To think weddings should finish earlier?

[ThomasRichard]

I know it’s being a party pooper but seriously, everyone’s had enough by 10pm and is clock-watching to work out the earliest they can leave without being rude. I always stay to celebrate with the bridge & groom but am so ready to call it a night. Who genuinely wants to be up til midnight dancing awkwardly with the bride’s drunk uncle?

[Nancydrawn]

I love late weddings! It's the only time I ever get to dance anymore.

[Animum2]

For our wedding, we got married at 3pm and the reception was in the back bar of a local pub, however the back bar turns into a night club at 10pm and the pub said we could have it exclusively till that time and if people wanted to stay they could but all the wedding paraphernalia had to be taken down, 10pm was find for me, some guests stayed to dance the night away

[Smitetheewiththunderbolts]

YNBU. They should finish after the ceremony.

[EmrysAtticus]

I can't stand the evening dos so for our wedding ceremony was at 11. Lunch at 12:45. All wrapped up by 4 and DH and I headed to the hotel spa and then ordered room service. Was perfect for us.

[GnomeDePlume]

We werent (and still arent) fans of long drawn out weddings so ours was ceremony followed by lunch. All guests then free to get on with their lives.

But its horses for courses. There isnt one 'right' way to do things. Personally, I think it is good to have separate phases of a wedding so that people can stay or go without feeling they are bailing.

[Namaste6]

God yes OP. That why my DH and I got married on a summers night. All done and dusted in 5 hours.

[BillywilliamV]

Was explaining to 16yo DD that weddings are lovely in your 20s/30s when it’s friends that are marrying and it’s your friends that you are partying with. Otherwise they’re a bit of a trial!

[BeanBag7]

I love a wedding but I only have a small group of friends so I only go to about one wedding a year. I can see why it gets boring when you have a big group of friends and acquaintances and have 5 weddings in one summer as they are basically all the same.

If you want to leave early, just do so. Nobody will care, in fact they'll probably be glad that the sour faced party pooper has gone and they can get on with enjoying themselves. Or just decline the invite entirely and save them the trouble and expense.

[JingsMahBucket]

@HennyPennyHorror
I think they should begin later! About 6.00pm, Fast ceremony....quick piccies....massive party with drink and food. Perfect.

That’s exactly how our wedding was a couple months ago. The whole shebang lasted from 6:00pm to 11:00pm and it was perfect. Guests arrived from 6:00pm. Ceremony was 6:30pm to about 6:40pm or 6:45. No lie, one of my friends said it was probably a record for the quickest wedding ceremony she’s ever attended.

The rest of the time was spent on cocktail/mingling time (40 min), dinner, cake, then dancing. OH and I did the majority of photos (family and just us) before guests arrived so we only had to do about 10 min of photos immediately after the ceremony. No guests waiting around uselessly for two hours. Photos seriously do not take that long! Why make your guests wait so much??

Because our venue, a bed & breakfast, was in a residential neighbourhood, we had to stop music at 11:00pm and everyone had to be gone by 12:00am. Again, this was perfect for us! And all the guests said they loved it or it was the best wedding they’d ever attended. There’s no need to drag it all out, honestly.

[JingsMahBucket]

@EmrysAtticus that’s a great way to do it too. Finishing mid-afternoon means you’re not too tired to enjoy your first night with your partner. There’s no pressure either.

[llewellyn25]

I totally agree!!

[Pinkarsedfly]

Haha, I married DH last month. The ceremony was at 3:45 and we were sitting in Brewdog with a pint at 4:30!

You’d have loved it, OP

[whiteroseredrose]

YANBU. Went to loads of weddings in my late 20s to early 30s. There was an obligation to stay to see the newlyweds off. Fine for a late afternoon wedding with dinner then dancing but not for an early one.

One couple had an 11 30 wedding followed by lunch, an afternoon tea then buffet and dancing later.

It was 'carriages at 1.30am' but most of us, usually party animals, were desperate to go home at about 10!

[Hullabalooo]

Crikey, that's a bit early! I'd want a proper shindig if I was getting married. You don't have to stay late if you don't want to but don't ruin everyone else's fun.

[Malyshek]

I think the people getting married get to decide how late they want to party.

That said I'd never be angry at a guest leaving early. On the contrary, if you're bored I'd rather you leave than look at your watch !

[LorelaiRoryEmily]

Yanbu to go home at ten if that’s what you want. An Irish wedding would only be getting going at that time!

Our ceremony(church) was at 1.30pm. Hotel was 30 minutes away, we were called for dinner at 5.45, food and speeches were done by 8.30 Band started at 9. Evening buffet came out at ten.(we had no evening only guests everyone was invited all day)

We went to bed at 2.30 because ds who was asleep in his buggy woke up so we took him to bed. Left about 30 of our 130 guests behind us in the ballroom. Including my cousin and his 7 year old daughter who was still dancing! Irish weddings are great craic and they can go on all night! We’d certainly have stayed up later if mil had taken ds to her room as promised🤣🤣

[sobercuriouskind]

If it was my wedding, I wouldn't want anyone there who was bored/didn't want to be there ... just go early, am sure you won't be missed. YANBU to want to finish early but YABU to expect everyone else to feel the same.

[Tiredemma]

I've never been to any wedding where I'm itching to leave by 10

[Dogparty]

I’ve only been to one wedding which was dull, the rest have been brilliant and I would not have been ready to leave at 10pm. Just leave if you’re fed up. Our wedding was going until 6am even the DJ was still playing and we were dancing and singing karaoke.

[feelingsinister]

I'm quite the opposite, I like a party and would be looking to go on somewhere afterwards usually.
But then I like hanging out with my friends which some people here seem to treat like an inconvenience.

[sadkoala]

Weddings from my home country ( EU ) start at anything between 12-3 and end when the last of the guest are rolling or being carried out of the venue usually in the early hours of the morning and then everyone comes back around 1pm the next day to do it all again!
We do mostly drink high percentage spirits neat and start pretty much as soon as we have finished the meal which is usually served within 30mins of getting to the venue so lots of time to get ourselves merry for the dancing .

If it finished at 10pm I'd imagine people would be worried or wondering what's wrong.

[GrumpyOHara]

Totally disagree! Just because you feel that way, doesn't mean other people do! When I'm at a good wedding I always feel disappointed when it's hometime!

[JoxerGoesToStuttgart]

And all the guests said they loved it or it was the best wedding they’d ever attended

Everyone always says that! they’re hardly going to tell you it was boring and far too quick are they?

[YoThePussy]

I want to go to an Irish wedding - just saying.

[mydogisthebest]

I don't agree at all. Went to a wedding last week and was really disappointed when it ended at 11.30. I was having such a good time I wanted to continue.

I am in my 60's and don't even drink