What is a wedding breakfast and is it the same as the reception?

Short answer

A wedding breakfast is the first meal served after the ceremony, traditionally a sit-down meal. It is part of the wedding reception, but the reception also includes speeches, the first dance and evening entertainment. The name comes from the old tradition of fasting before a church ceremony.

The wedding breakfast is the meal served after the ceremony, usually in the afternoon or early evening. Despite the name, it is rarely breakfast food. The term comes from the old custom where couples would fast before their church wedding, then break their fast with a meal afterwards.

It is not the same as the reception, though people often use the words loosely. The reception is the whole event after the ceremony, which includes the wedding breakfast, but also much more. A typical reception order might be: drinks and canapés while guests arrive, then the wedding breakfast, then speeches and toasts, then the cake cutting, then the first dance, and finally evening dancing and entertainment.

In the UK, the wedding breakfast is usually a formal sit-down meal, but it does not have to be. Some couples choose a buffet, a hog roast, a fish and chip van, or a afternoon tea instead. The key is that it is the main meal of the day, served to all guests who are invited to the full wedding day.

If you are planning your own wedding, think about what will work for your venue, budget and guests. A sit-down meal feels more formal; a buffet gives more choice and can be easier for caterers. Whatever you choose, make sure there is something for everyone, including vegetarians, vegans and guests with allergies.