How to Execute the Morning Wedding of Your Dreams

If you and your partner are considering a morning wedding, but don't know where to start, you're on the right page. While couples do have morning weddings, you might not see as many resources about them while browsing online, as they tend to be underrated compared to afternoon and evening weddings. With that in mind, we (and the wedding planners we tapped) can help.

While the planners we chatted with are phenomenal, they may not be open or available to plan a wedding in your desired wedding location. That said, you can find additional day-of coordinators and wedding planners to help you execute your early morning wedding on The Knot Vendor Marketplace. Filter by planning services, such as budgeting, RSVP tracking, destination wedding planning or other factors important to you.

In this article: Why Have a Morning Wedding? | What Time Should a Morning Wedding Start? | 11 a.m. Wedding Timeline | How to Plan a Morning Wedding

Why Have a Morning Wedding?

While our experts note that having a morning wedding is less common, there are plenty of reasons why you and your partner would want to have a morning wedding. First, a morning wedding can be less expensive.

If you and your partner want to make your guests more comfortable, Brittney Bartling, owner and founder of BLB Events in NYC, notes that morning weddings can be less formal and have a more casual vibe. This means your wedding guest attire can be cocktail attire as opposed to more formal attire if you'd like.

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A daytime wedding also has the potential to encourage guests to check "yes" on your wedding RSVP who might otherwise be on the fence about attending a nighttime celebration due to other obligations. "[A couple] could have this event on a Sunday, and since it doesn't go all night, more people may attend than they would if it were an evening wedding," Bartling explains.

There is no reason for you to think that planning a morning wedding is abnormal. It's your wedding day and you and your partner know what kind of celebration is the right fit.

What Time Should a Morning Wedding Start?

When thinking about when weddings typically start, the answer varies based on the type of wedding you have. However, if you're having a morning wedding, Bartling notes that a morning wedding should start at 11 a.m. "This gives the wedding party enough time to get ready without it feeling impossibly early," adds Irene Katzias, owner and planner at Irene + Co Events based in Bethany, Connecticut. "It also sets the tone for the day to be relaxed but intentional."

When it comes to weekday weddings, it is best practice to confirm your guests have enough time to make their way there, as they may encounter some rush hour traffic. Amy Lynn, lead wedding planner at Poppy and Lynn in NYC, adds that Sundays tend to be good days for morning or day weddings, which is something you can be mindful of when planning your big day.

11 a.m. Wedding Timeline

Read on for a timeline for the morning of the wedding, leading into your morning ceremony and reception. While the timeline below accounts for an 11 a.m. wedding time, you can move everything back by an hour to make it a 10 a.m. wedding timeline. Furthermore, you can revise the outline listed below to best fit your desired wedding length. While you can include every step we list below in your morning wedding ceremony timeline, you can add or remove any as you see fit.

6 a.m. Hair and Makeup

When it comes to what to know about wedding hair and makeup, it is best practice to begin this process earlier (especially if you haven't had a trial) rather than later to ensure you have enough time to achieve your desired look and make any necessary adjustments. If your wedding party is using your hair and/or makeup artists, getting a head start on this process helps everyone feel more at ease.

8:30 a.m. Photographer Arrival

While capturing core memory moments from your wedding ceremony and morning wedding reception is a good idea, having your photographer document the moments before you make your way down the aisle is also worth considering (especially if you're getting ready with your close family, friends or wedding party).

8:45 a.m. First Look

Now that the photographer has arrived, it's time for the first look. "[The] main difference is that with any wedding, a first look allows for you to enjoy more of your wedding rather than being pulled away during cocktail hour and reception for photos," Lynn says. "So skipping the first look means you need to do portraits during cocktail hour and the reception." If you're not having a first look, you can advise your wedding photographer to arrive 15 to 20 minutes later. "I'd recommend having your beauty team stay through [the] first look to help you touch up any happy tears and smudges," she adds.

9 a.m. Transport to the Ceremony Venue

Heading to your ceremony (and/or reception) venue two hours ahead will likely provide you with the peace of mind that you'll arrive on time and account for any traffic or delays that you may encounter (although we hope you won't). Secure your day-of wedding transportation for you and/or your guests using The Knot Vendor Marketplace.

