Start time for ceremony/reception - two different places!?

Yes guests will drive straight to the reception from the ceremony. Are you having any type of receiving line where you greet your guests after the ceremony and thank them for coming? It can be as simple as dismissing each row of guests, which is a common thing.

Work backward from when your reception venue opens. Estimate 20 mins for transportation just to be safe. Estimate 10-15 mins for a receiving line. 30 mins for your ceremony. From 5:30pm, that becomes roughly 4-4:15pm for your entrance down the aisle with times padded to account for any mishaps along the way.

Melle and Jana,

Thank you! Yes, these are definitely things that I'm considering. We'd enjoy having a receiving line, but given that our guest count has been decreased due to COVID (approx. 60-65 guests as opposed to 100), I think that we'll have a good amount of time to meet and celebrate with guests at the reception.

Time will tell! I appreciate your feedback!

I would also recommend 5:30pm for the reception time so you and your spouse won't feel so rushed to get to the reception and you guys can feel all the emotions sink in that you are married! If you don't plan on having a cocktail hour at your reception. But if you do then that will give your guest some time to arrive to the reception and wait for your arrival to enter the reception space.