How to Plan the Perfect Brunch Wedding Timeline (Plus 9 Must-Know Tips)

brunch wedding timeline

Are you a morning person? Is your fiancé an early riser? Then a brunch wedding timeline could be the perfect choice for your special day.

A brunch wedding includes a morning ceremony followed by a reception at which you serve brunch rather than a traditional meal. Sure, brunch weddings are unusual, but it’s definitely an event your guests will remember. And, with the right planning, it’s one they’ll enjoy immensely.

Brunch weddings are not only shorter than a traditional wedding, they offer an opportunity to get tons of gorgeous photos because of all the natural daylight. It’s great for your guests too because they don’t have to be left at loose ends while the wedding party poses for pictures. Simply schedule pictures after the reception and picture time won’t feel so rushed.

If a brunch wedding appeals to you and your soon-to-be spouse, here are some easy-to-follow brunch wedding timeline examples for your big day.

brunch wedding timeline buffet

Brunch Wedding Timeline Samples

No two weddings are alike, not even morning nuptials. To help you plan the ultimate morning ceremony and reception, we’ve put together four timelines based on different needs and preferences.

Traditional Brunch Wedding Day Timeline With Dance

If you’re planning a traditional brunch wedding, with a wedding cake, a dance and all of the other bells and whistles, this timeline will keep you on track.

  • 7:45 a.m. — Arrive at venue
  • 8 a.m. — Get ready with wedding party 
  • 10:30 a.m. — Guests begin to arrive
  • 10:45 a.m. — Dress on 
  • 11 a.m. — Ceremony begins
  • 11:30 a.m. — Receiving line
  • 12 p.m. — Reception begins, buffet opens or food is served
  • 12:45 p.m. — Toasts 
  • 1 p.m. — Cut wedding cake
  • 1:15 p.m. — First dance
  • 1:20 p.m. — Parent dances 
  • 1:25 p.m. — Dance floor opens
  • 2:15 p.m. — Bride and groom’s last dance
  • 2:30 p.m. — Reception officially ends
  • 2:45 p.m. — Wedding party and family photo session
  • 3:30 p.m. — Couple photos
brunch wedding photoshoot 1

Traditional Brunch Wedding Day Timeline Without Dance

If you like the idea of a traditional brunch wedding but aren’t keen on dancing, this timeline will help keep you organized and still leave time for some fun with your guests.

  • 7 a.m. — Arrive at venue
  • 7:15 a.m. — Get ready with wedding party 
  • 9:30 a.m. — Guests begin to arrive
  • 9:45 a.m. — Dress on 
  • 10 a.m. — Ceremony begins
  • 10:30 a.m. — Receiving line
  • 11 a.m. — Coffee/cocktail hour begins 
  • 11 a.m. — Wedding party and family photo session 
  • 12 p.m. — Reception begins, buffet opens or food is served
  • 12:45 p.m. — Toasts 
  • 1 p.m. — Cut wedding cake
  • 1:15 p.m. — Entertainment (lawn games, photo booth etc.)
  • 2:30 p.m. — Reception officially ends
  • 2:45 p.m. — Couple photos
brunch wedding toast

Modern Brunch Wedding Day Timeline With First Look

If you like the idea of a first look with your soon-to-be Mr. or Mrs., then this is the brunch wedding timeline for you. Not only does it give you that moment of intimacy with the love of your life before the ceremony, but it gets a lot of your pictures out of the way early in the day.

  • 6 a.m. — Arrive at venue
  • 6:05 p.m. — Get ready with wedding party 
  • 8:15 a.m. — Dress on 
  • 8:30 a.m. — First look and couple’s photos
  • 9 a.m. — Couple photos with family
  • 9.30 a.m. — Guests begin to arrive
  • 10 a.m. — Ceremony begins
  • 10:30 a.m. —Coffee/cocktail hour begins 
  • 10:30 a.m. — Couple photos with wedding party
  • 11 a.m. — Reception begins
  • 11:05 a.m. — Couple’s grand entrance and first dance
  • 11:10 a.m. — Parent dances 
  • 11:30 a.m. — Buffet opens or food is served
  • 12 a.m. — Toasts
  • 12:15 p.m. — Dessert buffet opens
  • 12:30 p.m. — Dance floor opens
  • 1:25 p.m. — Bride and groom’s last dance
  • 1:30 p.m. — Reception officially ends

Modern Brunch Wedding Day Timeline Without First Look

Not every bride or groom wants to see their intended before the ceremony. Instead, they prefer to lock eyes on one another for the first time at the altar. Not only is this a magical moment you’ll cherish for years to come, but your guests will love seeing your reactions too.

