Planning 101
28th January 2021
Professional Wedding Timeline & On The Day Wedding Itinerary
As each day passes, more people are vaccinated against Covid and the closer we get to a world where weddings can once again be celebrated exuberantly with family and friends. And when the restrictions are lifted, the sensible ones among you will be well prepared. In today’s post, Sam Ketterer, Director at Absolute Perfection Wedding Consultancy, has drawn up 2 professional wedding timelines to help you understand the precise running order of events on the wedding day. Sam has been planning weddings since 2003 and tutoring students in the art of wedding planning since 2007 so you are in good hands!
In much the same way as no two weddings are ever the same, it follows that no two wedding timelines are ever the same. That’s because there are a vast number of unique considerations that each itinerary is based upon, all of which depend upon the couple’s personal preferences and choices made during the wedding planning process.
That being said, you’ll be relieved to know that most weddings do follow a general structure throughout the day, from the moment dawn breaks to the end of the evening when all the guests have departed. Today I’d like to present 2 wedding timelines for two of the most popular types of wedding in the UK.
The first timeline accurately breaks down all the major timings for a Civil Wedding, where the ceremony and reception take place at the same approved venue.
Whilst the second itinerary accounts for a Religious Wedding, with a church ceremony followed by a reception in a separate, local venue.
Both schedules are a running order of the day’s events and outline all the major aspects that occur during a wedding day. They also include many of the minor elements that are so easily forgotten. All the timings are highly accurate and are recommended based upon a ceremony start time of 2pm. And they are colour-coded for added convenience.
If you would like a free copy of either of these timelines as a Ready-To-Go Excel Spreadsheet that’s easy-to-adapt and personalise according to your own requirements, click here to message Sam quoting FREE OTD SCHEDULE.
Civil Wedding Timeline
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9am
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Bride's Breakfast
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Venue open for deliveries (Favours, Candelabra, Confetti, Chair covers, Linens, Wine, Champagne, Candles, Vases, Tables, Chairs, Garden Games)
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10am
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Hair Stylist arrives
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Makeup Artist arrives
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Coordinator/s arrive, setting up
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Photographer/s arrives
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Cinematographer/s arrive
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11am
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Hair Styling, Bridesmaids
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Hair Styling, Mothers
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Hair Styling, Bridesmaids
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Refreshments for Bride & Party
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Makeup, Bridesmaids
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Makeup, Mothers
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Makeup, Brides
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Florist arrives with Buttonholes/Bouquets
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Florist setting up
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Cake Stand & Knife delivered
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Cake delivered and set up
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12pm
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Light Lunch for Bridal Party
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Toastmaster arrives
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Bridal Party Dressing
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Bride Dressing
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1pm
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Venue dressed and ready
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Ceremony Musicians arrive, set up and practice
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Transport arrives for Groom, Best Man & Ushers
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Transport departs with Groom, Best Man & Ushers
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1.15pm
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Groom, Best Man & Ushers arrive at Venue
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1.30pm
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Guests start arriving for the Ceremony
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Florist departs
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Hair Stylist departs
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Makeup Artist departs
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Bride and Parents Alone Time
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Transport arrives for Mother of Bride & Bridesmaids
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Transport departs with Mother of Bride & Bridesmaids
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Mother of Bride & Bridesmaids arrive at Venue
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Transport arrives for Bride & Father
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Transport departs with Bride & Father
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Bride & Father arrive at Venue
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2pm
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Entertainer/s arrive and set up
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Ceremony Commences
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2.30pm
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Ceremony Ends
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Ceremony Musicians set up for Reception
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Floral arrangements transported to Reception
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Drinks & Canapes, Music & Entertainment
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Formal Photographs
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3.45pm
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Dinner is Announced
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Short Receiving Line
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4.05pm
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Guests Seated
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4.10pm
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Entrance of the Bride & Groom
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Dinner is Served, Starter
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Dinner is Served, Main
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Band arrives and set up
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DJ arrives and sets up
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Additional Evening Ents/Lights/Sound set up
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Dinner is Served, Dessert
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5.40pm
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Speeches & Toasts: Father of Bride, Groom, Best Man
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6pm
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Cutting of the Cake
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Childcare arrives and sets up
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Bar opens
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6.30pm
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Coffee & Cake is served
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7pm
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Evening guests arrive
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First Dance
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Second Dance
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Guest Dancing
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Photographer/s depart
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Cinematographer/s depart
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Toastmaster departs
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Coordinator/s depart
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10pm
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Bouquet Toss
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Evening Buffet
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10.45pm
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Last Orders
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11pm
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Bar Closes
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Guest transport/shuttles arrive
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11.30pm
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Music Stops
