Okay I just found out that my church is completely booked for all the afternoon mass times for all of Summer 09. My own fault I guess - it's a pretty well-known location in Chicago. So now I'm thinking of an 11AM ceremony and then a lunch/brunch reception. However, I've only been to evening weddings, so I'm not really familiar with this option...
my ceremony is at 11am and we'll be having a "lunch" reception.
we expect the actual reception not to start until near or about oneish, so i didnt seriously consider the brunch idea, but i am saving a good bit of money by having it early and scoring my venues lunch prices!
i'm not worried about dancing or anything bc i come from a partying family. they'd dance if my reception were at 8am. that said, the atmosphere of your reception is going to follow your lead and the demeanor of your guests.
the only thing i'm not loving so far about my wedding time is that i will have to be at the hair salon no later than 5:30.....ugh....i'll have to get up at 4 am if i want to get in a good relaxing shower and not have to do a quickie rushed one.
if you think you can handle the early morning, i think this is a great alternative!
As far as getting to the salon that early, have you tried to find somebody to come to your house? I think it would be worth the extra money. I could NOT get up that early.
I am having an 11 AM wedding with a brunch reception that's starting around 1ish - though I come from a land of brunch encompassing any weekend meal eaten between 10 AM and 4 PM that may or may not involve breakfast-like foods . Since it hasn't happened yet, I can't give you any pointers on how it went, but I am seriously looking forward to the food (I LOVE breakfasty foods), the daytime setting with natural sunlight for all of our photos and most especially that we'll be done before dinnertime, which means that me and FH will get to spend a nice relaxing evening together (and not be stressed all day without seeing each other!)
@KateMW- thats not an option since our budget is so small....but it would definitely be great for others. if budget wasnt an issue i would definitely have the stylist come to me!
Photography! i forgot to comment on the great natural light we'll be getting bc of the time of day.
Hey! This is what we were planning to do too because we're on a really tight, young-couple budget. We're having our wedding at the same time, or earlier, in the morning. If you're interested in hearing about our plans and such you can check out my blog. Good luck!
I *heart* brunch. It should be lovely. As others have mentioned, some daytime receptions have less of a traditional reception feel (less dancing, a bit more restrained), but it depends on the crowd and what you are looking for. If it is important to have the venue and keep your date in Summer 09 and you're ok with an alternative time, then go for it! You should score some savings on the food and other costs.
I think a brunch would be so much fun! This would be the perfect reception for a garden/casual outdoor venue! You can do a Champagne bar with momosas, belinnis, etc and bloody marys! Also, you will save a lot of money since most of your vendors can do two weddings that day, plus people will (most likly) drink less and expect a lighter meal! I say go for it :)
One of my best friends had a daytime wedding with a "tea-party" reception. She loved it and it saved tons of money. Her only advice is to realize that people will drink despite the early time of day. She didn't have liquor available...and later found half of her family across the hotel at the bar (yes, it was 1pm...)
I ***love*** this idea! I'm one of those people who could eat breakfast food any time of day, so I'm a little biased... but I think most brunches have enough savory options to please people who aren't in a pancake mood. If you mention on the invitation that you'll be serving brunch, people can prepare themselves mentally. (I guess that sounds silly, but you know how some people are.)
The only suggestion I have is that you either do something served (not as fun menu-wise) or in stations (maybe more expensive). Maybe you could do a combination of those things. I went to a wedding that had a brunch buffet, and the French toast and other such yummies were a little cold and... not so yummy.
I think it's a great idea, though, and a really nice opportunity to be able to do creative/less commonly seen attire (morning suits!!!), food, drinks, etc.
I personally love morning weddings. There's a certain freshness to them. Plus, you're not tired afterward, your guests still have most the day left, and you could even try to get discounts from some of your vendors because they could potentially do another event that day. Good luck!
i LOVE brunch! I wanted to do a Sunday brunch wedding but FH said no :(
I've been to one brunch wedding, at first I thought it was weird (never heard of it til that day...i was invited cause I was visiting a friend and became a date), but now I think it's a great idea.
