What time is too late for a wedding to start?

Question

I'm recently engaged and my fiance and I are planning a wedding for July 18th, 2009. We thought that it would be nice to have an ceremony after dark or right around sunset (the wedding will be held outside and the reception in a tent). The problem that we are having is that around here sunset us usually around 8PM during the summer. Is that too late to have the ceremony start? We were thinking no earlier than 7PM. What do you think? If you are/were married, what time did your ceremony start?

Just looking for some adivce and opinions. Thanks ahead of time for the help!

Answer 1

That seems kind of late to have a reception after.  You could just have cocktails after and skip the food, or have finger food, as long as people know to eat at home first.  

The main problem I see with that is, what if it rains?  If it is raining that day you might as well have had the wedding ceremony start in the afternoon.  

Answer 2

We had a July wedding, with ceremony at 2 p.m.

For yours, you can have the ceremony at 7, with dinner at 8, it will be fine.

Answer 3

My friend's ceremony started at 7pm. She got married at the same place as her reception, so everyone was out of there by 11pm. They were married on roof deck and the mountain was out and the sun just started to set at the end of the ceremony. Lovely!

Answer 4

If you do 7 p.m., some people might not have had dinner.

I like the idea of a sunset wedding (with a lot of bug spray on hand, of course), but I think it might be hard for some people if they plan to commute to and from rather than fork out for a hotel.

Answer 5

Careful about too late. I don't know about your state, but there are bugs and often times it can be mucky outside. I had mine at 4:13 p.m.

Answer 6

7 pm till midnight sounds fine to me for a wedding and reception.

Just be sure to have plenty of food available.  People may not have time to eat dinner before a 7 pm wedding.  

Answer 7

Hi.  I don't think 7:30 or 8 p.m. is late at all.  Hey....someone else mentioned about Jenna Bush's wedding...and hers was at 7:30....so, if it's good enough for the President's daughter....why not you?

In all seriousness, I think a 7:30 or 8 p.m. wedding would be lovely.  Your reception then would be 8:30-11:30 or so.  Not too late in my opinion.

Answer 8

Evening wedding are very nice. I would say no later than 8.

Answer 9

Well, 7 p.m. isn't too bad. A sunset wedding would be pretty. :)

But daytime is pretty, too. Just try to pick a time that's not too hot if you decide to go that way. And good luck and congratulations w/ your wedding! :)

Answer 10

I think 7pm is really the latest. It's not fair to the guests to have to drive home at midnight or later after the reception is over. Do you really want people who have had some wine, are super tired and driving in the dark to get in a car after your wedding?  

Answer 11

I've seen wedding scheduled for midnight.

I've been to sunrise weddings.  It's really a matter of personal taste & when you want to have your wedding.

Mine started at 7:30 in March!

I think the time(s) you've chosen will be just fine.  

Answer 12

What state do you live in?  President Bush's daughter got married on the ranch (in TX) and as they were saying their id's the sun was setting.  I think that's a nice touch.

I would say no later than 8pm.  Some people who are attending may have kids who's bed times are 8 or 9 and if the kids are tired and cranky the parents aren't going to want to stay and have screaming kids at your wedding.  

7pm may be a better time...if nothing else you could be having your first dance while the sun is setting.

Answer 13

Sunset should be the proper time for the latest wedding to take place. Otherwise the reception will run into the wee hours of the morning and everyone will drag on and get tired or -- bail out early.

Have guests arrive at 7, start ceremony at 730ish.

Congrats!!