It goes without saying that there are many decisions to be made while planning a wedding. Between the date, the venue, the number of guests, the flavor of the cake, and everything else, thinking about what time to hold the festivities may be a decision that seems fairly minor. However, there are quite a few things that are affected by the time of your ceremony and reception! Here’s a few things to consider when deciding on a time:
1. Venue Availability
This will most likely be the biggest factor in your decision! Depending on your venue, they may have a preferred time for wedding ceremonies in order to prepare for the next event. Just ask the coordinator!
2. Consider Guest Travel
While most guests traveling more than an hour or two will likely spend the night anyways, it’s still important to consider that many people will be travelling to your special day! For example, an early afternoon wedding would allow guests to head home afterwards, while an evening wedding would allow guests to travel that day.
3. Weather
If you’re having an outdoor wedding, an early afternoon or evening wedding may be best if it’s during the summer! You don’t want to be sweating all through the ceremony!
4. Reception Meal Options
If you’re wanting to serve a sit-down meal, an evening time would be fitting! However, if you’re wanting to serve something a bit lighter, an early afternoon wedding may be better. I recently attended a wedding that started at 11:30, and they served brunch- it was fabulous!
5. Preparation Time
If you’re wanting to spend all day getting ready with your bridesmaids (and there’s nothing wrong with that!), you may want to choose a later time, so you’re able to enjoy the day without being pressed for time.
Our “What a Day Writer” is Kristen Moss. Kristen has a BA in Communication from Texas A&M University, spends
9-5 working in healthcare marketing, and after hours is the author of K.Moss Lifestyle, a “real life” fashion and lifestyle blog. To learn more about Kristen, check out her blog!
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