RUNNING ORDER for the Day

Unwilling

I could use some assistance.... have I enough time calculated or have I made a bobo....

330 – 4pm Ceremony
4-530pm tea & coffee (allowing also for photos , photographer said 20 mins for brides family , 20 mins for grooms family , 30 mins for bride and groom and a few mins contingency!)

530 Call for dinner
600 Dinner – speeches are the start so those involved can enjoy their meal
All courses will take an hour and a half to serve. Time allowed for speeches = 30 mins.
BUT we also have a singing waiter who will take about 30-40 mins and serving needs to stop during this time

So this brings us up to 8.10pm

I’ve put 8pm on the invites for those coming only to the afters…

Am I in trouble here – will people be arriving on top of dinner!!!

Bookkeeper09

You might be cutting it a little bit tight.....but I wouldnt worry about it.
People coming to the afters wont arrive bang on 8 o clock and I would guess that those that do will have a drink in the hotel bar if they see that everyone is still seated for the speeches.

I went to an afters where dinner had run on a bit later than thought...just went and had a drink and waited for people to come out for the hotel to rearrange the room for the evening

tinkerbell

I reckon you're cutting it fine - 9pm would be a better idea for evening guests ... you never know, dinner could end up getting delayed slightly.

smelltheglove

Honestly in my opinion it is cutting it a little tight. Usually when photographing a wedding I would set my schedule to allow for give or take 20 mns after the ceremony for the couple to be greeting guests.

To be honest this is pretty much something that there is not necessarily a choice in, guests can stop and chat with the couple continuously not realising they are holding up the process of the day, this is why I allow for 20 mns and if it goes over that time I pretty much try and move the couple on whilst still being polite. You will also want to have a few minutes down time after the photographs and before the meal to give you some time to relax and enjoy your big day.

I take it from your post that the whole lot is happening in the one venue so at least this will help things a little. Speak to your photographer and let them know the schedule you have laid out, he/she will have their way of doing things and will let you know themselves if it is pushing it or not.

Another way to ensure smooth flowing is to have someone to assist out of both families, when it is time for the wedding photos that person will be sent to grab the families and have them in the right place at the right time. Let your families know that you are on a tight schedule and you would appreciate their co-operation.

Unwilling

Thanks for the posts... but opinions vary somewhat. Is 9 pm not a bit late!!
I have 8 on the invites thinking people would show up for 830 ish.....




Smell the Glove - that is what I was thinking,,, there's no way we'll get out of that room without someone collaring us

That said i thought if we allowed enough time for tea and coffee.. but I hear what you are saying.....

Is there anyone out there who recently got married that can help me?

daycent

Unwilling wrote: »

photographer said 20 mins for brides family , 20 mins for grooms family

That sounds a bit excessive to me. Maybe that includes "rounding up people" time, but the actual photos shouldn't take that long. I suppose it depends on how many family formals you want. I'm a believer in keeping these kind of shots to a small number. It can get very tiresome, especially for the bride and groom.*










*(mainly for the groom )

Unwilling

It's a small wedding party - only 70 of which, after the GROUP shot there are only about TEN key players. So shouldn't be too much rounding up.
To be fair as well, on both sides mobility is limited, so he can't shuttle us around too much.

It's more dinner - how long should i allow for this and speeches?

Really conflicted - people say 8 is fine as agian the Evening guests arrive it'll really be 830-9 as it's Ireland and people always show late!!

So if that is the case and i put down 9 will people will show for 930-10pm which is very late!!

I wish the hotel would help me with this one but they are not very useful on this matter

BC

I assume everything is in the 1 venue??

I think the 4-5.30 is very tight. You are not allowing any time for people to stop and chat/congratulate you etc. I got married recently and everyone wanted to come up and congratulate us after the ceremony so leave time for that. Also you get very little time to chat to your guests once the meal starts and people start dancing so its nice to be able to spend some time with them before dinner.
I don't think the time to take photos is over estimated. We only wanted 4 family photos (less than 20 people in each one) and it took over an hour to organise. People just kept disappearing, were at the bar, smoking, gone to check in etc etc.

I'm a little confused about the dinner.
You say its starts at 6, speeches till 6.30.
They serve dinner 6.30 - 8. where do the singing waiters come in, it doesn't look like you've allowed the time for this if serving has to stop?

I'd definately go with 9.

Unwilling

BC -so you would say


330 - 4pm for ceremony
4-6 for tea photos and a chat
6pm - call for dinner
630 - sit down for dinner
then 630 - 830/9pm to allow 1.5 hrs for serving, 20 mins for speeches and 40 mins for singingwaiter.

smelltheglove

For a small wedding with 10 key players for formal shots these should be well done within 15-20 mns, as Brian says it is excessive at 40 mns especially for so few people. The smaller weddings tend to run a hell of a lot more smoothly too so hearing your guest numbers and family numbers then I reckon you should be ok. It would be a different story if you were having 200 with large family group shots.