What’s the Best Time to Get Married?
What’s the Best Time to Get Married? Why a 1:30 – 3:00 PM Ceremony Works Best
When planning your wedding day, one of the first big decisions is what time to have your ceremony. Many couples assume an early wedding ceremony (between 12:00 – 1:00 PM) gives them a longer day, but in reality, it can lead to unexpected challenges—rushed mornings, hungry guests, and an awkward lull before the evening reception.
After photographing countless weddings across Staffordshire, and beyond, I’ve found that a 1:30 – 3:00 PM ceremonycreates the perfect balance of relaxation, excitement, and seamless flow. Here’s why this is the best time to get married.
1. A Stress-Free Wedding Morning (No 5 AM Wake-Up Calls!)
Your wedding morning should be calm, enjoyable, and full of excitement—not a frantic rush to get ready. If your ceremony is at 12:00 PM, you and your bridal party may need to start hair and makeup at 5:00 or 6:00 AM just to stay on schedule. That means less sleep, more stress, and a morning that feels more like a military operation than a celebration.
With a 1:30 – 3:00 PM wedding, your morning timeline feels much more relaxed:
✔ 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Hair and makeup for the bridal party
✔ 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Final touches, getting into the dress, and bridal portraits
✔ 1:30 – 3:00 PM – Ceremony
By starting later, you have time to enjoy the morning, soak in those special moments with your bridal party, and avoid feeling exhausted before the day even begins
2. Happy Guests = A Happy Wedding
Let’s talk about hangry wedding guests—because trust me, they’re real!
A midday wedding often means guests arrive late morning, sit through the ceremony, and then wait until mid-afternoon for their first bite of food. By then, they’re starving, and it shows—especially the men!
A 1:30 – 3:00 PM ceremony solves this issue. Here’s why:
✔ Guests can have lunch before arriving, keeping them comfortable and happy
✔ The drinks reception and canapés come at the perfect time—just as they’re ready for a little something
✔ There’s no long wait for the wedding breakfast, keeping the energy high
Food & Drink Flow for a 2:00 PM Ceremony: (one venue)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Guests have lunch before arriving
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Drinks and canapés after the ceremony
4:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Wedding breakfast
7:00 PM – Late: Evening reception with buffet/snacks
No one likes a wedding where they’re too hungry to enjoy it. Timing your ceremony right keeps your guests happy, engaged, and ready to celebrate.
3. No Awkward Lulls – The Party Keeps Going
One of the biggest wedding timeline mistakes is scheduling a ceremony too early, only to be left with a huge gap before the evening reception.
For example, with a 12:00 PM ceremony, the wedding breakfast may be finished by 3:30 PM, leaving a long, awkward gap before the evening guests arrive. This is when people get tired, wander off, or even consider leaving early.
A 2:00 PM ceremony avoids this issue completely:
✔ The wedding breakfast ends in time for a quick 30 min break before cake cutting and the first dance
✔ There’s no huge lull—the party flows seamlessly from dinner into dancing
✔ Guests stay energized and engaged, making for a livelier celebration
Evening Timeline for a 2:00 PM Ceremony:
4:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Wedding breakfast & speeches
7:00 PM – 7:30 PM: Cake cutting & first dance
7:30 PM – Late: Evening party begins
With this timeline, your wedding day keeps its momentum, and guests stay in high spirits from start to finish
So, What’s the Best Time to Get Married?
A 1:30 – 3:00 PM wedding ceremony strikes the perfect balance—it keeps your morning relaxed, your guests happy, and your celebrations flowing without any awkward gaps.
✔ A calm, enjoyable morning (no crack-of-dawn wake-up calls)
✔ Guests aren’t starving before the wedding breakfast
✔ The evening party keeps its momentum without a lull
If you’re planning your wedding in Staffordshire, Cheshire, or Shropshire and want a photographer who understands how to capture a seamless, stress-free day, I’d love to help.
Get in touch here to chat about your wedding photography!
