Reception Timeline

I think it's mostly good. I wouldn't tell your guests your ceremony starts 15 minutes earlier than it really does. I'd just tell them it starts at 3:30. Guests know to arrive early, and those that aren't there on time miss it.

The only other thing I would change is 20 minutes of speeches and toasts is really a lot. I know I'd get bored listening to 20 minutes of people talking. I'd cut that part in half and limit the number of people speaking. A speech should really be 3-4 minutes.

I think you've given yourself a good amount of time for pictures, dinner and dancing! Good first draft!

View Quoted Comment Thank you for the input! Most guests are a 2-hr drive away, so I anticipate many not giving themselves enough time for the drive. Maybe it's a west coast/Oregon thing, but EVERYONE here is always late for EVERYTHING, so I'm nervous to truly plan to start at the time the invitation says.

Sounds good to me. I think people know to get there early, but you know your crowd and if they are usually late then that might be a good idea. My ceremony will start at 730pm sharp! And i have one aunt that we are telling her it starts at 5/530. She's usually about 2-3 hours late for everything. I bet she'll even be late to her own funeral lol

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Haha, that is hilarious about your aunt! I have a friend like that, always tell her a ridiculously early time or else she'll be on the phone swearing she's on her way out the door but really you know she just got out of the shower.

I appreciate your differing perspective. Worst comes to worst (or would it be best comes to best?) we can start ahead of schedule if people are there!

One hour and 15 minutes between ceremony ends and guests are seated for dinner seems like a really long time. Will there be drinks and appetizers available? If not, I would try to cut it down to 30-45 minutes. Your older guests may need to sit well before that. And in July I would look into providing water at the least because temperature may be a factor.

Also are you doing Father/Daughter, Mother/Son dances? Bouquet/Garter toss? Just some items that may have been overlooked.

You are doing great for getting your timeline done so early!

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- Yes, we have drinks and apps at the cocktail hour as well as seating, just not in the reception area.

-No father/daughter-type dances.

-Unsure about bouquet/garter toss. We don't really have many single friends!

Thank you for your help!!

Are you doing toasts after dinner or during dinner? Not sure how many courses you have and how long your caterer told you to need for dinner but toasts shouldn’t take 20 minutes. If you have those while people are still eating though that’s fine!

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During dinner. I don't anticipate taking 20 minutes, just a chunk of time during which they can happen depending on timing.