order of the day

gemma_8_1

Hi, I have made a provisional booking on a venue for 7th August, short notice I know! The venue had a cancellation so offered us a substantial discount! However when I called the registrar, they can only do 4.30pm, the venue has given me an example of an order of the day which is -
4.30 -5.00 ceremony
5.00-6.30 drinks reception
6.30 - 8.30 wedding breakfast
9.15 - Midnight evening reception.

I will be having some evening guests but 9.15 seems a bit late for them to arrive. So I was thinking of allowing 1 hour for the drinks reception and 1 hour and a half for the wedding breakfast which would mean the evening reception would start at 8.15. Do you think that would work? Any advice on how much time others have allowed/taken would be useful?

neneromanova

I haven't had my wedding yet, but 1hr 30 mins seems aaaaaages for the drinks! Why not do 30 mins for drinks so photos can be taken aswell, then sit down to dinner at half 5 and say people can arrive from 7.30 - 8 for the evening?

Bride2be24

have your tried any other registrars in your area??sure there would be more than one???

shellsuit

gemma_8_1 wrote: »

Hi, I have made a provisional booking on a venue for 7th August, short notice I know! The venue had a cancellation so offered us a substantial discount! However when I called the registrar, they can only do 4.30pm, the venue has given me an example of an order of the day which is -
4.30 -5.00 ceremony
5.00-6.30 drinks reception
6.30 - 8.30 wedding breakfast
9.15 - Midnight evening reception.

I will be having some evening guests but 9.15 seems a bit late for them to arrive. So I was thinking of allowing 1 hour for the drinks reception and 1 hour and a half for the wedding breakfast which would mean the evening reception would start at 8.15. Do you think that would work? Any advice on how much time others have allowed/taken would be useful?

If I were you, I'd have,,,

4.30 - 5 - ceremony
6 - 7.30 wedding breakfast (with maybe a drink on arrival for the guests)
8.30 - evening reception


Or, I'd cut out the wedding breakfast and invite everyone to the ceremony, have some drinks and canapes (which should cost less than a wedding breakfast) and then go striaght into an eveing reception at 7ish.

gemma_8_1

Yes I have called another registrar but they said I have to use the one nearest to my wedding venue as they all have set districts that they work in.

gemma_8_1

neneromanova wrote: »

I haven't had my wedding yet, but 1hr 30 mins seems aaaaaages for the drinks! Why not do 30 mins for drinks so photos can be taken aswell, then sit down to dinner at half 5 and say people can arrive from 7.30 - 8 for the evening?

Yes an hour and a half does seem a long time for drinks, not sure if 30 minutes will be long enough tho, Im not sure how long photos take! I have allowed 2 drinks per person I guess I could reduce it to 1 each (saving some money as well!)

RainbowDrops

I think allowing an hour for the photo's is realistic - you'de be surprised how long a few poses take, and it's worth having the time to make sure you have lovely pictures of your special day.

You could cut the time of the wedding breakfast by serving canapes with the reception drinks instead of having a starter (this is an option our venue has offered us.

Also, you could maybe invite evening guests to come earlier (eg when you're having coffees) so that they can hear the speaches?

laura2481

I would suggest leaving the wedding breakfast time at 2hrs as it always takes longer than you think and then there are the speeches... unless you want evening guests to arrive for the speeches as suggested above

gemma_8_1

thanks for all your advice, I have decided to reduce the drinks reception to one hour and keep all the other timings the same this will bring the breakfast end time to 8pm, we then have to clear the room and go into the bar area so they can set up the hall. so i was thinking i would invite evening guests at 8pm and meet them in the bar area. i spoke to the venue again and they said if the dj sets up during the day and moves his stuff to the side thsi will reduce the 45 mins setting up time! so all sorted thanks!

mypie

If it was me I would have drinks served to guest as they leave the ceremony and then just spend 30mins on that then dinner.

RainbowDrops

mypie wrote: »

If it was me I would have drinks served to guest as they leave the ceremony and then just spend 30mins on that then dinner.

The reason for giving longer though is to keep the guest occupied while you get your photos done - half an hour would be cutting it very fine.