Winter wedding day itinerary/timeline

You're not having an outdoor wedding? What does it matter if it's daylight? Do you live without electricity?

I've been to a couple of winter weddings. Most usually start between 3-4 for the ceremony, 4-6 for cocktails, 6 and onward for the reception.

I'm guessing the concern about daylight is due to pictures?

Edited: If so, do a first look.

Our ceremony is at 330, about 75 minutes before sunset. Cocktail hour immediately following, starting around 4, dinner at 530 and then the reception goes until 830.

We are doing a first look, bridal party and family pictures beforehand so hopefully the only pics we'll be doing after the ceremony are stunning shots of just FH and I on the golf course

If you want to do photos outdoors, I would second the recommendation of a first look. I think they are the best way to get all of the photos that you want.

Our ceremony starts at 3:30pm and the reception will start at 4:30/5pm. Dinner will be served around 5:30/6pm. We are only using natural sunlight for the ceremony. Our uplighting in the reception will look better when it's dark out so we're not worried about sunlight at all.

All of our photos will be done before the ceremony since we don't have a long cocktail hour. Only photos after the ceremony will be family photos and then we'll go straight into the reception.

Our photographers & videographer is coming at 10:30am to begin photos, including "getting ready", "first look", and the "creative session" which will all be indoors

We want to do outdoor photos after the ceremony. We want a traditional ceremony and reveal so don't want to do a first look. So we are thinking ceremony at 1 then church photos followed by photos outside. But just hard to plan! I've never been to a winter wedding.

We're doing a first look, so our rough itinerary is first look around 2, followed by pictures all to be done by 3:45. Ceremony is 4:30, Cocktail hour starts immediately after at 5:30, reception 6:30-11:30. We have our photographer all day though, but will probably do getting ready photos around 1.

If you're thinking ceremony at 1, are you planning on a cake and punch reception?

Hi Amy! did you make any progress on the timeline? I am also getting married in December 2018 in Wisconsin and I am also stuck on when the ceremony should start! My fiance and I originally didn't want to do a first look, but now I think we will. With the sun setting so early at 4:26 (yes I looked, haha!), I'm still not sure what time to do the ceremony. I am kind of thinking 4 or 4:30 would be a good start time, but I do want to get some just married portraits outside after we say "I do," and with the sun setting so early it's almost like we'd need the ceremony to start at 3:30 in order to get those natural light photos, which seems so/too early!? We are having our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all at the same venue.

Hi Natalie and Amy! Could either (or both!) of you post what timelines you ended up deciding upon? My fiance and I are also getting married in December and are using one venue for the wedding's entirety. Thanks so much!

Hi!

Our timeline is as follows:

morning- hair and make-up (time TBD)

First look (time TBD). Get all pictures done here that we can, including bride and groom portraits, bride and groom together, all wedding party shots, all immediate family and grandma shots, etc. to be done before ceremony.

3:30-4:00 - ceremony.

4:00-5:30 - Cocktail and Apps (my fiance and I are going to sneak outside really quick to do a couple "just married pics" and then return to the cocktail hour and enjoy it with everyone)

6:00-8:00 - Dinner reception

8 onward - party time.

*for our venue space, the same room is used for both the ceremony and the reception. There is an area that is still connected to the room but up a couple wide stairs to a large foyer area that the cocktails/apps will take place. So right after the ceremony is done, people will go to the foyer, and then after the flip people will make their way to their tables back in the main room.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions!!