Friday vs Saturday weddings

Friday wedding here too. Saturday would have been great, but so far I have saved about $3k. I asked my bridal party before I asked them to be in the wedding as well as my VIPs. I am sending out my save the dates *today!!!* so everyone has enough time to plan ahead - take off work and travel for those who are out of town.

Saturday is ideal, but Friday will still have the "party" atmosphere we wanted and savings we needed. Just be okay with late and declines.

We're doing Friday, it was so much more affordable. We spread word QUICKLY to our VIP's about this so they knew, and we're starting the ceremony at 6:30 to give people as much time as possible to get there. I've been a guest to Friday weddings, and while i was a little rushed to attend after work, I really loved getting the whole weekend to recover.

I don't mind as much but yeah having to take a vacation day is not ideal but I'd still make it if I wanted to attend.

I have never been to a Friday wedding, but if I was invited to one I would prefer that it started around 6:30 or 7. It would be difficult to get to anything earlier, and I'm sorry but unless you're my best friend or family I don't want to have to take off work just to go to your wedding. I don't have tons of vacation days laying around.

Were doing Friday. I was worried about people having to take off work but people assured me that they would actually love an excuse to take off a Friday! Or even half day if they're local.

Saturday is best, with cost aside, but if it were me, I'd still show up. I just know less people would though.

We're doing Friday, due to availability and guest counts. But something my aunt suggested was to have it early enough so people would be more likely to take a half day or full day off, in order to ensure everyone will have an easier time. With plenty of notice, it shouldn't be an issue. Plus, it gives everyone a day to recover plus have a day for themselves prior to returning to work too. So their whole weekend isn't taken up by our wedding.

We are doing a Friday. It's OOT for everyone (about 1.5-3 hours depending on person). We spoke to our VIPs and they were more than happy to take the day off of work for it. We saved $1000 on the venue alone!

We chose Friday because we loved the date. Plus everyone loves Friday! TGIF you know?

Also that gives people a day extra to their weekend. We sent invites early so people had lots of time to request time off.

@FutureMrsLevchuk, if you have it earlier, be prepared for people to miss the ceremony. Not everyone can take off. I missed an afternoon church ceremony and only made it to the reception because I ran out of vacation days for the year and the wedding was in December.

@Jaclyn did you go to regina by any chance??? lol.

I was going to have a Saturday wedding, but like you said the prices were WAY cheaper to do it on Friday. So that's what I am doing. - Just have it later in the day. like 6PM.

It's also a know your crowd kind of thing, if 80% of your guest list is close friends and family, you shouldn't have an issue because a lot of them will take off just to see you. - Just give them plenty of notice.

@FutureMrsPribula .. I did not, but a lot of my good friends went there!

We had a Friday wedding for a few reasons, including cost and availability of venue and vendors since we planned it all in about five months! We spoke with our family and closest friends before scheduling to ensure Friday wouldn't be an issue for them. If you have your wedding on a Friday, try to do it late enough to accommodate people's work schedules. We started at 6:30 so even if someone had to work during the day, they could get home, change and get to the wedding in time. I had a friend who got married on a Friday a few weeks before I did, with ceremony starting at 3:00 located at least an hour away for most guests. Her reception didn't start until 7:00, but it still rubbed me the wrong way.

We do Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays pretty much every weekend in season. The pricing on a slightly off day is much more reasonable for just as great a party. The minimums are always less. I have not seen a noticeable decline in the people who accept (because I ask), and they are terrific events. People go out every night of the week, don't they?

I'm sorry, if a VIP can't take a half day of work to be at your wedding? That's on them. Presumably, you're inviting people who are important to you (that's another thread...the bloated guest list thread) and being at your wedding is a priority. If it's not? They say no.

In my area, there is also the question of availability. Many of our venues are way booked for most of 2018 already (don't forget; there are other events besides weddings; bar/bat mitzvahs, graduations, sweet 16's/quincieras (sp, sorry), retirement parties...all of them vie for space.

I DO tell people in my area (NYC/NJ) to let their guests know that they will encounter traffic on a Friday; traffic that is unparalled to almost anywhere in the country besides DC. Some of my couples choose to have their cocktail hour first, which I think is a splendid idea.

The venues where we do the most Fridays both start at 5:30. Isn't an issue.

As you stated, as a guest it is inconvenient to go to a Friday wedding when dealing with time off of work. It is up to you but if you have a Friday wedding, make sure it is later to help guests not have to rush as much. I remember I had a 5:00 PM Friday wedding at the beginning of the summer that had be driving through Philly which would have been a nightmare with traffic so I had to use a vacation day

I was adamant about having a Saturday wedding when we first started planning, because I didn't want to make people take off. Then we went to venues and had sticker shock like crazy! It was $46 different per person between Saturday night and Sunday, over $10,000 in total savings with our guest list. A lot of family is local enough that they can go home after the wedding if they want to. The plan right now is for it to be over by 10 (may still shift earlier since we can decide what time).

We didn't want to do Friday because that meant rehearsal dinner was Thursday night and out of town bridal party members would have to take two days off for that. I know it may mean a few people won't be able to take off but most people coming from out of town are far enough away they would likely have taken a day off anyway for travel.

I would highly recommend looking into Sunday because for us it was even less expensive than Friday night was and we got to pick anytime that day (guess it would depend on your venue though if they let you choose). You also then have Saturday to get your nails done, relax, maybe get a massage .

Also any friends and family I've talked to about my wedding I've told that it's Sunday and they have said it makes no difference to them (and said it aggressively enough that I don't think they're just saying that!)

I really don't like Friday or Sunday weddings. I completely understand the cost benefit, but I always see it as a bit of a pain - especially since I live quite a drive from my friends it requires a full day off from work in order to make it there.

If cost is an issue - perhaps an off season month? We're getting married in march which is about 30% cheaper than 2 weeks later in April.

Consider your guests and talk with VIPs. If most of your guest have the freedom to take the day off the great. If not it may be a deterrent for some. Also consider your rehearsal, does this mean your bridal party will have to take Thursday off as well??

@Jaclyn I knew it!! lol pretty sure were friends on facebook, don't know how but we are. lmao!