When you plan a wedding, you have 365 days to choose from for the date. You’ve only got seven options when it comes to the day itself: Monday through Sunday. A majority of couples pick Saturday, but others decide on a weekday. If you’ve decided to plan a weekday wedding, here’s everything you should know so you can make sure it fits your definition of perfection.
Why Are Weekend Weddings So Popular?
Most couples prefer to get married on the weekend—specifically Saturday evenings. This gives guests enough time to get ready and commute, and they have their entire Sunday to recuperate. Additionally, friends and close family are more likely to attend the rehearsal dinner if you need them there since you have more wiggle room to push back the time.
Despite the pros, weekend weddings come at a higher cost, and there’s more competition for prime wedding time. This can blow your budget or add unnecessary stress as you try to find the perfect venue to say, “I do.” And as a result, some couples prefer the idea of getting married on a weekday.
Things To Note About Weekday Weddings
While weekend weddings are the most popular choice, getting married during the week is always an option. This is great if you have a highly desirable venue in mind or need to work around a tight budget. Before jumping on weekday weddings, here are a few things you should note:
- Fewer guests may show up
- You’ll need to do an evening ceremony
- Receptions don’t go as late
- Be extra gracious to guests
Keeping this information in your back pocket helps prepare you for what to expect for your weekday wedding. Some of these cons can outweigh the pros, depending on what you want. A wedding is all about finding that happy balance so you can celebrate your big day without regrets.
Fewer Guests May Show Up
Chances are, you’ll have more guests RSVP “no” to a weekday wedding than they would if it were on the weekend. People have work, school, and other responsibilities to attend to, and sometimes, squeezing in a wedding is too much. Go into things expecting this situation to arise so you don’t feel overly disappointed if many people can’t make it.
Having a long list of guests check “no” on the RSVP box can get you feeling down, but it’s nothing personal. There are many ways to deal with wedding guest rejection; take a step back and think about who you most want there. While some loved ones won’t make it, it may be disappointing, but it’ll be alright.
Bridal Tip
Jot down a list of key people and give them a call before sending out invitations or save the date announcements. Talk to them about the day you’ve planned for the wedding. As you do this, remind them how much their support means to you. This gives them plenty of time to request time off of work and keep your special day on their calendar.
You May Need To Do an Evening Ceremony
The day of the celebration also impacts ideal ceremony times. Typically, weekday weddings should occur after 6:30 p.m. so everyone has time to make it without feeling too rushed. On the other hand, a later ceremony could push back other events like cocktail hour and the reception if you follow the traditional flow of events.
Bridal Tip
Consider doing most of your photos before the ceremony, giving you more time for the reception. First looks have become more popular in recent years since couples want to see one another in full wedding attire without each guest watching their reaction.
Receptions Don’t Go Too Late
While you can party till midnight at a weekend wedding, you can’t say the same if you hold your wedding on a Sunday through Thursday—albeit Sunday is the weekend. People have to wake up early the next day for work, school, and other daily plans. Similarly, guests won’t get into the same party atmosphere that they would if it were a weekend.
Be Extra Gracious to Guests
No matter what day of the week you get married, you should behave with grace and approach each table to thank your guests. This becomes even more important at a weekday wedding, and you should strive to give everyone some extra time with you. Making it to a party after a long day of work isn’t always easy, but they did it for you. Investigate great ways to say thanks at your wedding to ensure everyone feels appreciated.
Bonuses of Weekday Weddings
Now that we’ve talked about the important things to note about weekday weddings, let’s get into all the reasons you should have one! For instance, weekday weddings:
- Are easier to book
- Usually cost less
- Are easy for destination weddings
- Feel more intimate
- Have more vendor availability
For some people, these pros outweigh the things to consider, specifically when booking their dream venue and keeping things on a budget. Below, we’ve detailed each of these points to help you decide whether a weekday wedding is worth it.
It’s Easier To Book Venues
As you begin looking around and visiting different venues, you may fall in love with one because it fits your vision. However, it’ll be harder to secure a Saturday evening since that’s prime wedding time. Sometimes, you have to schedule this several months in advance; you may need to wait years at highly desirable venues!
You have a more flexible timeline for picking any day Monday through Thursday since this isn’t a top pick for most couples. So if you want to get married right away, this is even more of a bonus.
It Costs Less Money
Securing a venue and hiring vendors is expensive any day of the week, but it’s cheaper for weekday weddings. Some vendors and venues even offer incentives to couples planning a weekday wedding to help them seal the deal. Cut costs wherever possible so you have more to spend on key areas, the honeymoon, or a down payment on a home.
You Can Make It a Destination
Destination weddings have become more popular since it’s a fun way to make your wedding more memorable. If you’ve set your heart on having a destination wedding, consider planning it during the week. Guests that come will likely already be on vacation, so they don’t have to worry about work the next morning. Planning it midweek saves you money and gives them the weekend to fly home and relax a bit before returning to work. Everyone wins in this situation!
It Can Feel More Intimate
While a shorter guest list isn’t everyone’s ideal, it does make the event feel more intimate. You’ll have the closest people in your life by your side, which means you get to spend more time with each of them. Most weddings have around 150 guests, and while this is great, you don’t get to spend quality time with each person that showed up. Also, since you’ll have fewer people at your weekday wedding, you can give everyone some attention and party with them. Everyone loves attention from the bride and groom!
Bridal Tip
There are many reasons to consider a small wedding, and if you decide to get married on a weekday, you’ll likely have a shorter guest list. But this isn’t a bad thing. Smaller weddings feel more intimate and give guests more opportunities to talk with one another. Plus, it’s easier for you to chat with each person who came to support you on such a special day.
More Vendors Are Usually Available
Sometimes, booking a wedding vendor can be as challenging as securing your dream venue. That is, if you get married at prime time—Saturday. On a weekday, you’ll have a wider selection of food vendors, photographers, florists, and other key members of your wedding team. Your odds of snagging your top picks for each vendor dramatically increase since their schedule is typically more open during the week.
Bridal Tip
If you have specific vendors in mind, talk to them before picking a weekday to ensure they work that day. Some wedding vendors only work on particular weekdays since they pour their focus into the weekend. Likewise, this could cause some issues with vendors depending on their delivery day. Reach out to any must-have vendors before setting a date to ensure they work that weekday.
Weigh All Your Options
Now that you’ve read everything you should know about planning a weekday wedding, it’s time to weigh your options. While you’ll have a shorter guest list, the event will feel intimate. And although the party won’t go as late, you have a better chance of booking your dream venue.
This isn’t a decision you can make on a whim. While you will save money by getting married on a weekday, some of your guests may not be able to make it. Decide what’s most important to you as you analyze your options. If you find yourself struggling, jot down the pros and cons you’ll encounter and organize them according to importance. If guest attendance trumps all else, you may need to reconsider the day you choose.
Do the Best of Both Worlds
If you have a hard time deciding what to do, consider getting married on a Friday or a long weekend. While this may cost more than getting married on a weekday, it’s still cheaper than Saturday, and you may still be able to beat some competition. Additionally, getting married on a Friday or long weekend means a more celebratory reception since guests have the next day to recuperate; more people are also likely to show up.
Decide what’s most important to you and what works. If you have a tight budget and prefer a small ceremony, pick a day Monday through Thursday. What matter most is that you decide on a day that works best for you and your partner, depending on your preferences. You define the perfect day, so do what makes the two of you happy.