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Departure of Bride & Groom
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Guests Depart
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All remaining suppliers depart
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12am
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Venue Closes
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Religious Wedding Itinerary
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9am
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Bride's Breakfast
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Venue open for deliveries
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10am
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Hair Stylist arrives
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Makeup Artist arrives
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Coordinator/s arrive, setting up
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Photographer/s arrives
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Cinematographer/s arrive
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11am
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Hair Styling, Bridesmaids
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Hair Styling, Mothers
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Hair Styling, Bridesmaids
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Refreshments for Bride & Party
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Makeup, Bridesmaids
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Makeup, Mothers
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Makeup, Brides
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Florist arrives, delivers Buttonholes/Bouquets
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Florist setting up Church & Reception
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Cake Stand & Knife delivered
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Cake delivered and set up
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12pm
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Light Lunch for Bridal Party
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Toastmaster arrives
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Bridal Party Dressing
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Bride Dressing
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1pm
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Church & Reception dressed and ready
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Ceremony Musicians arrive, set up and practice
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Transport arrives for Groom, Best Man & Ushers
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Transport departs with Groom, Best Man & Ushers
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1.15pm
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Groom, Best Man & Ushers arrive at Ceremony Venue
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1.30pm
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Guests start arriving for the Ceremony
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Florist departs
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Hair Stylist departs
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Makeup Artist departs
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Bride and Parents Alone Time
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Transport arrives for Mother of Bride & Bridesmaids
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Transport departs with Mother of Bride & Bridesmaids
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Mother of Bride & Bridesmaids arrive at Ceremony Venue
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Transport arrives for Bride & Father
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Transport departs with Bride & Father
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Bride & Father arrive at Ceremony Venue
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2pm
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Ceremony Commences
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2.40pm
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Transport arrives for Guests at Ceremony Venue
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Entertainer/s arrive at the Reception Venue
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3pm
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Ceremony Ends
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Ceremony Musicians depart for Reception Venue
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Floral arrangements transported to Reception Venue
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Formal Photographs at Ceremony Venue
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3.15pm
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Guests boarding buses
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3.20pm
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Transport departs for Guests at Ceremony Venue
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Bride & Groom depart from Ceremony Venue
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3.30pm
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Drinks & Canapes, Music & Entertainment
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Guests arrive at Reception Venue
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Bride & Groom arrive at Reception Venue
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Formal Photographs at Reception Venue
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4.35pm
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Dinner is Announced
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Short Receiving Line
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4.55pm
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Guests Seated
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5pm
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Entrance of the Bride & Groom
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Dinner is Served, Starter
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Dinner is Served, Main
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Band arrives and set up
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DJ arrives and sets up
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Additional Evening Ents/Lights/Sound set up
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Dinner is Served, Dessert
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6.30pm
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Speeches & Toasts: Father of Bride, Groom, Best Man
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6.50pm
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Cutting of the Cake
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7pm
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Childcare arrives and sets up
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Bar opens
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Coffee & Cake is served
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7.30pm
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Evening guests arrive
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First Dance
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Second Dance
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Guest Dancing
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Photographer/s depart
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Cinematographer/s depart
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Toastmaster departs
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Coordinator/s depart
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10pm
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Bouquet Toss
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Evening Buffet
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10.45pm
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Last Orders
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11pm
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Bar Closes
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Guest transport/shuttles arrive
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11.30pm
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Music Stops
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Departure of Bride & Groom
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Guests Depart
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All remaining suppliers depart
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12am
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Venue Closes
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Author Bio
Sam Ketterer is a Director at Absolute Perfection Wedding Consultancy. Established in 2003, AP are one of the longest established wedding planning companies in the UK and one of a select few who specialise exclusively in weddings.
Alongside his wedding planning duties Sam also runs popular home-study wedding planner courses for aspiring wedding designers and DIY brides! You can find out more about AP at: https://www.absoluteperfection.co.uk/