Junior Rasmussen
Planning a wedding can be stressful, but deciding on a date and time can be made easier by considering a few key factors. Firstly, the season and month are important to consider. The most popular months to get married are June, August, September, and October, so these months tend to be more expensive. If you're on a budget, consider the off-season months. You should also think about the significance of certain dates for you and your partner, such as a special anniversary, or culturally significant dates. The time of day you choose to get married will depend on various factors, including the size of your wedding, the location, and the time of year. You may want to take advantage of the Golden Hour for photographs, or plan your ceremony time around dinner.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time of year | Consider the season you love, a special date, or a holiday |
| Day of the week | Avoid weekends before/after a holiday, Tax Day, the beginning of the school year, or busy work periods |
| Time of day | 1 pm-2:30 pm is average for UK weddings; 5 pm-6 pm is ideal for summer weddings; sunset time for winter weddings |
| Duration | 4-6 hours is typical, including a 30-minute ceremony and 1.5-hour drinks reception |
| Location | Account for travel time between ceremony and reception venues |
| Photography | Plan for couple portraits, family portraits, and guest photos during the drinks reception |
| Guest experience | Avoid long wait times before events and consider guest needs, e.g., room check-ins |
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What You'll Learn
- Consider the time of year: Pick a season you love, or a special date
- Plan for photos: Think about lighting, and whether you want sunset shots
- Travel logistics: Account for travel time between ceremony and reception
- Drinks reception: Allow 1.5 hours for drinks, photos, and mingling
- Ceremony time: A typical ceremony lasts 30 minutes to an hour
Consider the time of year: Pick a season you love, or a special date
One of the first decisions you need to make after getting engaged is when to tie the knot. Choosing a season you love will make you more relaxed, which is exactly what the bride should be aiming for on her wedding day.
If you're counting down the days until you can go skiing or build a snowman, consider a winter wedding. Vendors are less in-demand during this off-season, so pricing can be lower, and seasonal decor may already be in place at your venue. Winter staples include hypericum berries, roses, anemones, and camellias. Be mindful, however, that the weather can wreak havoc on travel plans and cause delays for guests and vendors.
If you love it when everything blooms and the weather warms up, a spring wedding might be for you. This is the season of positive change and new beginnings, with nature in full romantic force. You'll have a few extra hours of daylight in the late afternoon, which is great for photography, and it's peak flower season. However, spring encompasses the widest weather swings, and hotels can book up in popular vacation areas during spring break weeks.
Summer is a beloved season for weddings, with amazing weather and extended daylight hours. Guests can enjoy the sunset during dinner and dancing, and you can serve a bright, fresh, and colorful menu. The rainbow of summer blooms, from sun-washed pastels to cheery brights, includes asters, hydrangeas, zinnias, and Queen Anne's lace.
Fall is a good bet for an outdoor celebration, with more predictable weather and comfortable temperatures. If you prefer a deeper and darker color scheme, fall is your season, with bronze, orange, deep purple, reds, and green complementing the natural decor. It's also the perfect time for heartier, soul-satisfying seasonal cuisine, like butternut lasagna with wild mushrooms and sage, or cabernet-braised short ribs.
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Plan for photos: Think about lighting, and whether you want sunset shots
Planning your wedding day around sunset is crucial if you want to capture the perfect photos. The time of sunset varies throughout the year, from 5:30 pm to 8:45 pm, and your entire timeline will be based on this. For instance, if you're getting married in Texas in December, and you plan to begin your ceremony at 6:00 pm, you'll be getting married in the dark.
If you want to capture the "magic hour" or "golden hour", the 45 minutes or so just before sunset, you'll need to plan your ceremony time accordingly. This is when the sun is low in the sky, creating a soft, golden light that is perfect for photographs. To capture this, you should start your ceremony around 1.5-2 hours before sunset. This will ensure that your ceremony, bride and groom, wedding party, and family photos are taken during the best lighting of the day.
If you're doing a "first look", a coordinated reveal of the couple before the ceremony, you can take care of some portraits before the ceremony, and you can start your ceremony 1-1.5 hours before sunset. If you're not doing a first look, you'll need to plan for all the photos to be taken after the ceremony, so you should start your ceremony 2 hours before sunset.
It's important to decide early on whether you want a first look, as this will affect your timeline and experience. Discuss with your photographer, as they will be able to advise on lighting and timing. They can also alert you when it's time to steal away from the reception for a few sunset photos, which many couples love as it gives them another private moment.
Don't forget to consider the location of your venue, as this can impact the light. For example, if your venue is surrounded by mountains and trees, the sun will appear to go down earlier than it does on the horizon. Also, be mindful of any structures that might block the sun, like a huge barn.
Finally, if you're after those epic riot-of-colour shots, plan to take 10-20 minutes just after sunset. And remember, even if you miss the sunset, you can still get some lovely shots in the purple "twilight".
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Travel logistics: Account for travel time between ceremony and reception
When planning your wedding, it's important to consider the travel time between the ceremony and reception venues for you and your guests. This is especially important if the two venues are in different locations.
