If you’re looking for a unique option for your wedding, brunch is your best bet. This popular weekend golden hour has been making a surge recently as brides and grooms look for new ways to make their big day unique. Also, if you’re a couple struggling to schedule times/venues and working with a tight wedding budget, it can be a nifty solution to your organizational woes.
Before deciding on the best time of day to get married, it’s important to start from square one. Consider the following when planning your wedding, brunch or otherwise:
- Number of invited guests: Do you want a big or small wedding? What’s the maximum number of people you want to attend?
- Preferred venue space: Outside or inside? Hotel or home? Picture your ideal wedding space, and find a venue that matches your criteria.
- Season: What time of year do you want to get married? What is the weather typically like during that season?
- Location: City or countryside? Garden or ballroom? Destination or local? Your location plays a large role in determining the type of wedding you can host.
- Formality: Casual or formal? Budget-friendly or extravagant? This decision will also be a factor when choosing your venue.
Keeping those details in mind, here are some pros & cons of hosting a brunch wedding.
Pro: Your wedding costs will go down.
Booking a brunch wedding typically carries a lighter price tag than an all-night affair. Because it takes place mid-morning/day, brunch is less likely to turn into an all night celebration like an evening wedding. This means that you can potentially avoid over-hour fees and extra charges associated with nighttime receptions. Staff will typically be cheaper too, because you won’t be paying them to stay as late as you would at an evening wedding.
Without a three-course dinner or big entrée, your catering costs will also go down. Plus, you’ll be able to spend less on drinks unless the entire wedding party decides to go all-out in the daylight hours (who knows, they might!). Some venues even offer discounts to couples willing to wed earlier in the day. Ask all of your potential vendors to find out how you can save by shifting the schedule.
Con: Your reception might be a different party than you expect.
During the day your guests may be less likely to let loose than in the evening. If you’re envisioning a high-energy dance party, a brunch wedding might disappoint. It’s unlikely your guests will be willing to party hard midday (but to be fair, you’re ultimately the best judge of that). If attendees have other obligations later in the day or your event isn’t going into evening hours, they may let their foot off the gas pedal.
If you can help organize rides for people to and from the wedding (with a shuttle or other type of ride service), it may be easier to encourage some daylight revelry!
Pro: That dream venue could become available.
It’s the worst feeling when you delay wedding planning or you’re on a tight timeline and find out your dream venue is booked. Open up your options by asking about doing a morning or brunch wedding instead. Often venues are willing to work with you and be flexible if evening and night bookings are full. As a plus, they might throw in a morning or midday discount.
Con: There might be a time-crunch.
Unfortunately, you might have more time restrictions on your brunch wedding. There could be another event going on that day or another couple getting married in the evening who you’ll need to clear out for. Make sure everything is crystal clear (time constraints and otherwise) between you, your vendors, and your venue.
Make sure to get everything down in writing! Having a signed contract is the best way to avoid a scheduling conflict with your venue.
Pro: More of your guests will be able to attend.
This is especially true if you’re getting married during peak wedding season. Often, obligations and multiple invitations get crossed and guests have to prioritize family and friends. There will always be guests who can’t make it to your wedding for a variety of reasons, but you increase your odds of having everyone important on your special day if you mitigate scheduling conflicts. By having a brunch wedding, you give your guests more flexibility with their time.
Make your day even more special by preparing some unique wedding favors for your friends and family!
Con: More of your guests will be able to attend.
Brunch can open up your guest list in both positive and negative ways. Keep in mind when you’re planning a wedding that every extra guest you invite (or who shows up without RSVP’ing) means an extra cost. While brunch weddings can be a cheaper option, you can also run the risk of creating more of a financial headache for yourself. Sit down with your fiance, crunch the numbers, and figure out how many people you can afford (and fit) at your wedding; knowing that more will probably be able to attend brunch.
Pro: You’ll have more time to make the most of your special day.
If you get married and have your reception around brunch-time, you will have the entire afternoon and night left to make your wedding day magical. The average afternoon and evening wedding festivities can involve a whole day of (often stressful) prep and setup. Avoid this and prolong your wedding day by using brunch to free up quality time for you and your spouse. After you’ve tied the knot and celebrated with your guests you can pop champagne, go out with friends, or head off to a romantic locale. The possibilities for making your wedding day unforgettable are endless.
Whether you settle on a brunch wedding or an all-night extravaganza, remember that your wedding day is about the love between you & your future spouse. Together, consider the pros and cons of when to host your big day, choose the best fit, and make your wedding one to remember!
If you’ve already settled on a brunch wedding, great! Download our free, comprehensive wedding planning checklist to help you keep everything else organized. Also, if you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a comment below!
