Timeline help!!! 5 pm ceremony time

I would have everything else ready before 3, get dressed at 3, first look at 4 and yes some guests will likely see you, put 5 on your invites.

The time on your invitations should be the time your ceremony begins. I would be extremely annoyed if I arrived between 4 and 4:15 for a 4:30 ceremony, then sat there for an hour. I agree with Peggy about having everyone ready at 3, but I would do the first look right after. That gives you an hour and a half to do photos before guests begin arriving. Hopefully that cuts down the photos that need to be taken during cocktail hour, so you can greet some of your guests then. The rest can be greeted at the end of dinner. I would also push your first dance to before or after dinner. You want people to pay attention to the first dance, not just their meal.

I agree about moving your first dance to after dinner. It's a great way to open the floor for dancing. That's what we did. We did the cake cutting right after dinner followed by our first dance and then open dancing. As for table visits, you and your partner get served your dinner first so you can quickly eat and then make your rounds doing your table visits while people are eating. Definitely put the actual ceremony time on the invitation. Most guests arrive at least 30 minutes early for weddings so you don't want them waiting an hour. The getting ready shots are quick because they are usually staged. You and everyone else in those pics should already have your hair and makeup done so when your photographer comes they can quickly take a few detail shots and then you getting into your dress. Then your first look pics. We did almost all of our pics before the ceremony and did a first look. We allotted 2.5 hours for this but could have easily done them all in 2 hours or slightly under.

Does everyone think that 5 hrs is enough time or should we pay for an extra hour?

My wedding was from 5-11 and everyone had to be out by 12. We had access to the venue starting at 2; here’s our timeline:

2:30 guys arrive
2:45 girls arrive
3:00 first look
3-4:30 photos (go to suite while guest arrive
4:30-5 guest arrive
5-5:30 ceremony
5:30-6:30 Cocktail hour
6:45 introductions
7 first dance
7:10 mother/son dad/daughter dance
7:15-8:30 dinner
8:15 speeches
8:30 second father/daughter dance
8:30-11 dancing
9 cake cutting
11 reception ends

we did getting ready photos before we got to the venue and showed up dressed and ready. Good luck!

If you have the option to pay to extend it, I would. You only get one wedding day (hopefully).

View Quoted Comment Thank you. It seems like extending then wedding is a better option.

My ceremony starts at 5 too. We are starting hair and makeup at 7:50 (large bridal party) and getting to the venue at 2:30. Were doing a first look and will take pictures from 2:30-4:30. The venue said they would make sure no guests crossed through the area we’ll have to walk through before 4:30.

My venue coordinator told me that the "getting ready" pics they do are taken after we're already dressed and ready to go. Our photographer comes with the venue and starts 30 minutes before the ceremony starts. So the photographs they take, like zipping up the dress and adding the veil, are strictly for photos. So if you wanted to do a first look, my best suggestion would be do the first look early, before guests start to arrive, and then do some staged photographs. Just an idea

So I am getting married at 9.24.2020 at Bel Air Bay Club. They are amazing and did a wedding template schedule for us that we have adjusted. Maybe it can help you. I have also added my photographer's schedule.

4:00 - 4:30 pm - Getting ready pictures (GROOM)

4:30 - 5:00 pm Getting ready pictures (BRIDE)

5:00 - 5:30 pm First Look

5:00 pm - Invite Time (GUEST START ARRIVING)

5:30 pm - Cermony

6:00 pm - Hor D'Oeuvers ( FAMILY PICTURES START)

7:00 pm - Doors Open (FAMILY PICTURES END)

7:15 pm - Grand Entrance

7:20 pm - First Dance

7:25 pm - Welcome Toast ( Vendors will eat at this time)

7:30 pm - Salad Course served

8:00 pm - Dinner Course

8:20 pm - Toasts ( we don't think we will do this)

8:30 pm - Father-daughter Dance/mom-son dance

9:30 pm - Cake Cutting/ Dessert Bars Open

11 pm Conclusion

View Quoted Comment Thanks everyone! We decided to extend the wedding for an hour. I really feel that since it's sorta destination for people that a wedding ending at 10 pm was too early and rushed.