Friday Wedding

Friday is cheaper, but not everyone may be able to get off work so you may have more declines.

I'm having a Friday wedding and it's saving us a lot of money on the reception, it makes a venue affordable that we maybe could not have had otherwise. The con is that some people work and can't get there right away, but my thought is that the people closest to you will be there and figure it out. Ours is also over the holidays when a lot of people are already off, which makes it easier. if you do a Friday in the summer a lot of people have flexible hours then and can leave early. Like I said, the people who you need to be there will be there. If a few cant make it until cocktail hour, we would understand that too. Another pro is you have more of the weekend to spend time with people who have come in from out of town before they have to head back.

There is a cost benefit. But like PP stated, the guest response may be an issue.

When you think of your guest list, would this day work for them. For me my wedding is on a Thursday because most of my guest are performers and that is the best date for FH and them, and the savings I am receiving is icing on the cake.

FH and I chose a Thursday so we could avoid many of the imposed food and drink minimums that were out of our budget.

Pro: Much cheaper

Con: Out of town people may not be able to make it if they can't get more than one day off (fly out Thursday for a Friday wedding). Local guests may have difficulty getting to a ceremony on time due to traffic and work schedule.

I'm having a Friday wedding and it's not any cheaper than a Saturday would be. My vendors, and all of the other vendors around me, have packages that are priced the same no matter what day of the week it is.

Just want to make sure you're aware that the cost isn't necessarily less.

ETA: we chose Friday vs Saturday because we're getting married in the Catholic Church. If we got married on Saturday it'd have to start around 1pm. On Friday, we got to choose any time after 3 to start.

Sometimes Friday weddings cost less, but sometimes they don't. I haven't gotten a discount for having a Sunday wedding for anything except for the venue. I'm also having a brunch, so that's cheaper than dinner would be, but it's not because it's a Sunday. Friday weddings also mean that you'll probably have fewer people attending. That can be both a pro and a con because fewer people means less money spent on feeding them. So it's possible that you could save money by having a Friday wedding, but there's no guarantee.

Pro: can be less expensive

Con: might make for higher declines for those that have to work on Friday, or they'll be late. Also some declines if it is a destination wedding for some.

I'm not against them (I'm a Thursday wedding) but if you're considering it, try looking at dates surrounding a holiday weekend (might also make for higher declines) but at least folks could make a vacation out of it (I'm Memorial Day weekend).

Agree with Pro: Less Expensive

Con: If you're not allowing kids at your wedding, it's harder to find babysitters (at least it was for us).

Also, people may not be able to take off work to attend your wedding.

My wedding is not less because it's a Friday.

Certainly would have been a LITTLE easier on Saturday- and I know I'm causing some people grief for travel on a Friday- but it is what it is- deposits paid.

Some people won't be able to make it- or will be late- because taking off work and or travelling requires days off.

Upside- you don't lose your weekend after the wedding.

Some times it costs less- sometimes not.

Friday weddings are known for being cheaper but because they are starting to become the norm, sometimes there's no difference in price or it's minuscule.

I would say that a con to a Friday wedding is that people won't be able to make it/have to take off/get ready after working all day to come. Pro: It doesn't take up everyone's weekend.

Saturday: Guests have time to prepare for the day because they have off and probably won't be as tired at the reception and you can have it earlier or later.

Pro: Friday & Sunday weddings at our venue was over a 10K difference. So obviously costs in our case.

Con: Friday weddings will usually require people to take at least that day off, if not more, especially if it's a DW.

Pro: You may save money

Cons: Not everyone can make it. Guests may not be able to attend the ceremony and may only be there for the reception.

Pro: we are saving money on our venue.

Con: some people may not be able to make it right away. That's why we are putting on our RSVPS an option for checking attending both the ceremony and reception or just reception.

Pros: it might cost less, you have 2 days to recover (as will your guests), many out of town guests take off Friday anyway, so this makes no difference to them, but gives them an extra day in town to do other things

Cons: some people won't be able to leave work early to come, you will likely need 2 days off work before to get things finalized, and out of town people can not red eye it to avoid the day off.

I strongly encourage as late as possible start time, we are starting at 6, and my brothers, mom, dad and SM and FH sister and parents will all be there about 4 for photos and the ceremony. FSIL can not be there until about 5, so we will be waiting on her, and a few last photos. The rest of our guests are due at 6 for cocktails and 7 for dinner, we have gotten a lot of yes'

Im having a friday wedding, it late soo everyone can make it, we go a lot of extras put in cause its Friday...

I think this depends largely whether you have a large number of guests traveling and where the wedding is held.

For instance, if everyone is relatively local (driving distance within 3 hours or so) then I can easily see a lot more late guests or declines from people not willing or able to take off of work. A wedding in your hometown that guests have to travel to? Possibly even more declines due to not only getting time off of work, but travel expenses too. Destination wedding in a vacation hotspot? I would expect a higher attendance (but along DW guidelines, still probably lower than a local wedding) due to people being more willing to take more time off work and use the wedding as a chance to take a vacation or mini vacation.

Either way, I think you're more likely to encounter more declines, but you never know!

I'm having a Friday Wedding