Wedding time and reception question

[VickyWDW]

I am hoping someone has had a similar sitaution. Our first choice for a wedding at the Wedding Pavillion was 5:00 or 5:30 (I forget what their official time is). Anyway, that time is booked, but all others are open on the date we want. The problem is I want it to be daytime for my ceremony and pictures in and out of the Pavillion, but we want an evening reception. So say we had a reception that began 5-6pm what would our guests do in between if the ceremony was at 2:30. Does anyone have a good idea for this?

Thank you so much!

Vicky

 

[wendy46001]

As for what guest would do i'm not to sure...but we ran into the same issue...I wanted daytime pictures, but wanted Illuminations pre-reception...we ended up taking all of our pictures before the wedding...that way we had lots of time and the only people i had to worry about entertaining was the little kids in my wedding party..a little untraditional ...but it worked for us

 

[pixie08]

Is seeing your dh2b an option? Then I would do as Wendy mentioned and take all pics before the ceremony. We also really wanted an evening reception so much so we have skipped a wedding day illuminations party (we are doing it as a welcome party) Our wedding is in June so most likely at 5pm it is still going to be really bright out. If 5pm is what your heart is set on how about another date?

If 2;30 is the only option and the prereception is not going to start u ntil after 5 you can arrange a group activity. I think I would need more details like where the recpetion is going to be held before making suggestions

 

[Cinderella Fan]

We also wanted the same thing, a daytime wedding with a dusk-ish ( is that a word?) reception and dinner. So, since we are getting married in late-December, we are having a 4 pm wedding....

 

[Glass Slipper]

My wedding was at 2:30, our pre-reception from 3:30 to 4:30, with the reception from 4:30 to 8:30. Ours was on May 27 and by the time we walked out of the reception around 8:40 it was just getting dark, but the time of everything was fantastic. I think the sun set around 8:30 that day. Good luck with your planning!!!

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

you could have a pre-reception.

 

[trip]

you could have a pre-reception.

What is a pre-reception? A cocktail hour?

 

[VickyWDW]

Thanks for all of your reseponses. We are planning a ceremony at the Wedding pavillion and a reception at the Grand Floridian. We were thinking of some kind of group activity so that we can have a reception that starts in the evening, but that is a really long day for all the guests (potentially 10 hours!).

We are currently considering a 2:30 ceremony followed by a 3:30-4:30 cocktail hour, followed by a 4:30-8:00 reception and an Illuminatiosn dessert party starting at 8:30. Then afterwards we were thinking of doing an afterparty on the Boardwalk or Pleasure Island. This is the best we have come up with so far. Any opinions?

Thanks,
Vicky

 

[mmickey5]

Hi Vicky,
Just my thoughts on this: It sounds like a wonderful plan. The 230 ceremony followed by the pre-reception and then dinner. The Illuminations would also be a great addition- its gorgeous!
I think thats enough for one day! DD thought maybe we'd all go out after Dessert party but by the end of the day- we were all ready to just go relax, hot tub it and get ready for the next day. The newlyweds got to spend the rest of the evening enjoying their beutiful GF Honeymoon suite too.
Give yourself some time to relax

 

[hmgolden]

Thanks for all of your reseponses. We are planning a ceremony at the Wedding pavillion and a reception at the Grand Floridian. We were thinking of some kind of group activity so that we can have a reception that starts in the evening, but that is a really long day for all the guests (potentially 10 hours!).

We are currently considering a 2:30 ceremony followed by a 3:30-4:30 cocktail hour, followed by a 4:30-8:00 reception and an Illuminatiosn dessert party starting at 8:30. Then afterwards we were thinking of doing an afterparty on the Boardwalk or Pleasure Island. This is the best we have come up with so far. Any opinions?

Thanks,
Vicky

That was the same schedule that we had, and it worked out wonderfully. Originally we had planned on meeting guests at Jelly Rolls after Illuminations, but in the end, we were just so exhausted that we headed back to our Garden Suite to change and shower, etc. When we were planning our custom wedding we found Disney to be VERY resistant to any plan that didn't involve the cocktail hour starting immediately after the ceremony. They are experts at the timing, and everything worked out beautifully.

 

[michloo]

I have that schedule too . The cermony is at the wedding pavilion at 2:30 with the Cocktail hour (pre-reception)starting at 3:30. Then the reception starting at 4:30 and ending at 8:30. I would love to add a dessert party after the reception but the budget will most likely not allow it. The other idea I have is just walk from the Yacht club over to Jelly Rolls and continue to party with who ever is up for it. Seems to me this timing should work nicely.

 

[pixie08]

Thanks for all of your reseponses. We are planning a ceremony at the Wedding pavillion and a reception at the Grand Floridian. We were thinking of some kind of group activity so that we can have a reception that starts in the evening, but that is a really long day for all the guests (potentially 10 hours!).

We are currently considering a 2:30 ceremony followed by a 3:30-4:30 cocktail hour, followed by a 4:30-8:00 reception and an Illuminatiosn dessert party starting at 8:30. Then afterwards we were thinking of doing an afterparty on the Boardwalk or Pleasure Island. This is the best we have come up with so far. Any opinions?

Thanks,
Vicky

I think that is perfect. If we were having our dp the night of the wedding instead of the day before I would choose that exact schedule. You are right if you choose the first option it will become a really long day. Plus if you are doing a dp then you will have your evening party!

 

[Tinkerbellz]

Sounds like a long day, but it sounds like great fun...it's a wedding and disney..WOW...

Here's our plan (May 2008)

Welcome dinner May 7th 8:30pm--'Ohana

May 8th
6am MK photoshoot
9am(?) Wedding at WP--followed by cake cutting and characters at Commander's Terrace

11am--1900 Park Fare "brunch"

Afternoon on your own

8:30 Illuminations Dessert Party

May 9th
9:30ish--Breakfast at Chef Mickey's