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Valerie
Devoted September 2018

Lunch wedding

Valerie, on March 13, 2017 at 2:53 PM Posted in Planning 0 13
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I'm looking for any advice or examples of your lunch wedding timeline as I've never been to one.

The earliest our venue opens is 10am. We originally wanted a brunch wedding but that won't work with that time crunch. Our ceremony and reception is the same location. Our venue sets up the tables/chairs for us and the other décor I wouldn't imagine takes more than an hour and a half. Venue is beautiful and won't require much-- setting up tablecloths, centerpieces, the altar, putting things in the right spot etc. Lunch will be a catered buffet. Probably 150 guests. We want to do a first look.

I was thinking maybe a 1:30pm ceremony then drinks, lunch, and reception to follow. Is lunch at 2/2:30pm too late? Or has anyone had a 3pm ceremony, some cocktails, and then an earlier dinner? I'd ideally like the reception to be wrapped up between 6-8pm, depending on when the ceremony starts. I know its a bit early but I want to lock in a caterer soon. Thanks in advance!

13 Comments

Latest activity by Valerie, on March 14, 2017 at 11:25 AM
  • GoingBALDwin!!!!!
    Master April 2017
    GoingBALDwin!!!!! ·
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    I'm doing 3pm ceremony. 330 to 430 cocktail hour and 5 pm dinner.

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  • A. L.
    Master July 2017
    A. L. ·
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    I think a 2pm lunch is probably the latest I would do. It would be better to do a 3pm ceremony, 3:30 cocktail hour, and then 4:30pm dinner.

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  • Karie
    VIP October 2017
    Karie ·
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    Sounds a little late to me. Could you start at 12?

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  • Valerie
    Devoted September 2018
    Valerie ·
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    I appreciate the feedback! Yeah, I'm leaning towards the lunch being too late.

    If I did noon, I would have hire someone to set up the decorations so FH and I can do a first look. Which is definitely manageable, I just figured since it is not a lot of décor that I could do it myself. Plus I enjoy doing that stuff Smiley smile

    I also like the idea of a 3pm ceremony with a 4:30pm dinner.

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  • Alyssa B.
    Super April 2017
    Alyssa B. ·
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    I'm having my ceremony at 10am cocktail hour at 11am reception at 12pm with lunch served at 12:45.

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  • Spiff
    VIP August 2017
    Spiff ·
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    You should totally hire someone else to do your decor.. you will feel stressed if you have to do it.. why add that to wedding day stress??

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  • OceanDreamin
    Expert July 2017
    OceanDreamin ·
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    I totally wanted to set up my venue to because I like the visual piece of organizing my vision but in the end I didn't want one more thing to think about so we hired a DOC and I can't wait to walk in and see what a beautiful job everyone had done and plus for once I want to feel like a princess and pay for people to do what they do best!

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  • CuteNickname
    Super July 2017
    CuteNickname ·
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    I went to an 11 a.m. wedding and it was honestly a great time. If you're going to have a lunch time wedding, maybe just own it and hold it at the normal meal time (ceremony at 11, cocktail hour 11:30-12:30, then meal)?

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  • Mrs. Librarian
    VIP November 2016
    Mrs. Librarian ·
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    I had an 11:30 ceremony. 12-1 cocktail hour and the reception was 1 to about 4.

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  • Valerie
    Devoted September 2018
    Valerie ·
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    Thanks all for your timelines @CuteNickname and @Mrs.Librarian.

    Thinking about the day of, I agree that I won't want the stress of having to decorate.

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  • 24kMagicWed
    VIP May 2017
    24kMagicWed ·
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    We're having a lunch wedding.

    -Breakfast 8:00

    -Hair/Makeup 8:30-11:00

    -Photos 11:30

    -Ceremony 1-1:30

    -Cocktail hour & photos 1:30-2:30

    -Grand entrance 2:45

    -Plated lunch 3-4:30 (toasts during dinner)

    -Cake cutting 4:30

    -Spotlight dances

    -Dance until 8:00

    -Casino After Party

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  • LittleSparrow
    Devoted October 2017
    LittleSparrow ·
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    We're having our wedding at 2 p.m., knowing (and so does everyone else) that our venue is only serving "snacks" and cake instead of a full meal (which is totally pointless with how small our wedding is). So our reception will be falling between lunch and dinner. Most people will eat before coming (we, the wedding party) will be going in at 1 for the pre-wedding stuff and should wrap around 4-4:30. My FH and I are intending to leave after the reception and go on our honeymoon, after stopping for our first dinner alone as husband and wife.

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  • Valerie
    Devoted September 2018
    Valerie ·
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    Sounds great @24kMagicWed!

    @LittleSparrow We plan on getting dinner alone together after the reception too!

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