Post # 1
Member
299 posts
Helper bee
Hey bees. I’ve been going back and forth over ideas for a start time for my Sunday wedding in Southern Cali.
Right now, our venue set it for 5:30-6pm for the ceremony, 6-7 for cocktails, and then 7-midnight for basically the reception. Most guests live in the state if not SoCal itself, and Sunday weddings aren’t that unusual for our fams. There’ve been a lot lately for some reason…
I’ve been wondering though if I should bump up the time at all, by a half hour or even hour for the following reasons:
– Earlier start time may be nice for those who want to be there for ceremony, earlier part of reception but head out earlier too.
– Gets us ample sunlight time for photos? We’ll be in Southern California, and I think the sun would be setting by 7pm? That’s just a major guess based off what people have told me who live where we’re getting married.
Cons to me:
– Off the bat, if its really all that necessary? People are coming regardless and I’m assuming will stay through the night. And if people want to leave early or stay late, they’ll do that no matter what the time is.
– We’d be taking photos between 6-7pm… so if anything maybe make the ceremony 5pm not 5:30?
I know this may seem silly to ask advice on.. but I’m open to ideas or even insight from brides who had evening weddings/Sunday weddings.
Just a note though that a way earlier time like morning or early afternoon wedding isn’t an option for us — both due to our preferences and also the venue’s ability to do that.
Post # 2
Member
9561 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
is the next day a holiday?
if not, I would expect a lot of people to leave early, especially ending at midnight.
people who have to work the next day, they are likely to leave 10pm, 11 at the latest.
I would count backwards from your end time to figure out the start time
Post # 3
Member
7439 posts
Busy Beekeeper
We are having a Sunday wedding! Yay sunday weddings. We went back and forth but in the end the cost-saving aspect of it outweighed any inconvenience. Our ceremony will be at 5:30pm; the sun won’t be setting til about 8:30 that time of year where we’re getting married. (If you want to know for sure when the sun will set, just google sunset in your city on that specific date.) Our reception will go from 7-11. I know some people will leave early because of work on Monday, but we have plenty coming from out of town who are taking Monday off so I’m not too worried. Also I am not a night owl anyway so an earlier night def wont be the end of the world for me.
Post # 4
Member
299 posts
Helper bee
ajillity81 : Next day isn’t a holiday, I wanted to try for that but couldn’t nab.
But many are coming and taking Monday off so I guess it kind of works out as if they did have a holiday. For some it didn’t seem to matter in that they were going to take Friday off if we had done Saturday bc both families tend to do a lot of stuff before wedding.
But yea I can imagine some may still leave like at 10 or 11 and that’s fine
Post # 5
Member
1285 posts
Bumble bee
I had a Sunday wedding in July and it was great! Our ceremony was at 5 p.m. and we did pictures beforehand and also slipped out again during “golden hour” for a few more. I think the cocktail hour was 5:30 – 6:30 and then dinner was served about 6:45. Everyone enjoyed it! I would say most people left around 11 or so but honestly that’s probably what would have happened on a Saturday too. Plenty of people got drunk, danced, etc. and expressed that they even preferred a Sunday. Who knew?!
Post # 6
Member
3324 posts
Sugar bee
You can look up the time of sunset. Google “mycity sunset may” and you should have a few diff calendars.
I probably wouldn’t want to start that late for a Sunday wedding, but I’m a fuddy duddy and hate staying out late on sundays haha.
Post # 7
Member
433 posts
Helper bee
My friend had her Sunday wedding at 5PM and it worked out perfect. It was small and there wasn’t any dancing. Dinner, drinks, cake and convo lasted til 10-1030.
Post # 8
Member
3440 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: September 2017 - Poppy Ridge Golf Course
I think the time is fine. I’d probably leave between 8 and 9 but I’m also part fuddy duddy. 😄 My normal Sunday plan is relax majority of the day and turn in early. This is partly why we’re having an early Sunday wedding. Take pp suggestions to Google the sunset time so you can plan ahead for photos.
Post # 9
Member
13942 posts
Honey Beekeeper
I’d start is as early as you can, knowing that people will drink less and probably leave earlier because the next day is a work day. If it were me, we’d be out of the party by 8pm.
Post # 10
Member
299 posts
Helper bee
scissorgirl : Got it! 7:45 sunset time.
So ceremony could be 5-6pm (likely won’t be a full hour, maybe 30-40 mins haha), 6-7ish photo time / cocktail hour / then 7pm onward is dinner/reception.
I can imagine people dancing/eating for a few hours and those who wanna go early peacing out by 10ish, and those who wanna go hard till midnight.
It’s a Persian AND Mexican wedding haha so both families do tend to go for the long haul.