Christmas eve

I agree Holly. And maybe the DJ really needed the business but I assume the DJ would rather take the 23rd over the 24th.

ETA- clarity

Also, the 23rd is a Friday, most people take that day off for the holiday weekend. I bet you would have a better turn out if you switched it to the day before Christmas Eve.

I would totally do this for family and love every minute of it. However, I wouldn't with 200 people in attendance. Christmas Eve, for me, has always been a family night. When I was little it was the night we opened presents, snacks, etc... So for a small, intimate, family gathering with maybe your best friend, yes. To leave my family to go get lost on Christmas Eve in 200 person affair, no.

FH and I have a lot of Family commitments/traditions on Christmas Eve. We would have to decline an invitation for a wedding that day.

He flys home the 23rd that option was already considered

Again, consider December 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30.

How do you plan on obtaining a marriage license? I'm not an expert and have no idea where you live but there's usually a waiting period and you would both have to be there. Could be different for people in your situation, but just fair warning.

I would still highly suggest you move the date and keep it small.

The 26th sucks too. I'm hungover and I'm going back for leftovers.

We got married last year on 12/12 (the busiest night of the year for holiday parties). We invited 140 had ~70 in attendance. That was a perfect number for us and didn't feel small. But, the reception space we booked was a smaller room - not a huge banquet hall. You need to prepare yourself that it will be a small wedding, with a lot of declines. Even from people who said they were coming, you will have no shows. Pretty much everyone does. If you are ok with that, there is nothing left to discuss. ETA you really need to check with your county clerk to confirm if there if a waiting period for your marriage license and as Celia mentioned they will even be open to issue one. No license. No marriage.

Are your guest list Christians?

I was raised Jewish, and it was practically a tradition in one branch of the family to marry around Christmas or Easter, which we loved simply because it was something fun to do while everything was closed and all our friends were occupied with family celebrations. Plus they usually worked with Kosher caterers and had the weddings at shuls and JCCs, and so used vendors whose prices weren't affected by the holidays. If you have a guest list composed of people accustomed to their own traditions on Christmas, you may get more declines.

Holy shit. I feel like my 75 person affair is minuscule if 200 is small. I'm going to guess Lauren is pretty young and has a lot of friends from high school and such. Just don't let your heart be broken when over half can't show. Or do a very early wedding

I don't think a lot of people will show, maybe just your close friends and family. Plus, the people who do show up may leave early, due to it being Christmas Eve. Sorry..

I'll tell my sad birthday story, because I like to tell it.

When I was eight, no one showed up to my birthday party (Dec 27). We invited like, 30 girls and no one showed up. Everyone was super into it beforehand, but by the time came around they STILL were doing Christmas stuff with the family. Because, yes Christmas is ONE day but the Holidays aren't. If my husband and I are traveling for something, we don't want it to be a one day thing so it's not like people are just showing up Christmas morning. Also any OOT guests are screwed because they just don't get a Christmas this year... And flights are expensive.

Sorry, as someone who has grown up with an important date around Christmas, I KNOW that it trumps everything. So, just prepare for that.

200 invites is HUGE. I would just say prepare yourself for a lot of declines.

@Swin. My FH's birthday is 10 days before Christmas and it gets forgotten every year. It breaks my heart so I always start reminding people about it in November. Your birthday story just made me sad.

@Swin - Christmas babies unite! I'm Dec 28th!