Help with ceremony hours

I have been given 4pm - 8pm to use the church. This includes the set up, ceremony, photos and clean up (have to leave at 8pm).

How long does it take to decorate 20 pews, put 2 flower arragements at the altar? I want to have enough time for pictures before sunset. What time should reception start? (travel time 8 minutes) when shoud i start getting ready?
I'm breaking my head here....

Re: Help with ceremony hours

I would 4pm start that way you can everything doen plus take pics at church outside. take as much time as possible. Youwill need it for pictures.

Re: Help with ceremony hours

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Posted by VickiR510

I would 4pm start that way you can everything doen plus take pics at church outside. take as much time as possible. Youwill need it for pictures.

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They don't let me in to decorate until 4pm. I was thinking of a 5:00pm wedding start, but I don't want to have the guest arriving while the church is being set up.

Re: Help with ceremony hours

I think it depends on how you're decorating the pews. If you're just hanging some pomanders and putting 2 arrangements on the altar, I'd say 20 minutes.

Theoretically, someone could decorate from 4-4:30, start the ceremony at 5 (people will show up early, so you can't say 4:30 for the ceremony).

Then there's the ceremony running time. (Not in OP)

Then there's the receiving line. (Depends on how many guests you have, or if you even want to do one.)

Then there's pictures. (Time depends on whether you want many pics at the church, or if you're taking them beforehand, or if you're willing to miss the CH).

Then someone has to jog down the aisle picking up pomanders and grabbing the arrangements. If it's not a professional, who is it going to be? What are you going to do with them?

Remember, the later you start, the later everyone eats. That's the guiding principle in my family.

Re: Help with ceremony hours

I don't want to start the reception late. Here is what I had in mind. Please let me know if this is realistic:

3pm - 4:30pm __ photos getting ready and at home
4pm - 4:30pm ___ Decoration chapel (just bows w/ flower (planner)
5pm - 6pm ceremony
6pm - 7:30pm photos
7:30pm - 8:00pm (clean up church') (planner)

Reception begins at 7:00pm (we'll only be ther for 1/2 of CH)

COMMENTS / SUGGESTIONS -- PLEASE

Re: Help with ceremony hours

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Posted by KYBride09

I don't want to start the reception late. Here is what I had in mind. Please let me know if this is realistic:

3pm - 4:30pm __ photos getting ready and at home
4pm - 4:30pm ___ Decoration chapel (just bows w/ flower (planner)
5pm - 6pm ceremony
6pm - 7:30pm photos
7:30pm - 8:00pm (clean up church') (planner)

Reception begins at 7:00pm (we'll only be ther for 1/2 of CH)

COMMENTS / SUGGESTIONS -- PLEASE

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are you the only one getting ready at home, will the hair and make up artist have to do anyone else? if so then honestly 3-4:30pm is not enough time. JUST me getting hair and make up took close to 2 hours. My ceremony was at 2:30 and we started getting ready at 10am. My mom and MOH also got hair and make up done by same hair and make up artist as me. I got hair done first, then after a bit my mom started make up. After i was done with hair, moh after got make up while my mom got her hair done. Then i had had a break for a bit and then had make up while MOH got hair done.

Re: Help with ceremony hours

i think that is fine, but if you want to attend your full CH then i would push your CH start to 7:30

Re: Help with ceremony hours

also are you doing just a ceremony or full mass? if youre doing just ceremony then an hour is waaay too long. Wont even take you 30 mins

Re: Help with ceremony hours

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by KYBride09

I don't want to start the reception late. Here is what I had in mind. Please let me know if this is realistic:

3pm - 4:30pm __ photos getting ready and at home
4pm - 4:30pm ___ Decoration chapel (just bows w/ flower (planner)
5pm - 6pm ceremony
6pm - 7:30pm photos
7:30pm - 8:00pm (clean up church') (planner)

Reception begins at 7:00pm (we'll only be ther for 1/2 of CH)

COMMENTS / SUGGESTIONS -- PLEASE

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are you the only one getting ready at home, will the hair and make up artist have to do anyone else? if so then honestly 3-4:30pm is not enough time. JUST me getting hair and make up took close to 2 hours. My ceremony was at 2:30 and we started getting ready at 10am. My mom and MOH also got hair and make up done by same hair and make up artist as me. I got hair done first, then after a bit my mom started make up. After i was done with hair, moh after got make up while my mom got her hair done. Then i had had a break for a bit and then had make up while MOH got hair done.

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Thank you for your advise. I can start getting ready earlier. Do you think I should start around noon?

