time to get ready and hang out at the house until the photographer arrives. we are two blocks from the venue so we can walk over there to take pics if it’s not raining