4. Cheaper wedding travel. If you have a lot of guests coming in from out of town or if you’re having a destination wedding, having it on a weekday will cut the cost of airfare compared to weekend travel. And the same goes for hotel rates!
5. More time to spend with guests. Due to the fact that fewer guests may be able to attend a weekday wedding, you’ll have more time to spend with those who are present. Large weddings can make it so that saying “thank you” to every guest is impossible, but with a more intimate weekday wedding, you’ll be able to make the rounds and visit everyone in attendance.
Monday-Thursday wedding cons:
1. More difficult for guests. Because of work, school, kids, etc., weekday weddings are usually harder for people to attend compared to weekends. It can be done, but more coordination, planning, and potentially time off from jobs is usually required on the guests’ part.
2. Lower attendance. Due to the fact that weekday weddings are more difficult to attend, you’ll probably have more “no” RSVPs than you would if you had a Saturday wedding.
3. Might be less lively and end earlier. Since a good amount of guests will have to wake up early to get to work the next morning, a weekday wedding may be less lively than a Saturday night wedding. Guests may also leave a bit early from the wedding if they have to be up early the next day.
4. Possible that vendors don’t work events on weekdays. Weekday weddings will usually be better to attain vendors, however, it’s possible that some vendors only work events Friday-Sunday and then are in office Monday-Thursday. This varies completely according to the vendor, so just be sure to ask.
Friday wedding pros:
1. More affordable. It’s possible that your wedding will be more affordable if it’s on a Friday rather than a Saturday, but that’s not always the case. This typically varies from venue to venue and vendor to vendor.
2. Occupies less of the day for guests. When weddings are on weekends, they usually start earlier in the day. However, on a weekday, the wedding usually won’t start until later on to allow guests to get off work and arrive. This is usually better for guests, as their day won’t be completely booked.
3. More setup time. Having a Friday wedding means a later start time, and a later start time means extra setup time. If you’re planning and executing the wedding yourself, this is especially helpful. So if you’re not having a wedding planner, having a Friday wedding is even more beneficial for you.
4. More of a party atmosphere compared to other weekdays. Since Fridays are the start of the weekend, the atmosphere will probably feel more lively and party-like compared to the other weekdays. So if you’re looking for a more affordable wedding that still has a high-energy vibe, a Friday night wedding is perfect for you.
5. It leaves time for additional celebrations. Some couples opt to have a Friday wedding and then use the rest of the weekend for other celebratory activities for themselves and close friends and family, such as winery trips, golf outings, etc. If you want your wedding weekend to be a true, full weekend, opting for a Friday wedding is a great option.
Friday wedding cons:
1. More late arrivals. Because people are most likely coming from work on a Friday, you will likely have an increase in late arrivals compared to a Saturday or Sunday wedding.
2. Lack of guest availability for the rehearsal dinner. If your wedding party is coming from out of town, it may be hard for them to attend a Thursday night rehearsal dinner because that means taking off work, especially for multiple days in a row. That being said, if your wedding party is local, having your rehearsal dinner on Thursday evening won’t be as big of an issue.
Explore the pros and cons of having a weekend wedding
Saturday wedding pros:
1. Usually the best option for guest’s schedules. Saturdays are usually the best option for guest’s schedules because they don’t have to take time off from work and they have the next day to travel or maybe recover from a long, fun night.
2. The reception can last longer. Since most people have Sundays off of work, the reception can last longer and there can even be an after-party because no one has to get up early the next day.
3. Allows for both a rehearsal dinner and goodbye brunch. If you’re looking to have a rehearsal dinner as well as a goodbye brunch the day after the wedding, having the ceremony on a Saturday is the best day for you to allow for the most guests possible to be in attendance for all planned events.
Saturday wedding cons:
1. Most popular day of the week for weddings. Since Saturdays are the best day of the week for guest’s schedules, it makes Saturdays the most popular day of the week for weddings. This not only creates less availability for venues and vendors, but also for your guest’s schedules as they may already be attending another wedding on the same day.
2. More expensive. Saturdays are the most popular day of the week for weddings. So if you’re on a strict budget, it may be more difficult to keep at your ideal cost.
3. Less venue and vendor availability. Again, since Saturdays are the most popular wedding day, your favorite venue and vendors will book up fast and may not be available on your dream date. If a specific day is most important to you and you’re willing to go with your second or third choice vendor, then go with that. But if you have your heart set on a specific location or a certain caterer, being open to having your wedding on a day other than Saturday will increase your odds of booking.
Sunday wedding pros:
1. More affordable. Sundays are a great wedding option because they’re still technically part of the weekend but are usually more affordable than Saturdays.
2. Flexibility on time of day. Unlike weekdays, you can really start your wedding at any time on a Sunday. For instance, if you want to take advantage of sunshine and beautiful weather, you can have your wedding in the afternoon. Or if you’ve dreamed of a brunch style menu, you can choose to have a late morning/early afternoon wedding. Having your wedding on a Sunday really gives you flexibility on time of day.
3. Religion may require it. Some religions require a marriage to either take place on a Sunday or to not interfere with certain Saturdays. So if you fall into this category, a Sunday wedding is a great option.
4. The wedding party doesn’t have to rush to get to a Friday evening rehearsal dinner. Having a Sunday wedding puts your rehearsal dinner on Saturday, which is much easier for your wedding party to attend compared to a Friday.
Sunday wedding cons:
1. Guests may need to leave early. Whether your wedding is local or destination, guests may need to leave early if it’s on a Sunday due to work the next morning or early travel plans.
2. Lower attendance. Yes, Sunday is technically part of the weekend, but since the work week starts the next day, people may have to RSVP “no” if they couldn’t get time off. If most of your guests are local, this may not affect your wedding much at all, but if the majority are traveling in from out of town, avoiding time off may not be possible.
So, is a weekday wedding right for you?
As you can see, there are pros and cons no matter what day you choose for your wedding. The best thing you can do is talk through your priorities with your partner and figure out what is most important to the two of you. For instance, if affordability is most important to you, but you still want a late-night party, a Friday wedding may be your best bet. If you want a smaller, more intimate dinner party atmosphere, a Monday-Thursday wedding is right up your ally. Or perhaps you’re having a destination wedding and your priority is making it as easy as possible for guests. In that case, a Saturday wedding is the best choice for you.
When you settle on the day that is most in line with your wedding-day wants, start reaching out to venues on Wedding Spot to see their availability so you can begin to make the wedding of your dreams a reality.
