NYE Wedding timeline, anyone having a NYE wedding?

I have been to a New Year's Eve wedding and also a New Year's Day wedding. I don't have any ideas for a timeline but be prepared for a lot of declines due to the holiday. I went to both as I'm not a big New Year's party-goer so I wasn't "missing" another party or recovering from a crazy night.

Almost all my NYE weddings start with a ceremony at 7:00-8:00 so that dessert somewhat surrounds midnight.

This is my timeline for this year;

Ceremony invites at 7:30 (champagne and sparkling water served)

Ceremony at 8:00

Cocktails at 8:30-9:30

Fireworks (the town does them) at 9:30

Dinner/dancing from 10:00-11:45

Toast and cake at midnight.

My other weddings have started a little earlier, but this one is pivoting on the fireworks, which will be cool. The hors d'oeuvres will be heavier and less courses for dinner so it can be served in that time frame.

ETD: no more declines than any other day...

Yes budget for more alcohol than a normal wedding. Also food later on because most people won't be going home before midnight.

I would start later unless you want people to leave for their own party before midnight. Don't have an afternoon ceremony...

6- Ceremony

6:30-7:30 cocktail hour/receiving line

7:30 -- dinner/heavy apps/speeches

9:00 -- first dances

9:30 -- start dancing,

midnight champagne toast

Wedding date twin!! At this point, our plan is to have our ceremony at approx 7:30 (approx 20-30mins), dinner at 8:15-8:30ish, and first dance, father/daughter, mother/son dances around 9:15-9:30 then drinks and dancing after that. It is a very loose schedule at this point since we are so far out but that is what we are thinking! It will be a DW so we thankfully do not have to worry about anyone driving drunk since everyone will be staying at the venue

Note- we are planning on doing 98% of our photos before the wedding so that is why we don't have a gap between the ceremony and reception

Shelby I was thinking the same timeline except I felt it was late for dinner so I was thinking cocktails and heavy hors d'oeuvres for the reception.

MissEtoMrsB I thought about that too but I would for sure go heavy on the hors d'oeuvres and I was thinking a pasta action station so there will be enough to feel full for those expecting dinner.

Keep in mind people will be drinking more and later so the dinner they had at 5:30-6 isn't going to last 6 hours until midnight.

Agree with others that I think you need to serve dinner for a 7:30 p.m. reception if you expect people to stay until after midnight. Otherwise, I'd start at 8:30.

If you have a ceremony at 6, 7, 8 I wouldn't expect dinner because the reception wouldn't start until 7:30-9 if you have 30 min ceremony (including entrances and exits) and a cocktail hour, but thats just me. People usually eat dinner here at 5:30-6:30.

WW Ladies... for this situation could you put the type of dinner on your invite so guests know?

Something like (I am sure someone has better wording):

Ceremony to begin at 7pm followed by hors d'oeuvres, dancing, and champagne toast at midnight

I am not having a NYE wedding but I am having a cocktail style reception. My ceremony starts at 7:30pm and the reception ends at midnight. We have made it very clear on our wedding website and through word of mouth that even though there will be food they should plan time to have a full meal before they come. Our invitations state " Please join us afterwards for Cocktails, Hors d'oeurves and Dancing"

Wedding date triplets Ashley and Shelby!! SO EXCITED for a new years eve wedding!!!

Just so you know, I have NOT had a vendor charge me higher prices for a NYE wedding.... But make sure that you book all of your vendors ahead of time and sign contracts ASAP so they don't assume they can charge you higher than they need to.

We are having our ceremony at around 6:30 pm, not too late and not too early. We will be taking a majority of the photos beforehand because of the sun setting super early that late in December. Cocktail hour will immediately follow and will last until about 7:15 ish... We will be taking a few photos during that time outside where the Christmas lights we are setting up will be.

Introductions and toasts will follow cocktail hour with dinner immediately following. We will be serving a full meal, not just stationed apps... I will be starving, so I know my guests will be too. I honestly suggest serving a meal, that way you know guests won't be starving and will have energy to dance all night!

At midnight we will be doing toasts and a family friend will be playing the guitar and singing Auld Lang Syne.

@LoveBubbles good idea. I think putting something like that on your invite will make it clear to guests what to expect.

I am invited to a wedding (in April) that starts at 5pm so hoping the B&G will say something like that when we get the invite because I would normally eat at 5 haha. If there is dinner, I can wait but would probably be leaving my house at 4 to get there on time, so as a guest I would want to know what to expect and would plan accordingly.

Must have enough food. It's a long night with a lot of drinking. It can be cocktail style, but with stations and some heavy apps.

For you brides who got married on NYE how was it? Any advice?

We are planning NYE with a ceremony and reception in one we will have a few pictures to take after the ceremony as we aren't doing a first look. We are seating everyone with the exception of the immediate family at their tables. Ceremony will begin at 6:30 lasting 20-30 min. Guidance on timeline for there we have light hor deurves that will be served immediately following the ceremony when the bar opens. I just need guidance on the timing from there

Hey all! My partner and I are having a destination wedding in MX dec 2022 with a reception in our hometown NYE. i’m having difficulty finding a venue for NYE willing to host past 10:30- 11pm. Thoughts on ending the party before midnight? Would an after party make up for it? Any advice?