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While it’s usual for a wedding to take up an entire day – morning spent on preparations, then an early afternoon ceremony followed by a reception – the schedule isn’t actually written in stone. For some couples, a late-afternoon or an evening wedding is an ideal solution. On a day already full of nerves, flutters and high emotions, a calm first half of the day followed by a relaxed celebration is a perfect way to make sure everyone is happy. Plus, it’s a budget-friendly option. Here are the pros and cons of getting wed later in the day.
Why you should say ‘yes’ to an evening wedding
Get all your beauty sleep – and a lie-in! An early wedding sometimes means a hectic morning, but a late start means you’ll have all the time in the world to sleep in a little, chat with your mum or dad, have a leisurely breakfast, a bath… some brides even choose to have breakfast with the Other Half, then meet up again later in all their wedding finery, ready for the ‘I do’.
You’ll have time to make sure the venue is decorated to perfection. Depending on how late your ceremony is, and how close you live to the venue, you could pop over for a visit to cast an eye over the reception room to make sure it’s set out exactly as you’d wished.
Plenty of time to get your hair and make-up done. You don’t have to hurry with your beauty treatments, especially if your mum and the bridesmaids are getting theirs done too.
Some suppliers may be easier to book for later in the day. Plus, if anything goes wrong, there’s time to sort things out.
The guests travelling from afar won’t have to leave at the break of dawn. They’ll have plenty of time to arrive and not miss the ceremony.
A late reception can be more budget-friendly. Think buffet or a roast instead of a sit-down meal, and the menus are usually more flexible too. Plus, a buffet contributes to a more relaxed atmosphere, if that’s what you’re after.
The guests won’t have to be entertained to fill the in-between time. A late wedding means everything can progress pretty smoothly from the ceremony to the photos, and then on to the reception – no need to worry about that cocktail hour, the nibbles, the violin trio. Another plus to this is that the drinking will start later in the day too, if it’s something you worry about.
The atmosphere will be more relaxed. The guests will have had a hurry-free morning, and will have eaten too, so won’t be famished and cranky.
You could have some spectacular photos that wouldn’t be possible otherwise – in the late afternoon sun, or the sunset, twinkling lights, candles… make sure to ask the photographer whether they’ve ever done a late wedding and ask to see the album.
Possible savings on certain suppliers – like photographer and band or DJ, who won’t have to be there for as many hours as usual.
Why an afternoon wedding may not be for you
A wedding day goes by so fast. Nearly every single one of our Real Wedding brides has said this! Getting married late in the day means your day will go even faster. One way to ensure this isn’t a problem is to continue the celebrations the day after.
You may encounter traffic, depending on the time of day. There’s morning traffic, then there’s the after-work traffic too. Take this in to consideration, especially for a weekday wedding – for yourself and for the guests too.
Late afternoon photos may have challenging lighting, depending on the season. This is a ‘pro’ for gorgeous photos, but also a con. Make sure to tell your photographer about your expected timings.
Some suppliers may not be able to work with a later wedding. Reasons may include anything from being engaged for a non-wedding event on the same day to travel issues. Be sure to check the timings are okay.
Your church or registry office may not be able to do a late ceremony. It’s best to ask as far in advance as possible, and be flexible – they may not be able to do a late Sunday wedding, but a late Saturday could be no problem.
Your venue may book their very best suite for a non-wedding event on the same day. If you’re having a viewing, it’s best to ask about the availability of your chosen room.
Your guests may arrive hungry. An easy way to fix this is to have some sharing platters served instead of appetisers, if you’re having a sit-down meal.
If you’re having a marquee wedding, check the times the tent will need to get pitched. Will it be put up first thing in the morning, and then left to stand until you arrive? Is this allowed at the location? Or, can the marquee company arrive later, if possible?
It’s hard to do a very traditional wedding in half a day. Traditional affairs tend to be unhurried, with the sit-down meal that observes all the etiquette. It takes a delicate balance to achieve the right ambience in half the time.
Before you decide to go for a late wedding, make sure to clarify the schedule with your suppliers and the venue. And, check with your ceremony venue for all the times available on your chosen date, and whether there are any restrictions. Consider what’s best for you and your fiancé(e), and discuss it together – you may find a wedding later in the day a lot less stressful.
Have you already decided to have a wedding later in the day? Tell us why in the comments below!
