Help! Small Wedding Timeline?

If you do first dance I would maybe play music on a speaker if others did want to dance. You could just do dinner and cocktails for two or three hours.

I attended a small destination in Jamaica I believe no more than 10 people attended. After the ceremony, they snapped pictures as the guest and couple walked to a nearby gazebo. This is where the couple actually had their first dance with music playing over a small speaker. After that we walked over to an area they had set up for dinner where they served light refreshments until the food came out. Music played lightly in the background. During this time, we (the guests) decided to give words of love and support to the newly married couple - it wasn’t asked for by the couple. Then we ate and talked. The small group actually started dancing on their own because there was light music playing. Then afterwards some people went back to their rooms, some relaxed by the pools and other found trouble to get into lol.

We had a pretty small wedding. We planned on no toasts or anything since we wanted to just enjoy everyone's company. We had the first dance and then his aunt insisted on giving a speech. It was hilarious. I was glad she did it lol. We actually just kind of went with the flow of things. The ones that didn't want to dance just hung out and enjoyed each others company while the rest of us danced. We did stop halfway through and did the cake cutting but didn't have anything else planned. It was only 2 hours which was nice since then the ones that wanted to go out on the town in Vegas could do that without their evening out starting late.

We had a DW with 15 guests. We had a violinist for the ceremony, strolling accordionist for cocktail hour, and background music for reception/dinner. No dancing needed. Everyone had a blast drinking, eating, socializing!

What about a soloist for your ceremony/cocktail hour (guitarist?) Then background music for rest of reception?

I don't think the first dance is odd. If you are worried, maybe pick a shorter song or edited version that is shorter. Or have your first dance later in the evening. It sounds like you are skipping speeches, special dances other than first dance, garter toss and bouquet toss? Are you and your fiance doing a welcome speech, grace before dinner, cake cutting, grand exit? Is the dinner plated or buffet?

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F- This actually sounds perfect to me- hoping mine works out the same! Thanks for sending; esp the part of the first dance being before dinner... Definitely something to think about!

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MrsV1027- Ahhh, this is EXACTLY the kind of timing I am hoping for! Do you happen to remember what time you had the ceremony &/or had dinner at? (I'm hoping the older relatives will be ok with us leaving to go out on the town as well, without feeling slighted that half the wedding is leaving for another location; so I feel like it needs to be late enough that they don't feel that way but not so late that places will be closing soon?)

Also, did you guys have a DJ or just plug into your own playlists? Thanks for this- it's super helpful (& relieving some of my stress)!!

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Oooh, I love the musicians during the ceremony & cocktail hour! (And yes, forgot to include we're going to have background music as well!) Going to look into a soloist; HUGE thanks for the suggestion. I wish I would've found this website & forum sooner; you all are so helpful!! xo

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Thanks for the suggestions! Was definitely thinking to have the first dance towards the end of the evening. No planned speeches, special dances, garter/bouquet toss, grace or grand exit. Dinner right now is buffet although I may see if we can still change it since our group is so small. I have a week to finalize everything so I'm hoping if I can keep current budget as-is, I might have enough left for a soloist as suggested above or a fire dancer (wedding is in Thailand) either before or after dinner.

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You would probably only need the soloist for 1.5-2 hours. About 30-45 minutes for ceremony + 60 minutes for cocktail hour. I'm thinking guitarist because he/she can play romantic music during ceremony and more lively upbeat stuff for cocktail hour.

Thank you so much for all of this- incredibly helpful!!