Post # 1

Member
38 posts
Newbee
If you had experience with this sort of ceremony, let me know.
We have been deciding things about our wedding, and we’ve decided it cuts costs down significantly at our venue if it’s a morning ceremony with a brunch reception.
We’re having it at a butterfly conservatory, and they’ll set up and tear down, (no decorations necessary, heck it’s in a green house!!) and the reception hall is just down the hall.
I guess it’ll weed out the late risers, but I guess that’s ok, there’s limited space anyhow. (40 people seated, then standing room only in the greenhouse… reception is minimum 40 people).
We like the idea of having the rest of the afternoon to get stuff done, people can go home, no one gets drunk…
Post # 3

Member
47410 posts
Honey Beekeeper
@Ellyloo: I have been to several morning ceremonies and brunch receptions. They were all beautiful weddings. Who doesn’t like brunch?
Post # 4

Member
38 posts
Newbee
@julies1949: personally, I would LOVE the thought of going to a quiet green house and sitting in the sunlight with butterflies at 10am with breakfast to follow. I can’t wait to tell people… it’s going to be so pleasant. And the waiting before the ceremony… not boring… it’s beautiful in there.. and butterflies are flying all around, and little fuzzy birds… and waterfall.. gah.
I feel like the ceremony itself is a gift from us. I would hope that the morningtime isnt that big a turn off.
Post # 5

Member
12242 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
I had a luncheon, not a brunch, but it was a lot of fun! Short and sweet!
Post # 6

Member
192 posts
Blushing bee
@Ellyloo: I’ve been to one and it was so awesome. Breakfast/brunch food is my favorite, and so it was definitely a win there. I would definitely recommend doing that!
Post # 7

Member
5891 posts
Bee Keeper
@Ellyloo: Only problem I can see is you have to get up super early to get ready.
Post # 8

Member
38 posts
Newbee
@KoiKove: yeah… I can deal. I’m not planning on elaborate hair and makeup.
Post # 9

Member
1316 posts
Bumble bee
We are having either a brunch or luncheon wedding/reception and are SO excited about it! Our reasons for it are very similar to yours: less expensive and nobody getting drunk. We also love the idea of having time to go out on a date as a married couple for the first time and celebrate our wedding/marriage just the two of us after the reception (and not immediately crashing in our hotel room for the night), and I think this is actually the part we’re looking forward to most about our wedding day.
Post # 10

Member
601 posts
Busy bee
Its sounds perfect 🙂 I love the whole idea small intimate super romantic then a day and evening of adventure for you as Mr.&Mrs. I say go for it !!!
Post # 11

Member
55 posts
Worker bee
My fiance and I are hosting a late morning ceremony and brunch reception at our venue! We’re doing it for pretty much the same reasons as you are, @Ellyloo. We’re so excited. Plus there’s lots of potential for afterparties!
Post # 12

Member
643 posts
Busy bee
I have never been to a morning ceremony/ brunch reception but I would LOVE to!
Your venue sounds perfect!
Go for it!
Best Wishes!
Post # 13

Member
3551 posts
Sugar bee
Fi and I are doing the late morning ceremony followed by brunch as well because it’s just more us. Fi is one of those people who’s ready to go to bed by 9, so a late night reception just didn’t make any sense. We’re having ours at a lodge on a river that is attached to a park. Instead of having a dance we’re going to set up lawn games and we’re giving out decks of cards as our favors. Our ceremony is going to be outside on the river front, but a butterfly garden sounds amazing. I think I have ceremony location envy.
Post # 14

Member
1236 posts
Bumble bee
We’re doing a 930 AM wedding and brunch reception. We decided on that just because we both adore brunch and are morning people. We’re hoping it will be fantastic and awesome.
Post # 15

Member
135 posts
Blushing bee
We did a late morning ceremony/lunch reception on a Sunday. Definitely the right choice for us. Also definitely cheaper than going the dinner route.
The only downside is that there were some serious time constraints. I had to wake up super early so that I could eat something, and then I had an hour to hour and a half to get ready so that everything went off on time. There’s no realistic way to go to a salon and get pampered on the day of (which really sucks if you’re like me and an absolute wreck when it comes to making a manicure or pedicure last more than a day).