Franklin Dean
Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, and choosing a start time is no exception. The average ceremony time for UK weddings is usually around 1 pm to 2:30 pm, but this can vary depending on various factors such as the size of the wedding, the location, and the time of year. For those who want to take advantage of the best lighting or the idea of a wedding under the stars, the start time may be earlier or later in the day. In addition, it's important to consider the timeline of events, including hair and makeup, photography, the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, speeches, and dancing. Television coverage of weddings can also vary, with some channels beginning their live coverage a few hours before the official start time to capture the arrival of guests.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, May 19 |
| Location | St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle |
| Time Zone | UK time (GMT) |
| Start Time | 12:00 p.m. |
| Live Coverage Start Time | 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
| Ceremony Duration | 20 minutes - 1 hour |
| Photography | 30 minutes before the ceremony |
| Hair and Makeup | Start time: 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. |
| Dinner | Start time: 4:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. |
| Cake Cutting | Before dancing |
| Dancing | Start time: 7:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. |
| Speeches | Start time: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
| Drinks Reception | Duration: 30 minutes - 3 hours |
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What You'll Learn
Royal wedding timings for different time zones
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will take place on Saturday, May 19, at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The ceremony will officially begin at 12 p.m. (noon) British Summer Time (BST). For those not in the UK, the timings will vary depending on your time zone.
Honolulu, Hawaii
The wedding will begin at 1 a.m. HAST on Saturday.
West Coast Cities
In Los Angeles and Las Vegas, the wedding will start at 4 a.m. PT.
Mountain Time Zone
In Denver, tune in at 5 a.m. MT.
Central Time Zone
For viewers in Chicago, the wedding will be broadcast at 6 a.m. CT.
East Coast Cities
In New York, the wedding will air at 7 a.m. ET. Coverage on Good Morning America will begin earlier, at 5 a.m. ET.
London
The wedding will take place at the actual start time of 12 p.m. BST in London.
Paris
For those in Paris, tune in an hour later at 1 p.m. CEST.
Moscow
Add another hour for Moscow, where the wedding will air at 2 p.m. MSK.
Johannesburg
The royal wedding will air on ITV Choice in Johannesburg at 1 p.m. SAST.
Tokyo
In Tokyo, the wedding will start at 8 p.m. JST.
Sydney
Sydneysiders can tune in at 9 p.m. AET.
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The best time to start a wedding ceremony
For example, if you're planning a wedding in the summer months, you may want to consider a later start time to take advantage of the long days and warm weather. A popular choice for summer weddings is a 5:30 pm start time, which allows for a relaxed morning and plenty of time for hair and makeup. This also means that by 6:30 pm, most guests will have dinner, and you can capture beautiful photos during the golden hour, the hour before sunset.
On the other hand, winter weddings come with earlier sunsets, so an earlier start time might be preferable. A ceremony start time of 3:30 pm in September is recommended, followed by dinner around 4-5 pm. This leaves plenty of time for photos during the golden hour, which is usually around dinner time.
The size of the wedding also matters. Smaller weddings and elopements offer more flexibility with start times. You can choose a time that takes advantage of the best light of the day or even opt for a romantic wedding under the stars. However, for larger weddings, you may need to consider a timeline that accommodates dinner, entertainment, and greeting all your guests.
Additionally, it's worth noting that the ceremony start time listed on invitations is often just for guests. The wedding party and vendors typically start their day much earlier, with hair and makeup services beginning as early as 11 am. It is also common for weddings to start about 15 minutes later than the invitation time to accommodate guests who may be running late.
Finally, superstition plays a role too. Many brides opt for a half-hour start time on the upswing of the clock, believing it brings good luck to the couple.
In summary, the best time to start a wedding ceremony depends on the season, sunset times, the size of the wedding, and personal preferences. Working backwards from the desired end time of the night and considering factors like dinner, speeches, and photos will help determine the ideal ceremony start time.
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Wedding day timelines for brides
A wedding day is a big event, and for the couple, the wedding party, and vendors, the day begins long before the ceremony start time listed on the invitation. The key to a smooth-running day is to plan ahead and create a detailed wedding timeline.
10:00 a.m. - Hair and makeup artists arrive and begin their work. It is recommended to allow at least 30 minutes per person per service. So, for example, if you have four bridesmaids and two mothers getting hair and makeup done, you should allow at least two hours for all services. It is also a good idea to plan ahead for a lunch delivery to be enjoyed while getting ready.
11:00 a.m. - The wedding photographer should arrive about 30 minutes before the couple gets dressed and ready. During this time, the photographer can capture shots of the wedding attire, rings, invitations, and other details.
11:30 a.m. - All VIPs, family members, and wedding party attendants should be fully dressed, with shoes and jewelry on, and boutonnieres and corsages in place.
