Your Wedding Day
It is important that your wedding day reflects you as a couple, so if you are happy to follow tradition then fine, but you don't have to.
There is a such a huge variety of wedding venues becoming more and more popular rather than the 'standard' two main options of a church and reception or registry office and reception on offer 30 years ago. Different venues therefore give so much scope for 'designing' a wedding day that is unique to you.
A more traditional 'order' of the day could go as follows:
12.30: Guests, Groom and Ushers Arrive
13.00: Bridal party arrives, service commences
14.00: Photographs outside church
14.30: Travel to reception venue
15.00: Photographs, while guests enjoy drinks and canapes
16.00: Receiving line into wedding breakfast
17.30: Speeches
18.30: Evening guests arrrive
19.30: Cutting of cake
20.00: First Dance, continuing to disco/evening entertainment
21.30: Evening buffet followed by dancing/more entertainment
00.00: Bride and Groom leave
Couples wishing to marry in church will need an Order of Service as well. This tells guests which hymns and readings will be included in the ceremony. An 'Order of the Day' is more commonly used for civil ceremonies but can also be used for religious ceremonies, it will advise your guests as to the day’s proceedings. The times of your Order of the Day don’t have to be set in stone, but just having one enables your Wedding Day to flow much more smoothly.