The UK wedding day timeline

The order a UK wedding day usually runs in, with an example timeline you can adapt.

Updated 11 October 2026 · You & Evermore

Most UK weddings follow a familiar shape: the ceremony, a drinks reception, the wedding breakfast with speeches, then evening guests and a party. Your venue will have its own timings and limits, so treat this as a shape to start from, then check every time with your venue and registrar or celebrant.

The usual order

1. Getting ready. Hair and make-up often start early; the photographer usually arrives for the last hour.
2. Guests arrive. Ask guests to be seated well before the ceremony starts; ushers help.
3. The ceremony. A civil ceremony with a registrar has set legal words and signing the register; a celebrant-led ceremony can be shaped as you like but isn't the legal part.
4. Drinks reception. Drinks and canapés while the photographer takes group photos.
5. The wedding breakfast. The sit-down meal. Speeches are traditionally after the meal, though many couples now have them before so nobody is nervous through dinner.
6. Evening guests arrive. Usually a little after the meal ends.
7. Cake and first dance. Often together, to open the party.
8. Evening food, then the party until the venue's finish time and carriages.

An example timeline

An example only. Your venue's licence, kitchen and finish times decide the real ones.

What to check with your venue

• The earliest and latest ceremony times they offer, and how long the room needs to be turned around.
• When food must be served, and when evening food has to be out.
• Music limits: when live music or a DJ must finish, and whether there's a sound limiter.
• The finish time and the latest time for taxis or a bus.
• The wet-weather plan for anything outdoors, and who makes the call on the day.

Turn it into a run sheet

A run sheet is the same timeline with a name against every moment: who cues the speeches, who gathers people for photos, who holds the rings. Give one to every supplier and the person in charge on the day, so you don't have to be.

Sources

• GOV.UK: marriages and civil partnerships

Rules and fees change; always confirm with your register office, venue or card provider.

Questions

Should speeches be before or after the meal?

Traditionally after, but plenty of UK couples now have them before so the speakers can relax and enjoy dinner. Ask your venue which works for their kitchen.

How long should the drinks reception be?

Long enough for group photos and for the room to be turned around if the ceremony and meal share a space; your venue will tell you what they need.

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