Firstly, consider the time of year you are getting married. For example, if you live in the Northeast, scheduling a wedding during peak blizzard season may not be ideal. Similarly, if you live in the South, a wedding in the dead of summer may not be the best option. Choosing a season you love will help you feel more relaxed on your wedding day. You may also want to consider the time of day and the impact this will have on travel times. For example, rush hour may impact the travel time between venues.
Next, think about the distance between the two venues and the mode of transport your guests are likely to use. If the reception venue is 45 minutes away from the ceremony location, you will need to factor this into your schedule. The ideal time for guests to travel from the ceremony to the reception is one to two hours. Too little time can make guests feel rushed, while too much time can leave them bored and aimless.
If there is a long gap between the ceremony and reception, you could suggest things for your guests to do in the meantime, especially if they are travelling from out of town. You could create a little map or guide for guests with suggestions such as cafes, shops, or local sightseeing spots. Alternatively, you could organise a small tour or suggest they return to their accommodation to freshen up. You could also set up a pre-reception gathering at a hotel lobby bar or garden, or provide snacks at the ceremony venue before guests head to the reception.
Finally, don't forget to consider the time of sunset on your wedding day, especially if you want to take advantage of the best light for photographs. You can search for the sunset time on your wedding day by Googling the date and location.
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Drinks reception: Allow 1.5 hours for drinks, photos, and mingling
When deciding on a wedding time, there are several factors to consider, such as the time of year, the location, and the size of the wedding. The most popular months to get married are June, August, September, and October, but choosing an "off-season" month can save money. The average ceremony time for UK weddings is usually around 1 pm to 2:30 pm, but you can choose any time that suits you.
Now, for the drinks reception, allow for 1.5 hours so that your guests can relax and enjoy their drinks, and you can capture some memorable photos. This timing will allow for some casual and fun shots of the couple and their closest friends, toasting and celebrating. It's also a great opportunity for the couple to mingle with their guests and create a fun and relaxed atmosphere before the main reception.
During this time, you can serve a variety of drinks, such as Pimms, beer, sparkling wine, and soft drinks. Canapes or appetizers are also a good idea to accompany the drinks and keep your guests satisfied until dinner.
If you're having a larger wedding, consider starting your drinks reception earlier to ensure there's enough time for mingling and photos. You may also want to consider the sunset time and plan to sneak out for a few shots during the Golden Hour, which is the hour before sunset, to capture some romantic photos with the best light.
For a seamless transition, ensure that the drinks reception venue is easily accessible for your guests, especially if they are coming from the ceremony location. This will also ensure that the couple has time to freshen up and prepare for their grand entrance at the main reception.
Overall, the drinks reception is an integral part of the wedding, offering a balance of fun, mingling, and capturing precious memories.
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Ceremony time: A typical ceremony lasts 30 minutes to an hour
Deciding on a start time for your wedding ceremony can be a daunting task. Wedding ceremonies typically last between 20 and 30 minutes, which is ample time to cover the basics such as words of welcome, a few readings, your vows, the ring exchange, and the final pronouncement. However, some couples opt for shorter or longer ceremonies, ranging from 5 minutes to 3 hours. The length of your ceremony will depend on various factors, such as the size of your wedding, the location, the time of year, and your personal preferences.
If you're having a religious ceremony, you can expect it to be longer as there are various components that need to be included. Most religious ceremonies follow a similar pattern, and an experienced officiant should be able to estimate the duration based on the elements you choose to include. To make your ceremony longer, you can add an additional reading, a blessing, or a song. To shorten it, work with your officiant to select more concise readings or skip certain elements.
On the other hand, if you're having a secular or humanist ceremony, you have more flexibility in terms of length. These types of ceremonies are usually shorter, but you can always add elements to make them longer. For example, you could include readings, songs, prayers, ritual symbols like hand-fasting, or a unity candle ceremony.
It's important to note that the start time listed on your wedding invitations is mainly for your guests. For the couple, the wedding party, vendors, and photographers, the day begins much earlier. It's a good idea to plan to start your ceremony about 15 minutes after the invitation time to account for guests arriving and to ensure everything stays on schedule.
When deciding on your ceremony time, consider the "Golden Hour," which is the hour before sunset. This time of day offers the best light for photographs, so you may want to plan your ceremony or sneak away for a few shots during this time. Additionally, if your ceremony and reception are at different venues, don't forget to account for travel time between the two locations.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many factors to consider when deciding on a wedding time. Firstly, think about the time of year and season. If you want a winter wedding, you'll need to plan around an early sunset, but if you're a summer lover, you can take advantage of the long days. You might also want to consider choosing a season you love to help you relax on your big day.
The drinks reception is the time between your ceremony and speeches. It can be as short as 30 minutes or as long as three hours. For a comfortable and stress-free drinks reception, it is recommended to allow at least 1.5 hours. This will give you enough time for photos and mingling with your guests.
Wedding ceremonies typically last 30 minutes to an hour, but they can be shorter. Civil ceremonies are usually around 20 minutes, while church ceremonies are around 45 minutes, depending on the number of hymns and if you are having communion.
Creating a wedding timeline is a great way to minimise stress on your big day. Break down every moment, from the start time for getting ready to the wedding party introduction. Consider the time it takes to get ready, travel to the venue, and the duration of the ceremony and reception. Finalise your timeline about a month before the wedding and share the details with your vendors.
