Wedding Day Timeline: So many questions!

Is the bar not open during cocktail hour? It can hardly be cocktail hour if there are no cocktails/drinks to be had

ETA: sorry I didn't answer any of your other questions, I'm just concerned about the bar right now

I'm concerned too. You bar doesn't open until 7:00, but your actually cocktail hour/reception starts at 4:00?

OP, please clarify.

@MTMA I was thinking that 2.5 hours is not long enough for a bar to be open. Hopefully it's just closing during dinner or something

Yeah I ran out of characters to explain that. There will be wines, champagne and finger foods. But he mixed drinks won't come out until later. Cocktail hour was just the best way to describe it. Knowing my guests the heavier drinks would run out before dinner started if the bar opened right away.

Got it! That would be fine with me. Will there be beer offered during cocktail hour as well? Not everyone likes wine and/or champagne

I don't still have my timeline but our day started at 9 for a ceremony at 4:30.

I allotted one hour for each service so that we had plenty of time to get ready. Everyone can do their makeup when they are not getting their hair done so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

@Autumn I'm not sure yet. We have to provide all the alcohol and hire a bartender for the reception. I haven't really started figuring out the whole liquor part yet. I don't think that we'll have beer until the bar opens however. I would rather have the bartender handle the beer.

Do you have a DOC? He or she would be able to help you with this as well. For your photographer, decide whether you want getting ready shots and detail shots. Some of those can be taken ahead of time and photographer can tell you the exact time (mine gave me a detailed list of which photos would be taken when according to my timeline). As for MUA/hairstylist, give him or her your number of people and ask him or her what time they would want to show up (always plan for a half hour delay doesn't hurt). We hired five people to help set up venue for 110 people. They were there three hours early. If you have rentals, slot that time. If you have florist, slot which time they are coming. Same with DJ, catering (if it's outside catering), bartender, cake, etc.

Amanda do u have a time line for your wedding I have been trying to decide on start the for my 4:30 wedding

@Amber I don't have a DOC. I'm not getting my hair or makeup professionally done, so I don't really have anyone to ask.

Definitely ask your photographer! They do this professionally and should be able to help you out! When I am shooting a wedding, I'll allot one hour for family and wedding party portraits, half an hour for bride and groom, typically 15 minutes for the bride alone.

Is you father/daughter dance really after your cake cutting ?

I feel like the cocktail hour is really long. An hour and a half seems excessive for cocktail HOUR.

I would start hair and makeup early early. Like at 8 am. I stood in a wedding where the bride had 6 bm's, 1 fg and her and we started at 7:30 and were all done by 2:30

Are you doing a first look?

Why a half hour between entrance and food?

@Tina I was actually advised by several people that my cocktail hour was too short. The whole point of that time is really for pictures. In the contract my photographer stated that he needed a minimum of an hour and a half for the pictures.

@Ali No first look! And the half an hour is for the entrance AND the first dance

I plan to ask my photographer what time to start pictures if ceremony start is 6. Then I'll go to my HMUA and say photog is starting at this time, what time do you suggest starting for 5 people? Then base everything else from there

An hour and a half is a long time for pictures/cocktail hour. My FSIL scheduled an hour for pictures during her cocktail hour and the guests were complaining about how long cocktail hour was taking after only 30 minutes. Drinks and passed apps were included in this cocktail hour too.