Learn what a twilight ceremony is and why it might be the most suited to you!
Weddings often mean an extremely long day – longer by far for the bride and groom who are up early getting ready and overcoming those unavoidable last-minute nerves! Why not take out some of the stress of your day by, well, taking out a large chunk of the wedding day? A twilight wedding gives you the opportunity to make the same memories as a traditional wedding that starts in the morning, but with a less depleted battery at the end of it.
What is a twilight wedding?
Traditionally, UK weddings start in the late morning or middle of the day, led by a ceremony and followed by a wedding breakfast and an evening reception. A twilight wedding, however, is one that starts any time after 3.30pm and goes from the ceremony straight into the reception. But what you lose in the day you can make up for at night!
With carriages arriving before the strike of midnight, a twilight wedding is a great option for those who don’t want the expense of a drawn-out meal with long speeches following the exchange of vows (or who simply want to let loose as soon as the deal is complete!).
You might pick some music that you feel expresses how you feel for your husband-to-be, or it could be a tune that fills you both with happy memories. (Don’t forget that you will have many more chances to remember and create special memories with some of your favourite ‘couples’ songs throughout the day, though, like during your first dance!)
Pros of a twilight wedding
The main benefit of a twilight wedding is, as we’ve already suggested, the massive saving which makes it perfect for a budget wedding. A meal alone can cost you more than £100 per head, which results in couples making tough choices when it comes to choosing who makes the list and who doesn’t. Taking away that three-course meal might mean more guests can be invited to share in your big day, plus their children, or that you can offset that expenditure to secure your dream venue (which may not have been possible had you not had the extra cash).
Another bonus of the fast-becoming popular twilight wedding is the fact that it winds up being a much shorter day for all. Your guests will be thrilled to know they can simply book the afternoon off work, maybe even pop along after their day in the office has ended and they’re just about ready to unwind.
Plus, with a shorter service comes an extended evening so you and your guests can keep those energy levels high from beginning to end with no unwelcome lulls in between!
Getting the best from a twilight wedding
A later start to your celebration means that your wedding reception might be later than the norm, especially if you are getting married in autumn or winter when the night closes in much quicker. So as the night will inevitably approach fast, you may want to consider what sort of entertainment you will put on for your guests, bearing in mind that you could, by then, be in complete darkness.
Fireworks, sparklers and fire dancers would really make the most of the impending night, both lighting up the dark and people’s astonished faces. Failing that, light shows also provide exceptional entertainment for an evening reception that starts after sundown.
Look at us coming up with these outrageously exciting ideas, when live music or a DJ are just as brilliant as options – the message we are trying to convey is that to have a twilight wedding allows you to really take advantage of the offerings of dusk. So go ahead and think up something explosive for your special evening!
How to plan for a twilight wedding
At Fennes, we offer packages of all types with twilight wedding packages included.
If the stars don’t want to come out for you on your wedding night, don’t fret as you can dance under the starlit ceiling in our magical hall! With a whole host of stunning spots dotted around the estate, you can take your photoshoot outdoors and capture some truly enchanting pictures.
For convenience, after your late night, guests can make use of the 13 rooms and enjoy a special breakfast the next day, while you will have your own private jacuzzi bath to head back to in the cosy honeymoon cottage.
Fennes is the perfect place for a twilight wedding, just see our website for more information and inspiration or contact a member of our team who can help bring your vision to life.