I too am having a brunch wedding. The ceremony is at 11:30, reception from 12-1, and brunch 1-3:30/4:00. It is a little on the late side for brunch, but we wanted to give ourselves enough time to get ready beforehand. And yes we are doing breakfast items on the menu (its the best meal of the day). We are only inviting 50 people and we really wanted to feel like we are all gathering for one big meal. We decided to do stations and our menu is AWESOME. I drool looking at it. Unfortunately due to the fact that we are having a brunch (which means the hotel makes less off of us) we had to forgo a tasting. But we have actually eaten brunch at our venue and know they do a wonderful spread.
I am so happy to hear that other brides are doing this as well.
Hey girls, I'm Katie. Wedding planning is so overwhelming! We have been planning our wedding reception at a golf-resort type banquet hall for Dec. 13th in the evening, but suddenly became aware that an amazing ballroom is available on the same day. The catch is that the ballroom is only available for an early afternoon wedding (we have to be out by 5pm). We want the dancing, cake, full meal, and traditional activities, but are worried about what to do afterwards, if people will dance, how the place will feel in the afternoon. On Dec. 13th, the sun is supposed to set by 5pm... so the main question is: Should we have an afternoon reception that feels like a night time ballroom affair, or have an afternoon reception that feels like a brunch time affair? With the first, we could have the music and dancing and just pray everyone joins us... or with the second, we could rely on the laid back afternoon feel. Any thoughts girls??
I love the idea of a morning wedding! The only thing you may want to keep in mind is that they tend to be slightly less formal, but if you have your heart set on a formal wedding go for it. If you're worried about not having the "typical" timeline of afternoon wedding, dinner reception, bride and groom off to hotel for the night, you could throw a smaller party after the reception for close friends and family to relax and enjoy company while they're in town.
Okay I just found out that my church is completely booked for all the afternoon mass times for all of Summer 09. My own fault I guess - it's a pretty well-known location in Chicago. So now I'm thinking of an 11AM ceremony and then a lunch/brunch reception. However, I've only been to evening weddings, so I'm not really familiar with this option...
Any thoughts or words of wisdom?
posted by Chi2L 2 posts 3 months agomy ceremony is at 11am and we'll be having a "lunch" reception.
we expect the actual reception not to start until near or about oneish, so i didnt seriously consider the brunch idea, but i am saving a good bit of money by having it early and scoring my venues lunch prices!
i'm not worried about dancing or anything bc i come from a partying family. they'd dance if my reception were at 8am. that said, the atmosphere of your reception is going to follow your lead and the demeanor of your guests.
the only thing i'm not loving so far about my wedding time is that i will have to be at the hair salon no later than 5:30.....ugh....i'll have to get up at 4 am if i want to get in a good relaxing shower and not have to do a quickie rushed one.
if you think you can handle the early morning, i think this is a great alternative!
posted by GetMarried4Less 403 posts 3 months agoI really like the idea of brunch, but an 11am wedding may be more "lunchy".
For some cute daytime summer wedding ideas check out the martha stewart wedding magazines, most of the weddings are daytime.
posted by TallBride 574 posts 3 months agoAs far as getting to the salon that early, have you tried to find somebody to come to your house? I think it would be worth the extra money. I could NOT get up that early.
posted by KateMW 483 posts 3 months agoI am having an 11 AM wedding with a brunch reception that's starting around 1ish - though I come from a land of brunch encompassing any weekend meal eaten between 10 AM and 4 PM that may or may not involve breakfast-like foods
. Since it hasn't happened yet, I can't give you any pointers on how it went, but I am seriously looking forward to the food (I LOVE breakfasty foods), the daytime setting with natural sunlight for all of our photos and most especially that we'll be done before dinnertime, which means that me and FH will get to spend a nice relaxing evening together (and not be stressed all day without seeing each other!)
posted by lunapark 15 posts 3 months ago@KateMW- thats not an option since our budget is so small....but it would definitely be great for others. if budget wasnt an issue i would definitely have the stylist come to me!
