Ceremony and reception same place

Ask your vendors

I would ask your venue and other vendors how they’ve scheduled the day for other events. We are having our ceremony and reception at the space venue and they have a rough timeline we can modify but we are sticking to their normal routine.

So our wedding was at the same venue (a hotel), but the ceremony was held in the lobby, cocktail in a pre-function area, and then the reception was in the ballroom. Our ceremony started at 4:30 and was approximately 30 minutes then cocktail hour started at 5:00. The cocktail hour ended at 6:00 and guests were then allowed in the ballroom to get to their seats. Our grand entrance was at 6:15 immediately followed by our first dance. Then my dad, the best man, and my brother (bride's man) gave a toast and my brother also said a prayer. The salad course was served at 6:35-6:40. The buffet opened at 6:45. Our venue created our timeline for our ceremony and reception.

I would speak with your vendors. There’s also wedding day timelines on Pinterest that can give you a basic overview of the day.

Will your guests feel comfortable with buffet style during this pandemic?

I've also struggled with developing a timeline for the day. I found it really help to find 'real wedding' stories that went through each couples' entire day with details just to get a general idea to work off of. Personally I still need to get my prep & getting ready timeline together, but for vendor purposes I would try to get a good idea of how the ceremony and reception will need to move. So, for my wedding (venue booked for 3pm - 11pm) everyone is having to drive at least two hours, so I'm opening up the bar/refreshments available around 5:45, ceremony starts at 6:30. Determine what kind of ceremony you want - I do not want a long, drawn out ceremony - and plan accordingly; for myself I'm saying 15-20 mins for the entire ceremony. So by 6:50 I want to start photos and open the bar back up with snacks (individual charcuterie boxes now) - this is at the same venue just a different space. 7:45-8 start the reception.

I would go through a list of what you want to have at your wedding - cocktail hour, any entertainment, dinner, toasts, dances, cake, etc. - and research average times for these to take place and then think about your specifics to get a solid idea of how long each aspect will take.

Sorry if that didn't help any - I'm still not 100% set on mine either. Good luck though! It'll all come together and your day will be special no matter what!

*Also - we're doing buffet style as well (July 2021) and I think it'll be fine. The buffet has servers, masked, and we're having guests mask up to go up to the buffet as well.

Speak with your vendors.

If your ceremony and reception are in the same space, like the same room, your venue will more than likely suggest having your guests go somewhere else for cocktail hour so they can flip the room and prepare it for the reception.

For a buffet style reception during covid, talk with your caterer and see if they are willing to have staff stationed at the buffet to place food on everyone's plate, as well as wearing masks and gloves. This will limit the amount of hands touching the utensils, and will ease your guests as far as safety goes.

I would ask your vendors and venue coordinator. Our ceremony and reception will take place at the same venue. Our ceremony is at 4, cocktail hour 4:30, dinner at 6:00, dancing at 7:30.