Hosting an early wedding ceremony? Be sure to set your alarm. Couples can spend the entire day preparing and getting ready for their 4 p.m. ceremony so moving the time up to 11 a.m. means you will need an early start and a detailed timeline for your big day.
While you’ll have to set an early wake-up call, there are several perks to starting your nuptials in the a.m.
Having an 11 a.m. wedding ceremony will save you a good amount of money. Since morning weddings aren’t as common, venues and vendors are likely to have more availability and offer you a better deal.
Starting early is also perfect for couples who want to enjoy their celebrations and get some alone time with their partner later in the evening. Or for those who want to keep the party going with only their nearest and dearest.
11am Wedding Timelines
If you’re planning your 11 a.m. wedding, our robust timelines will help you through the process. The three different options will enable you to craft a personalized timeline for your big day.
Remember to share your complete version with your wedding planner, venue coordinator, caterer and other key vendors.
11am wedding: lunch and mingle
Your a.m. wedding should lead into a lunch reception. Because you and your guests have had an early start, you might not care much for a DJ and dancing. Instead, you can opt for a more relaxed vibe with acoustic music and a casual lunch where you and your guests can drink, dine and mingle.
If you want to keep it easygoing, you can also choose to have a buffet lunch with casual lounge seating instead of a full sit-down meal.
Pro tip: It’ll be an extra early start to the day, so try to provide breakfast and coffee for your wedding party. Everyone can grab a bite while they get ready.
- 7 a.m. — Bride and bridal party arrive for hair and make-up
- 7:30 a.m. — Photographer arrives for candid photos of the bridal party
- 8 a.m. — Groom and groomsmen get ready
- 8:30 a.m. — Photographer gets candid shots of the groom and groomsmen
- 9 a.m. — Bride puts on the wedding dress
- 9 a.m. — Bouquet delivered to the bride
- 9 a.m. — Groom and groomsmen take photos
- 9:15 a.m. — First look with father (or other family members)
- 9:30 a.m. — Bride and bridal party official photos (bride and groom to avoid seeing each other)
- 9:45 a.m. — Bride and family photos
- 10:15 a.m. — Groom and family photos (bride and groom to avoid seeing each other)
- 10:30 a.m. — Bride and bridal party freshen up hair and make-up
- 10:30 a.m. — Photographer takes pictures of venue and guests arriving
- 11 a.m. — Ceremony begins
- 11:30 a.m. — Hugs and congratulations after the ceremony
- 11:45 a.m. — Cocktail and hor d’oeuvres are served
- 11:45 a.m. — Couple photos
- 12:15 p.m. — Wedding party and family photos
- 12:45 p.m. — Bride touches up and bustles dress with help from mother or maid of honor
- 12:45 p.m. — Wedding party makes an entrance
- 1 p.m. — Bride and groom make an entrance
- 1:10 p.m. — Lunch is served/ buffet opens
- 1:45 p.m. — Toasts and/or speeches
- 2 p.m. — Cut the cake and serve dessert
- 2:30 p.m. — Bridal couple leave (special send-off).
- 2:45 p.m. — Guests start to leave
- 3:45 p.m. — Vendors finish packing up and leave
11am wedding: brunch and games
An alternate approach to your big day is to replace the traditional reception with a fun brunch and games celebration. Do away with the cocktail hour, and instead, make time for some Jenga, croquet, and ring toss while sipping on mimosas.
You can also get the competition going between you and your partner by including the popular shoe game.
This timeline includes a first look so that you and your partner can enjoy an intimate moment together and get your couple’s portraits done before the ceremony. You’ll need to be up extra early but, with this timeline, you’ll be free to relax and enjoy the games once the brunch starts.
