Planning A Sunrise Wedding: Tips For A Magical Ceremony

Planning a surprise wedding can be a fun and adventurous way to celebrate your love. To make sure your surprise wedding is legal, you'll need a celebrant to officiate the marriage and submit a 'Notice of Intended Marriage' at least one month before the wedding. You'll also need to secure the traditional wedding basics, such as a marriage license, caterer, and entertainment. It's important to find vendors who share your vision and can help you execute your surprise. Be sure to book your photographer and videographer as soon as you've set a date, as they can book up quickly. Keep your plans under wraps by only telling the people you absolutely need to, such as your vendors and their staff.

Budgeting

If your budget allows, it's worth hiring a wedding planner to help you with the logistics. They will be able to recommend vendors and ensure that everything runs smoothly on the day.

When it comes to vendors, it's important to find people who share your vision and can be trusted to do a great job. You don't want to have to micro-manage everyone on the day, so it's worth investing in reliable vendors who come recommended by people you trust.

Finally, don't forget to factor in the cost of your outfit and any other accessories or details that are important to you. It's easy to get carried away with the little things, so it's a good idea to set a budget and stick to it as much as possible.

Venue

When it comes to planning a sunrise wedding, the key to choosing a venue is to plan to be outdoors. Consider national parks, state parks, city parks, beaches, skyline buildings, or other outdoor locations with open views.

Sunrise weddings can be enjoyed all year round, but some times are better than others. For example, sunrise in the fall and winter months is later, but that also means colder temperatures and the potential for rain, snow, or cloudy skies.

It's also important to consider your guest list. Not everybody will be able to join the celebration at that time, so you might want to plan a smaller sunrise ceremony with close friends and family and then host a reception with a larger guest list later in the day or evening.

If you're going to wake up early to tie the knot, it's important to capture the beauty of the occasion. Scout out a photographer who is willing and interested in photographing a sunrise ceremony. Bonus points if they have done it before, as they will have expert knowledge as to where you should plan to stand during your ceremony for the best lighting.

Vendors

The first thing to do is to find some awesome vendors who you trust to do a great job. You'll need to share your vision with them and make sure they know about the surprise element. Then, let them do what they do best. You'll have enough on your plate without needing to micro-manage everyone. If your budget allows, it's a good idea to get a wedding planner to help you.

You'll need to secure the traditional wedding basics, such as getting your marriage license and an officiant, and hiring your caterer and entertainment. You'll also need to book your photographer and videographer as soon as you've set a date. Wedding photographers typically book up nine to 14 months in advance, but choosing an off-season date and avoiding Saturdays can help you secure your vendors if the event is more last-minute.

Your celebrant will need to do some legwork in the lead-up to the wedding, so make sure you engage one at least six weeks before the surprise. Celebrants are required to submit a 'Notice of Intended Marriage' a minimum of one month before the wedding.

Hiring a great team of professionals is key since you won't be able to ask bridesmaids or family to assist.

Date

If you're planning a surprise wedding, you'll need to keep the date under wraps. Only tell the people who absolutely need to know, such as your vendors and their staff. You'll need to give your celebrant at least six weeks' notice, as they're required to submit a 'Notice of Intended Marriage' a minimum of one month before the wedding.

Book your photographer and videographer as soon as you've set a date, and be flexible with your day if you can. Wedding photographers typically book up nine to 14 months in advance, but choosing an off-season date and avoiding Saturdays can help you secure your vendors if the event is more last-minute.

If your budget allows, consider getting a wedding planner to help you.

Entertainment

If you're looking for something spectacular, fireworks are always a crowd-pleaser. The more extravagant, the better—a fireworks display will captivate guests as soon as it begins. You could also hire a live painter to capture your wedding on canvas throughout the evening. Guests can watch the artwork come to life, and you'll have a beautiful keepsake to remember your special day.

For something a little more low-key, table games are an easy and affordable way to get guests talking and mingling at the reception. You could also have a choreographed first dance to impress your guests and get everyone up and dancing.

If you're feeling adventurous, you could even hire fairground rides or host your wedding at an amusement park. Or, for something a little more relaxed, you could have a tasting table or interactive games.

Whatever you choose, make sure it aligns with your wedding theme and reflects your story as a couple.

Frequently asked questions