Timeline of events

Do you have a specific start/end time for the ceremony or reception? Starting with either of those is a good place to start

View Quoted Comment I was thinking ceremony to start at 2/3 but I’m wondering is that too early?
then thinking dinner at 5

View Quoted Comment

That's what we're doing! Here's the tentative schedule I have for our 3PM ceremony if you want to use it as a guideline. I didn't accommodate a lot of time for dancing (not really our thing) and your getting ready/taking photos timing will probably be different too. Best of luck!

9:00 Arrive at venue to begin setup
11:00 Brief lunch break/begin getting ready
1:15 Pre-wedding photos (bride/dad first look, bride/family, groom/family, wedding parties)
2:15 Finish photos to return to bride/groom suites
2:40 Early bird guests start to arrive
3:00 Invite time
3:10 Ceremony Begins (to accommodate late comers if necessary)
3:35 Ceremony Ends/Guests move to reception area
3:40 Cocktail Hour/Post Ceremony Photos
4:40 Introduction of Bride & Groom/First Dance
4:50 Welcome (Father of the Bride)
4:55 Prayer from Grandfather of the Groom
5:00 Dinner begins (buffet style)
5:45 Toasts
6:00 Father/Daughter & Mother/Son Dances
6:10 Dancing/Sunset Photos
7:00 Cake cutting
7:15 Bouquet/Garter Toss
7:45 Last Dance
8:00 Send Off

If you want dinner at 5, the ceremony should begin at 3:30. Ceremonies are typically no longer than 30 minutes unless you have religious aspects to incorporate. A 2 pm ceremony isn’t conducive with a 5 pm dinner, that gives you a long, inconvenient gap. Based off of your desired 5 pm dinner time, this is what I would do...

3:30 pm ceremony
4 pm cocktail hour
5 pm grand entrances
5:15 pm dinner is served
6:00 pm speeches
6:15 pm first dance
6:20 pm spotlight dances
.........
9 pm end

If you want to include other reception events like tosses or cake cutting, you would just work them in after the dances.