Why You should have a Friday or Sunday (or weekday!) Wedding

You've found the perfect venue for your wedding, but unfortunately there are no more Saturdays available on their calendar. You're heartbroken, right? Don't be! Too many times couples feel that a Saturday wedding is their only choice when in truth, a Friday or Sunday (or even a Monday or Tuesday) wedding can be just as spectacular and in many ways can be beneficial over choosing a Saturday. Here are our top reasons why you should consider having a non-Saturday wedding.

You (and your guests!) can save Money

If staying on budget is important to you, moving to a day other than a Saturday can end up saving you a lot. Some venues (and other vendors) offer discounted pricing for days that are less in demand. Your guests can save money as well if they are having to travel. Airfare and hotels are typically cheaper on the weekdays when they would be arriving or leaving for your wedding.

Popular vendors might be available

Some of the most popular vendors book a year or two in advance, with Saturdays being the first days to go. Unfortunately there are only 52 Saturdays in a year, and if you're looking at a seasonal venue like ours, that number goes down even more. By not choosing to have your wedding on a Saturday, you increase the chance that a highly desired vendor will be available to work your wedding.

You can Celebrate all weekend

Your wedding day will fly by faster than you think. Before you know it the day will be over and your time together with family and friends will be over. When you decide on a Friday wedding, this opens up the rest of your weekend to spend with family and friends in ways that you might not have otherwise been able to. Out of town guests, friends and family can meet up for a back yard grill party or picnic. Maybe plan a farewell party on Sunday before heading off on your honeymoon. If choosing a Sunday wedding, this opens up the ability to utilize Friday and Saturday as family gathering days leading up to the wedding on Sunday.

Do less traditional options

Is breakfast food your thing? Sundays are the perfect day to have a brunch style wedding with waffles, orange juice and coffee. Some of the neatest wedding receptions we've been a part of involved a breakfast bar with all the works. This option is especially popular for those clients who aren't all about the drinking and dancing the night away atmosphere. Are you loving the charcuterie trend? Having a later Friday wedding with only h'dourves or a charcuterie table with a variety of meats, cheeses and fruits is a great alternative to the traditional sit down meal.

Still on the fence?

Are you concerned that no one will be able to attend your wedding if you have it on a day other than a Saturday? While its hard to say if a Friday or Sunday wedding will really affect a lot of people's ability to attend your wedding, there are a few things you can do to increase your odds for maximum attendance. First, send out save the dates approximately 6 months before your wedding. This will let your guests know well in advance when your wedding will be and allow them to mark the date off on their calendars. Even if you are planning for a Saturday wedding, this is still a good idea to do! Second, if you are planning a wedding on a Monday through Friday, choose a later ceremony time that will either allow people to still work a full day or only have to take off an hour or two early. We see many weekday weddings with a ceremony time of 5:30 or 6:00. Another option to this is to have a smaller, more intimate ceremony and invite everyone to the reception that starts around 6:30 or 7:00. You'll still have plenty of time to get all the essentials done like cutting the cake, toasts, first dances and an open dance floor. If you are planning a Sunday wedding, consider an early to mid-afternoon ceremony time. This will let church goers time to still attend service and for anyone that has to work the next day, be done celebrating with you at a decent time to get a good night's rest.

So if you find that all the Saturdays have been booked, don't get caught up on thinking that you have to have a Saturday wedding. More and more people have been starting to let go of that tradition and are embracing weddings on any day of the week. With an open mind you'll find that planning a wedding on a day other than a Saturday is actually a great idea!

Want to read more wedding tips? Check out some of our other blogs!

Choosing a Plated or Buffet Meal for your Wedding

Choosing a Wedding Planner

Finding a Wedding Photographer

Rain on Your Wedding Day

Getting Your Marriage License in Iowa