Photography! i forgot to comment on the great natural light we'll be getting bc of the time of day.
posted by GetMarried4Less 403 posts 3 months agoHey! This is what we were planning to do too because we're on a really tight, young-couple budget. We're having our wedding at the same time, or earlier, in the morning. If you're interested in hearing about our plans and such you can check out my blog. Good luck!
posted by ustwiggie 117 posts 3 months agoI *heart* brunch. It should be lovely. As others have mentioned, some daytime receptions have less of a traditional reception feel (less dancing, a bit more restrained), but it depends on the crowd and what you are looking for. If it is important to have the venue and keep your date in Summer 09 and you're ok with an alternative time, then go for it! You should score some savings on the food and other costs.
posted by missm 483 posts 3 months agoI think a brunch would be so much fun! This would be the perfect reception for a garden/casual outdoor venue! You can do a Champagne bar with momosas, belinnis, etc and bloody marys! Also, you will save a lot of money since most of your vendors can do two weddings that day, plus people will (most likly) drink less and expect a lighter meal! I say go for it :)
posted by ashlop2 73 posts 3 months agoOne of my best friends had a daytime wedding with a "tea-party" reception. She loved it and it saved tons of money. Her only advice is to realize that people will drink despite the early time of day. She didn't have liquor available...and later found half of her family across the hotel at the bar (yes, it was 1pm...)
posted by taytayalis 18 posts 3 months agoI ***love*** this idea! I'm one of those people who could eat breakfast food any time of day, so I'm a little biased... but I think most brunches have enough savory options to please people who aren't in a pancake mood. If you mention on the invitation that you'll be serving brunch, people can prepare themselves mentally. (I guess that sounds silly, but you know how some people are.)
The only suggestion I have is that you either do something served (not as fun menu-wise) or in stations (maybe more expensive). Maybe you could do a combination of those things. I went to a wedding that had a brunch buffet, and the French toast and other such yummies were a little cold and... not so yummy.
I think it's a great idea, though, and a really nice opportunity to be able to do creative/less commonly seen attire (morning suits!!!), food, drinks, etc.
posted by GorgesViola 189 posts 3 months agoI personally love morning weddings. There's a certain freshness to them. Plus, you're not tired afterward, your guests still have most the day left, and you could even try to get discounts from some of your vendors because they could potentially do another event that day. Good luck!
posted by VideoBride 19 posts 3 months agoi LOVE brunch! I wanted to do a Sunday brunch wedding but FH said no :(
I've been to one brunch wedding, at first I thought it was weird (never heard of it til that day...i was invited cause I was visiting a friend and became a date), but now I think it's a great idea.
posted by superstar 151 posts 3 months agoI too am having a brunch wedding. The ceremony is at 11:30, reception from 12-1, and brunch 1-3:30/4:00. It is a little on the late side for brunch, but we wanted to give ourselves enough time to get ready beforehand. And yes we are doing breakfast items on the menu (its the best meal of the day). We are only inviting 50 people and we really wanted to feel like we are all gathering for one big meal. We decided to do stations and our menu is AWESOME. I drool looking at it. Unfortunately due to the fact that we are having a brunch (which means the hotel makes less off of us) we had to forgo a tasting. But we have actually eaten brunch at our venue and know they do a wonderful spread.
I am so happy to hear that other brides are doing this as well.
posted by msgirard 31 posts 3 months agoI love this idea. We are having an 11am ceremony and doing a lunch reception. We have saved quite a bit of money going this route! Good luck!
posted by pinotnoir 41 posts 3 months agoHey girls, I'm Katie. Wedding planning is so overwhelming! We have been planning our wedding reception at a golf-resort type banquet hall for Dec. 13th in the evening, but suddenly became aware that an amazing ballroom is available on the same day. The catch is that the ballroom is only available for an early afternoon wedding (we have to be out by 5pm). We want the dancing, cake, full meal, and traditional activities, but are worried about what to do afterwards, if people will dance, how the place will feel in the afternoon. On Dec. 13th, the sun is supposed to set by 5pm... so the main question is: Should we have an afternoon reception that feels like a night time ballroom affair, or have an afternoon reception that feels like a brunch time affair? With the first, we could have the music and dancing and just pray everyone joins us... or with the second, we could rely on the laid back afternoon feel. Any thoughts girls??
posted by ktrauth 1 posts 3 months agoI love the idea of a morning wedding! The only thing you may want to keep in mind is that they tend to be slightly less formal, but if you have your heart set on a formal wedding go for it. If you're worried about not having the "typical" timeline of afternoon wedding, dinner reception, bride and groom off to hotel for the night, you could throw a smaller party after the reception for close friends and family to relax and enjoy company while they're in town.
posted by HistoryBride 59 posts 3 months ago