Lunch wedding

Does everything have to be cleaned up and broken down by 4 p.m.?

Why so short? That sounds really stressful to me. I wouldn't want to be super rushed like that on my wedding day. Don't you want time for you and your guests to relax?

I probably have a fairly similar timeline to you, I'm doing a brunch wedding with a ceremony at 11. Here is my rough timeline, I'm still playing some with the speeches and special dance placement.

8:00 getting ready, hair and makeup etc.

11:00: wedding ceremony

11:30: posed pictures

12:30 brunch reception

1:30 speeches

2:00 special dances

ETA: are you planning on a full dancing reception or just food and relaxation? that will obviously alter your timeline a lot. Four hours is plenty if you are going for a dinner party feel but would be awfully cramped if you are expecting dancing.

Unfortunately, for the early afternoon slot it's from 12-4 only. To add an additional hour is 1200 which I think is a little too much... I was still planning on getting a dj for the 4 hours which is really almost 3 1/2 since the ceremony starts at 12 and should last 20-30 min then pics. It does sound stressful.. I guess the other option is not to have a dj and just lunch. Thank you for the rough schedule. It gives me an idea of what to possibly do. So is your brunch wedding from 11-2pm ? Will you have a dj or just brunch ?

To help maximize your time at the venue have you considered doing first look pictures? Just trying to determine if 30 min is enough time for all your pictures.

I would definitely do a first look for most of your photos. Maybe something like this:

10:30-11:30 first look photos

12-12:30 ceremony

12:30-1:00 cocktail half hour and any other photos

1-2 lunch

2:00 cake cutting and dancing or socializing to the end

That sounds like a good idea! Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

I have a noon ceremony and we are done at 5. To save time, we have decided to do first look pictures to give us more time with out guests.

I'm thinking the timeline will look like this:

11:45 AM Guest Arrival, Congregate in parking lot

Noon Doors Open, Guest Seating

12:15 PM Ceremony

12:45 PM Cocktails & Photos

1:45 PM Bridal Party Entrance, First Dance, Toasts

2:00 PM Lunch Service

3:00 PM Father Daughter, Mother Son, Cake, Bouquet, Garter

3:25 PM Cake Service, Open Dancing (30 minutes)

3:55 PM Last Song

4:00 PM Farewells

4 hours is pretty short, but typical for Yacht Charter weddings. You're not on a boat are you? I agree, $1200 per additional hour is crazy, but what do I know?

Def not on a boat but the venue only allows 4 hours for less than 100 ppl unfortunately. We will prolly do the pre wedding photos just sucks because the venue is a nice place to take pics and they only allow 30 min before ceremony to put dress on, sign papers and be with wedding party. Fortunately our potential dj has done many weddings there and said they are very organized. So I'm just hoping everything will work out for the best. Thank you for your advice