4-9 pm Wedding Day Timeline Tips/examples

I’m in TN too! We are also having a 4pm wedding with a 9pm leaving time. We’re starting the ceremony at 4.30 and asking people to start arriving at 4pm. We’re having ‘cocktail hour’ at 5 when the ceremony will end. Reception will start around 5.45/6pm. Hope that helps!! We are still adjusting our timeline too

My wedding was at 4:30. We told people to be there by 4:30 because I feel it is rude to tell them an earlier time and expect them to sit around. They are adults and know how to tell time so if anyone was late that was on them. No one was late. Our ceremony ended by 5 then we had our receiving line followed by cocktail hour which is when we took full bridal party photos and family photos. We did a first look so we only did a few pictures of my husband and I during cocktail hour as most we done during the first look. Our introductions were at 6:00. Salad was served at 6:30. The buffet opened at 6:45. Dinner was over by 7:30. My suggestion would be to do as many photos as possible prior to the ceremony since your reception is rather short. Our reception went to 10 rather than 9 and it went by very quickly.

Ours was 3-8. 3:00 ceremony, 3:30 cocktail hour and photos, 4:30 first dance and buffet, 5:30 toasts, 5:45 dancing, 6:45 cake cutting, 7:50 last song and exit

Our wedding is from 3-8 and my timeline is a little specific, but hopefully it helps!

9:00 Arrive at venue to begin setup
11:00 Brief lunch break/begin getting ready
1:15 Pre-wedding photos (bride/dad first look, bride/family, groom/family, wedding parties)
2:15 Finish photos to return to bride/groom suites
2:30 Early bird guests start to arrive
3:00 Invite time
3:10 Ceremony Begins (to accommodate late comers if necessary)
3:35 Ceremony Ends/Guests move to reception area
3:40 Cocktail Hour/Post Ceremony Photos
4:40 Introduction of Bride & Groom/First Dance
4:50 Welcome (Father of the Bride)
4:55 Prayer from Grandfather of the Groom
5:00 Dinner begins (buffet style)
5:45 Toasts
6:00 Father/Daughter & Mother/Son Dances
6:10 Dancing/Sunset Photos
7:00 Cake cutting
7:15 Bouquet/Garter Toss
7:45 Last Dance
8:00 Send Off

Ours was scheduled from 2-9 but everyone left by 730 so I will use that time.

12 pm - started hair and makeup (no bridal party so it was only me)

12:30 - photographer arrived to start taking getting ready photos and detail shots

2 pm-2:30 pm - ceremony

2:30-3:30 - group/family photos

3:30 - official start of reception (food was a buffet so everyone ate when they wanted)

4:30 - staged cake cutting photos (why it was staged is on another thread)

The rest of the evening was mingling, photo booth, dessert, drinks etc. Because it was on a Sunday and a lot of people had a 2+ hour ride home, everyone started heading out early. We did not have toasts, scheduled dances, bouquet toss, garter toss, send off etc so once professional photos were done, it was just fun for all.