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Beginner August 2020

Have you been to an afternoon wedding?

Kelly, on August 17, 2019 at 7:59 AM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 12

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I've gone through all of the posts related to afternoon weddings; however, I still haven't found enough of the answers I'm looking for. I am in LOVE with our venue; it's what I always dreamed of! We booked a Saturday afternoon wedding in August. The timeline will be as follows: ceremony from 11:30-12, cocktail hour from 12-1, and reception from 1-5 pm. Most of the posts on here regarding afternoon weddings ask about what the timeline should be, what type of food should be served, what sort of entertainment to have - but I'm not looking for that. I know the timeline, we are having around 125-150 guests, a band/dj, open bar, and the food we are serving would be identical to what we would serve if we had an evening wedding.

I did want an evening wedding, but I just cannot justify spending over twice the price for the exact same thing, especially when it's only one day of your life (although, I know it's the most important one). It is even twice the price for a Friday evening at this venue. I also don't consider this "cheaping out" because it is an expensive venue even for afternoons.

What I'd like to know is if you've attended an afternoon wedding that was basically the same as an evening wedding (open bar, full catering, band/dj, banquet hall). Did people drink and dance? How different was the "vibe" if it was different? If you've been to a really fun afternoon wedding similar to mine, what made it special? If you've been to an awkward one, what made it awkward?

I would really hate to miss out on my dream venue just to move the party back a few hours. I am thinking of getting a party bus to bring the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and some other close friends to beach bars (we live in NJ) and a hotel for an "after party," but even if I did this, I still wouldn't want my wedding reception to be boring!

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12 Comments

Latest activity by Laurel, on August 20, 2019 at 9:45 AM

Expert November 2022
Megan · on August 17, 2019 at 8:18 AM
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I never attended one but love your ideas!
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Devoted June 2019
C R · on August 17, 2019 at 9:20 AM
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My first wedding was an afternoon wedding - similar to what it sounds like you’re planning. It was a BLAST! Everyone danced! I think it follows the vibe of the people there and the music played and of your personalities MUCH more than the time of day. It will be what you make it - have FUN!!
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Master July 2019
Hannah · on August 17, 2019 at 9:29 AM
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I went to a Sunday afternoon wedding similar to this (also in NJ lol). People drank, but not many people danced. I am not sure if that was because people were more interested in the photobooth, the time of day, or just the crowd. It was fun, but a little odd to be drinking and eating a 3 course meal at lunch time. You can definitely have a really cool afterparty!
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Super September 2018
Rachel · on August 17, 2019 at 9:40 AM
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Haven’t been to a wedding with this timeline, but my vibe might be hangry if I got up early to get ready for a wedding and I’m not having lunch until after 1pm... 👀
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VIP December 2019
Michelle · on August 17, 2019 at 10:11 AM
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I have been to several day time weddings. The weddings were beautiful. Food was great, open bar but no one danced the DJ was great but the dance floor was scarce. I got on the floor because the DJ was awesome but only a few other people did too and that was no fun so we stopped dancing. At 3 of those day time weddings people started leaving early so it was a waste of the bride and grooms money. But I have read on here that people said there was dancing at their daytime wedding.
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Master January 2021
AshleyR · on August 17, 2019 at 10:25 AM
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I’ve been to two afternoon weddings similar to your timeline, one was a Saturday, one was Sunday. They were both awesome, packed dance floor, and a big party vibe. I think if you serve good food, good drinks, and have a good dj you will get the vibe you want no matter the time of day. The Saturday wedding had an after party planned at the hotel so the celebration continued, but the Sunday wedding did not which makes sense.
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Champion June 2019
Gen · on August 17, 2019 at 10:29 AM
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Our wedding was an afternoon wedding... we just had a wine bar and used a Spotify playlist, but even so, it was a BLAST. It had the same vibe as an evening wedding. People were drinking and dancing and having fun all afternoon. Much more than I had anticipated, actually! Just goes to show I really believe stuff like open bar, DJ, time of day, doesn’t matter as much as people think it does..... the party is made by the people who are there!
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Expert October 2017
Florida Marlins · on August 17, 2019 at 10:51 AM
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Our wedding was an afternoon wedding. We wed at 11am, then went to our favorite restaurant and had a lunch reception in a private dining room while a professional musician played his awesome guitar in the background. We had no dancing (a choice by both of us) and we were done by 3pm. Our vibe was a just a chill, semi formal affair. We were both 52 at the time and not that we can't tear it up, we just wanted a mellow time. A few people drank but again it was lunch. We just went to an afternoon wedding that was at 2pm, very chill affair in someone's backyard.
I think people who want to dance will dance!!! Some people may just want to talk, and that is fine, too! You can always continue the afterparty someplace else. I am a thrifty person so I would be on board with your plan!!!
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Devoted August 2021
Sylvana · on August 17, 2019 at 10:55 AM
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My sister's wedding had pretty much the same time line. She did a brunch wedding though and it was buffet style. We had fun! There weren't many drinkers but that's because of his side of the family (they just do not really drink to begin with, had nothing to do with the time of day). We were the only people dancing but again it was more of a crowd thing. If your crowd are dancers/drinkers, I don't think the time of day will impact that. And your beach idea sounds like alot of fun!!
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VIP September 2020
Willow · on August 17, 2019 at 12:15 PM
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I don't remember when exactly it started, but it was definitely in the afternoon. The couple had gotten married at the courthouse, did a ceremony thing abroad, and I got the vibe that their parents had bullied them into having a local reception for the benefit of their own friends.
I had fun because the people seated with me were chatty and interesting. The crowd was mostly people in their 40's and retired people so there wasn't a ton of dancing.

It was a full blown reception with DJ, lunch, cash bar with hosted signature drinks. I remember the younger people drinking.

I don't think it's the timing that makes the party, it's the people. I've started happy hour at 2 pm many times. Don't move your venue or the time. You're not "cheapening out" by making logical budget decisions. I also think evening photos are harder to photograph because you lose the natural lighting.
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Dedicated November 2020
April · on August 17, 2019 at 6:56 PM
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It sounds great! Who cares about the afternoon, you’re being considerate of others by booking a Saturday. I totally agree that the cost is not worth the time change, we chose the end of November because it saves us over 3 grand. It’s your wedding after all!!
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Savvy December 2019
Laurel · on August 20, 2019 at 9:45 AM
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I am doing this exact timing. Don't second guess your decision. I have been to quite a few day time weddings and had just as much fun as an evening wedding.
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