Hi all! We're in the early stages of planning our wedding after getting...

I think 3pm is a good time if you don't want too long a day :)

I agree with Lucky, we're having our ceremony at 2.30pm. 3pm is good, gives you plenty of time to get ready.

Our wedding is at 330 with sit down meal from 4. Actually flows really well

We got married at midday and for me and 5 bridesmaids to get ready we had people at the house from 8am, it's doable you just need 2/3 MUA/hairdressers instead of one. Your wedding day only happens once, start early and make the most of it

I'd have thought 3 would be fine eating at 4:30/5 after photos, reception guests arrived at 8

I'm getting married at 3pm picked that time so plenty of time to get ready for the whole wedding party xx

Having worked in hotels for years here's a rough guide to timings. Church ceremony's last approx 1hr, if you have photos after this would be 30-45 mins. You then would need to get to your venue depending how far it is from church. Drinks reception at venue and photos is usually 1-1.5hrs and then couple of hours for wedding breakfast and speeches. If your night do is in the same room as your reception venues usually like 45mins or so to turn the room around, add the dj etc.
When I've been to church weddings they are usually at 12 so 11 isn't too early and you'll find you'll be up early anyway with the excitement
If the ceremony was at the venue I'd suggest 3pm as ceremony is only 20mins and you've no travelling time etc
Hope this helps x

3pm could work if you kept the service fairly short? You could sit down at 5.30 and allow a few hours for the breakfast. It may mean that you ask your evening guests to arrive later at like 8pm? My wedding is at 2.30 and we sit down at 4. Guests arrive at 7 and we've been told there could be a gap inbetween the breakfast and evening still.

3 is the perfect time. Ours was at 3 and it all ran smoothly. I would say the other slot is far too early

It very much depends on what sort of day you want and how far away the church is from where you're getting ready and your venue.

You could do 3pm then have canapés or afternoon tea rather than a sit down meal. Followed by hot food in the evening (BBQ/hog roast eg).

Or do 11am and have a sit down wedding breakfast. Then maybe some entertainment late afternoon prior to the evening do (lawn games/magician eg) before the evening people arrive. You will have to have a very organised morning getting ready- we just about made our 12:30 wedding (15mins late) with me and 3bms and Mom to get through one hair and makeup lady.

Think 3 is fine... prob done by bout 3.30-3.45 then time for photos... people can mingle at that point while waiting. Then sit down meal 5-5.30 with evening guest 7.30 -8 very do able..

I got married at 3pm. Had my meal at 5pm then my evening guests at 7.30pm it worked out really well and gave us loads of time to get ready in the morning x

We're getting married at 4, not really a problem to be honest

Congratulations! My H2B tooo 9 1/2 years to propose so he took his time too! We are getting married (a week on Saturday!) at 12 with 5 bridesmaids and the 2 mums to get ready. We are having an early start, but I think that because everyone I have spoken to says that the day goes so fast that I wanted as much time as possible to spend enjoying it so start early and it will soon go! xxx

We got married at 3pm and sat down for food at 5. Was perfect timing as there was no waiting around for the guests.. by the time we finished our meals and speeches the evening guests were arriving at 7:30 x

3pm is a good time xx

We're getting married at 4pm on the 9th of September so we have all day to get ready and as bad as it sounds we don't have to fork out for a sit down meal for everyone so it's cheaper. But I was thinking of getting everyone together in the morning somewhere so we can all have breakfast together like the bridesmaids groomsmen etc haven't ran it past my other half yet though xx

I had my ceremony at 3.30pm and just had the reception at 7pm but everyone that was at the wedding was at the reception from about 4.30/5pm and other gueats were told 7pm it worked reallt well for us xx

We getting married at 3.30

I got married at 12pm and my day whizzed by!! 3 is probably fine. Just keep to times for meal, speeches etc

We just invited the guests who weren't coming to the registry office to join us at the reception venue immediately after the wedding & had a hot & cold buffet for everyone. Worked well for us

We're getting married at 11 as we had the same issue with the church. The way I see it it's only your wedding day once so why not make it last as long as possible. I am still a little worried about keeping guests entertained but plan to do lawn games, old school board games and music x

3pm seems fine. Saves ppl turning up hungry and having to wait ages for the meal

We had 3:30 ceremony, photos
4 till 5 then wedding breakfast 5:30-7:30 which was nice as it was a normal time to eat a big meal.
We then had a few more photos outside in the evening light as the room was turned around and evening guests came from 8pm with a 9:30-10 buffet.
Our guests loved that there was no waiting around as it all flowed really well from one thing straight to the next.
Apparently the afternoon light is actually really good for photographs too as opposed to the high lunchtime sun which can sometimes be too bright and makes everybody squint for the pictures.

