When to start the Ceremony - Schedule

I would push the ceremony later - 2.5 hours is a long time for people to wait. You may talk to everyone once, but only for a few minutes. What will they be doing for the rest of the time? I'd move it later!

View Quoted Comment I thought it could give them time to check in to hotels but idk. That’s assuming they’re staying at a hotel.

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I would want to check in before the ceremony instead of going to an event, going back to the hotel, and then going back to the event. It just seems a bit broken up, if that makes sense. But if there was another reason you originally chose 3:30 and want to keep it then, it shouldn't be a huge deal!

View Quoted Comment I’m at the point where we can still change it. The hotel is part of the venue where the reception will be assuming guests will stay there.

I would move your ceremony to a later time. As a guest I would not want to wait that king between the ceremony and reception. Are you planning to do any pictures before the ceremony to help keep that time short for pictures? We did many of our pictures prior to the ceremony and are so glad we did. We wanted to get as much out of the time with our guests as we could...just a suggestion.

If you want your cocktail hour to start at 6, your ceremony should start at 5:30.

View Quoted Comment I don’t think that’s feasible when our reception is at a different location and the ceremony will likely end at 6:00.


Plus I should add we’re having a very intimate ceremony and all guests will have photos taken after the ceremony.

I would move your ceremony time too.

Have as little of a gap as possible. Guests want to go directly to the reception after the ceremony without downtime in between. Take as many pictures before the ceremony as you can. Move the ceremony to a later time (will be 30 minutes max for nonreligious and anywhere from 30-60 mins max for religious). Open the cocktail hour so guests can mingle while you are finishing pictures and still have plenty of time to enjoy it yourself.

I agree about cutting the gap down as much as possible.

View Quoted Comment We’re planning to take all pictures after the ceremony before the reception, which is why I was accounting for so much time.

View Quoted Comment That’s what I asked is whether the ceremony time should be 3:30 or 4:00. I’m leaning towards 4:00.

View Quoted Comment Thanks! That’s what I’m leaning towards

I can also see about bumping up cocktail hour to 5:30.