Forgive me a was a little bitter towards the end...

Your dinner is really long, bouquet & garter toss take 10 mins, cake cutting takes 5. I assume you'll have dancing in between all those activities? Also, why are you leaving so early? Most of your guests will leave as soon as you do.

Also, don't be so bitter… have the groomsmen help set up. You may need them for heavy lifting.

Don't we need to include time for serving the cake? And I'm leaving early because we want to get to the hotel . The groomsmen may come help, but the groom and I are waiting until the wedding to see each other. We can probably shorten the dinner, but I figured it takes time for people to eat and its a buffet. I'm not really bitter it was just a joke that he doesn't have much to do that day. I doubt everyone will leave when we do, his whole family from out of state is coming and they are all heavy drinkers. They will be up way past midnight.

Wow, you're leaving that early? Most people leave right after the bride and groom or after the cake. How much later did you pay for the reception to keep going after you leave?

The reception is open all night regardless, up until 5am no extra charge and we don't have to clean up. I couldn't care less what time everyone else leaves, but we are going to the hotel otherwise we wont make it the next day to get to the honeymoon. Like I said with the situation of having a lot of out of town guests who are heavy drinkers, I doubt everyone will leave when we do.

Guests don't just sit waiting for cake… it does take some time so you should open up the dance floor while that is happening. the cake will magically appear at their seats, or the servers can set up a station for guests to grab from. Typically (in the 100 or so weddings I've been a part of) guests bail shortly after the B&G leave unless you have an open bar and raging guests. Also, being a recent bride… I can't imagine leaving my party early. I wanted to savor every minute of it and make time to see everyone who came to celebrate with us. I can't imagine staying til midnight, but 9:30 seems awfully early :-(

Also, really think about how long it will take you to get ready, 2 1/2 hours isn't much time if you're getting professional hair & make up.

I didn't plan on people waiting around doing nothing while this is going on and the dance floor will be open pretty much the whole time, but thanks for the tip. There will actually be a HUGE bar and I don't think I'm getting my point across that a lot of the guests from out of state are treating this like a family reunion so they will probably stay late only to party with the groom's family. We may leave closer to 10pm by the time we say goodbye and everything but we don't want to stay untill 11 or 12 since I will be exhausted and still have to drive an hour to the hotel (I happen to work for one of the only two hotels in town, the other will be full of family memebers. Neither is a good choice for our "first time" as a bride and groom if you get what I mean). You're right about us needing to have more time to get ready! I don't know how to squeeze that in there but I will have to figure it out. Hopefully it wont take very long to decorate. Thanks for the advice.

Oh but we are doing our own hair & makeup. We still may need another 30mins-1 hour though.

Looks pretty good but I would worry about only leaving yourself half an hour to get into your dress unless it is a simple one without a corset, crinolines, etc. I was at the seamstress Friday and it took us 15 minutes just to get me into the logline bra, crinoline and dress.

And I know what you mean about family reunions - mine will probably end up that way LOL!

Good point Linda! It doesn't have a corset but I'm thinking about having buttons added, and the crinoline has been sewn in...I will have to see how long it takes to get on next time I try it on! I don't have my undergarnments yet so I will need to try that.

Ooh and I just realized if I get there 30mins before it starts some guests will see me! I def. need to get there earlier. Ugh I wish they had a bigger "getting ready" room.

I love the part for your guys. made me laugh. but really nothin the groom can do on the day of expect show up on time. im pretty much telling mine to kieep himself bust because i will be at the location setting up and that he isnt allowed to see me until im walking up to him at the ceremony

I seriously am so jealous of the guys on the day of. FH will no doubt sleep until at least 1pm. Then roam around with his boys, swim, play basket ball. In the meantime I will be a disaster. Oh well. The control freak in me wouldn't allow myself to have the responsibility handed over any way.

Kristen, you are tooooo funny! But I get your point. I think because as women we want things to be perfect (expectations) so we plan accordingly, and men are just "whatever happens, happens). So to answer your question There are NO changes needed!