  • 7 a.m. — Arrive at venue
  • 7:05 p.m. — Get ready with wedding party 
  • 9:30 a.m. — Guests begin to arrive
  • 9:45 a.m. — Dress on 
  • 10 a.m. — Ceremony begins
  • 10:30 a.m. — Coffee/cocktail hour begins 
  • 10:30 a.m. — Couple photos 
  • 11 a.m. — Reception begins
  • 11:05 a.m. — Couple’s grand entrance and first dance
  • 11:10 a.m. — Parent dances 
  • 11:30 a.m. — Buffet opens or food is served
  • 12 a.m. — Toasts
  • 12:15 p.m. — Dessert buffet opens
  • 12:30 p.m. — Dance floor opens
  • 1:25 p.m. — Bride and groom’s last dance
  • 1:30 p.m. — Reception officially ends
  • 1:45 p.m. — Wedding party and family photos
brunch wedding dance

Brunch Wedding FAQs

If you’ve never been to a brunch wedding before, you may not know all the ins and outs of hosting a morning ceremony and reception. To help you with all of your burning queries, we’ve answered all of the most commonly asked questions about brunch weddings.

Is a brunch wedding tacky?

Definitely not. A brunch timeline makes for a less formal event, and that means your guests won’t have to worry about scrounging up evening wear for your nuptials. Also, because brunch weddings are shorter, you won’t have to keep your guests amused as long — and they’ll be less likely to get bored.

In fact, if you’re including children on your guest list, a morning wedding and reception are better. Families with young kids won’t have to leave early to get their kids to bed.

Are brunch weddings cheaper?

Morning weddings can be much easier on your pocketbook, although the size of your guest list, the venue you choose and how elaborate your menu and bar are will all impact your overall cost. In general, however, brunch receptions do cost less than evening events because breakfast food items are typically less expensive than the food you’d serve at dinner.

Also, avoiding a peak time at your wedding venue of choice, may translate into some savings because the venue would be able to host two events that day: a morning wedding and an evening wedding.

What do I serve at a brunch reception?

A brunch reception can offer a mixture of traditional breakfast and lunch foods. If you decide to go the breakfast food route, guests always enjoy a customizable omelet station and a pancake or waffle bar. Other popular options include frittatas, quiches and traditional scrambled eggs as well as a selection of bacon and sausages.

A variety of breads including toast, bagels, English muffins and croissants is also popular as is a selection of fresh fruit, yogurt and granola. If you’re inviting children, you may also want to consider offering cereal.

If you want more of a lunch theme, soups, sandwiches, sliders, charcuterie boards and platters of fresh veggies and fruit with dip are a great option. You can also offer a salad bar and sliced roast beef or turkey, a selection of cheeses and other sandwich fixings as well as bread and rolls so people can construct the salads and sandwiches of their choice. You can also opt for something less traditional like kebabs, fried chicken, a taco bar or a pasta and pizza station.

What drinks are served at a brunch reception?

All of the traditional breakfast beverages such as coffee, tea and orange juice should be served at your brunch. If children are included on the guest list, milk, apple juice and hot chocolate should also be included. You can even offer a smoothie bar or specialty coffee drinks if you want to make it a bit fancier.

When it comes to alcohol, traditional brunch drinks include mimosas, bellinis, bloody marys, madras, mojitos, sangria, Irish coffee and, of course, champagne. You can also offer a signature cocktail, if you wish. Delicious choices include the fuzzy navel or vodka sunrise. Don’t forget to offer virgin cocktails too for your guests who don’t drink.

Do brunch weddings have dancing?

While you can certainly choose to forgo dancing at a brunch wedding, there’s no rule book that says you can’t have a dance.

Some of your guests may be less inclined to join you on the dance floor, but that doesn’t mean you need to miss out on the romantic first dance together as a married couple. If you do opt to have a dance, there’s one important thing to keep in mind: brunch weddings are generally shorter, so your dancing portion should match.

Do brunch weddings start on time?

While there’s nothing wrong with starting on time, it’s pretty rare for the ceremony to commence at the exact time listed on the invitation. In fact, a 15-minute delay could work in your favor for a morning ceremony. It gives your guests a little bit of extra time to arrive at your venue and find seats. Just make sure you don’t delay too long or your guests will get antsy.

What do the bride and the groom wear for a brunch wedding?

The great thing about a brunch wedding is that it can be as casual or as formal as you like. You can opt for a tea-length dress, a simple sheath, a boho or vintage dress, a traditional a-line gown or even a beautiful and dramatic ball gown. If you decide to have a formal affair, your groom can wear a morning suit. If you opt for semi-formal, a well-tailored suit is perfect. For a casual wedding, the groom can wear trousers with a dress shirt and sport jacket or vest.

What’s the dress code for a brunch wedding?

Even if you opt for a formal affair, remember, evening gowns and tuxedos are only appropriate after 6 p.m. Male guests attending a formal brunch wedding can opt for a traditional suit while the ladies can wear a cocktail dress or fancy jumpsuit. A semi-formal dress code means trousers and sport coats with ties for the men and pretty (but not too casual) sundresses or skirts and tops for the ladies.

An informal wedding means khakis or trousers and a dress shirt for the men and a sundress, maxi dress, skirt and top or jumpsuit for the ladies.

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