Friday Eve Wedding Timeline - Traffic/Photos/Transportation/Sunset

3:30 is really early for a Friday. You're expecting people to basically take a half day to get ready and arrive on time, especially with the threat of traffic. You can do this, but understand that some people will not be able to attend with this timeline.

ETA: I didn't see the rest of your post. I stand by it being too early IMO even for locals, but do you really think anyone will drive 10-12 hours round-trip in a day? I sure wouldn't. I would definitely say push it later.

If everything is in 1 location there really shouldn't be a gap, cocktail hour is for your guests while you're taking photos. If you're in different locations for the ceremony and reception, I would plan to have the shuttle pick everyone up immediately following the ceremony and cocktail hour start as soon as it arrives, which I know depends on traffic but really you should plan to start immediately if possible. Don't leave guests waiting around without food or drinks.

We had a Friday evening wedding that we also wanted to time post-ceremony pictures with sunset. Here was our timeline if it helps. I think your ceremony is definitely too early since sunset is the same time that we had.

Ceremony: 5:15 - 5:45

Cocktail Hour/Pictures: 5:45 - about 7 (sunset was at 6:45)

Welp....I had a Thursday wedding that began at 7pm. Unless this is a DW for everyone, I don't think a 3:30pm Friday wedding is going to fly with folks - that's tough, IMO. FYI I mailed out STDs 6 months prior.

I never like to get an invitation to a Friday wedding. But then again, I live in a big city and traffic on Fridays is a nightmare. If I do get an invite for a Friday, I'd rather it be at 6 than at a time that I have to leave work early and take vacation for.

I never like to get an invitation to a Friday wedding. But then again, I live in a big city and traffic on Fridays is a nightmare. If I do get an invite for a Friday, I'd rather it be at 6 than at a time that I have to leave work early and take vacation for.

Most of my Friday weddings, year round, start at 5:30-6:00. This still requires most users to take some time off. A 3:30 wedding is problematic for everyone, work wise. It requires basically a whole day off.

But there are a lot of things to consider; does EVERYONE work 9-5, M-F? Are you inviting a group that would never consider missing your wedding, even if they had to take time off? (I think a lot of couples think that their wedding is a life priority for a lot of people for whom it is not....)

There should be literally no time between the end of the ceremony and the reception, allowing for driving time.

And no one is going to drive 5 hours in, spend 5 hours at your wedding and drive home.

I have a Friday wedding that is starting at 7:30. Too much traffic here in the DC/MD area to start earlier.

To be more specific about guests, 35% will be flying in from the West Coast, so they'll have to take time off anyway. 40% will be 5-6 hour driving distance. I presume they will either get in late thursday and stay in a hotel 2 nights, or get in Friday morning and stay 1 night. 25% will be local.

I'm not expecting anyone will be driving 10-12 hours in one day.

I do think my wedding is a life priority haha. If they can't make the time, they should not rsvp to come. I have a tier 2 and tier 3 guest list, so if people can't make it because of the time, there are other people who would appreciate being invited. (That said, I'm trying to think this through for guest happiness consideration.) We picked a Friday wedding because we have a large extended family (the OOT folks) that we want invited and Friday was significantly cheaper.

Also, this is Columbus Day weekend. Not sure if that is relevant information.

I completely agree with you Private; if it's not worth their time/aggravation, they should RSVP no.

But don't do a tiered guest list. That is wildly rude, and they WILL find out.

I was just at a wedding on Friday and it took me over 2 hours to get there. It was 4:30 with shore traffic. Just be mindful of the "real" travel time.

Like @gymrat, I'm also having a Thursday wedding with a 7p start time. We picked that start time so the locals wouldn't have to necessarily take off from work to attend. I would take into consideration how many people are local and work a 9-5. Also-tiered reception...just no. It's considered rude and in poor taste to ask someone to come to your wedding, but only because people from your initial list couldn't make it.

I'm having a Friday wedding in North Jersey. Invitations will say 5. Ceremony is aimed to start at 5:30PM

A lot of my friends and family are flying in/don't work regular 9-5 jobs. So for many ppl, it won't be an issue. While for others, they'll have to take time off, even if it's half a day. If they can't make it, I'm just hoping they'll RSVP no and move on. But people will get plenty of time.

Thank you Brandi. "immediate" family (aunts, uncles, cousins) takes up 80% of our 200 person guest count and either all of them will come (like they did for my cousins wedding)... or not all of them will. I have no idea which makes it tough to know how many people to invite. There are a lot of people we would like to invite, but we are doing family first, then good friends, then more casual friends/friends from previous parts of our lives. I don't think our tierd people will be offended even if they find out.

Thank you to everyone who responded/is responding.

UGH tiered invitation lists. All of you making people feel like second choices make me so frustrated. I would absolutely NOT go to that wedding. You didn't want me there in the first place? Why would I go in the spot of someone you'd rather be there?

Mine is a Friday DW so we are starting at 430. But everyone invited except for one couple lives far enough away to require a hotel. My aunt and uncle live 30 mins away. If everyone is local, I would make sure to make it late enough for work not to interfere.

Don't do a tiered wedding. That is incredibly rude.

Tiered receptions are rude. People talk, they will find out, and they will be offended (even if you're sure they won't).

Seriously, now you're going to B-list people who will have to take time off to be a not preferred guest? As in, they are not part of your treasured first choice 200 guests?

I was kinda sorta on your side until that.

Lol this thread is off topic! My wedding is 16 months away, I should be able to feel out who can and can't come in my family ahead of time, so maybe I won't need a "B list" as you're calling it. Right now, I just know that I have 350 people that I want to invite and a 200 guest goal. So take that as you will.

Can you afford to invite 350 people? If yes, then have at it. If you can't, then stick to the number you can afford to host properly.

Our wedding is at 5pm on Friday. We invited 215 and had 140 accept. We were aiming to have 150 or less (but could afford/were prepared for all 215 to accept).

Be prepared for a lot of declines. Like you said, those who are unable/unwilling to take the day off will simply RSVP no.

I do think 330 is a bit early. That will require your local guests to take a full day off rather than a half day.