Ceremony before Reception

Can you just have an evening event? I wouldn’t want to have my ceremony after the reception for a few reasons...
1.) You want your hair and makeup to be as fresh as possible at your ceremony. Not to mention your dress could be dirty by then.
2.) Drunk guests 3.) Drunk bride and/or groom and wedding party 4.) Many guests may leave before the ceremony

Could you push back the ceremony to a later time in the day? for instance my best friend is getting married in AZ and it's still gonna be really hot outdoors but she pushed the ceremony to 6pm hoping the weather would be more mild by that time.

View Quoted Comment Because our date is a Sunday I didn't want the day to end too late. Thank you for bringing those other points up. I thought about having different dresses.

View Quoted Comment These are great reasons. An officiant will not marry you if you show signs of intoxication.


Your dress will get dirty no matter what unless it's short. Also you will have confused guests unless you are very clear about what is going on. If heat is a concern, can it be held indoors?

My sister actually attended a wedding like this and it worked really well. She thought it was a nice way for people to still see the couple but avoid the ceremony if they didn’t want to be there for that. They did not have alcohol, however.

Here sunset in July is around 630 so maybe just do a 630-7 ceremony then a 7-11 reception? You could hold cocktail hour before the wedding and do your first look/pictures to make the reception long enough. Tbh though depending where you live I may just not do outside in July. I was even scared of outside in May here in Florida so decided on March. Good luck it’ll be great no matter what!

View Quoted Comment Oops just saw this that makes sense.

Could you do a cocktail hour prior to the ceremony? I had seen this once where guests were greeted and mingled for a bit with served beverages. I’m not sure if there was any food prior. However if you’re concerned about guests and FH seeing you prior then this doesn’t make much sense lol

I think a cerempny

I think a ceremony after the reception can work out quite well, and you could still have that element of surprise by changing into another dress. Like having a reception dress and a ceremony dress.

I agree with previous posters. I think you'll have to decide what's more important. Wanting an outside wedding with sunset or ending early because it's a Sunday. If the first option is what you want more don't worry about ending late. People can take off work just as they would for Friday for a Saturday wedding. I'd do an evening wedding with reception after. Just check in your area what time the sun would set on that day. Or you can have sunset pictures after the ceremony vs a sunset ceremony

My wedding is on a Sunday as well and we are just going to take sunset pictures when the sun is about to set. This is another option.

I’ve only seen it done once, and it was on that show “Four Weddings” about 7 years ago. I recall it being a bit odd for the guests (and even for me to watch on TV). Basically it threw off the flow of the event because guests were in “party mode”, then that abruptly stopped so that they could move to another area for the ceremony and then the evening was over after the couple walked back down the aisle.


I’m a fan of unique, unconventional and personal touches in weddings. Yet having the ceremony last isn’t a really great idea/solution. But since you’re wedding is on a warm Sunday, it might be a better idea to start your ceremony later and then have more of a mix n’ mingle cocktail style reception with heavy appetizers. You could use a mix of lounge seating, smaller cocktail tables and a few taller pub tables with stools (instead of having a full plated meal with traditional table seating).
That way you can still celebrate after the ceremony, eat, dance, mingle etc., but in a more relaxed style and for fewer hours. You might miss the sunset backdrop for the ceremony, but the payoff is better. Plus you and your FH can still take a moment to go outside and take pics at sunset.

View Quoted Comment I like that idea of later reception with heavy appetizers instead of a full dinner. That's another reason I was struggling with pushing the time back.