- 6 a.m. —Bride and the bridal party begin hair and make-up
- 7 a.m. — Photographer arrives for candid photos of the bridal party
- 7 a.m. — Groom and groomsmen start getting ready
- 7:15 a.m. — Photographer takes candid shots of the groom and groomsmen
- 8:15 a.m. — Bride puts on the wedding dress
- 8:30 a.m. — First look with father (or other family members)
- 8:30 a.m. — Groom heads to first look location to await his bride
- 8:40 a.m. — Bride heads to first look location
- 8:45 a.m. — Bride and groom first look and photos
- 9:30 a.m. — Wedding party photos
- 10 a.m. — Family photos
- 10:30 a.m. — Bride freshens up hair and make-up
- 10:30 a.m. — Photographer takes pictures of venue and guests arriving
- 11 a.m. — Ceremony starts
- 11:30 a.m. — Hugs and congratulations
- 12:00 p.m. — Bride bustles dress with help from mother or maid of honor
- 12:00 p.m. — Cocktails are served (photographer takes candid shots)
- 12:10 p.m — Wedding party makes their entrance
- 12:15 p.m — Couple makes their entrance
- 12:20 p.m. — Brunch buffet is open
- 12:45 p.m. — Toasts and/or speeches
- 1 p.m. — Cut the cake and serve dessert
- 1 p.m — Mingle and play games
- 2:30 p.m. — Bridal couple leaves (special send-off).
- 2:45 p.m. — Guests start to leave
- 3:45 p.m. — Vendors finish packing up and leave
11 am wedding: separate venues for the ceremony and the reception
If you’d like to host your wedding ceremony and the lunch reception at separate venues, with your 11 a.m. nuptials, you have just enough time to request everyone make the shift before lunchtime.
Check out this timeline for a wedding and reception in different venues but be mindful of being punctual to avoid delaying lunch and keeping your guests hungry. A lull also slows down the tempo of the celebrations, so try to stay on time.
This timeline includes dancing for the newlyweds that want to party. But you can always replace a DJ with a jazz trio or a festive Spanish band that’ll get your guests moving.
- 7 a.m. — Bride and bridal party arrive for hair and make-up
- 7:30 a.m. — Photographer arrives for candid photos of the bridal party
- 8 a.m. — Groom and groomsmen get ready
- 8:30 a.m. — Photographer gets candid shots of the groom and groomsmen
- 9 a.m. — Bride puts on the wedding dress
- 9 a.m. — Bouquet delivered to the bride
- 9 a.m. — Groom and groomsmen take photos
- 9:15 a.m. —First look with father (or other family members)
- 9:30 a.m. — Bride and bridal party official photos (bride and groom to avoid seeing each other)
- 9:45 a.m. — Bride and family photos
- 10:15 a.m. — Groom and family photos (bride and groom to avoid seeing each other)
- 10:30 a.m. — Bride and bridal party freshen up hair and make-up
- 10:30 a.m. — Photographer takes pictures of venue and guests arriving
- 11 a.m. — Ceremony begins
- 11:30 a.m. — Hugs and congratulations after the ceremony (formal reception line, if you choose to have one).
- 12 p.m — Guests leave for the reception venue
- 12 p.m. — Couple takes photos
- 12:30 p.m. — Wedding party and family photos
- 12:30 p.m — Cocktail hour begins at the reception venue. Hor d’oeuvres to be served
- 12:55 p.m. — Bride bustles dress with help from maid of honor
- 1 p.m — Couple and wedding party leave to the reception venue
- 1:20 p.m — Guests find their seats, and reception begins
- 1:25 p.m — Wedding party makes an entrance
- 1:30 p.m — Couple makes a grand entrance
- 1:35 p.m. — Lunch is served
- 2 p.m. — Toasts and/or speeches
- 2:15 p.m. — Cut the cake and serve dessert
- 2:30 p.m. — First dance
- 2:35 p.m. — Parent dances
- 2:40 p.m. — Dance floor opens to guests
- 4 p.m. — Last call for drinks
- 4:15 p.m. — Bridal couple leave (special send-off).
- 4:30 p.m. — Guests start to leave
- 5:30 p.m. — Vendors finish packing up and leave
What to do after the wedding
An 11 a.m. wedding means your festivities will wrap up early, and you’ll have the rest of the day to yourselves. You might be wondering what you’ll do with all the free time later in the day.
The sky’s the limit. Book appointments at the spa, nap in your honeymoon suite, or spend the evening with your closest family and friends. You can enjoy a relaxed, celebratory dinner, either just for two or with your immediate families.
