Has anyone had/is having an afternoon wedding?

angelil

Surprised that afternoon weddings are so common! I suppose people want the big party in the evening. Hubby and I are not really party animals so we had our wedding in the morning and then a lunch at *gasp* lunchtime.

I haven't been to that many weddings, though, so I suppose my experience is limited. I went to an afternoon wedding in 2009 which had more of a buffet-style meal afterwards, which worked better for people who wanted/needed to eat before (i.e. not just hanging on the whole day from breakfast before eating again). I went to another in 2011 which in my view was timed weirdly - the wedding itself was not until 2 or 3pm and then we had a full sit-down meal at 5pm, which was either too early or too late for most people I think depending on how you look at it. There were then cupcakes and other nibbles during the evening reception.

In my view, if you're marrying in the afternoon, the buffet-style setup probably works better. I've heard of people having hog roasts/barbecues etc, and even afternoon tea instead of a meal, which I think would be great

Fuzzy_Duck

itsmethatswho wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies, by afternoon wedding I meant 4pm ish, and to cut out the wedding breakfast. I just don't want to feel mean as some people will have travelled a long way, does everyone expect a sit down meal?

You're probably going to have some more traditional guests that expect a sit down meal, but don't let that bother you. I think a 4pm start is a great idea as it gives your guests plenty of time to have breakfast and lunch. As long as they get some food I don't think people will mind whether it's a formal sit down affair or an informal buffet.

dibuzz

As long as it's clear to the guests what they will be having I cant see any problems.
Like fuzzy duck says, there will be people who expect a sit down meal at a wedding and may not eat much beforehand but if they know its just a buffet they can eat accordingly.


ps I don't mean "just" a buffet in a bad way, I often prefer that to a full meal, its just that some (usually older) people have set ideas of what they think will happen and may be disappointed if they don't know in advance.

itsmethatswho

Yes, I did think about the traditional guests, and I know some people in my family will expect it. However, we are already going against 'tradition', we had a baby before marriage (family sore point!), we are only inviting immediate family to the wedding, no great aunts and friends of friends of friends!, and we are doing everything budget. I expect a lot of "oh, that's unusual" comments. But, we are insistent of paying for our own day, so have to be tight, and by the time we get married, it will be 7 years we have been together, I will be 30:(, and we are doing it our way:rotfl:

themull1

We're having our ceremony at 2.30 with canapes, wedding breakfast at 4.00 ish, buffet and sweet buffet 8.30 ish.

nikkilou1984

We're having ceremony at 3pm, sweet stall as canapes after ceremony, sit down for wedding breakfast at 5ish, bacon rolls and wedding cake in the evening at 9ish

Brighton_belle

angelil wrote: »

Surprised that afternoon weddings are so common! I suppose people want the big party in the evening.

Not necessarily. We married at 4pm, followed by afternoon tea for 35 and all over at 7pm. Bliss.

jansus

We went to a wedding last year at 5pm (a church service) there was a buffet in a local pub after, it was fine we had lunch before we went so we weren't hungry, Just put on your invites" buffet after" or similar if that's what you choose so that people know and can eat accordingly.

Tosca3

Afternoon weddings are the norm with everyone I know.

Wedding Breakfast to me just means the main formal meal after the ceremony as apart from lighter stuff provided for evening guests.

Bella73

We got married at 3.30 pm and then had welcome drinks followed by photos and then a hot/cold fork buffet. We also let everyone sit where they wanted with only a small table set aside for us near the front so we cold easily mingle and everyone could see us as hubby and best an did speeches etc. doing it this way saved us a small fortune, everyone had plenty of food and the hotel brought the buffet out in smaller sections as there are rules as to how long food can be left out so they would keep bringing fresh dishes out so it stayed hot and fresh for the rest of afternoon and then more in the evening as we had an evening party with some extra friends.

Also didn't bother with favours as they tend to be left anyway, didn't have the stress of a seating plan, so also saved on having to write out seat names etc.

Another plus was it gave us plenty of time to get ready and people can have lunch before they come.

A poster asked why its called a wedding breakfast. Basically, it is called the ‘breakfast’ regardless of the time of the day as it is the first meal that the couple will share after their marriage has taken place.

Traditionally, people would have fasted from midnight before the wedding took place and then once you were married the priest would bless the first meal taken. Obviously times have changed but it still tends to be called wedding breakfast.