Timeline for evening wedding

My ceremony is later than yours, and my reception ends earlier haha. I'd say your's is pretty standard, if not long.

I'd do 5:30-6:00 ceremony

6-7 cocktail hour

7-12 reception (that's a 5 hour reception, most are only 4 after cocktail hour). That's plenty of time for dances, cacke cutting, toasts, intros, whatever. In fact depending on your crowd you may not have many hang around until 11:30-12.

Also, with that time you would have plenty of time to do photos after the ceremony. But if you want them before, go for it! I am doing mine before because we want to, and it helps the timeline.

@Rusty- thanks! And we will probably use the last hour we have for clean-up. I'm anticipating most people leaving around 11 because it IS a long period of time for a reception. (If we have party animals there until midnight we also have the next day for venue packing/clean-up)

We have our venue 3pm-midnight here is our timeline hopefully it helps...

3-4 welcome guests start arriving drinks & hors de vours served

4:30-5 ceremony

5-6 Photos Cocktail Hour

6-10 Reception

10-10:30 whiskey & cigars

10:30-12 Firepit/goodbyes/afterparty

So what I'm thinking maybe

5:30-6 Ceremony

6-7 Cocktail hour

7-12 Dinner, drinks, dancing

We aren't doing many toasts, traditional dancing or a cake cutting. Does this seem okay?

Also- if we were to decide on photos before the ceremony is it weird to greet guests and mingle during cocktail hour?

Our ceremony is starting at the same time. If you're interested in doing a first look you would be able to get pretty much all of the group pictures done before the ceremony. We are doing that and I think it will free up a lot more time to actually say hi to everyone during cocktail hour. I think that the timeline that @Rusty added is great. Its almost exactly what our timeline is after the ceremony.

I think that sounds perfect! I have been to a few wedding where the bride/bride, bride/groom, groom/groom have mingled during cocktail hour, I don't see anything wrong with that!

@DeannaT- not weird at all! Cocktail hour is a great time to mingle and thank guests for coming!

We're allotting an hour for our ceremony (it's in a Catholic church), then full cocktail hour, four hour reception.

In my experience, four hours is just long enough that people wish it was a tiny bit longer and are still having fun. Five drags out. Three feels unsatisfying.

Should I maybe say dinner,drinks & dancing 7-11 or 7--11:30 so no one feels like they need to stay super late? I don't feel like everyone needs to stay until midnight, in my experience I'm ready to head out by 10:30/11 at the latest!

To piggyback off your question OP, I'm having a hard time figuring out ours as well. We have our venue for 8 hours (3-11) and 4 hours the Friday night before for the rehearsal. Wondering what time to start the ceremony/end the reception? I'd LIKE for the reception to end at 10 PM to leave an hour for cleanup and stragglers. Any suggestions on timeline?

Deanna- I wouldn't mention any time on your invites except to say reception to follow. Guests will leave once you and your spouse exit, no need to tell them the time. You can make a sign that says the time schedule to post at the wedding, but it's definitely not necessary

We have our venue from 6-11pm

Ceremony 5-5:30

Cocktail Hour 6-7

Reception 7-11