I got married at 11....I wanted as much time as possible in my beautiful dress! I had 3 bridesmaids and 2 flower girls with 1 hairdresser & 1 Mua and worked really well. We didn't have any entertainment through the day, everything just flowed really well and before we know it the night guests were arriving! Good luck

I got married at 3pm as it was the only available time for a registrar on that day... I would say you have enough time for a wedding breakfast and then have the evening do. We had a sit down meal around 5pm and evening guests arriving at 7.30 ish, we had photos in between the ceremony and breakfast, and the speeches as well, and it still gives you plenty of time. It leaves out huge gaps of time where guests are just hanging around but it really depends what you want from your day. X

My friend got married at 11.30am. Had wedding breakfast around 2 and after that guests just chilled in the gardens until the evening it was perfect xx

Our wedding was at 4pm and by the time the photographs were done it was time to move onto the reception. We put on Prosecco, Bucks Fizz and fruit juice on for the guests while the photos were being done. My caterer provided a mini buffet for the day guests to nibble on before the evening guests arrived. Saved a small fortune on the sit down meal as the majority of guests had eaten before the ceremony. Was less stressful having extra time to get ready. x

We get married at 3pm, drinks ceremony 3.30-5 wedding breakfast is from 5-7.30 and evening guests arriving at 7.30 till everything over at midnight. We went for this as it gives loads of time to get ready without too much stress in the morning. Also I've been to weddings as a guest that start early (12ish) and I found halfway through the day I was totally exhausted! I think having a later ceremony makes the day flow much better 12 days till I tie the knot!!

I got married at 1130. Hair and make started at 630am for 4 adults

My friend got married at 3pm then didn't have a wedding breakfast, instead she had cake and speeches. Saves money as well or if you are getting married and having reception all in one place you could have afternoon tea or just 2 courses to try to cut down on time x

I've been to 2 weddings at 4pm before and it was fine x

I did at 3pm ceremony with a 5pm breakfast and evening guests from 8pm. Worked well for me x

Is your venue licensed for civil services? If so you could see about getting a registrar to come to the venue and have the whole day under one roof...that's a popular way of doing it, unless having a church wedding is particularly important to you? I see what you mean about 3pm being quite late, our ceremony is at 1pm and our wedding breakfast starts at 3...we're having it all at a hotel. 11am would be a long day, but if that particular church is really important to you then you'll just have to pick one...an early start isn't a big deal, nor is a late wedding breakfast...I'm sure either way it will be wonderful :)

Aw great question and ladies you've just put my mind at rest as I was thinking of a 3pm wedding but at my venue so I feel much happier with that time now 🤔 xx

If there is an option at the venue, have afternoon tea rather than a traditional wedding breakfast (for the 3pm ceremony).

I got wed At 2pm and was too late I think. If I could have my time again id do 11am and have the longer wedding day as aposed to the shorter wedding day. It goes too quick as it is. 3pm by time your finished saying vows photos meet and greet then to venue itll be nearly 5pm then people eat and speeches itll be a rush. Ours was 2pm and we went over on time. Which delayed the night guests x

We got married at 1.30 and with everything being such A relaxed day we over ran on everything. Would have loved to have got married earlier as the day goes really fast. We were all at one venue too.

Me and my partner are not getting married until 2 xx

I would go with 3 pm then have afternoon tea with wedding guests and hot buffet with evening guests

I'd actually say either of those times is perfect, the major complaint of guests at a wedding is that they're hungry long before the meal is served, at 11 you'll be finished around lunch time and 3pm as mine is booked for will have the service finished for tea time. Happy guests and plenty of time to get ready before hand.

