Planning A Lunch Wedding: Tips For A Perfect Midday Celebration

Lunch wedding receptions are ideal for more intimate gatherings, with a guest list of under 75. They are a sophisticated choice, and can be just as memorable as an evening affair, but at a fraction of the cost. The ceremony should start around noon, with the reception following immediately after. It's best to keep the décor to a minimum, and opt for a relaxed, family-style feel with long banquet tables. Guests are less likely to dance in the afternoon, so you may want to consider a more activities-based approach, such as hiring a caricaturist or organising lawn games. When it comes to food and drink, keep the meal components light but filling, and offer a limited menu of beer, wine and, if you like, a signature drink.

Keep the guest list under 75 for a more intimate gathering

Lunch wedding receptions are ideal for more intimate gatherings. It's best to keep the guest list under 75 people. Events of this size are generally more low-key, so you can keep décor to a minimum. You won't need dramatic lighting or extravagant floral arrangements. Instead, create a relaxed, family-style feel by using long banquet tables. Top them with low centrepieces or floral table runners to brighten up the room.

Since guests are less likely to dance in the afternoon, you may prefer to have live music during the meal. Darr recommends a solo guitarist. Given the daytime hours and reduced alcohol flow, you may want to consider a more activities-based approach. You could hire a caricaturist to create sketches of your guests or, if you have access to an outdoor area, organise lawn games such as croquet or giant Jenga.

Keep the meal components light but filling. Consider serving classic lunch options with a creative twist. Instead of an open bar, offer a limited menu of beer, wine and, if you like, a signature drink. Don't forget about your non-alcoholic beverage choices, too. You could serve infusions such as hibiscus lemonade or peach iced tea.

An earlier ceremony and reception mean all pre-wedding events on the typical wedding day timeline—from hair and makeup appointments to pre-wedding photos—will have to be moved up in the day. Ideally, your ceremony should start around noon, with the reception following immediately after. As a general rule, ceremonies should start no later than 2 pm, says Samantha Darr of Soiréebliss! Events. "Any later and 'lunch' becomes an early cocktail-type reception."

Keep decor to a minimum

Lunch wedding receptions are ideal for more intimate gatherings, so it's best to keep the guest list under 75. Since events of this size are generally more low-key, you can keep décor to a minimum. You won't want dramatic lighting or extravagant floral arrangements. Instead, create a relaxed, family-style feel by using long banquet tables; top them with low centrepieces or floral table runners to brighten up the room.

If you're looking to save money, a lunch wedding reception is a great option. It can still be a very sophisticated choice, and you can serve classic lunch options with a creative twist. For example, instead of an open bar, offer a limited menu of beer, wine and, if you'd like, a signature drink. Don't forget about your non-alcoholic beverage choices, too. You could serve infusions such as hibiscus lemonade or peach iced tea.

Given the daytime hours and reduced alcohol flow, you may want to consider a more activities-based approach. Hire a caricaturist to create sketches of your guests for them to take home or, if you have access to an outdoor area, organise a few lawn games, such as croquet or giant Jenga.

An earlier ceremony and reception mean all pre-wedding events on the typical wedding day timeline—from hair and makeup appointments to pre-wedding photos—will have to be moved up in the day. Ideally, your ceremony should start around noon, with the reception following immediately after. As a general rule, "ceremonies should start no later than 2 p.m.," says Samantha Darr of Soiréebliss! Events, "Any later and 'lunch' becomes an early cocktail-type reception."

Create a relaxed, family-style feel with long banquet tables

Lunch wedding receptions are ideal for more intimate gatherings, so it's best to keep the guest list under 75. Since events of this size are generally more low-key, you can keep décor to a minimum. You won't want dramatic lighting or extravagant floral arrangements.

To create a relaxed, family-style feel, use long banquet tables and top them with low centrepieces or floral table runners to brighten up the room. You could also consider a more activities-based approach: hire a caricaturist to create sketches of your guests for them to take home or, if you have access to an outdoor area, organise a few lawn games, such as croquet or giant Jenga.

Since guests are less likely to dance in the afternoon, you might prefer to have live music, such as a solo guitarist playing during the meal. You could also offer a limited menu of beer, wine and, if you'd like, a signature drink. Don't forget about your non-alcoholic beverage choices, too—up the ante with infusions such as hibiscus lemonade or peach iced tea.

An earlier ceremony and reception means all pre-wedding events on the typical wedding day timeline—from hair and makeup appointments to pre-wedding photos—will have to be moved up in the day. Ideally, your ceremony should start around noon, with the reception following immediately after. As a general rule, "ceremonies should start no later than 2 p.m.," says Samantha Darr of Soiréebliss! Events, "Any later and 'lunch' becomes an early cocktail-type reception."

Serve classic lunch options with a creative twist

Lunch wedding receptions are ideal for more intimate gatherings, so keep the guest list under 75. This means you can keep the décor to a minimum, with long banquet tables and low centrepieces or floral table runners.

When it comes to food, serve classic lunch options with a creative twist. Keep the meal components light but filling. Instead of an open bar, offer a limited menu of beer, wine and, if you'd like, a signature drink. You could also offer non-alcoholic beverage choices, such as infusions like hibiscus lemonade or peach iced tea.

Guests are less likely to dance in the afternoon, so consider live music, such as a solo guitarist during the meal. You could also consider a more activities-based approach, such as hiring a caricaturist or organising lawn games.

Remember to include the fact that lunch will be served on your official wedding invitations.

Consider a more activities-based approach

Lunch wedding receptions are ideal for more intimate gatherings, so it's best to keep the guest list under 75. You can keep décor to a minimum and opt for a relaxed, family-style feel by using long banquet tables with low centrepieces or floral table runners. Since guests are less likely to dance in the afternoon, you may want to consider a more activities-based approach. You could hire a caricaturist to create sketches of your guests for them to take home or, if you have access to an outdoor area, organise a few lawn games such as croquet or giant Jenga.

If you're looking for a more relaxed and intimate wedding reception, a lunch wedding could be the perfect choice. To make the most of the daytime hours and reduced alcohol flow, consider incorporating interactive elements that will engage your guests and create a memorable experience.

• Hire a caricaturist: Add a unique touch to your wedding by hiring a caricaturist to create fun and personalised sketches of your guests. This can be a great ice-breaker and provide your guests with a special keepsake to take home.
• Outdoor lawn games: If your venue has an outdoor space, take advantage of it by setting up some lawn games. Croquet, giant Jenga, or even a friendly game of bocce ball can be enjoyable for guests of all ages. These games encourage interaction and create a relaxed and playful atmosphere.
• Interactive stations: Consider setting up interactive stations that align with your interests and hobbies. For example, you could have a build-your-own cocktail or mocktail bar, a dessert decorating station, or even a DIY flower crown-making station. These stations engage your guests in the experience and add a personalised touch to your wedding.
• Scavenger hunt: Create a scavenger hunt with clues tailored to your wedding venue or theme. This can be a fun way to get your guests moving, exploring the venue, and interacting with each other. The hunt can culminate in a special prize or reward for the winning team.
• Themed activities: Incorporate themed activities that reflect your interests as a couple. For example, if you're both book lovers, you could have a literary-themed trivia game or a creative writing station where guests can contribute to a collaborative story. Or, if you're music enthusiasts, you could have a musical bingo game or a sing-along session with acoustic guitars.

By incorporating these activities, you can transform your lunch wedding into an engaging and memorable event. Your guests will appreciate the interactive elements and the opportunity to connect with you and each other in a unique and fun way.

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