Time of the Wedding

What time did or is everyone having their wedding. Mara at the Hilton said 5:00 or 5:30. How much time will this leave for after dinner dancing? I am worried because we can only have music until 10:30 p.m.

I'm sure that is shy Mara is suggesting this time as well, which is important. But, I hope we have plenty of time for dancing!

It all depends when you're getting married (january... july... november...), that is because of the sunset, WCs try to plan ceremonies around that time so you can have your photo session right after and catch the best possible light, unless you want to arrange things differently and allow extra time for dance and have your photo session at a different time.

d!no

If the party has to end at 10:30, work backwards. Figure 3 hours of reception, 1.5 hours of dinner/toasts, 1 hr cocktail hour, and 30 min ceremony? (just a guess, you could modify these times).

When in doubt, go a little earlier, I think. I wish we started 30 mins earlier, because the sun sets fast.

I know we are going to do some pics before the ceremony, but the majority will be after. I wonder if we should start earlier as well.

Ditto everything Janet said. I just got married a few weeks ago, and when the sun starts to set, it's gone in an instant. But that sunset sure makes for some fabulous photos!

I was also married a couple weeks ago (11/17). We started the ceremony at 4:30 and the sunset was at 5:30. With everything that happens in between - receiving line, group photo, who knows what - we sorta ran out of time for photos.

Also, we were told of the 10:30 cutoff but were allowed to continue a bit longer as long as no hotel guests complained. Since the restaurant was on the corner of the property and the music faced outward, I don't think it was very loud.

We're getting married at the Hilton in April and we're actually changing it up a bit. We're doing our cocktail party first (from 4:00PM to 5:00PM.) We'll be there mingling with our guests and taking pics. (We're not concerned about the whole "bride and groom not seeing each other beforehand" thing.)

Then the ceremony will be 5:00PM (really 5:15PM) to 5:30PM. This gives us 5 hours for our reception. We plan to take pics all day. But the posed shots on the beach will be after the ceremony while our guests go enjoy some cocktails and their first course. And not to mention, we're also having a bonfire on the beach at 10:30PM.