Instead of a sit down meal we're having an afternoon tea and I'm trying to work out a sort of timeline for the big day but havent got a clue how long its going to take.
Anyone else had/having an afternoon tea and know how long it's going to take? Or anyone even fancy having a guess? Because i've got no idea!
CommentAuthorKelly
We are not having a sit down meal hun, but this is due to the timings we have have got for our venue, they only do 2 times 10am or 4pm... so we have gone for the 4pm... so we are going straight in to an even reception... afteroon tea sound good to me hun... dont know how long it would take though, what time is your wedding?
CommentAuthorOWB
We're also having afternoon tea but we're doing it buffet style (I went to the Queens garden party once, and this is how it's done at Buckingham Palace - so if it's good enough for Queen!!), but we're not having a formal evening reception so don't have to worry too much about the time. I would imagine if it's all served up in one go then it really would only take about 45 mins including chat time.
If only life could be one long tea break
CommentAuthorcakey
We're hoping to have it buffet style too, but got to speak to the venue about it.
The ceremony is either going to be 2pm or 4pm and I really cant decide what would be best. I'd prefer 4pm but dont want it to feel rushed between the ceremony and the reception but on the other hand with us not having a sit down meal I cant help but feel like if we had a 2pm ceremony there'd be lots of pointless hanging about. Hmmm decisions decisions!
CommentAuthorOWB
Ours is 3pm, afternoon tea was traditional served around 4pm, so we'll only be a little late for it. If you go back the the 18th century when it was started, you had afternoon tea at 4pm to stave of the hunger until dinner was served at 8pm.
Speak to your venue, they should be able to help you with timings.
see I'd like to have the ceremony at 3pm but our registrars only allow you to get married at either 12, 2 or 4 :(
I think I'm going to have to add it to my ever growing list of things to talk to the hotel's wedding coordinator about!
CommentAuthortinkerbell2013
I'm thinking of having an afternoon tea buffet style 2, my mum said give it 1.5hrs because it gives everyone enough time to get there food instead of being a mad rush for food, plus we will be including the speeches in with it don't know if that's any help xx
Finally Engaged 1/11/11
Loves my h2b and my son charlie 2 the moon and back
cant wait till we finally arrive at the big day
May 2013
CommentAuthorMrs Badger
Love the afternoon tea idea, i'd say somewhere between 1 and 2 hours. xx
Now a Mrs!
"..I've seen the best and the worst of you and I understand
with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You're a hell of
of a woman. You're the one..."
CommentAuthorClareS
We're having a sit down meal but I'd have loved to have had an afternoon tea kind of theme as thinking about it, it really does some us two up lol x
CommentAuthorocean
I'm having afternoon tea and have had afternoon tea a few times in restaurants.
My itinerary is as follows;
3pm wedding (for an hour) 4pm some photographs around church (30 mins) 4.30pm drive to reception venue (half hour drive) 5pm arrive at venue 5.30pm sit down to afternoon tea wedding breakfast (make sure you tell your guests in advance that your only having afternoon tea, so they can have lunch before ceremony, and when i have had afternoon tea in restaurants it usually servers two and includes, finger sandwiches (enough for two slices of bread each) a scone each with, clotted cream and jam, and two cakes each, maybe a slice of sponge cake and usually something with a strawberry filling (strawberry oyster). When myself and H2B have afternoon tea it can fill us up for around 4 hours). 6.15pm (ish) Speeches 6.45pm (ish) more photographs around reception venue, also chatting and relaxing after wedding breakfast. 7.30pm evening guests arrive 8.30pm cutting of the cake 8.45pm first dance 9pm opens the evening buffet (hot and cold massive buffet to feed everyone properly, as day guests have only had afternoon tea etc) 9.30pm evening disco begins
CommentAuthortinkerbell2013
Wow Ocean, that really good itinerary :) like it xx
Finally Engaged 1/11/11
Loves my h2b and my son charlie 2 the moon and back
cant wait till we finally arrive at the big day
May 2013
CommentAuthormadhen
Cakey, h2b and I had a massive row last night about what time to have the ceremony! I suggested we had it later in the afternoon, like around 4, as then people wouldn't be sitting around for an AGE between the ceremony and meal, which is what always happens as the wedding party are away getting photos taken. Admittedly, I might have had an ulterior motive because I hate photos and was hoping to reduce the photo time, but anyway, then he went off in a rant about how that's cutting it far too fine and there'll be a mad panic to get the photos taken and what if family members want to get photos taken with us too and oh lord it'll be such a rush to get them done before dinner and I'll turn into a grumpy cow and.....!! SERIOUSLY! It was just a suggestion...!
CommentAuthorbecky -mrs firth
christ ocean ure very organsied lol
Engaged 27th November 2010
Hen Do Newcastle 2nd June 2012
Marrying the man of my dreams 11th August 2012!
Honeymoon To Jamaica 14th October 2012
CommentAuthorcakey
Oooh Thanks Ocean, thats given me a better idea of what I'm doing!
CommentAuthorocean
No problems ladies,
i just happen to be a freak when it comes to organisation - i know practically everything what is going to happen when on my wedding day and it's not until 2014 - but happy to help anyone else :)
CommentAuthorJilly17
we had an afternoon tea for our engagement and it took about and hour and a half for everyone to be fed comfortably
CommentAuthormadhen
yup, super-organised - kinda making me worry a bit that I am so NOT organised...
CommentAuthorMrsT2Be
Cakey what did you decide on for this? Im having afternoon tea and havnt even thought about timings yet xx
Our princess was Born 07/06/09
He proposed...I said yes! 27/10/10
Graduate then....
We become the Taylors and I marry my best friend! 4/10/14
CommentAuthoralmost a year wife!!
Ocean u n i have exactly the itinery!!!!!!!
Ill marry my hero
CommentAuthoriluvcakes
Am really liking the afternoon tea idea and have just found the perfect venue for this too xx
Became Mrs Robinson 4th October 2012 xxx
Can't wait to do it all over again on the 4th October 2017!!
CommentAuthorOWB
I'm off to book mine this morning!! The price is great and the place is perfect.
Sandwiches, scones, cakes and tea: £13.00 Homemade Lemonade per person: £0.60 Elderflower fizz for the toast - per person: £0.50
Total price for 70 people £987. Bargain.
If only life could be one long tea break
CommentAuthorJill
Ocean I think your timings are perfect hun, I'm like that too - like to know everything down to the finest detail, I'm a bit of a control freak lol x
29th September 2012
Cant wait to be Mrs D!
CommentAuthorKerrieH835
I love the idea of afternoon tea instead of wedding breakfast!! This would be ideal for me with a bbq later on at the party. Was it hard to find a venue to do this? Those prices are fab OWB x
CommentAuthorlizzylou
Afternoon tea sounds lovely. Not sure what i'm doing yet, gotta speak to the venue. xx
Lizzy. x
CommentAuthorOWB
Ah, my afternoon tea has now changed! The venue I was using was put up for sale, so I didn't want to wait around to see what the new owners did.
Anyway, instead I booked the church hall (for £30!), then I've hired in a specialist afternoon tea caterer. We're having sandwiches, cakes, scones and muffins, served with tea. All on vintage china, with vintage table cloths, cutlery and teapots etc. For £14.50 pp. The caterer brings everything that's needed and sets it all up. Then I've hired three serving ladies from her at £20 each.
In terms of venues, anywhere that let's you sort your own catering will let you do this. The original venue I had booked was a tea rooom anyway.
