Labor Day Wedding? Good or Bad??

I think you would have to give people VERY early notice, because many people make plans to go away for that weekend and, as Will B Mrs B points out, travel will be much more expensive that weekend. On one hand, it's nice to hit a holiday weekend so guests don't have to take off from work, especially those who travel, but on the other hand, it's a very popular time for trips and family vacations with which your wedding could conflict. I know some people feel being invited to a wedding that weekend "usurps" their annual vacation plans, but I think in reality you just need to think about whether people will be available and whether it will be hard for them to get there.

Oh, and I think you may be under the wrong impression if you think that Labor Day is not a "huge travel weekend." It really is, especially to and from anywhere with water - coast, lake, whatever.

To me I don't think it would be a big deal..then again my family doesn't do anything spectacular for Labor day..two of my cousins have had weddings on memorial day weekend, another is this weekend (fourth of july weekend), and mine is Halloween weekend..so I 'm just kinda used to the holiday thing..anything close to Thanksgiving or Christmas (or any other religious holiday) to me would be a bigger deal.

I am getting married on saturday, May 26, which is memorial day weekend. We wanted to have it mid/late May and the only dates in May that my venue had available were the 5th and 26th. I booked the 26th without relizing it was memorial day weekend and my mom mentioned it a few days later. I dont see a problem with it if the majority of your guests are family and close friends. Because what else would everyone be doing on memorial day weekend or labor day weekend- going to gatherings with family and close friends, which is the same thing to me. So as long as you make the reception fun I dont see a problem with it.

I'm getting married labor day weekend! 9/3/11!! I think its fine as long as you send your STD's far in advance- I sent mine out in April so it gave people 5 months notice to plan. I agree with Margaret- I chose it specifically bc its a long weekend, so the out-of-towners have an extra day.

Anyone needing to stay overnight will find hotels will be more that weekend. Travel via car with traffic is also a concern if someone does not leave early enough. Other than that any three-day weekend has been very popular and everyone seems to be more relaxed. I asked guests a couple of times if they liked weddings during a three day holiday or a regular weekend and they'll pay a bit more for the hotel to be at the wedding since they do have that "extra" day to unwind! Best of luck!

Thanks for all the input, it’s really helpful.

Basically my family and the majority of our friend invites are out of town.

We live in Michigan and picked Pittsburgh because FH’s whole family is there, so it’s like 50% there, 50% traveling.

Also, we want to keep it pretty small - only like 100-125 max, so only family and close friends are on the guest list.

@ Liza, my suggestion would be book early. We booked our venue about 14 months in advance b/c I knew it would be popular. We then started booking other vendors immediately after that. Also make sure your family has advance notice to plan. For example we told our parents the date first so they could spread the word if people started to ask, we then sent STD's out the first part of January and invites went out last week. Good luck

See, here in MN, we like to go to the cabin on Memorial weekend and Labor Day weekend. For many people these are the weekend they open the cabin for the summer and the weekend they close the cabin for the season.

Labor day weekend bride right here! I think it's a great idea! Extra travel time for guests, I think save-the-dates are a must. Plus it gives people that might have been on the fence an excuse to not come--which turns into savings for you!!

SuzanneandGerald C... date twin, and province twin! woooo!

People are lying when they says it's not a big deal but no one appreciates spending their long weekend dedicated to someone else's wedding. Especially if it's on a Sunday. Just because Monday is a holiday, for some reason people naturally assume it's kosher, but no. We are going to a wedding over labor day and have done it before, it's disrespectful to say it's an inconvenience but every wedding I have been too and am going to this year over Labor day, trust me-everyone I know isn't happy and wasn't happy at the one two years ago but you suck it up if it's your family or friends, not complain and pay the extra prices for hotels etc.,since it's a holiday not to mention the last major holiday of the year. Good luck with that.

I'm def not lying lol. I'm away at school, and like this weekend for instance my cousin's wedding gives me an extra reason to go home..also that prevents me for buying two tickets or forcing me to choose just to go home for the weekend of her wedding and miss out on July 4th. different circumstances, different families, different opinions.

I was married labor day weekend, and had a great turnout and alot of the guests were happy it was a long weekend

I think it is a good idea

I think that some people are forgetting the fact that those coming to your wedding are people who love you. (That seems to happen a lot around here.) Of course a stranger wouldn't want to give up their holiday weekend to go to your wedding, but you aren't inviting strangers are you? If I had a friend or relative plan their wedding for Memorial or Labor Day weekend I wouldn't give a rats behind that it was a holiday weekend. I would be happy for the people I loved. Funny how when you love someone things aren't such a big sacrifice isn't it.

I think Annie has a good point. I love going to weddings and wouldn't feel like I was "giving up" a long weekend by having to go to one... if I know the couple getting married. The only thing is that there a few a people we are giving a plus one to who we know don't have a SO. The newish SO or friend they end up bringing might be the only people feeling like their giving up their weekend. However, it's food, drinks, and dancing. Sounds like fun to me

I would look into the Friday thing or Sunday. At my wedding everyone had to travel at least 4 hours and would have loved the extra few days to explore the city. No one had ever been there before. We were married in Lexington, KY (beautiful horse farms, distilleries and so forth..). Maybe look into fun things for guests to do to fully enjoy the entire weekend.

Another idea is if you do a Saturday night, maybe have a brunch set up for Sunday morning?

There's one other thing to consider, which is you ever want to travel for your anniversary, it will always be a peak travel weekend. Just a thought.

We just finished with a Memorial Day wedding. It worked out great because it allowed people an extra day for travel. My niece's wedding was on a Sunday afternoon (allowing for cheaper venues :-) ) It worked out great!