Wedding time line

Will there be a cocktail hour between the ceremony and the reception? If not that's a long time for guests to have in between the events. Or do you plan for your ceremony to take awhile?

View Quoted Comment Do you think it’s along time? I just started thinking that as well once I got started on the timeline! I think I’ll still be able to change the start time of the ceremony. I just want to leave time for formal photos because its going to be at a little reservation in between both sites. We can add the cocktail hour for sure though. We weren’t sure if it was necessary.

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I do think its a long time if the sites aren't very far from each other. Unless you plan on having a really long ceremony, I feel like most are over within 30-45 minutes. So that still leaves about 2 hours in between. If you want to take pictures in between the ceremony and reception, my suggestion would be to add a cocktail hour at the reception site so that your guests won't be bored ... Or hungry waiting for dinner lol. It's definitely not a necessity though, but they may get bored waiting until 6pm

View Quoted Comment I agree thank you!

Cocktail hours are 45 min-1 hour at most. You have a long gap for your guests between ceremony and your reception. Formal pictures also take about an hour so you will be paying your photographer for "empty time" .


However, your original question was based on planning your day out. I'd first suggest moving your ceremony time to 4:30 (assuming it's no more than 30 min). You also don't want photographer there right when ceremony starts as I'm sure you'll want him/her there for "getting ready" photos! Your photographer will also help you with timeline as far as speeches, dances, etc. Some people go right into first dance when bridal party is introduced at reception prior to dinner.

Do you know how long your ceremony will take? Can you start your reception any earlier than 6pm (or ceremony any later)? For the reception, I'd plan for 45 minutes for cocktails; 15 minutes for guests to find their seats; 10 minutes for introductions, first dance, and welcome toast and/or blessing; 1 hour for dinner with speeches between courses; 5 minutes for father/daughter and mother/son dances; 5 minutes for bouquet and garter tosses; and 5 minutes for cake cutting (traditionally the last "event" of the night).

Don’t know if it helps, but our ceremony at church is 3:00 pm. Ceremony is about 40-45 minutes. Venue is up the street so 4:00 ish start for cocktail hour. People will go directly there. We will take photos (the place for that is maybe 5-10 minutes away at most. Reception starts at 5. My timeline is tight, but the locations are all very close.