There are a million decisions to be made once you have said “I Do.” Planning your wedding includes making choices on so many things including the: venue, guest list, flowers, wedding dress. The list could go on and on. One of the initial decisions you will need to make when securing your ceremony and reception hall is whether to host a day or night wedding.
While night weddings tend to be more popular in recent years, afternoon weddings are also a draw for many couples. Let’s look at all the factors that can go into this choice from travel time for guests, to children in the wedding, to making the most of the entire day.
Evening Weddings
This choice is one of the most common, as a late afternoon ceremony allows for an excellent transition into dinner at the reception followed by a night of dancing and celebrating. An evening wedding gives the guests and wedding party plenty of time to prepare in the morning and allows for optimal time to get formal photos completed either before the events begin or in-between the ceremony and reception.
One pitfall of an evening reception is the late timing may not work well for guests travelling from afar, older family members or much younger guests. If you have young children in your wedding or invited to the party after, you may need to consider the timing.
Another benefit is that couples can plan for photos at sunset in the hour or so between the ceremony and reception.
Afternoon Weddings
If you have your heart set on an outside ceremony with a reception to follow, a midday or afternoon wedding may be a good choice. A lunch menu and daytime cocktails is just as fun and tasty as their nighttime equivalent. Keeping in mind the season of your wedding and the amount of daylight at that time of year can help you plan the amount of light for your outdoor ceremony.
Afternoon weddings tend to be well-timed well for older family members and your ring bearer or flower girl who may tire easily at night. Afternoon weddings also tend to open up options at many venues where evenings book up quickly, and you may be looking to schedule both the ceremony and reception back-to-back. Some venues also offer more affordable pricing on their daytime weddings compared to evening weddings.
Depending upon your style of wedding, many guests may appreciate the earlier schedule while others enjoy that the party can continue at the family home into the evening after the reception is officially over.
Brunch Weddings
For early birds who are excited to get the days events going, a brunch wedding may be the perfect choice. Not only is a brunch menu commonly less expensive but guests can enjoy both traditional meal menus as well as brunch type menus. Even though the hour may be a bit earlier you can still have fun with a signature cocktail of a Bloody Mary bar!
Many brides and grooms also choose this time of day to accommodate children in the wedding, guests who will have a long journey after the reception, or a honeymoon that is slated to begin that evening!
Danversport offers multiple times and menu options that coordinate with the time of day. Our waterfront is beautiful all day long and the shimmer off the water at high noon is just as special as the reflection of the moon in the evening! Talk to our coordinators about the benefits of each part of the day, and let them help you find the perfect time to host your wedding.
