Time Frame During a Sunday Wedding

I've been to weddings where there's been a gap for 1-3 hours - it's fairly standard.

Our wedding had a 2 hour gap between ceremony end time and cocktail hour start. Guests can mingle, check out the city (if out of town), or run some errands (if they are local) during that gap. Your wedding won't be the first where guests have to deal with a gap, however anything over 3 hours tends to be overkill so I'd stick with your timeline.

Your timeline is right on track, although the large gap could leave guest quiet restless. I personally would not like the long gap and might consider only come for the dinner and dancing or vise versa. I hate to get dressed and ready for event only to have to leave thirty minutes after I arrive.

I agree with what most have said. Cocktail hour is for wedding pictures in most weddings. This way the guest are entertained while they wait to see you two. Otherwise your timeline looks great.

Your timeline is totally fine!! most people only have a half hour to 1 ceremony thats normal. they can get something to eat after or check into their hotel or get changed or catch up with family.

Your timeline for the day seems good and good for guests to enjoy their time out sightseeing thr city. Enough time for pictures with you two alone and wedding party.

View quoted message Generally the bridal party hasn't been at any cocktail hours I've been to. I think they are frequently timed to allow the wedding pictures to happen at the same time.
I think frequently weddings that have the grand entrance do that just before dinner. I've only been to one wedding that had a grand entrance and that's when they did theirs. Other weddings I've been to didn't have one at all.
Two hours for photography makes sense to me. You might be able to condense that gap a fair bit.

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Oh. The bridal party is not part of cocktail hour lol? When did you do your grand entrance, right before dinner hour? My photographer mentioned 2 hours gag between ceremony and the reception and I thought I wanted cocktail hour to start at 4pm so everything ends at 10:30pm.

I'm not a fan of the gap between the ceremony and reception. Often, the cocktail hour is used for the wedding party to have photos taken, so the amount of time guests have nothing to do is reduced. Sometimes the gap is unavoidable as the church only permits ceremonies at certain times (this is frequently the case for Catholic weddings).
It seems like a really long time for photos. Is that how long your photographer has suggested? Is there anyway to reduce the gap? If you are able to shorten the gap I would recommend it.

That sounds like a typical timeline. 3 hours is enough time for people to check stuff out, grab a coffee and not feel bored. You should be good!

This is a pretty similar to our timeline. Our wedding is at 12:30pm, we head out immediately after to our reception venue for photos. Family will come earlier for photos at 4/4:30 and antipasto bar starts at 5:30.


So far no complaints! It’s also a pretty typical timeline for most weddings we’ve gone to. Guests will go back home and rest, check into their hotels, grab something to eat, in between the ceremony and reception.

We have attended some weddings with a similar schedule, and we usually go grab a bite to eat and a drink at a nearby restaurant in between events. It isn't terrible, but I don't love having to break up with wedding day. Typically, you would take photos during the cocktail hour so that guests can mingle before the reception and you get time as a couple. If you have to do it, then I think your guests will understand and occupy themselves. But, if you have the opportunity to reduce the gap and have guests go straight into a cocktail hour, then I think that's best. 😊