Can I Have a Morning Wedding?
Is It Okay to Have a Morning Wedding?
Do people have morning weddings? Yes. There’s no rule saying you can only get married in the afternoon or evening. An alternative wedding timeline gives you flexibility regarding the desired wedding type and saves you a good amount on venue fees, catering, and other wedding vendors.
Morning weddings offer unique charm and style. They are popular for weddings in tropical locations, beach weddings, waterfront ceremonies, and destination weddings.
What is the Best Time for a Morning Wedding?
Timing-wise, your wedding ceremony can be 10 AM onwards, and the reception can be 11 AM to 2 PM. Pick a time that is universally convenient for you and your guests. A morning wedding tends to be shorter since the reception is less of the party and most guests prefer leaving early.
What Should A Morning Wedding Timeline Look Like?
The timing is the biggest difference between a morning and an evening wedding. You have to start very early in getting ready for a daytime ceremony. You can skip the cocktail hour and let your guests enjoy the meal at 11:45 AM. After eating, mingling, dancing, and other wedding activities, have your grand exit at 2:45 AM.
We have crafted a morning wedding timeline, but you can adjust some details.
- 6:00 AM – The wakeup call
- 8:00 AM – Getting ready
- 10:00 AM – Ceremony
- 11:00 AM – Reception starts
- 11:45 AM – Meals
- 1:00 PM – Dancing
- 1:30 PM – Cake cutting and couple’s speech
- 2:45 PM – Grand exit
If you’re planning afternoon entertainment for the guests, extend the reception until 4:30 PM.
Are Morning Weddings Formal?
A morning wedding can be as formal or casual as you want. But formal during a daytime wedding is not quite similar as you’d expect at an evening wedding. Of course, you can still make formal invitations or have traditional plated meals.
What Should You Wear in a Morning Wedding?
Brides can wear less traditional for the ceremony and reception depending on the wedding theme. You can opt for a more relaxed gown with a casual fabric and minimal training. Instead of a veil, you can wear a flower crown. The groom can wear a lighter-colored suit, like gray, light brown, or powder blue.
A safe clothing option for the guests would be slacking with a short-sleeved polo shirt for men and sundresses for women. You can also encourage your guests to wear hats, patterns, or bold colors.
What Should You Serve in a Morning Wedding?
A morning wedding allows you to be creative with the food items. Instead of hearty meals, serve a light brunch buffet. Classic breakfast staples, such as French toast, eggs, and sausages, are perfect. Add mini breakfast sandwiches, a waffle station, or a cereal bar.
Try brunch-friendly cocktails, like sangria, mimosa, Bloody Marys, and margaritas for the drinks. Consider juice, lemonade, smoothies, espresso shots, and mocktails for guests who want to skip alcohol.
Planning Tips for a Morning Wedding
- Send invitations early so guests can plan accordingly.
- Select a venue with suitable ambiance and lighting for a morning event.
- Allocate enough time for hair and makeup, getting ready, and transportation.
- Provide gentle live music to create a delightful ambiance.
- Consider light, vibrant colors, décor, and floral arrangements that complement the morning theme and reflect the day’s freshness.
A morning wedding is a beautiful and unique way to celebrate your special day. Since the celebrations end early, you spend the evening with your friends. You can also have an intimate celebratory dinner with your immediate family or just the two of you.
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