Evening Ceremony Timeline.

Start your ceremony at like 4-5 pm that way ur not eating so late!

We are having an evening ceremony. FH and I have never been huge on wedding food/sit down meals at weddings to begin with so we opted for a cocktail style reception. We’re having fancy pizzas, sliders, and a whole bunch of hot and cold appetizers. But if you’re set on dinner I’d say make sure to take all of your photos before your ceremony and skip the cocktail hour. Go right from ceremony to reception so people aren’t starving waiting for food. Also keep your ceremony as short as possible. Our timeline looks similar to this. Photos before, dinner for wedding party and vendors at 5:30, guests arrive 630; 7:00 ceremony; 720-8 cocktail, 8-810 entrances 810-815 first dance, 815-9 speeches; 9 cocktail style reception and party.

View quoted message I was thinking around 7. I had already planned on doing at least half the pictures before in a different location then the venue. I was also thinking of doing more of a cocktail hour reception where it was soo late. ?

Hi there Megan!

When building out a day-of timeline, starting with any concrete times or working your way backward is a great idea. By evening, what time would you like to have the ceremony at?

The suggestion from the PPs to take care of photos and anything else you can before the ceremony is a great idea. This will make foodservice quicker so no one is waiting around

Evening ceremony is great for what you want to do. Work around the timing of pictures being done beforehand or after in groups and family last, or no pictures at all.

Make a word sheet with a scheduled timing of each half and full hour and discuss what you both want to do and how long will they take. The getting ready, first look, wedding start, pictures, reception entrance, first dance, cake cutting, dinner and speeches.

It really depends when you want your ceremony to be. We are having a 5pm ceremony, with a cocktail hour, and dinner should be served by 9pm

Like Tori said, if you do a later ceremony, do your first look and pictures right before the ceremony and then you aren't rushing!

Check out A practical Wedding's timelines 6 ways, there are a few evening ceremony timelines in here so hopefully this helps!

Wedding timeline 6 different ways

I am getting married at 5:30PM and will be having a short ceremony that will be max. 20 minutes. Then since the wedding is at the same venue as the reception food will be ready for 6:00PM! skipping the cocktail hour!

All you have to do is do a first look photo and then do group pictures right after before the ceremony.