Re: Help with ceremony hours

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Posted by KYBride09

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by KYBride09

I don't want to start the reception late. Here is what I had in mind. Please let me know if this is realistic:

3pm - 4:30pm __ photos getting ready and at home
4pm - 4:30pm ___ Decoration chapel (just bows w/ flower (planner)
5pm - 6pm ceremony
6pm - 7:30pm photos
7:30pm - 8:00pm (clean up church') (planner)

Reception begins at 7:00pm (we'll only be ther for 1/2 of CH)

COMMENTS / SUGGESTIONS -- PLEASE

---

are you the only one getting ready at home, will the hair and make up artist have to do anyone else? if so then honestly 3-4:30pm is not enough time. JUST me getting hair and make up took close to 2 hours. My ceremony was at 2:30 and we started getting ready at 10am. My mom and MOH also got hair and make up done by same hair and make up artist as me. I got hair done first, then after a bit my mom started make up. After i was done with hair, moh after got make up while my mom got her hair done. Then i had had a break for a bit and then had make up while MOH got hair done.

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Thank you for your advise. I can start getting ready earlier. Do you think I should start around noon?

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it all depends on how many ppl are getting ready at your house, thats how you know how manyhours you'll need for this. Who else is going to use the same make up artist and hair stylist?

Re: Help with ceremony hours

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Posted by Espo22

also are you doing just a ceremony or full mass? if youre doing just ceremony then an hour is waaay too long. Wont even take you 30 mins

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Not sure yet. I think just ceremony, and the lighting of the unity candle.

Re: Help with ceremony hours

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Posted by KYBride09

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Posted by Espo22

also are you doing just a ceremony or full mass? if youre doing just ceremony then an hour is waaay too long. Wont even take you 30 mins

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Not sure yet. I think just ceremony, and the lighting of the unity candle.

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the lighting of the unity candle is part of the ceremony. I did just ceremony and it was about 20 mins and thats including the unity candle, maybe 30 mins the most. Only a mass takes about 45 mins

Re: Help with ceremony hours

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by KYBride09

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by KYBride09

I don't want to start the reception late. Here is what I had in mind. Please let me know if this is realistic:

3pm - 4:30pm __ photos getting ready and at home
4pm - 4:30pm ___ Decoration chapel (just bows w/ flower (planner)
5pm - 6pm ceremony
6pm - 7:30pm photos
7:30pm - 8:00pm (clean up church') (planner)

Reception begins at 7:00pm (we'll only be ther for 1/2 of CH)

COMMENTS / SUGGESTIONS -- PLEASE

---

are you the only one getting ready at home, will the hair and make up artist have to do anyone else? if so then honestly 3-4:30pm is not enough time. JUST me getting hair and make up took close to 2 hours. My ceremony was at 2:30 and we started getting ready at 10am. My mom and MOH also got hair and make up done by same hair and make up artist as me. I got hair done first, then after a bit my mom started make up. After i was done with hair, moh after got make up while my mom got her hair done. Then i had had a break for a bit and then had make up while MOH got hair done.

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Thank you for your advise. I can start getting ready earlier. Do you think I should start around noon?

---

it all depends on how many ppl are getting ready at your house, thats how you know how manyhours you'll need for this. Who else is going to use the same make up artist and hair stylist?

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My Mom and I are using the same make up artist and hair stylist. My 2 bridesmaids are just getting hair done by two other stylists

Re: Help with ceremony hours

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Posted by KYBride09

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by KYBride09

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by KYBride09

I don't want to start the reception late. Here is what I had in mind. Please let me know if this is realistic:

3pm - 4:30pm __ photos getting ready and at home
4pm - 4:30pm ___ Decoration chapel (just bows w/ flower (planner)
5pm - 6pm ceremony
6pm - 7:30pm photos
7:30pm - 8:00pm (clean up church') (planner)

Reception begins at 7:00pm (we'll only be ther for 1/2 of CH)

COMMENTS / SUGGESTIONS -- PLEASE

---

are you the only one getting ready at home, will the hair and make up artist have to do anyone else? if so then honestly 3-4:30pm is not enough time. JUST me getting hair and make up took close to 2 hours. My ceremony was at 2:30 and we started getting ready at 10am. My mom and MOH also got hair and make up done by same hair and make up artist as me. I got hair done first, then after a bit my mom started make up. After i was done with hair, moh after got make up while my mom got her hair done. Then i had had a break for a bit and then had make up while MOH got hair done.

---

Thank you for your advise. I can start getting ready earlier. Do you think I should start around noon?

---

it all depends on how many ppl are getting ready at your house, thats how you know how manyhours you'll need for this. Who else is going to use the same make up artist and hair stylist?

---

My Mom and I are using the same make up artist and hair stylist. My 2 bridesmaids are just getting hair done by two other stylists

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if its just the 2 of you then its not that bad. While one gets hair the other can get make up. But still give yourselves 2 hours for this bc it does take time and you want to make sure it comes out perfect. Then time to get everything togther, put veil on, doj, garter, dress and take a few pics. So lets say to start getting ready about 3 hours before, maybe just a little bit over 3 hours so this way you dont rush and have a relaxed morning plus you never know what can come up so this way nothing will throw you off and make you late. The ceremony time will be less so instead of 5-6pm its more like 5-5:30pm. With that extra half hour maybe give yourself more time for pics or get to your RH a little earlier