Timeline Planning

How many hours do I really need?

Your wedding day timeline depends on the activities you want to include. The size of your wedding party, number of guests, setup needs, photos, ceremony, and reception all play a role in how much time you'll need.

At Lavender Owl Farm, we handle most of the heavy setup so you can focus on enjoying your day. Whether you're planning a relaxed afternoon celebration or a full evening event, we’ll help you build a timeline that fits your needs.

Key Considerations

Larger guest counts and wedding parties require more time for setup, getting ready, and photos.
Seasonal shifts, sunset times, and your preferred event style (early soiree or late-night dancing) all affect your schedule.

Our standard reception is based on four hours of bar service, from cocktail hour to last call— Additional hours may require extended bar service.
Note: Guests often leave earlier on Sundays, so plan accordingly if you're hoping for a longer evening.

SAMPLE TIMELINES

Lunch or Cocktail Wedding

Our Friday and Sunday options are perfect for intimate gatherings with 30 or fewer guests and no formal wedding party.

Typical Timeline: 4–6 Hours

These celebrations are ideal for couples who want a relaxed ceremony followed by a social hour—no DJ, no dancing, just meaningful moments and great conversation.

Hair & Makeup is typically done off-site
Final dressing happens on arrival
Add extra hours if you’ll have a wedding party getting ready or need time for DIY decor and setup

Choose Your Style:

Lunch or Afternoon Ceremony
Evening Cocktail Celebration

These shorter formats are perfect for couples who value connection over production. Want help mapping out your timeline or deciding which style fits best? I’m here for it.

30 - 60 Guests

For smaller weddings, 8–10 hours is typically plenty of time to celebrate comfortably. This sample schedule includes optional photo moments and assumes a relaxed pace with buffet-style dining and dancing.

Earlier suggestion (Later suggestion)

11:00 Arrivals and set up

~ H&MU (1 hr. per person)

~ Set up and decor (2 hours)

12:00 (1:00) Second wedding party arrivals and dressing
1:00 (2:00) First Look and Wedding Party Photos (opt.)

2:30 (3:30) Bride goes back to dressing room

~ Guests Arrive

3:00 (4:00) Ceremony (15-20 mins)

3:30 (4:30) Cocktail hour (45-60 mins)

~ Group and Family photos (30 mins)

4:15 (5:15) Dinner Seating and grand entrance

4:30 (5:30) Buffet Opens

5:15 (6:00) Toasts, Cake & First Dance

~ Dance Floor Opens

8:30 (9:30) Last Dance, Goodbyes and clean up

9:00 (10:00) Client End Time (All off site).

60 - 100 Guests, larger wedding party

This schedule assumes a full day with on-site prep, formal photos, and a lively evening reception. Hair and makeup typically takes 1 hour per person, so plan accordingly if you have a larger group.

11:00 Arrivals and Set up

~ H&MU (1 hr. per person)

~ Set up and decor (3 hours)

2:00 Second wedding party arrivals and dressing

3:00 First look and formals (opt.) (30 mins)

~Wedding party and family photos (30-45 mins)

4:30 Bride goes back to dressing room

~ Guests Arrivals

5:00 Ceremony (15-20mins)

5:30 Cocktail hour (60 mins)

Group and Family photos (30 mins)

6:30 Dinner Seating, Grand Entrance

6:45 Dinner (45-60 mins)

7:30 Toasts, Cake & First Dance

~ Dance Floor opens (2.0 hours)

9:30 Bar closes

10:00 Last Dance, Goodbyes and clean up

11:00 Client End Time (All off site)

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