Afternoon wedding and no evening reception?

My dad and his wife didn't have a formal evening do and actually, it was really nice. They married early afternoon and had a lovely meal and speeches and everything you would normally have, and afterwards we migrated to the hotel bar and lots of us stayed there but quite a few people drifted off. It was really relaxed and lovely. It wasn't planned that people would stay together in the bar but just ended up happening.

Thanks for your quick reply and glad to hear that a similar idea worked out well!

I'll keep it in mind, thanks again! x

When my mom got married 2nd time around it was her Hs first time and so she wanted it to be special but didn't want a huge fuss.

She had a 12'oClock ceremony, they went to their fave pub for a buffet, cut their cake and then headed off to their honeymoon.

It meant that some people stayed on at the pub partying, some people went home and some even came back to her house for a drink and a slice of cake.

It's not how i'd want to celebrate, I personally think my wedding day will be too short already, and want to savour every second, but it worked out well for her and her and her H were happy.

Forgot to say - Welcome to hitched, and our rule is Your wedding, your way... So.. Go for it! Do whatever you need to do for your family to be happy!

And congrats on the new bundle of joy

Thanks for your quick reply and help! x

Our friends wedding in Sicily started at about 11am with the church ceremony, moved onto the reception and was all over by 7pm. There was loads of time for some dancing and much merriment. So I don't think it matters that it ends early just as long as you manage to do what you wnat, and spend time with everyone.

xx

That sounds lovely! good to hear of yet another success story for early weddings : ) thanks again x

We have 2 boys 6 and 1 and are having a 4pm wedding then a buffet we dont want and do after as the same as you the kids will be asleep and i dnt feel it is fair for them as it is there day as well as ares

Aw thanks for your reply, that's great to hear someone thinking the same as me, good stuff!! Totally, it's a day to celebrate you as a family I feel, not just a couple anymore and I'd feel bad partying away without them? thanks again and have a lovely wedding day all of you! x

What's wrong with it.... you are no more or less married if you do or dont have a big evening do. some of the nicest weddings I have covered have been small, intimate and with no lavish party

Hi,

Afternoon weddings can work beautifully, no need for an evening bash, you should have the wedding you both want, and not what is expected of you.

It would be beautiful in the summer, this could be tastefully done, no problem.Lots of venues now catering for this.

What area do you live? and do you know your guests numbers yet?

There are lots of people that don't have an evening party. How about having an Afternoon Tea style wedding, perhaps with something to keep the kids entertained. T

Thought the same depending on the venue that you choose.

Ideas are endless, depending on the amount of children attending, there are all sorts of things to entertain the children.

And of course the adults.

Depends are what kind of day they you want really, we can come up with lots of ideas, but it may not be to your taste.

We are all different.

Thanks again everyone for your positive replies! I'm thinking to have it in a hotel in my hometown of Ayr which has nice gardens with a treehouse/swings - great for the kids attending, maybe 8 altogether? We can have the ceremony in the gardens but after that i'm not sure how the day would run..

The earliest they can do the ceremony is at 1pm...perhaps then we could have music, drinks/canapes and then sit down meal to finish, inviting guests to stay on for drinks at the hotel should they wish to do so? Or meal first then some music..not sure!

I do worry about how to end the evening without seeming like a total anti-climax or being rude to the guests.. I had thought it would save on budget too but the main cost is meal/drinks which remains the same..lots to think about

Thanks again everyone x

Oh meant to say about 60 guests and possibly May 2012

One of my Brides had an early wedding as she had 2 children herself. We had giant outdoor games, 2 bouncy castles, a room set aside in the village Hall with soft play mats & toys borrowed from the local playgroup. Yhey had an afternoon tea type running buffet and just let the day run itself, one of the most laid back relaxed weddings I have done & thoroughly enjoyed it.

Well my mum keeps telling me how when she got married no-one had evening do's so she doesn't see why I am having one. I think it would work really well, and sounds lovely.

I am May 2012 too

Hi, I could pretty much have written your original post myself!!

That is exactly what I am looking at doing i.e. an afternoon reception with buffet and music for approx 50 people which will need to end early evening because of our young children. I was just searching for ideas when I came across this thread!

We are looking at March 2012 (which is our 10 year 'anniversary' of being together), so the weather probably not going to be that great so can't go for an outdoor do.

I will watch this thread with interest!

Vicky xx

Weddings didn't used to have evening dos anyway. It's a relatively new thing and I think it would work well