Experience with brunch weddings?

I think the crossword could be really cute, esp. if you make it wedding-themed, lots of people do the crossword with their breakfast so I think people will "get" the connection!

You aren't being announced in? You're not doing toasts? Or first dance? Or special dances? If you are really not in need of a master of ceremonies, then you probably don't need a DJ. But at that time of day, I'm sure it would be very inexpensive. Also, have you considered live music, like a string trio?

I went to a similar kind of wedding, although they had more of a dinner style reception instead of a brunch reception, but it was at the exact same time you are planning yours for. Even though they had a DJ it STILL wasn't a huge party atmosphere. The whole thing was pretty laid back and casual.

I think what you're planning sounds really nice, especially as long as you are cool with more of the style of an open house with people coming and going. I'm not so sure about the crossword puzzle to be honest. It's not something people tend to socialize over. DH and I will do a crossword together on Sundays but it's hard to hold an ongoing conversation at the same time. I'd leave it out. Brunch theme to me means mimosa bar not crossword puzzles.

I have never been to a brunch wedding before but brunch weddings sound so yummy and peaceful!

Were having brunch but were going all out with all the typical wedding stuff. Dj with music and lights and all that stuff also. Our group can get down no matter what time of day.

We had a brunch wedding in Aug 2014. We initially planned to not have a DJ, but we needed a mic and speakers, so it worked out cheaper with us just hiring my friends boyfriend to DJ. Everyone love the brunch food that we had and they also loved the variety of food as well. We only had brunch drinks, mimosa. (We aren't drinkers and the place actually through it in for free.)

I heard of people playing games as well, but DH didn't like that area for our wedding. The wedding turned out great though. Everyone said how beautiful it was.

Just make sure you're able to b play the music loud enough for everyone to hear. We only had 60 guest.

We chose a brunch wedding bc I'm a big breakfast person, so it was fitting to us. Everything we did was fitting to us. I say go for it, but just make sure it's how u and FH wants it to be and the day is a reflection of the two of you.

Concept sounds a lot better than it actually is going to one, I had brunch (15 minutes) then mingled for 45 minutes and I was pretty much ready to go. 4 hour reception seems like an awfully long time? Are a lot of people traveling from far away? Planning on having alcohol?

I have been to a brunch wedding and a Sunday afternoon wedding. The brunch wedding was at a small restaurant. It didn't feel like a wedding at all. Just felt like we were out to breakfast. I even forgot a few times that we were at a wedding since I rarely saw the bride.

The Sunday afternoon wedding was a disaster. No DJ so it was silent and awkward. Just silverware hitting plates if there was no talking. It was my twin sister's wedding and we left about 20 minutes after dinner, and that was because we were taking my great aunt home who took a while to say goodbye.

I am not a fan. Though your situation sounds a lot better. The first I mentioned was in a tiny restaurant. There were maybe 40 people there but you couldn't get up without asking multiple people to move their chairs in. The second one was in a February during a really bad snow storm and in a park so the roads were not plowed. At least with yours you can go out on the deck and look at the water. That would make it more acceptable. But since you said it was you guys, then go for it. People will come regardless.

Edit- yes, we are having alcohol- beer wine Bloody Marys mimosas. Neither of us like to have too much attention on us, and we are not party type people. A DJ just doesn't feel right to me for those reasons. But at the same time, I don't want people leaving early because they are bored out of their minds, or for people to leave my wedding and say wow that was boring. We went to a lunch wedding without a DJ a couple months ago, and we had an amazing time, and it appeared that everyone else had fun too just mingling. But it seems that most people like a DJ and the "party" scene of a wedding.

I went to a brunch wedding last year and it was beautifully done, but the dance floor remained empty for the entire reception. Normally, this particular crowd (at least the bride's side) is pretty big into dancing and enjoying a party atmosphere. I would consider your guests in making the decision, but from my one time experience, a DJ or other entertainment wasn't really necessary. We just enjoyed each other's company (essentially with background music) and went on with our day when it was over.

There was no alcohol at the brunch wedding I attended so although I'm not a big drinker, I'm sure that would have made a big difference

It really depends on your crowd. I would leave early if I am not close to you. If you were my best friend or someone I liked a lot, I would stay. But I most likely would leave early. I don't drink a lot, either, so I'm not one of those people who need to get drunk and wild. I just feel awkward when I'm dressed formally, sitting in a reception for a wedding that doesn't feel like a wedding. But with everything, it's who you have around you that determines if it would be a great time or not. I've been completely miserable at some parties and other people say it was the best time of their life. And I have had great times at places and other people said they were bored. So you will definitely have both. Just sitting there for 4 hours does seem really long, though. I don't know if many people will stay that long.

Maybe you could think of hiring a musician or a duo -- classical guitarist and a vocalist, a string quartet...something like that. It really is a nice addition to the atmosphere in a non-dancing environment, and it does take the level of formality up a notch. I'm going to weigh in on the crossword puzzles. It's a cute idea in theory, but in practice, it is a wedding -- one in which mingling and socializing is really important. Crosswords remind me of a lazy, Sunday morning, not a beautiful wedding. Plus, everyone's head will drop as they work the puzzles.

We had an 11am church ceremony and reception was 12:30 to 4:30 with lunch being served. The reception was in maggainos banquet room. We didn't have a dj, just music on an ipod, hooked up to the speakers. My husband and I are like you and your FH, we don't like to dance or party. We did have music for the the first dances, but we were too busy mingling with our guests to dance.

After the second course, we got up and visited each table and talked to everyone. It was fun and our guests really enjoyed that. We live in Alaska, so we don't see our family and friends in the lower 48 that much anymore.

Originally I had planned to do team trivia, but I didn't have time to get that ready for the wedding. I thought that would be fun because my husband loves trivia and it would be interactive. However, we really didn't need it, and we didn't have time for it, so I'm glad we didn't do it. It was a lot more fun spending time with our guests.

I'm having an afternoon reception.

I think we will hire a DJ because I don't think I'm smart enough to know what kind of music to play when. And he can take requests and make announcements.

We're also not party people. I don't want it to be a party-style wedding. But not everyone else is like us and I want people to have fun.

We do morning weddings followed by brunch pretty much every weekend. Most of them do have DJ's or jazz trios/quartets (my fave, if you don't think your guests will be dancing), for atmosphere, if not for announcements.

On the beach, in the summer? Heck yes. I think it sounds great, but DO have some more formalized music than just an iPod thing.

I have never been to a brunch wedding sounds good

Brunch on the beach on a Saturday morning? Yes, please! I agree with Celia - I think live music instead would be a really nice touch.