We're really struggling with timings of everything, can anyone help? We get...

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I think you should be ok, by the time you have had the ceremony and photos and everyone has made their way to the reception venue, got themselves a drink and your canapés are served I think it will be just enough mingleing time

You'd be surprised how time goes by with taking the pictures why don't you hire a magician or something like that just to go between the crowd as their mingling

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We got married at 2 and outside the church we had pictures taken, our venue was also about 15 minutes away and we arrived first to take pictures before the guests arrived and then pictures were taken of us and the guests arriving. Then we had a break and guests got to look at the cake, get drinks and chat before we had more pictures. It was around 3.30 we got to the venue and we started speeches and thank you gifts about 6.45 which was plenty of time. As you're getting married half an hour later I don't think there will be much of a gap to fill between timings, the dj was playing some background music when we were there chatting and taking pics. Sorry it's long but I hope it helps!! X

We had the same problem at our wedding, we had Beth Macarthur from the voice come and sing with her guitar and just a small set up. I've also been to weddings with a magician which always goes down treat. Also been to 1 where they had like a pub quiz about the bride and groom which was a good laugh. Good luck. X

Mingleing time is always a bonus as it gives ppl chance to meet an time for the bride and groom to get round the room to speak to ppl b4 the other guests arrive and they will be bombarded by the new guests x

We didn't do any entertainment for the gaps between things.
We got married in the hotel that we was having out reception but after the service just the two of us went out for photos & everyone else went through to have drinks & just chatted until we came back in. Then we all went out for group pics.
Don't worry about providing entertainment, the day will go so quick & you'll be paying out a lot anyway, plus nobody cares if they sit around relaxing for a bit!!

We had a 3pm wedding and like you no wedding breakfast. Evening guests joined us at 7:30pm. By the time the photos were done after the ceremony and everyone travelled to the reception venue (10 mins) all the guests were happy to just mingle, have a drink and relax. Hubby and I were also mingling and having pictures done with our guests. Before we knew it the doors were open to the main room and it flowed nicely. We did our speeches whilst guests ate- we had no seating plan but asked everyone to take a seat for speeches and gifts. The whole day flowed perfectly and we had no entertainment other than a dj in the evening :-) x

We had the same timings and just provided background music as people will be busy taking photos and mingling. You could maybe put some childhood photos around the venue for people to look at/just generally something for them to do! We had a magician in the evening- £350 for 4 hours and he was a huge hit! Possibly something like that but for couple of hours in the day?

If you're really worried you can always throw some garden games together to keep people entertained, then there's no pressure on you and people can use them as and when they wish

If you can afford something then I'd do it. Ceremony at 2.30, an hour or so for photos and a short trip to the venue even if you say 2hrs max after the ceremony you've still got 2 hours. Time will fly for you but not your guests, in my opinion. A little entertainment would be good. The magician idea is a good one.

We are getting married at 2:30 then walking to our reception. We then get settled with music and drinks, buffet comes out 4:30. Once people have eaten we are then having a family friendly disco. Evening guests arrive 6:30 onwards where we will change up the music a bit.

I wouldn't bother with entertainment. I've never been to a wedding where there was any entertainment till the evening... If the service is at 2.30. Prob won't be done till 3.30 ish then you've your photos some guests will want to see that and maybe take their own then there is travel to venue. So if everyone else is coming at 6.30 your guests really only have a couple of hours if that to kill having nibbles and chatting at the venue will be plenty no need to entertain as well. Just xtra costs.

I would personally have some entertainment just in case. I got married at 2 and had a sit down meal at 4 so left guests to mingle for two hours. I put out packs of playing cards and mini connect 4 games that I got from the £1 shop and also some colouring bits for kids. You have a longer gap than we had so if you can afford it maybe a photo booth or something.

People will be happy to mingle, weddings is probably the only time family's get together. Try not to worry about things like this, I'm sure it will all run smoothly x

We have a 1pm wedding and 3:45 ish wedding breakfast... its all the at the same venue though. We've booked owls & a vulture to come, so they give us our rings and then stay for the break between ceremony & breakfast where guests can hold them, watch them fly and find food under coloured cups etc.. The kids also get a rosette for "looking after them". Photos will also be being done then too.

I'd deffo recommend getting something, just because it's a long gap especially for people that arnt going to be in a lot of photos etc... If you don't have the budget, maybe garden games would be good? X

Our wedding is at 3 everyone is coming to everything but by time ceremony and photos are done it will be time for the BBQ

Following. I'm yet to decide on timings etc but have the venue exclusively so we can change things about.

I know a great magician in bristol if anyone is interested 🤗🤗

I've got entertainment for my wedding reception time only because I feel firstly it's nice for something to be in the background, and also I've been to weddings where I've not known many guests and felt we could really mingle that much and were bored waiting for a long time!

Me and my partner are going to be getting married at 1 at a different place to the main venue, then be taking photos travelling to the main venue (10 mins), taking photos in there, having arrival drink, canapés, then wedding breakfast. I've got a singer coming for in between the wedding breakfast and the evening and got a photo booth for the evening and a chocolate fountain. Would definitely recommend getting something for during that gap overwise it could get a little bit boring xx

We are doing the same as you, no wedding breakfast just canopes and then evening buffet. But we aren't getting married until 4pm so we wont have as much time to fill in between (and hopefully people won't be starved). Have some nice back ground music playing and have some speeches inbetween. Dont worry about providing entertainment, it'll stress you out if you think too much about pleasing other people. As long as you are happy with it, let others get on with their day. Im sure they will be happy enough propping up the bar and having some time to relax before the evening guests start to arrive. Enjoy it :) xx

I'd definately get some sort of entertainment we got married at 1.30 and meal at 4.30. (Welcome drinks at 3.30) and I think guests were getting bored by the time they were seated for the meal (bearing in mind we had a church wedding then photos so guests weren't waiting around for any longer than 2 hours and we had garden games and a park for the kids x

We had a mariachi band in the day time of our wedding after food / speeches etc which went down really well! We have also been to weddings that had magicians doing table magic and another wedding that had a Spanish guitarist on and another that had a string quartet all of these were really entertaining too! X

Hi, we are having a magician for the inbetweeny bit as we were afraid that people would get bored. We've been told that if you cut the cake first and then do ur first dance it works better that way around as then you open the disco or what ever you're having. Thats the way around we're doing it. We've made a few things for people to do including a finger print tree, reception dares, photobooth, also sign a jenga piece with a date night. You could even provide little games eg skittles croquet limbo sack race etc for people to do. Just a few ideas