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Shanna
Dedicated May 2015

Timeline for a 4 PM wedding

Shanna, on April 22, 2015 at 5:18 PM Posted in Planning 1 17

Can anyone share their general time line for a 4 PM wedding? 4 PM is the time on the invites but we will actually start 15 minutes after that for the people who are running late, especially since there will be road construction in the area at that time. Thanks!

17 Comments

Latest activity by jewles322, on April 22, 2015 at 8:18 PM
  • Leesha
    VIP August 2015
    Leesha ·
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    Following! We are having a 4PM wedding as well Smiley smile.. Im not too sure how to plan that whole day out..

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  • Leesha
    VIP August 2015
    Leesha ·
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    Following! We are having a 4PM wedding as well Smiley smile.. Im not too sure how to plan that whole day out..

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  • Chloe
    Super October 2015
    Chloe ·
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    Following. I'm hoping to start at 4!

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  • Mallory M.
    Devoted May 2015
    Mallory M. ·
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    Do you mean timeline for the day leading up to the ceremony (hair, pictures, etc) or timeline for the ceremony + reception (when to eat dinner, start dancing, etc)

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  • Celia Milton
    Celia Milton ·
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    Let your people know, word of mouth, that there is construction.

    Decide when you're drop dead going to start.

    If you start at 4:15, your cocktail hour should start at 4:45; confirm this with your venue

    Plan to be on site, ready to rock by 3:45.

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  • Amy
    Expert May 2015
    Amy ·
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    Ours is at 4pm, all under one roof at the hotel where everyone is staying.

    3:30-4:00: String trio plays pre-ceremony music while guests arrive and mingle

    4:00-4:30: Ceremony

    4:30-6-30: Photos and Drinks Reception (open bar)

    6:30-8:00: Plated, three-course dinner, toasts

    8:00-8:30: Entertainment (Piper and Highland Dancers)

    8:30-Bedtime: music, drinks, dancing and shenanigans

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  • Princess Consuela
    Master November 2015
    Princess Consuela ·
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    I'll be following this for timeline info because ours starts at 4:30. However, from what I hear, if your invites say 4 PM, you should start at 4 PM. You can put on your website and spread by word of mouth that there is construction. You shouldn't make the people who actually got there early or on time wait for latecomers. If people are late, that's on them.

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  • Mia
    Devoted September 2015
    Mia ·
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    We are having our ceremony at 4:30 but we are hoping the timeline goes

    8:00 Start hair and makeup for 6 people

    11:00 Groom and party arrives, play cultural games etc.

    11:30 Chinese tea ceremony

    12:30 Change into wedding gown

    1:00 First Look pictures

    1:30 Bridal and groom party pictures

    4:00 Arrive at ceremony site and retouch makeup

    4:30 Start Ceremony

    5:15 Start Cocktail hour

    7:00 Start Reception

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  • JulieR
    Expert August 2015
    JulieR ·
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    Our ceremony starts at 4pm as well. I dont have everything figured out so I will also be following, but I know that we are starting hair at 10am for 5 people and make up will get there at noon. We are not doing a first look so our photographer is meeting us at 3 to do some "getting ready" pictures. There will be a second shooter meeting with the guys probably around the same time. Ceremony will probably only last about 20 minutes and then cocktail hour will start right after (everything is at the same venue). Dinner will be served around 6. That's all I know so far.

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  • NewMrsWesely
    Master September 2016
    NewMrsWesely ·
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    Shanna s if you are in mn I get the road construction. I would look and see if there are alternative routes that are simple. As for time line we are starting the day around 10 getting ready and pictures. Ceremony starting at 4. 445 well be guests going in for reception 5 start to eat. Dinner will be until 630 or 7. then we kick the party off with our first dance we will be going until midnight.

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  • Mrs. Bauer-*$
    Super May 2015
    Mrs. Bauer-*$ ·
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    Here is how I hope it is going to look;

    10am I arrive at venue for massage that comes with package

    11am Rehearsal (the only time we could do it since the wedding party from out of town)

    11am hair and makeup for 4 people

    2pm FH gets his tooshy back to the venue with our cakes and starts to get ready

    3pm First look with daddy and FH

    415 ceremony

    5pm mix and mingle for guests while we get pics done

    6pm dinner

    7pm cake cutting

    10pm sparkler send off.

    Fingers crossed that this might work.

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  • SoontobeMrsChacon
    Dedicated October 2015
    SoontobeMrsChacon ·
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    Following as well. Our ceremony starts at 4:30 pm. We are decorating our venue in the morning and now I am freaking out if we are going to have time for that.

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  • Shanna
    Dedicated May 2015
    Shanna ·
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    Haha! Yes, Randee! I'm in good old MN. Our wedding is in downtown St.Paul and that's also where they closed the TWO MAIN ROADS to get to our venue! VERY much to my surprise, the directions I included in our invites do NOT include the two roads (I copied right from the venues site before the road construction was even announced, so I count my blessings that it turned out this way!) we have 7 girls to do hair and makeup on, plus me. Gonna be a loooong day lol!! The timelines here are REALLY helping!! Thanks, ladies!!!

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  • Pam
    Savvy September 2014
    Pam ·
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    This was my daughter's timeline for her 4:30 wedding. Ceremony and reception same location. They did not do a first look for pictures.

    8:30-9:00 BM hair

    9:00-10:00 Bride hair

    10:00-10:30 BM hair 12:00 BM makeup

    10:30-11:00 BM hair 12:30 Bride makeup

    11:00-12:30 BM hair 1:00 BM makeup

    12:00 Lunch arrives for everyone

    1:00 Caterer arrives

    1:00 Flowers arrive

    1:30 Everyone gets dressed

    2:00 Photographer arrives

    Pics of women getting ready, details

    Pics of men getting ready, details

    2:00 Pictures of bridal party

    PM DJ arrives (don't remember what time)

    4:00 Pre-ceremony pictures finished

    4:00 Bridal party out of site

    4:00 Ring check

    4:00 Prelude music starts/guests arrive

    4:30 CEREMONY!

    5:00 Ceremony ends

    5:00 Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres

    5:00-6:00 Bride/Groom pictures

    (The schedule is actually now 30 minutes late due to caterer running behind)

    6:30 Reception starts

    6:45 Announce wedding party

    Announce bridal couple

    6:45 First dance

    6:50 Buffet is open

    7:30 Cake cutting (caterer cuts cakes while toasts are being said)

    Toasts

    Father/Daughter dance

    Mother/Son dance

    Open dance floor

    9:30 Bar closes

    9:45 Last dance

    10:00 Reception ends

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  • Shanna
    Dedicated May 2015
    Shanna ·
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    Thank you, Pam!! That timeline is pretty spot on with my rough draft Smiley smile

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  • NewMrsWesely
    Master September 2016
    NewMrsWesely ·
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    For the hair and makeup I would also talk to the people who will be doing it. They will know how long each girls hair and makeup will take this will give you a better idea of how to create your timeline. Also talk with the photographer about how long everything normally takes. I actually thought wedding party and family photos would take more than 2 hours but my photographer said that's all what he would need.

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  • jewles322
    Master March 2015
    jewles322 ·
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    Had a 4pm ceremony (according to invite ) , arrived at Venue at 11:15. Hair/makeup done by 1:30. Had a few minutes to chill /getting ready pics . Got in dress at 3:00 First look at 3:15 followed by bridal party pictures. Guest started to arrive at 4pm. Ketubah signing /bridesmaids photos at 3:45/4. Recessional starts at 4:25 .

    Cocktails at 5pm. Reception started at 6:15

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