Save Money with a Morning Wedding

Morning weddings are becoming more and more popular these days. It was, after all, suitable for a Royal Wedding. (The ceremony for Prince William and Princess Kate commenced at 11am on April 29, 2011.) While the Royal Wedding wasn’t cheap by any means, costing over $33.5 million USD, most people opt for morning weddings as a way to save some money on their big day.

The Venue

Venues are typically the biggest expense for a wedding, so finding an affordable location is the quickest and easiest way to save money. Venues are usually more affordable during the day because there is less demand. Some locations might even be able to host more than one wedding per day, thus offering a discounted rate. Morning weddings may also open up a new pool of venue options such as restaurants, parks or botanical gardens, that are typically closed in the morning but open to the public in the afternoon.

Food

Bacon is cheaper than beef, and eggs are cheaper than chickens. Whether it’s a full sit-down breakfast or a brunch buffet, food costs at a morning wedding will be lower. However, planning wedding events throughout the day could easily mean having to provide more than one meal to guests.

Drinks

Overall, guests will drink less during the day than they would at night, but they are still likely to enjoy a glass or two of champagne, a bloody mary or mimosa, or might want to “Irish-up” their coffee. That fully stocked bar might be overkill, though.

Attire

People tend to dress less formally in the daytime than they do at night, so the wedding party can easily get away with more casual attire. The groom and groomsmen might opt for vests instead of jackets, and the bridal party might wear flip-flops and department store dresses. Guests are more likely to dress drown too, so there may be more Hawaiian t-shirts than dress shirts and ties.

Flowers and Decorations

Natural light and scenic views are beautiful and free – but not always available for evening receptions. Morning weddings allow more time to take advantage of what nature is offering, especially for outdoor weddings or venues with large windows.

Music & Entertainment

Morning wedding do tend to be more tame, but the overall vibe of the wedding really depends on the couple. There is no need to sacrifice the “party” if it’s important. It may be possible to hire a band or d.j. at a discounted rate. But if that doesn’t work, the party can always be moved elsewhere – like a bar, the hotel, or to someone’s house.

Vendors

Similar to venues, some photographers/videographers might be capable of working two weddings in one day. If they already have an evening wedding booked, they may be willing to work a morning wedding at a reduced rate. On the other hand, there is the possibility of having to pay extra to get an early hair appointment or to have rental items delivered early.

Piggyback

This isn’t always going to be an option or easy to navigate but try talking to venues, vendors and equipment rental companies about piggybacking. If, for example, the venue is hosting an event the night before, they may offer a reduced rate on the tables, chairs or equipment that is already set up because it cuts down on their labour and transportation costs.

Wedding expenses add up quickly, regardless of the time of day. Morning weddings offer plenty of budget friendly options, but keep in mind that not everything is going to be cheaper and the expenses will still add up quickly.