Backyard Ceremony & Reception timeline

What are you including in your ceremony and reception? That will need to be taken into account when determining a timeline.


For our wedding, we arrive at venue at 3:00 for minor decorating (venue handles most decor) and I will put my dress on. Ceremony at 3:30 and includes unity ceremony with us and our 3 children. Grazing tables open and reception begins at 4:00. We will do pictures while guests mingle in reception area with grazing tables. Bride and groom join guests at reception 4:30-4:45. Cake cutting 5:00 and first dance. Event ends at 6:00.
Ours is a short event.

It also depends on how much set up time you’ll need and how much time you think you’d need to get ready

Are you doing the tradition dances or anything else traditional? Or is it a simple wedding?

View Quoted Comment Just a first dance and toast

How many guests do you plan on having? If it's very few, then a detailed timeline many not be neccessary.

View Quoted Comment So for our minimony, our ceremony will start at 5:30pm. We aren’t religious so we only expect that to take 15-20 minutes. We aren’t doing a first dance for our minimony, so after that everyone can line up to get food (it’ll be a buffet). While they are doing that my fiancé and I will be getting some pictures taken. We then will eat and after that play a few games. We haven’t decided on a toast yet, but we are doing our minimony VERY simple. Our big wedding is in March so we’re saving everything for that.