Below are two sample timelines, one for a 1pm ceremony and one for a 3pm ceremony, with the reasoning behind each slot. Your venue will have its own way of doing things, so treat these as a starting point and check with them.
A few things that shape every timeline
First, the registrar or officiant sets the ceremony time, and they won't wait. Build everything backwards from that. Second, the venue's kitchen and staff work to their own schedule, so the meal time is usually more fixed than you think. Third, things slip. Photos run over, speeches run long. Build in a bit of slack rather than planning every minute.
And think about the light. In midsummer you've got daylight well into the evening, so sunset photos can be late. In winter it can be dark before 4.30pm, which is a good reason to choose an earlier ceremony.
Sample timeline: 1pm ceremony
This suits a winter wedding, a big guest list or couples who want a long, relaxed evening.
8am. Hair and make-up starts. Allow longer than you think, especially for a large bridal party.
12.15pm. Guests start arriving. Ushers hand out orders of service and point people to their seats.
12.45pm. Registrars meet the couple separately for the legal interview. They usually do this before civil ceremonies, so check the timing with them.
1pm. Ceremony. A civil ceremony is often around 20 to 30 minutes; a church service can be longer.
1.30pm to 3.30pm. Drinks reception and photos. Confetti, group shots, then couple portraits. This is where a close-up magician from Magician For Hire earns their keep, mingling while you're off with the photographer.
3.30pm. Guests called to the tables.
3.45pm to 5.45pm. Wedding breakfast. The magician can carry on between courses.
5.45pm. Speeches, with a children's entertainer taking the kids off to a side room.
6.30pm to 7.30pm. A breather. The room is turned around, day guests freshen up, and you might grab a few golden hour photos in summer.
7.30pm. Evening guests arrive. A short show from Jay & Joss or a fun casino brings both sets of guests together.
8.30pm. Cut the cake, then first dance. Band or DJ starts.
9.30pm. Evening food.
Midnight. Last song and carriages, or whatever the venue's licence allows.
Why the 1pm timeline works
The big advantage is time. You're not rushing anything, and there's room for the photos to overrun without the kitchen panicking. In winter, you also get your outdoor photos done in daylight.
The catch is the gap between 6.30pm and 7.30pm, when the day guests can flag. That's why we'd put a show or something sociable at the start of the evening rather than leaving everyone sitting around. It's also a long day for older guests and children, so make sure there are comfy seats somewhere quieter.
Sample timeline: 3pm ceremony
Popular in spring and summer, and good if you want a shorter, tighter day.
10am. Hair and make-up starts.
2.15pm. Guests arrive.
2.45pm. Registrars' interview with the couple.
3pm. Ceremony.
3.30pm to 5pm. Drinks reception and photos, with a close-up magician such as Lewis Joss or Jamie Docherty working the groups.
5pm. Guests seated.
5.15pm to 7.15pm. Wedding breakfast.
7.15pm. Speeches.
7.45pm. Evening guests arrive while the room is changed over. A photo booth or magic mirror from UK Photo Booth Hire opens up.
8.15pm. Cake cutting and first dance.
9pm. Evening food.
Midnight. Carriages.
Why the 3pm timeline works
There's less dead time. Guests go almost straight from the meal into the evening, so you skip the slump. You also get a lie-in, more or less, and in summer the light is lovely for evening portraits.
But it's tight. If the photos run over or the speeches go on, the evening guests will arrive while you're still at the tables. Ask your venue how they handle that, and keep the speeches to a sensible length. Moving the speeches to before the meal is a popular fix, and it means the nervous speakers can enjoy their dinner.
Where entertainment fits
In both timelines, the pattern's the same. Use entertainment to cover the waits, not the bits that already have a focus. A magician through the drinks reception and the gaps in the meal. A children's entertainer from Party Magicians during the speeches. Something to bring the room together when the evening guests arrive, then the band or DJ. A casino from UK Casino Hire or a photo booth gives non-dancers something to do later on.
Send your final running order to every supplier a few weeks before, with the name and number of someone on the day who isn't you. More on this in our wedding entertainment ideas guide, and the wedding planning checklist covers when to book each bit.