The Perfect Timing: When To Start Trying For Baby After Your Wedding

The amount of time you should wait before setting a date after your wedding depends on the type of wedding you want. If you want a small and simple wedding, you can wait longer to have the in-depth, set-a-date conversation. However, if you want a traditional wedding, you should set a date within a month or two after your engagement.

Wedding planning timeline: 6 months to a year

Setting a date for your wedding is a crucial step in the planning process. If you plan to do a wedding this soon after your engagement, it would probably be good to discuss setting a date within a month or two. However, the amount of time you need to start planning will vary depending on the type of wedding you want.

If you want a small and simple wedding, you can wait longer to have the in-depth, set-a-date conversation. However, if you want a wedding that is six months to a year in the making, you may want to set a date sooner rather than later.

The magic number for a ceremony and reception is 6 hours total. That would be an hour (ideally 30 minutes or less) for the ceremony, an hour for cocktails immediately following the ceremony, then 4 hours for dinner/dancing. This schedule will change a bit if you’re having your ceremony and reception in different locations.

Most couples choose to have the ceremonial dances like the mother and son dance and the father and daughter dance after dinner is over. Including the formal dances right before the dance floor opens up encourages people to hit the dance floor by seeing that others are dancing. Dancing should last anywhere between one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half hours.

All told, your entire wedding event will span about six hours—for example, an evening wedding that begins at 5 p.m will end at around 11 p.m. This includes the following major events: Your wedding ceremony, which typically lasts about 30 minutes, Cocktail hour—usually an hour, but can be longer (and remember that your cocktail hour can take place before the ceremony or in between the ceremony and reception, depending on your schedule and preference), Your wedding reception (dinner and dancing), which is runs about four hours Not included in this list are the period where you and your spouse are getting ready (which usually takes place over several hours), pre-wedding photo sessions (like the first look), set up and clean up, and any after-parties.

Setting a wedding date: within a month or two

Setting a wedding date within a month or two of engagement is a fairly traditional length, but it's important to consider your preferences and the scale of the wedding you envision. If you're planning a small and simple wedding, you might prefer to wait longer to set the date, allowing for a more relaxed planning process. However, if you're eager to get married and don't mind a more rushed planning experience, then setting the date within a month or two could be ideal.

If you decide to set the date within this timeframe, it's crucial to start the planning process early to ensure you have enough time to organise everything. This includes choosing a venue, which will influence the availability of other services and vendors. By setting the date sooner, you can narrow down your venue options and secure the desired location for your special day.

When setting the date, consider the total duration of your wedding event, which typically spans about six hours. This includes the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, as well as pre-wedding photo sessions, setup and cleanup, and after-parties. Planning within a month or two will help you coordinate these elements effectively and ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for you and your guests.

Additionally, discussing your wedding vision with your partner is essential. This conversation will help you determine the scope of your wedding and identify the aspects that are most important to you. By doing so, you can adjust the timeline for setting the date and planning the wedding according to your shared preferences.

In summary, setting a wedding date within a month or two of engagement offers a traditional approach, but it's essential to consider your preferences and planning timeline. By starting early, you can secure the desired venue, coordinate the event's duration, and align the planning process with your partner's vision. This approach ensures a well-organized and memorable wedding celebration.

Reception duration: 6 hours

The duration of a wedding reception is a crucial aspect of the wedding planning process. It is recommended that the total duration of the ceremony and reception is 6 hours. This includes the following major events:

• Your wedding ceremony, which typically lasts about 30 minutes
• Cocktail hour, usually an hour, but can be longer
• Your wedding reception (dinner and dancing), which is runs about four hours

The reception typically starts after the cocktail hour and lasts until around 11 p.m. The dinner and dancing usually start after the ceremony and cocktail hour and last for four hours.

The dance floor is usually opened up after the formal dances are completed, which encourages people to start dancing. The dance floor should last anywhere between one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half hours and there should be a natural ebb and flow to the dance floor for the remainder of the evening.

The period where you and your spouse are getting ready, pre-wedding photo sessions, set up and clean up, and any after-parties are not included in the 6-hour duration.

Ceremony length: 30 minutes

The length of a wedding ceremony is typically around 30 minutes. This is the magic number for a ceremony and reception that spans about six hours, including cocktail hour and dinner/dancing.

The ceremony is usually the first event of the evening, followed by cocktail hour and then dinner/dancing. The cocktail hour can take place before the ceremony or in between the ceremony and reception, depending on your schedule and preference.

If you're short on time, it's a good idea to have the ceremony and reception in the same location to save time.

The length of the ceremony is important to consider when planning your wedding schedule. It's a good idea to plan your wedding sooner rather than later to give yourself enough time to plan all the details.

Dance floor time: 1.5-2.5 hours

Dancing should last anywhere between one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half hours. There will be a natural ebb and flow to the dance floor for the remainder of the evening, but believe us when we tell you that an hour is way too short and anything past two hours starts to get a little tiresome.

Most couples choose to have the ceremonial dances like the mother and son dance and the father and daughter dance after dinner is over. Including the formal dances right before the dance floor opens up encourages people to hit the dance floor by seeing that others are dancing. Believe it or not, most people are shy about being the first to do something, so our advice is to save the ceremonial dances until right before you're ready to open up the dance floor.

Your entire wedding event will span about six hours—for example, an evening wedding that begins at 5 p.m will end at around 11 p.m. This includes the following major events: Your wedding ceremony, which typically lasts about 30 minutes, Cocktail hour—usually an hour, but can be longer, Your wedding reception (dinner and dancing), which is runs about four hours, Not included in this list are the period where you and your spouse are getting ready (which usually takes place over several hours), pre-wedding photo sessions (like the first look), set up and clean up, and any after-parties.

Most people are shy about being the first to do something, so our advice is to save the ceremonial dances until right before you're ready to open up the dance floor. Dancing should last anywhere between one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half hours. There will be a natural ebb and flow to the dance floor for the remainder of the evening, but believe us when we tell you that an hour is way too short and anything past two hours starts to get a little tiresome.

Your entire wedding event will span about six hours—for example, an evening wedding that begins at 5 p.m will end at around 11 p.m. This includes the following major events: Your wedding ceremony, which typically lasts about 30 minutes, Cocktail hour—usually an hour, but can be longer, Your wedding reception (dinner and dancing), which is runs about four hours, Not included in this list are the period where you and your spouse are getting ready (which usually takes place over several hours), pre-wedding photo sessions (like the first look), set up and clean up, and any after-parties.

Frequently asked questions