afternoon wedding pros / cons / stories?

josiebella

Hi again ladies -

so I am really stuck on two options as some of you may have read somewhere on this forum. And for one of them, I could only afford to do an afternoon wedding. Now most of my friends tell me there is nothing wrong with an afternoon wedding, probably because they would never appear difficult to please for my sake. But can you guys be honest and tell me why the afternoon wedding is so unpopular?? Have you guys ever been to one and had a bad time? Do people drink less and dance less? eat less?

let me know! thank you

e_jakiela

To be honest, the only wedding that was really bad that I was to was a morning one... still doesn't mean that a morning wedding is a bad idea. Nor is an afternoon wedding.

The morning one I went to started at 11, and was held at a place that for me, is a wedding factory. It ended at 3pm and there was another party waiting coming in as we were leaving. Since it was in the summer, all guests were outside in the hottest time of the day (ceremony+cocktail hour were outdoors). The food was great, but rarely anyone eats dinner type of food in such quantities before 2pm, so we were all full and hot... and yes, there was little dancing...

But, this doesn't mean your afternoon wedding will be like this.... ultimately, people are there to see you marry, eat, drink and have fun.  Make sure you are sensible about the time and weather, so that you don't make your guests suffer, and they will have fun. 

What time does your wedding start? what time of a year?

josiebella

i am talking about an 11am-5pm wedding. thank you for sharing!

e_jakiela

So there you go, make sure people are not in direct sun, or forced to be outside during the hottest hours, and opt for lighter versions of the dinner menue... and people will have fun.   If your wedding is not in the summer, you should be fine.

josiebella

the food will be the same as the regular evening reception....:/

jeanna85

I don't think there is anything wrong with an 11am-5pm reception, but for me personally it would be a lot different. I'm assuming the cocktail hour would start at around noon, which means that I definitely wouldn't be eating as much as a 6pm cocktail hour where I haven't eaten since breakfast in anticipation. Also even though I enjoy a good drink, I wouldn't take advantage of the open bar that early, considering we would be getting out at 5pm- I would be driving home not hopping on a shuttle to a hotel to go to bed. I may have like a glass of wine wth dinner. I probably would still dance as much and have a good time.
You may want to  choose lighter foods as PP mentioned, also I would skip any Viennese hour.
Also consider a Sunday afternoon reception as opposed to a Saturday. On Saturdays you're more locked in on a particular time. At my venue, I remember them saying that a Sunday afternoon is the same price but more flexible because they will only do one wedding that day- so you can choose 2-7pm or something similiar. HTH

TerriandJoe

I would choose a Sunday afternoon over Saturday afternoon anyday.

The 11-5 Saturday time slot is the whole day for your guests, and then afterwards - then what? And all for a premier venue?

Select the day and time that will give you the wedding you (and your Fiance) want.
 
A Saturday daytime wedding will save money - but so will Sunday and Friday.

See if your venue choices can offer you the Saturday daytime price on either of those days.

If you go with the Saturday day, it will still be a beautiful wedding. Just as pp said a bit different than the saturday night-time ones.

HTH! GL!

ssage

Although we had an evening wedding, I see nothing wrong with an afternoon wedding....I think the point is that it is the wedding that matters that people will remember, not the time you had it! 

If you love the venue, etc. then I say go for it! 

That also gives you lots of time after the wedding to hang with people and continue the celebration, if you choose.

josiebella

thank you for all the tips!!

Crissyo

Its really up to you and the type of party/wedding you are looking for...some people LOVE day weddings.  I am a fan of all types of weddings!  Its really your own preference!

jeanna85

another nice advantage of afternoon weddings is that guests who have a bit of a drive home may not need a hotel for the night!

rblucy

I've been to fun day weddings and boring night weddings.  I don't think time of day matters as much as the guests, the food, and the music.  Ours was a Sunday but late afternoon/evening (ceremony 3:30-4, CH 4-5, and reception 5-9) and it was great for us.  We were eating at normal times for us, didn't wake up super early, didn't stay up really late (we go to bed around 10 normally ha!).  Pick what works for you and enjoy