Planning a wedding that starts after Shabbat ends.
Many Jewish weddings — especially Orthodox and traditional ones — are held on Saturday night, after Shabbat ends at nightfall. That timing shapes the whole day: when guests arrive, when vendors can work, and how late the celebration runs. CHIC Flowers has designed many motzei Shabbat weddings across Los Angeles and San Diego, and this guide explains how the day works and how we plan the floral installation around it.
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Weddings are not held on Shabbat, which runs from Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall. A Saturday night wedding begins after Havdalah, the short ceremony that marks the end of Shabbat. In winter, that can be as early as 5:30 or 6 pm in Southern California; in summer, closer to 8:30 or 9 pm, which pushes the whole evening later.
Observant couples and venues generally do not want vendor work happening on Shabbat itself. That leaves two options: install everything on Friday before sundown and keep it fresh, or install in the short window after Shabbat ends and before guests arrive. Most weddings use a mix — the chuppah and large pieces go in on Friday, and finishing touches happen Saturday evening.
The right approach depends on the couple's observance and the venue's rules. Some venues allow non-Jewish staff to work on Saturday; others are fully closed. We confirm this at the start.
When we install on Friday, we choose flowers that hold up for 24 to 36 hours — roses, orchids, hydrangea with adequate water, and hardy greenery — and use water sources in every arrangement. We avoid delicate blooms that wilt overnight, and we keep the ballroom cool where the venue allows it.
For a summer wedding with Shabbat ending around 8:30 pm: Friday afternoon, chuppah and reception installation; Saturday 8:30 pm, Havdalah and final touches; 9 pm, kabbalat panim and tisch; 9:45 pm, bedeken; 10 pm, chuppah; 10:45 pm, yichud and cocktail hour; 11:15 pm, reception, running to 2 or 3 am. Winter weddings shift everything two to three hours earlier.
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