Morgan Elizabeth Weddings More than ever we’re seeing weddings being scheduled on Fridays and Sundays… even on weekdays with the overpacked schedules as we play catch up for the next couple years from Covid. There are pro’s and con’s to any day you choose. We’re breaking down the key things to keep in mind when you choose which day to have your wedding. It’s important you discuss with your partner which day works best for you. Regardless of which day of the week you choose, keep in mind you can save money at some venues when you book an “out of season” date. We see high volumes of weddings between April to October when the weather tends to be nicer in most of the country. Shannon and Kevin are having their second wedding on a Saturday in November while Ashley and Stephen are getting married on a Friday in early October. We’ve incorporated our experiences of selecting a day into our discussion here.
Pricing is Key
Some venues and vendors offer lower pricing or minimums (venue or caterers) if the wedding takes place on a Friday or Sunday. It doesn’t hurt to ask if a vendor doesn’t advertise separate rates for weddings on Fridays or Sundays. We look at it as, you have nothing to lose by asking the question and you never know what the savings can amount to. This is for all vendors – hair and make up, photographers, rentals. Ashley was able to negotiate a slightly lower rate for her band since her wedding is on a Friday. Especially if you are being strict with your budget; ASK! ASK! ASK! Just because vendors are advertising a certain price, doesn’t mean they aren’t willing to work with you. If you don’t see the right package being offered for your vision, ask the vendor if they would be willing to create a custom package to fit your needs and budget. The one caution area is to check rates for holiday weekends. We’ve seen vendors provide a discount and others have higher fees.
Guest List
Ashley and Stephen have almost a third of their guest list traveling from out of state to attend their wedding. She figured having a Friday wedding would be nice to have more time to spend with guests while they’re in town. It also gives guests the option to fly home Saturday if they prefer. If you choose a date on either Friday or a weekday, consider mailing out your save the date cards early to allow guests time to plan time off work or book their travel accommodations. This also applies if you have a destination wedding.
Availability
The venue Ashley and Stephen fell in love with also had limited Saturdays remaining during the months they were interested in, so this helped drive their decision to have a Friday wedding. It was something they contemplated for a while. They realize local guests might not attend their ceremony if they have to work the day of the wedding. When they reviewed their guest list, they decided most of them are in positions where they have the flexibility to leave work early to make it to the ceremony. The other portion of the guest list would probably fly into town on Friday anyway for their wedding weekend regardless of which day it’s on. It might not just be the venue but your dream vendors with limited availability in their schedules. Be open minded and if your dream vendor isn’t available, ask them if they can recommend you to another person with similar style.
Location
If you’re getting married in or near a city that has a college or frequently hosts conventions or large events; keep that in mind when deciding on your wedding date. You should think about accommodations for your guests and if airfare costs maybe more expensive if you get married during let’s say, a music festival. There’s also nothing worse than your guests being glued to their phones for football updates because a big rival game is going on! We don’t want those kinds of distractions when there’s a beautiful bride walking down the aisle.
We hope we have given you a few things to consider when selecting your wedding date. While it’s not about everyone else, these are factors that could impact your day. If you have a meaningful date to you and your fiancé, go with it regardless of the day of the week. Ultimately, it’s your day so you pick which day of the week is best for you!