12:00 p.m. - The ceremony start time listed on the invitation. However, it is common to plan to start the ceremony about 15 minutes later than the invitation time to allow guests a little extra time if they are running late.
12:15 p.m. - The ceremony begins. Non-religious ceremonies typically last around 20 minutes, while religious ceremonies can last up to an hour.
1:00 p.m. - Cocktail hour begins immediately after the ceremony if the ceremony and reception are at the same venue. During this time, guests can enjoy drinks and hors d'oeuvres, and the couple can sneak away for some post-ceremony photos.
2:00 p.m. - Dinner is served, followed by toasts, dancing, and cake.
6:00 p.m. - The last song plays, and the newlyweds make their grand exit, perhaps amid a sparkler send-off or with celebratory bells for guests to ring.
This timeline can be adjusted to fit the specific details of your wedding, such as the number of people in the wedding party and the locations of the ceremony and reception. It is also a good idea to finalize your wedding day timeline about a month before the wedding and share the details with your vendors, confirming the timing again about a week before the big day.
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Television coverage of the royal wedding
For those in the UK, most channels began their live coverage up to two hours before the official start time, allowing viewers to watch the arrival of guests, the royal family, and the bride and groom. The wedding was held at St George's Chapel, in Windsor Castle, with the service conducted by the Dean of Windsor, and the Archbishop of Canterbury officiating.
For those in other parts of the world, the wedding was broadcast at varying times throughout the day, depending on the time zone. In the US, for example, coverage began as early as 2 am Arizona time (5 am EST) on ABC15's Good Morning America, with the ceremony starting at 4 am Arizona time (7 am EST). Other US outlets covering the event included E!, the Today show, Hulu Live, and Reuters TV. The Royal Family also broadcast the wedding on their Facebook and YouTube channels.
Internationally, the wedding was aired on ITV Choice in Johannesburg at 1 pm SAST, at 8 pm in Tokyo and Seoul, and at 9 pm in Sydney on Channel Nine.
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The duration of a wedding ceremony
- Morning Preparations: The day begins early, especially for the couple, the wedding party, and vendors. Hair and makeup services for the bridal party usually start a few hours before the ceremony, with 11 am being a common start time. This timing may vary depending on the size of the group requiring these services. It is recommended to consult with hairstylists and makeup artists to determine the appropriate start time.
- Photography: The wedding photographer should arrive approximately 30 minutes before the couple is dressed and ready. This allows for photographs of the wedding attire, accessories, and invitations. If a ""first look" photo session is desired before the ceremony, it is advisable to start the ceremony later, allowing more time for these special moments to be captured.
- Guest Arrival and Seating: It is common for guests to arrive at the venue 15-30 minutes before the scheduled ceremony start time listed on the invitation. This buffer time accommodates any potential delays and ensures that all seats are filled when the ceremony commences. Soft music playing in the background adds to the ambiance and indicates that the start time is approaching.
- The Ceremony: Typically, non-religious wedding ceremonies last around 20 minutes, while religious services can range from 30 minutes to an hour. The length of the ceremony depends on the religious or cultural traditions being followed, the number of rituals or readings included, and the personal preferences of the couple.
- Post-Ceremony Photos: After the ceremony, the couple often takes some time for post-ceremony photos, especially if they did not have a "first look" session beforehand. This break allows the newlyweds to relax and re-energize before joining the cocktail hour or reception.
- Cocktail Hour and Reception: The cocktail hour typically lasts around 1.5 hours and serves as a transition between the ceremony and the reception. It is a time for guests to mingle, enjoy drinks and hors d'oeuvres, and offers the couple an opportunity to take additional photos or simply enjoy a brief respite before the festivities continue. The reception timeline varies based on the number of guests, the format of dinner, and the inclusion of traditions like the first dance, cake cutting, and speeches.
In summary, while the ceremony itself may last between 20 minutes to an hour, the overall duration of a wedding day is much longer, encompassing various elements that contribute to the celebration. It is important for couples to work with their vendors, photographers, and wedding planners to create a timeline that ensures a smooth flow throughout the day.
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Frequently asked questions
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle started at 12 pm UK time.
The wedding started at 4 am Pacific time, 5 am Mountain time, 6 am Central time, and 7 am Eastern time.
The wedding started at 1 pm Paris time, 2 pm Moscow time, 8 pm Tokyo time, 9 pm Sydney time, 1 am Honolulu time, 8 pm Seoul time, and 1 pm Johannesburg time.
You can tell your guests that the wedding will start at the time you want them to arrive. However, most weddings don't start at the time listed on the invitation. It's common to start the ceremony about 15 minutes later than the invitation time to give guests extra time to arrive.
