Are my timings ok??

hey all

got my final meeting with the venue tomorrow - can't believe we've got less than 4 weeks to go! meeting coordinator, caterer, florist, lighting person and DJ to run through all the timings and details. a little concerned that my timings might be a bit unreasonable, please let me know your thoughts. it's worth explaining that we have 3 venues - an old house for the ceremony, a greenhouse for the drinks reception, and an Orangery for the evening meal and dancing:

3:30 - day guests arrive and seated

3:45 - ceremony begins (string trio playing)

4:20 - ceremony over, drinks served while we take a few group shots (string trio playing)

5:10 - me and OH go off for half an hour of couple shots in Kew Gardens. might have a tram to take people on a tour of the grounds - good idea or not?!?!?!

5:45 - evening guests start to arrive

5:45 to 6:00 - move over to the conservatory/greenhouse for drinks and canapes (string trio playing here too)

7:00 - start herding people over to the Orangery. no receiving line or anything but guessing it will take time for people to walk over (about 6 min walk) or get there in the tram, and then find seats

7:30 - OH gives a welcome speech and first course is served (not sure if the DJ will be playing during dinner)

8 - first course is cleared, MoH gives a speech, we cut the cake, main course served

9 - main course is cleared, my dad gives a speech, desert is served

9:30 - best man gives a speech, we have our first dance

9:35 to midnight - dancing (DJ) and open bar

what does everyone think? not enough time for pictures/mingling? too much time? speeches in a weird order? or at weird times? any other glaring errors? HELP!

TIA xxx

I am really rubbish at stuff like this, I had underestimated when we met our venue - I think they suggested we would be sitting down for dinner at 530 if we arrived at 4, but we are having a line up, so your time for photos / group shots / drinks seems about right to me - thinking our venue are saying it will be an hour because the line up will be about 30 mins (have told my mum no big chats allowed unfortunately!!) If it ends up taking slightly longer and your time in kew gardens is therefore a little delayed, are you okay with not being there as soon as some evening guests arrive? If so then I don't think you need to worry.

I really like the order of your speeches, the way they're broken up etc, it's cool! I would just check with your venue tomorrow about times cos ours gave us advice by saying it takes quite a long time to serve and clear 80 people, which altered our timings a bit for the evening - I couldn't say whether yours are long enough or not cos I'd be totally guessing but get their input, they'll have done it all before!

How exciting that it's sooo soon! x

I think it looks fine, but don't underestimate how long photos might take.  We said we didn't want many shots post-ceremony, yet we ended up being away for ages, so I think 30 mins may be a little short.  I would check with the Orangery about dinner timings, as you may need to add an extra half and hour in there as food may take longer.  I think giving the Best Man five mins to include the first dance is probably a little ambitious.  I suggest adding a little more time in there just to be safe!  It might be worth checking with all parties about how long they envisage their speeches will be - this is the bit that's really tricky to work out, but usually where people tend to run over.

I think having the speaches between the meals may not flow as well as the venue will more than likely be very efficient in that when they have finished serving the last table it will be time to clear the top table and when the speach is being made there may be alot of movement and noise.

Its worth asking the venue first and seeing what they think.

From the ceremony to meal (minus traveling time) its always good to imagine 1 and and a half hours.  about 30 mins for group shots, about 30 mins for your shots and time not to be rushed and to have the more informal shots, Confetti etc .(also to get yourselves a drink and have a chat and to move around.)

Apart from taking others around Kew it sounds not too bad....as long as you stick to the timings and don't start by arriving late for the ceremony!!!!!

Extra people in tow will slow down the photograohy and restrict the range of options your photographer can do....

thanks guys. i am quite worried about the speeches being in between courses - will ask the caterer about clearing times etc, especially for 200 people!!! i think will be too noisy and messy if the speeches are happening WHILE the clearing is still going on, IYSWIM? am going to tell everyone to keep their speech down to 5 mins or under. since our entire day isn't very long, want to make sure we've got enough time for a proper boogie. when i wrote down all the details, everything did seem so short and rushed! got more than 1 and a half hour between ceremony and meal so hopefully everyone can get in the pictures, have a drink and a chat...

Peter:

Apart from taking others around Kew it sounds not too bad....as long as you stick to the timings and don't start by arriving late for the ceremony!!!!!

Extra people in tow will slow down the photograohy and restrict the range of options your photographer can do....

thanks peter - got my fingers and toes crossed that nothing will happen to make me late!! not taking the guests around with us, but they've got their own tram for an optional tour around the grounds, and we're going in a private small buggy with just the tog...

xx

I think you will be fine over all just make sure the tog knows exactly what times you have and where you need to be when and they should keep you on track.