Should You Have a Morning Wedding? Here's What We Think

Considering a morning wedding? There are several perks—pros may charge less and a brunch reception is perfect for those who prefer a casual vibe (and dress code).

Timing-wise, you'll likely want to have a ceremony no earlier than 10 a.m. and the reception for anytime between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. If that sounds up your alley, find out what else to consider before booking a breakfast-time wedding.

Pick a day that makes sense.

In other words, don't pick a date that might be universally inconvenient for your guests (like New Year's Day, otherwise known as "national hangover day"). Of course, you should do what you want and your family and friends will be excited for your nuptials regardless. But when you're asking your guests to set an alarm and wake up early—before dawn, in some cases—on a day they might otherwise have off, try to be considerate of their time.

Make sure your family and friends are down.

If you're on the fence about whether or not to have a morning wedding, survey some of your would-be guests as a "sample size." If it seems like an overwhelming majority are on board, go for it. If, on the other hand, your trusted loved ones express annoyance at the idea, you can probably guess others will too—and you can take that into account when making your final decision.

You'll need to plan your menu (and "welcome treats") accordingly.

Before the ceremony, you'll probably want (if not need) to have coffee and treats available to make your groggy guests feel welcome. Mimosas or Bloody Marys could be the cocktails of choice, and a brunch menu (complete with eggs and smoked salmon instead of pasta and steak) might make the most sense. You should also take into account that a traditional wedding cake might feel a little heavy for a morning reception. Again, you should have your wedding exactly how you want it, but these are things to consider.

Your day will start early (like, really early).

When it comes to weddings, a 5 p.m. ceremony start time could easily equate to a 6 a.m. wake-up call for hair and makeup for the bride and her wedding party. And that's for an evening wedding. Of course, it depends how many wedding party members and pros you have, but odds are, you and your besties will likely need to wake up before dawn (in the middle of the night, even) to make sure you have time for primping and pictures. (At least you can make time to take an afternoon nap after the reception!)

Bonus: You'll probably get to avoid a major hangover.

Any seasoned day drinker will tell you the best part about imbibing before sundown (besides the aforementioned afternoon nap) is sleeping through a hangover. This is especially wonderful if you're jetting off to your honeymoon the day after your wedding—you might just be more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed than you would've been otherwise.