I have to ask is anyone having their wedding in the early am?

No beach wedding here, but our ceremony will be at 12:30, reception to end at 6 pm.

Our time was dictated by us being able to have the entire venue to ourselves during that time. Now we are SO excited that we are having a day wedding.

How early are you having the ceremony?

How early are we talking?

I am getting married on a Sunday at the beach. It will be a 11am ceremony and the reception will be over at about 4. Then a after party at the beach but it will also give people the 2 hours to travel home that night if they would like to

What about the reception?

I would personally not be happy to have to get up any earlier than 9am while I'm on a trip/vacation, even for a wedding. And then allow 1-2 hours for shower/preparation. Beach time be damned, I would prefer an evening wedding on the beach rather than early. If I chose to wake up and spend an hour or two down at the beach in the morning or early afternoon before getting ready then at least I have that choice.

ETA: Clarity.

I am also having a beach wedding. The ceremony will start at 10:30 and the reception will be from 11-3pm. I know the reception won't have that party atmosphere but I think it will give my guests time to enjoy the rest of their day. We're also having it on daylight savings time so my guests will technically get an extra hour of sleep that day.

The problem with an 8am ceremony is that requires people to get up and either travel to your venue, or if they are staying there, to get up and do their hair/get dressed/eat breakfast, etc. People don't want to get up at 6am for an 8am ceremony, and then wait 8 hours for a reception.

Honestly we might can change the time a little but some people are driving over 600 miles to be at the wedding. I worry for them bc I know most of them will leave after wedding to go back home.

Sorry but that sounds awful. If I'm going to a wedding, I don't plan to spend time at the beach and I wouldn't be thrilled about waking up at 7 am to get ready.

I don't get it. If your reception is what, from 4pm-9pm, people aren't going to drive 600 miles. Especially if you made them get up for an 8am ceremony.

If the ceremony is at 8am and reception at 4pm, where are the guests showering and getting ready for reception?

Sorry. 8am is ridiculous. Screw beach time, as others have said, I'd rather sleep in. And to have an 8 HOUR gap before the reception. Double no thank you.

Also, hell no to that big of a gap. Literally I would have to get ready twice because if I chose to go down to the beach in the in-between and then have to shower and change and do all that shit twice. NOPE.

No way. Unless I'm being paid. Which has happened exactly once in over 2500 weddings between all of us.

How about if you guys go, have your pictures done and meet up with your guests at 4:00 to do the wedding and reception. They still have the whole day at the beach if THEY want it. If not? They show up for the wedding later on.

I would be very irritated as a guest. I would rather plan to stay the day after to enjoy the beach if I wanted to than have that huge gap.

We did have a beach wedding. We had our wedding at 3pm. We had a hard time making sure all hair and makeup was done and some pictures were taken prior to the wedding. Our reception was at 4:30 and it went till 9pm. I think an 8am wedding is really early. We also did a dw and everyone traveled from Wisconsin to Florida. To me that sounds very early!

I'd be annoyed, and maybe wouldn't attend. If it's not for work or a family emergency, I'm not getting up that early. Ugh. Just do it later in the day

I would probably decline the invite. You want an early morning wedding for your own personal interests....no one on the beach for one....and then your guests are to enjoy the beach and run the risk of being tired all day and then come to your reception at 4pm. I dont know about anyone else but being out in the sun drains my energy. I wouldnt be up for a party after soaking in the sun for hours. Plus if I'm coming from out of town where would I freshen up if I didnt get a room

Way too big a gap. If I'm driving 600 miles for an 8am wedding, I am going to be hella pissed off if I'm obligated to be anywhere eight hours later. Especially after a day on the beach.

If you want an evening reception, get married at 4. If you want an 8am ceremony, have a breakfast reception.

If I went to your wedding at all, i'd skip the 8am ceremony.

Have them both at 4 and call it a day