WaW Wedding Tip Sheet: Anatomy of an Afternoon Wedding

[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]You’ve said “yes” to his proposal and now it’s time to choose your time slot. As you pondered over which would be best, popular opinion took over your choice and you want for the so-called safest bet: the 3:00 PM ceremony slot.

What’s the usual timeline? Read on.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”http://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/AnatomyOfAnAfternoonWedding1.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]7:00 a.m. – Wake up, take a bath, breakfast

8:30 a.m. – Arrival of hair and make-up artist to set-up shop in the bride’s room (Yes, everyone will have to come over for their styling needs except the groom – the HMUA does not need to bring much anyway when styling the groom.)

9:00 a.m. – Make-up begins (assuming you have the usual bride plus 2 or 3 plus groom; 1 hair stylist and 1 make up artist)

It would most likely go this way: both mothers at 9:00 a.m., then at 10:00 a.m., the bride starts with either hair or make-up. The other head would be on stand by to take the other chair, for instance, if the bride’s hair is being styled, the other lady, usually the maid of honor, sits on the chair of the make-up artist.

You know what’s great about this time slot? Your girls/entourage can actually go to their respective parlors or make-up artists because the preps won’t happen at ungodly hours. No need to have a crowded hotel room from start of preps till pictorial.

11:00 a.m. – Lunch arrives (If to be delivered, so everyone can start having lunch – staggered basis, but the groom and family members are usually asked to eat right away since their pictorials will start earlier.)

11:30 a.m. – Groom’s pictorials (The groom should not be wearing his groom’s attire yet, those are part of the shoot.)

12:30 a.m. – Bride’s pictorials (The bride should have eaten before this time, the same is requested of her family – only the family and entourage should be wearing their wedding attire; the bride will have to wait for instructions.)[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”http://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/AnatomyOfAnAfternoonWedding2.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]2:00 p.m. – Bride leaves for church

2:30 p.m. – Arrival at the church; assembly and line up (Also the time stated in the invitation)

3:00 p.m. – Ceremony time

4:00 p.m. – End of ceremony, Group pictorials

4:30 p.m. – Recessional. Guests will travel to the reception venue. Bride and groom will have pictorials together.

5:00 p.m. – Cocktail time at the reception venue
*Upon arrival, the bride and groom may continue the shoot or go straight to the room for retouch and a light meal.

6:00 p.m. / 6:30 p.m. – Start of program

6:30 p.m. / 7:00 p.m. – Dinner

8:00 p.m. / 8:30 p.m. – Party time[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”http://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/AnatomyOfAnAfternoonWedding3.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]What details do you need to take into consideration?

a) Your attrition rate could be lower when you get their responses via your coordinator’s RSVP report. Why? Because this is the most common time slot — people expect to go out in the afternoon (2/3/4 p.m.) on a Saturday or even a Sunday. They won’t mind going to your wedding.

If you really can’t invite too many but you really can’t handle the early preps of a morning wedding, you can choose to have a weekday afternoon wedding. Even a Sunday wedding would most likely yield fewer “yes” responses than a Saturday afternoon wedding.

b) Given that your preps would cut into lunch time, you can expect that some will decide to forego lunch in favor of getting dolled up. So yes, provide heavy cocktail food items as well. These are especially necessary since your post-nuptial shoot + retouch & eating time will take longer than the usual cocktail hour. If you will go beyond the maximum waiting time of 1.5 hours — open the soup and salad station as well. However, note that not all caterers/venues allow this option.

Since your time slot takes up snack time and dinner, you can really expect to provide more food. If you can get away with 3 viands for a lunch time reception, you may not be able to do the same now. People will expect a bit more since you’re providing dinner — minimum of 4 courses plus dessert, salad, and soup.

c) Expenses could go higher as you might feel compelled to hire a band for entertainment and party time, and hire a mobile bar or bring in additional booze for your guests. You may also feel the need to have more elegant evening gowns (long & with bling-bling) for your entourage. Your male entourage will most likely look more dapper in suits as well.

d) This is the only time slot though that gives you a bit more leeway in terms of post ceremony pictorials. People won’t pressure you to serve dinner right away especially if you will provide cocktail food items that aren’t just plain nuts and chips. Dinner is at 7:00 p.m. traditionally so if they get to the venue at 5:00 p.m., they won’t expect dinner, unlike a morning wedding wherein they will arrive at almost the exact moment they expect to have lunch. They are also crankier during lunch events coz it’s generally warmer unlike afternoon ceremonies which usually end when it is much cooler already.

e) You can go all the way with mood lighting and even fireworks. Plus you can get even a 3,000-ANSI projector and people will still see the AVP. Note though that the recommended ANSI lumens is around 4,500 to 5,000 so the colors are more vivid.

f) You can expect a few more guests to stay longer for party time since it’s neither too early nor too late. Of course, if you will go for a weekday, your end time will be just right — enough time for them to travel to their homes and rest for the next day’s school and work challenges.

Although you can expect guests to have a better tolerance for the program and its contents, do try to stay within the usual 1.5-hour maximum cocktail time and 2-hour program. That way, you won’t end up with a near empty hall by the time you will show your SDE or give your final speech.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”http://weddingsatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/AnatomyOfAnAfternoonWedding4.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Other points to consider:

1) For garden & beach weddings, it is best to follow the timeline below:

3:30 p.m. – Invitation time (An earlier time would cause guests to fry and bake.)
4:00 p.m. – Ceremony
5:30 p.m. – Recessional (No extension for additional group pictorials.)
5:30 to 6:00 p.m. – Couple pictorials (while there’s still a bit of sun)

2) For those having weekday or Sunday weddings, please do not choose a wedding time of 5:00 p.m. Stick to 2/3/4 p.m. That way, you can still expect people to finish the program. A 1:00 p.m. wedding really cuts through lunch so it’s not very advisable as well.

3) While a lunch wedding reception can’t occur in an open air venue, a late afternoon to evening reception can take place at a garden or by the beach. Do provide fans and the like to make everyone a bit more comfortable.

4) Give yourself enough time to plan (read: a year or more) so you can get these coveted afternoon ceremony and early evening reception slots. They go so quickly. Sometimes, even if you just dilly dally for a few hours, someone will snatch the slot away and you’d end up either changing your date or going for the so-called less desirable time slots.

5) Get enough sleep the night before your wedding. The wake up time is not too early so there’s really no excuse to come to your reception looking sleepy or groggy.

BOTTOMLINE:

This is the time slot people expect, so it’s going to be pretty easy to invite guests. However, there is more competition for venues and suppliers so couples who wish to have this coveted slot should start booking ahead of everyone, i.e. 1 year to 1.5 years ahead of the date, especially if it falls on a Saturday. People will be in the mood to party so you can go for everything – elegant clothes, a band, lots of booze, and the like.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Note from the WaW Team: Having a morning wedding? Read the Anatomy of a Morning wedding here and the Anatomy of an Evening Wedding here.

Read more of Darlene Tan-Salazar’s Wedding Tip Sheet articles at www.weddingsatwork.com/category/waw-wedding-tip-sheet/.

 [/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_block_grid type=”two-up”][cs_block_grid_item title=”Block Grid Item 1″]About Darlene Tan-Salazar, W@W Supplier of Year (2015): Darlene started out as a Planner/Coordinator of Perfect 10 Weddings. Since she needed more time for family matters, she opted to focus on emceeing, and has since started “The Wedding Tip Sheet“, a Facebook page that tackles the practical points in planning a wedding.[/cs_block_grid_item][cs_block_grid_item title=”Block Grid Item 2″][/cs_block_grid_item][/cs_block_grid][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]