Wedding Breakfast: Food, Drinks, And Fun!

A wedding breakfast is a feast for the newlyweds and their guests, usually held after the wedding ceremony, making it equivalent to a wedding reception. The name is derived from the fact that, in pre-Reformation times, the wedding ceremony was a Eucharistic Mass, and the newlyweds would have been fasting before the wedding to be eligible to receive Holy Communion. The meal after the ceremony was, therefore, the first meal the couple shared together and the first meal of their married life. Today, the wedding breakfast is usually a sit-down meal of at least three courses, served in the afternoon, and followed by the wedding speeches.

The wedding breakfast is the first meal the couple shares after the ceremony

The wedding breakfast is the main eating event of the day and is usually followed by the wedding speeches. It is often a sit-down meal, but there are many other options, from buffets to food trucks. The meal is typically served with wine, but other drinks can be served, such as craft beer.

The wedding breakfast is not always a morning meal, nor does it resemble a typical breakfast. It is usually held between 2 pm and 5 pm, depending on the time of the wedding ceremony. It is a long-standing tradition in the UK, and reception venues often include it as part of their packages.

The wedding breakfast is a special meal and a chance for the couple to choose food that reflects their tastes and personalities. It is an opportunity to be creative and serve food that is meaningful to the couple.

It is usually a three-course meal, but there are no rules

The wedding breakfast is the first meal a couple shares after their marriage. It is usually a three-course meal, but there are no rules—it's entirely up to the couple. The meal is typically served in the afternoon, as most wedding ceremonies take place in the late morning or afternoon.

A traditional wedding breakfast is a three-course (or more) sit-down meal. However, there are now many different ways to serve the wedding breakfast, from a buffet to long tables with sharing platters, food trucks, and bowl food. The meal can be as original and unique as the couple chooses. For example, some couples have served sourdough pizzas on wooden platters, stacks of sweet and savoury pancakes, huge pans of paella, or even cooked and served the food themselves.

The wedding breakfast usually takes place in the reception venue's main room, but it can also be held outdoors or in a different indoor space at the venue. The seating plan can be traditional, with a top table for the couple and their wedding party, or more relaxed, with long trestle tables or even a sweetheart table for just the newlyweds.

The wedding breakfast usually lasts around two to three hours, including time for toasts and speeches, which typically take place after the meal.

The meal is followed by wedding speeches

The meal is followed by the wedding speeches, which traditionally take place before the evening party. The speeches are a chance for the couple and their closest family members to thank their guests for coming and offer a few words of celebration.

The order of speakers varies, but the father of the bride often goes first, followed by the groom, and then the best man. The bride may also give a speech, or she may join the groom in a joint speech. Sometimes, other members of the wedding party or close family members will give a speech, and it is becoming more common for the newlyweds to forgo tradition and ask a friend or family member to speak on their behalf.

The speeches are often light-hearted and include jokes and anecdotes about the couple, as well as more sincere thanks and well-wishes. They are also an opportunity to introduce the wedding party, explain the seating arrangement, and give details of the evening's itinerary.

The best man usually has the honour of proposing a toast to the happy couple, and guests are invited to raise a glass to the newlyweds. This is a lovely way to round off the speeches and mark the end of the meal before the evening celebrations begin.

Some couples prefer to have the speeches before the meal, so that nervous speakers can relax and enjoy their food afterwards. This can also be a good option if there are children present, as they may struggle to sit through the speeches.

It is called a 'wedding breakfast' because it is the first meal after the couple 'break their fast'

The wedding breakfast is the first meal of the day for the couple and their guests, usually taking place after the ceremony and before the wedding speeches. It is called a wedding breakfast because it is the first meal after the couple break their fast.

In the past, wedding ceremonies were often held much earlier in the morning, with the ceremony completed by 1 pm. This meant that the wedding party would have gone without food since breakfast, and the wedding breakfast was a chance for them to break their fast. While it may seem confusing to call it a "breakfast", the term stems from the literal meaning of "breaking the fast".

In pre-Reformation times, the wedding service was a Eucharistic Mass, and the couple would have been fasting to be eligible to receive Holy Communion. The wedding breakfast, therefore, served as a literal "break fast" for the newlyweds, even though others in attendance may not have been fasting. This tradition has continued, even though weddings today may not always follow this format.

The wedding breakfast is a chance for the couple to share a meal with their guests and is often a feast with a variety of food options. It is a time for celebration and marks the beginning of the couple's married life together. The meal can be a sit-down dinner, a buffet, or even more contemporary options like tapas-style dishes or sharing platters.

While the term "wedding breakfast" may seem unusual, it is a long-standing tradition that reflects the importance of sharing a meal after the wedding ceremony. It is a time for everyone to come together and celebrate, and the name simply adds a touch of charm and tradition to the festivities.

The wedding breakfast is the main meal of the day

The wedding breakfast is the main meal of the wedding day, usually served in the afternoon, after the ceremony and before the wedding speeches and evening party. It is typically a three-course sit-down meal, but there are many different ways to serve it, such as a buffet, long tables with sharing platters, or food trucks for a festival-style wedding.

The wedding breakfast is usually held a couple of hours after the wedding ceremony, with pre-reception drinks and canapes served in between to keep guests happy and well-fed.

The term "'wedding breakfast' dates back to the 17th century when wedding ceremonies were usually part of Eucharistic Mass, and newlyweds would have been fasting before the service. The meal they shared afterward was literally breaking the fast. Although it is not usually served in the morning nowadays, it is still the first meal shared by the couple as a married entity, and so the name has stuck.

There are no rules when it comes to what to serve for a wedding breakfast. It all depends on the couple's preferences, where they live, and their favourite foods. It is important to ensure there are options for guests with dietary requirements and to inform caterers of any allergies in advance.

Frequently asked questions