Getting Married on a Holiday

Good luck! A lot of vendors either wont work the holidays, or they charge a crap ton more!

Some people will be less than sensitive about it, but holiday weddings are going to be polarizing no matter how well you spin it. Some people will think it's awesome--extra time off work to travel without burning leave, exiting party to go to, long weekend in an interesting place they might not otherwise see--and some people will find it incredibly inconvenient--traveling is more expensive, they might have to miss family events or traditions, etc.

Keep your chin up and repeat over and over: "We'd love to see you at the wedding, but we will understand if the holiday travel doesn't work for you. We had hoped it would make it a little easier for most of our guests, but we knew that it might be a little harder for some too. I'm sorry you seem to be in the latter category."

We work every holiday. Always have.

I have not seen an increase in cost with our vendors. I guess we are just lucky in that regard. @MS4 I will have to remember that statement! It's a good one!

We are having ours over labour day weekend. I was concerned at first. Until fh blatantly spelled it out for me in terms that clicked. Basically, if anyone we invite cannot be thrilled to give up 1 single labour day weekend to help us celebrate our wedding, then, they likely shouldn't have been invited in the first place! Kind of weeds out the guest list! Works in your favour!

Amanda - I have to disagree with your FI. A person's friendship and loyalty does not depend on whether or not they attend your wedding. It is defined by a long standing relationship and what that relationship was prior to you setting your wedding date.

In our family the 4th of July is out of the question. I have 2 BIL/SIL who have standing vacation plans that week, and I have standing annual camping plans with my grown daughters and grandchildren that week. When our DDs were setting wedding dates they knew if they wanted those aunts and uncles to attend, they shouldn't choose the week of the 4th of July.

It will work for some people and not for others. As long as it works for your VIPs that is what matters. I am a rock solid loyal friend and will always be there for those I care about - when they are sick or heartbroken, when they are mourning, when they need to hide a body, when their spouse or parent or child is in the hospital fighting for their life. Those are what make a person a loyal friend, not whether or not they gave up a holiday weekend for your wedding.

I will attend local holiday weddings as long as they aren't the week of the 4th of July. I don't travel for them because flights and hotels skyrocket on holidays (well I would for a niece/nephew, but that is about it).

I think the important thing is to be very gracious about those who decline. When you choose a holiday, you need to realize people might not attend and that is ok. It is an invitation, not a summons. Invite graciously, accept declines graciously.

I did if you count Valentines Day.

We have chosen to get married on OCT 13 2017 which is the friday after the Canadian Thanksgiving monday (oct 9th). AND we are doing a destination wedding. I am hoping that because it is a DW, and because the wedding itself is not actually on the holiday weekend, our guests will have the choice, of using the holiday weekend as part of their week in mexico, or not (i.e. they could leave for mexico on the holiday Sunday/Monday... or they could wait and leave for mexico on the Thursday before the wedding). I'm sure there will still be a few guests who can not accommodate our wedding due to the holiday, but it is, what it is. I tend to agree that if they really want to be there, they will.

I'm getting married the day before you and my main reasoning was that it's a federal holiday this year. I also entertained the idea of getting married on July 4th and I got no push back from family or close friends. Also, about 25% of my guests are Muslim and likely 3 or 4 participate in Ramadan, this year July 3 is during Ramadan. My guests that are very excited to come will work around it and those that are unable to, we'll miss them, but we'll live :-).

We do holiday weddings all the time. They all seem well attended. A lot of people like them because they often don't have to get up early for work the next day.

I actually wanted to get married on July 4th because I love the holiday and wanted it to be our anniversary too. FH doesn't feel the same way so we went with the next best option. Although they have advantages and disadvantages, holiday weddings don't seem to be a problem for my circle. This year we will be guests at weddings on both Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends (local) and last year we traveled for weddings on Easter weekend and Columbus Day weekend. A lot of friends gave the Easter couple a hard time, but they and their family don't celebrate Easter so she honestly thought it would be easier for people to come. I think she was wrong, but we still made it because it was important to me for us to be there.

We are getting married over Labor Day weekend. All of my family is from NY- and we're in NC.. so I thought it was actually more convenient for them to have an extra day to travel.

We haven't gotten any flack over it, YET!

Mine is also on the fourth and alot of my friends and family plus my vendors think it's unique day to have it on but then again I live in a small town and my family always love when there's a party lol

I agree with Amanda; giving up one day of a family vacation or one 4th; isn't that family going to be at the wedding, and if not, isn't the wedding for someone you care about? A wedding is a once in a lifetime (ideally) event. If someone can't give up one holiday, then maybe they shouldn't be invited.

Which brings us back to that ever popular discussion.....why do weddings have to include every person in the couples most distant orbit?

Labor Day weekend here. There's been a few questions/pushback about it from family/friends ...but, I really don't give a crap. That weekend is special to FH and I. If it's a problem for anyone else, they don't need to come to my wedding.

@Amanda, that is my thinking exactly!

Hotels/flights are significantly more expensive

We are getting married on May 22 2016 which in Canada that is Victoria Day Weekend thankfully most people don't have to fly down. But I still feel that if its important to the people we invited then they will come for it.

I'd second the hotel/flight thing. Doing anything on the Jersey shore in the summer means more money, on a holiday weekend, no one will be able to find a hotel for one night.

All this begin said, Jelee made a good point that I took in a different way; there are many valid reasons that people say no to coming to weddings; finances, lack of childcare, difficulty in work schedules, illness. But to me, just saying no because you'd rather go camping like you do every single year isn't one of them. But that's me.

I went to a wedding last year on July 5th. I really enjoyed myself. I toned it down for the 4th and went to bed a semi-decent time and then had the wedding and reception the next day. It didn't really interfere with anything.

The only thing I could see being a problem is if someone has something they do every year on that day (like some people have a standing campsite for Labor Day weekend) and that they would be frustrated to break/change plans.

However, I agree with the poster that said something to the affect of... If they can't be bothered to come to your wedding on a holiday then you probably don't want them there anyway