Ours is at 3, drinks and canapes 3.30 till meal at 5.30 till 7.30.then theres coffee and then the evening starts at 8.30 i prefer it no long gaps and plenty of time ti get readyx

My first wedding was at 3pm. it means you dont need to rush around before the wedding and less time to shove in after the photos. Ideal time to have it.

Congratulations! It depends on what you want from your day? We are getting married at 3pm in just under 3 weeks! Ours is a civil ceremony and all in one place so no travelling. We are having canapés then a sit down 2 course meal at 5pm be done for about 6.30pm. Evening guests arriving at 7.30pm evening buffet at 9pm and finishing at midnight. Plenty of time for pics and socialising. Good luck! X

Save money just have an evening do

Congratulations!
I think a 3pm start can work just fine but if you're not comfortable with it and you don't feel you can create the day that you want in that time, maybe that venue isn't for you? My first choice venue could only give us a Friday (best friend is a teacher and we didn't want to ask anyone to take time from work/kids out or school) so we changed it, turned out perfectly, the venue didn't matter to us as much as the people there... depends what's most important to you.

Side note - if there is a wedding before/after you in the church, you could consider teaming up with the other party on flowers. Friends of mine did that and saved £600!

its your wedding day, not your wedding afternoon. I understand if budget is concerned, but why not make it a whole day thing? you only do it once!

it depends on your venue, but 11.00 ceremony, done by 12. drinks reception, sit down meal, then speeches would take you until 3/4pm. then you could have a few parlour games or i dont know, giant garden games or bouncy castle and things? something? then evening reception begins with firewoks, your first dance and then cake or something?

I wish I'd had mine at 11. Was 1pm and went by too quick x

My best friend had a similar issue and ended up opting for the 11am slot. We were up quite early but you're so excited you wouldn't sleep much and if you're up you might as well be getting ready. She had 9 bridesmaids and we managed well with timings even with the majority of us having hair done by hairdresser. Everyone had a really good day and didn't feel 'unentertained'. As a result of enjoying this early start and making the most of the day and venue I've now booked our ceremony for 12noon when our venue was trying to persuade us towards 1-2pm. Hope that helps x

I got married at 3pm and I loved it. I had a stress free morning to get ready and then after the wedding ceremony we had a lovely afternoon tea with our guests. As most would have eaten something lunch time. We then had a bigger budget to go all out on the evening choosing to have hot food and buffet around 8.30 pm

3pm isn't bad but when you have photos and travel from the wedding venue to the reception venue, it can become quite late for the wedding breakfast.
I got married at 1.30 and even without the travel in between I felt like the day went so quickly.
Are you able to change your date? If 8 Sept doesn't have a sentimental meaning just move it?

Sorry but I think its too tight. 3.45 service finishes, an hour for photo's and travel time. 5pm sit down- 2 hour dinner and then 1 hour for hotel or staff to turn the room around and dj set up. Your eve would start after 8.

3pm is a good time.... 11am is far too early ...

I think if your church is longer than 15 mins away from your venue I would go with 11, I personally think 3pm is a little late as you need to make time for the odd delay & photo's plus usually that little time between the evening meal and evening guests arriving is normally everyone kinda letting their dinner settle, having another drink & freshening up abit .. I think when evening guests arrive it changes the atmosphere and I think if it was at the same time as the meal ended it would feel abit unorganized? It all depends on how you want your day to go really. If you prefer guests not to be waiting around at anytime ect 3pm maybe perfect for you x

Go for 11am or the day will seem rushed

3 pm is perfect,..

3 is perfect - you may even save money as you will only need to feed guests once instead of having a sit down meal and then a buffet.
Also gives plenty of time for gettimes big ready.
Just make it work in your favour

Mine is 3pm x

We got married at 3:30pm in our church and I found it to be perfect timing wise. We got to our venue for the reception at about 5:15pm, sat down to eat at about 6pm (we had a buffet rather than a formal wedding breakfast) then evening guests were told to arrive from 8pm onwards and we had hog roast that started at about 8:15-8:30pm. I ended up staying right until all the guests had pretty much gone, and didn't feel tired as I was able to take it a bit easier in the morning and not rush about. Still got up at 6:30am though cos was just so excited! Good luck whatever you decide.

We are getting married at 2pm.... I would go with the 3pm... I agree having the meal about 4.40 then the night do at 8 .... nice timings not too long a day then.