The timing between the ceremony and reception

We had three hours because we were doing all our pictures after the ceremony. This is one area in which I didn’t really consider my guests, but there was enough time for people to go home or to their hotel in between if they didn’t want to stick around. Also, this is pretty common in my family and amongst my friends to have three hours in between. Same with my husband.

As for the timeline in general, I found the getting ready timeline was rushed but the reception timeline we were ahead! Just be willing to be flexible and go with the flow rather than stick to the timeline. We served dinner earlier than planned, speeches were earlier and the first dance, but that just meant we got to the dancing quicker! For getting ready, since we were short on time, we just did our pictures at the venue rather than go to a second location as planned.

Depends on what you want. so if you do a 1st look. you can have a closer time between ceremony and reception. if you aren't. you need some more time for photos, travel, corralling the wedding party.

If I have been to a wedding with first look photos done...usually its cocktail right after for 1 hour, then reception (usually enough time for the venue to change things over or the bride/groom to get family photos).

I've also been to a noon wedding. and reception at 6pm.

if you have to travel between the 2 locations with your bridal party. add 30 minutes. because people talk a lot! haha

we are doing a 230pm wedding. the total ceremony (including processional/recessional/readings etc) will be about 30 minutes. we are doing family photos at the ceremony hall (with a friend calling out the people that I need in each photo to make it go quicker). we are then going to 2 locations for photos (one spot is a quick in an out...its the bar we met at). the rest of the photos are in a park by the water. I picked places that to get there is under 15 minutes driving time. our reception doors open at 6pm (our goal is to be there at 545pm to greet people/go to the bathroom). with a 620pm wedding party introduction/us. and dinner at 630pm.

hope that helps you out!

Like all of the others have said it depends on:

cocktail hour?

photo's being done before as a first look or after the ceremony?

if photo's are being done after the ceremony - are they in the same location or a whole new one?

is the reception at the same place as the ceremony?

(P.S. Congrats on the engagement!!!)

I agree with Brittany that it depends on your Day Of Timeline. I personally like a 1 hour cocktail hour because it’s enough time for people to mingle but not get too drunk (I may or may not have been that person a few times lol).

We’re re doing our pictures beforehand, so our time between ceremony and reception will be about an hour and a half and that’s just so our guests (and us!) can enjoy the cocktail hour lol.

100% depends on your day-of timeline! I have 15 minutes between ceremony and reception, because it's January 19th, and we won't have daylight to do photos between the two, so we are doing first look and photos from 2 to 4ish, and the ceremony is at 4.30pm. Our ceremony is the lower level of the building, and the reception is upstairs, so the guests just need to walk upstairs, grab a welcome cocktail, and find their seat. Our dinner is set to be served at 5.45pm.

If you're doing photos between the ceremony and reception, photographers often suggest a minimum 2 hour window. That's where you'd do a cocktail hour. If your venues are close together, or the same place, you want to keep this window as small as possible, as guests may get bored, and the longer the cocktail hour, the bigger your bill for food and drinks (if you choose to do so).

I'm saving a substantial amount of money not having the hors d'eouvres for cocktail hour for 100 people.... Just a thought.

Also, I have been told by brides who've done photos first that it's amazing because everyone's outfits, hair and make-up are the freshest they'll be!

Depends! I've been to weddings will a 5 hour gap (went to the hotel and had a nap lol) ours will be a 2 hour gap between ceremony and reception! This is usually when the bridal party goes off for photos! A shorter gap is always appreciated by guests! But longer happens too so I wouldnt worry as much about that! Just what you want to have done st certain times!