Small Ceremony, Small Reception, Massive Party: A Mullet Wedding

I’ve had a wild idea, why isn’t everyone doing this? Let me introduce you to the mullet of weddings, intimate business at the front, party at the back. Britt is going to give me so much pain for this title.

Here’s the plan for your “small ceremony, small reception, massive party” wedding—a bit like a mullet: business in the front, party in the back!

The whole timeline is based around sunset, so use the power of the internet to find the sunrise and sunset times for your proposed mullet wedding location.

Proposed Timetable:

• 70-90 minutes before sunset: Have an intimate ceremony with your closest family and friends—around 20 people. It’s all about keeping it personal and meaningful, the kind of thing I do really well.
• 45-60 minutes before sunset: Time for portrait photos with your photographer. These golden hour shots will be gorgeous!
• Once the sun sets: Enjoy a cosy dinner with the same group of 20-ish people. Share speeches, soak in the love, and create those unforgettable moments with the people who matter most—your own little tribe, or as the Greeks would say, your “oikos.”
• After dinner: Open the doors to a kickass party! Welcome the rest of your family and friends, and let the celebration truly begin. Dance the night away with everyone you love.

Why This Works:

Imagine this: You’ve got your nearest and dearest at the ceremony, where they also get some photos with you, followed by an intimate dinner ($xx per head x 20… you do the math). Then, you bring in a few hundred (or however many) friends for the party of a lifetime. Maybe there's a cashier or maybe you put on a tab. Either way you've secured intimacy,

It’s the best of both worlds—an intimate, special day with your closest loved ones, plus an epic celebration with everyone you want to party with.

And if you’re wondering how to invite people to just the reception, Offbeat has got some inspiration for “reception only” wedding invitations right here.

💍 Josh Withers is an Australian wedding celebrant based in Hobart who travels the world every week creating meaningful, fun, and honest marriage ceremonies for adventurous couples just like you.

📱 Follow Josh on Instagram, Threads, Facebook, Mastodon, Micro.Blog, or in a Qantas airport lounge somewhere.