10:30 a.m. Guest and Catering Arrival

Depending on your venue, your guests and caterers should arrive prior to (if not already on-site) your ceremony start time to ensure everything goes according to plan. Since your guests will arrive early (and may have left early from their homes or accommodations if traveling from far away), consider offering some light refreshments. "A nice touch for a morning ceremony would be to have welcome mimosas or bellinis for guests, or even a coffee station, depending on your crowd," Lynn says.

10:45 a.m. Final Touches

This is the time to look at your vows one last time, apply any extra hairspray and give one last hug to any special loved ones. Confirm that your officiant has everything needed to begin the ceremony.

11 a.m. Ceremony Begins

You should prepare to make your way down the aisle at 11 a.m. Do your best to be on time to avoid disrupting the flow of your wedding schedule.

11:30 a.m. Postceremony Photos

Once you've made your love official, spend 15 minutes taking photos with your wedding party and those closest to you. While this isn't required, you'll likely appreciate it when reflecting on your wedding day.

11:45 a.m. Cocktail Hour and Wedding Reception

Depending on whether or not you and your guests need transportation to the reception venue, you can begin your reception directly following those postceremony photos. If you want to do something different from hosting a brunch wedding reception, a tea party wedding reception is a good alternative.

"Since this is non-traditional, dancing may not be important to the couple, so they may have games or other forms of entertainment," Bartling says. Furthermore, Lynn notes that some guests may not feel like dancing during the day since it might not be as much of a well-received form of entertainment in the same way as during a nighttime reception.

"If you plan on dancing, giving everyone a little bit of time to wake up and fuel before the dance floor opens will help encourage more people to get moving," Lynn says.

2 p.m. Toast and Speeches

Once you've had the time to enjoy your meal and mingle with your guests, prepare for a toast and any speeches.

2:30 p.m. Cake Cutting

Plan your cake-cutting service (if you're having one) for a sweet end to your celebration. Don't forget to take a photo.

3 p.m. Conclude Reception

Thank your guests for attending your early wedding ceremony and reception. Afterward, you can stick around to help with clean-up if not included in your wedding package, or head back to your accommodation for the rest of the day or until your next wedding weekend activity (if you have any scheduled).

How to Plan a Morning Wedding

Morning weddings often require additional thought and planning because they are so early, and you want to ensure that you and your partner, your planner, your wedding party and vendors are all on the same page. That said, keep reading for expert tips that will help you (or your wedding planner) bring those early morning wedding ideas to life.

Plan Your Meal

It is a best practice to work with your venue and caterers to determine the best style for your meal. While you can keep things traditional with a buffet or plated meal, Bartling notes that you can spruce up your wedding cuisine with a waffle-making station or interactive food station. That said, Lynn notes that it is a good idea to serve food around lunchtime. Make sure that you, your venue or wedding planner communicates with the caterer (whoever it may be) about what time to arrive and prepare the food so it's ready for your guests—especially since they may be hungry if they skipped breakfast and you don't choose to have any light bites available prior to the start of your ceremony.

Hire a Specialized Wedding Planner

Not all wedding planners have experience with planning morning weddings. That said, you'll want to do your research to find planners in your wedding area who have worked on a fair number of morning weddings. "The most important step is hiring a planner with a strong enough team to manage multiple locations and a long timeline," Katzias says. "Communication with vendors and guests needs to be clear from the very beginning. Morning weddings often have more moving pieces, so experience and organization are essential."

Consider Different Entertainment

While DJs tend to be popular when it comes to entertainment for afternoon and nighttime weddings, considering different entertainment for a morning wedding can be a good idea, depending on the vibe you're going for. Bartling notes that magicians, mentalists or illustrators are solid forms of wedding entertainment that can entertain your guests without music. However, "for a more classic or jazz route, [couples] could have strings or a jazz band," Bartling says.

Have a Variety of Beverage Options

Depending on which day you choose to tie the knot, you might notice that some of your guests will steer clear of alcoholic beverages due to the early morning time of your celebration. "Guests are less likely to drink as much during the day, so you may want to do a more limited bar," Lynn says. While it is still a good idea to have a bar containing alcoholic beverages, also offer your guests mocktails, water, soda and teas.