Which Date to Choose? Holiday Weekend Wedding Pros/Cons?

I personally hate it when someone schedules a wedding on a holiday weekend, especially if I have to travel out of town. I feel like they are "stealing" from me. I know this is selfish but I don't care. I am always busy with work during that time and can't ever travel for labor day weddings and have missed one two years in a row.

There may be guests that have prior plans such as annual family reunions or vacations during that time. For example, my family and extended family on my mom's side have an annual camping trip they have done every year since the 1970's. I would check with the people who you absolutely wouldn't want to miss your wedding, to see if they have similar events going on that weekend. If not, it sounds like an amazing weekend to celebrate a wedding since everyone would have an extra day to recover due to the long holiday weekend! :-)

My date is Aug 31 and Im just concerned with skyrocketed hotel prices. Being that my wedding will be in a smaller town, Im hoping this doesnt have to be the case.

And Kendra that was one of the perks that I thought of..., it's a holiday weekend but they would have an extra day to travel back home. Either way it goes, if some aren't able to make it, I'll understand. Besides it would help with my guest list that Im trying to minimize already.

@Precious You and I are on the same page!

You may be ok if you send out a STD now, Im sure most wont plan a labor day vacation this soon unless it would be a major destination vacation.

Con, it SUCKS. People have their holiday traditions. People travelling who feel they need an extra day will take an extra day. It's not just the people you invite to your wedding it's all the people that effects on a long weekend.

My bro got married on a holiday weekend in the summer. We always have a regata with the whole family and friends, at the cottage. This only happens once a year, it really sucked to miss it. Our friends didn't get to go cause it's our family cottage. If it had have beenmy husbands family we wouldn't have seen any of them.

If you are trying to minimize your list, it's one way to do it. But if you don't really want those people, why are you inviting them to begin with.

Other con, prices to rent cottages/hotels might cost yoru guests more depending on location

Katie, I would go for it then. I've already learned that stressing over some of the details is not worth it, and if a few extra weeks give you more breathing room then I think you found your wedding date! :-) You want the planning to be an enjoyable experience not stressful. (And if you're trying to minimize the guest list, the holiday weekend might do that without you having to actually "cut" people from your list)

I am getting married Memorial Day wknd and actually everyone is excited. They can enjoy Atlanta the whole wknd, Sunday is the wedding and Monday they can still enjoy cookouts or whatever. All of our guests are in-state except about 10, but still. At the end of the day I chose it for MYSELF. I am big on anniversaries and just knowing we will have that built in cushion (albeit not the same date every year) to celebrate with a date night or a long wknd. Anyone who cant make it, sucks for them (lol) but seriously you are always going to have someone who has other plans. I would never choose a major holiday like Christmas or Thanksgiving, but the 3 day wknds are fair game and if they are close enough to you and not merely an associate, they wont look at it as you are taking away from you doing something fun, but sharing in your day IS the something fun If you are super concerned though go ahead and send out a mass text or email to get a "feel" for the responses...

I have to reply back to the why are they on my list comment b/c they are my cousins, my aunts, uncles of which I have quite a few (40 or so total) So Yes I want them there. But it won't break my heart if they don't come b/c it will help with the budget. There is no way that I cannot invite them and if I only invited aunts/uncles then there would be a dull party without my fun cousins. So that is why minimizing the RSVPs is not seen as a bad thing.

As a guest, I would have no issues with it. It's Labor Day. It's not like it's Christmas Day. If anything, it gives me a destination to travel to and provides us with an extra day off work to do it.

Now, if it is just a cursory friend(say the daughter of a work colleague), I wouldn't go to the trouble. However, for family or close friends, we are packed and ready to go.

The cons....flights and hotels could be higher. But, if we were to go down the shore, as those who hale from Philly do, the prices to stay are high too.

Ha, I was just about to say... I wouldn't have a problem with Labor Day. A friend recently got married on Christmas Eve, and THAT I do have a problem with. Unless people are traveling from really far away (meaning, more expensive tickets), or you live in an area where hotels will be exorbitantly expensive, it's NBD.

Labor Day would not be a problem for me and most of the people I know.

I'm in Chicago so hotel prices are going to be high no matter what. I can only do what I can do, we are running into so many obstacles as it is being in this expensive town. We are very limited on available dates at this point and the guests will just have to deal with it.

I'm getting married on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. EVERYONE is travelling from out of town and so I really think this is a great time to hold everything!

I went to a Labor day wedding last year and it was awesome. I'm doing mine over Memorial day this year and some people already have plans but I haven't heard complaints. Mostly for out of town guests they think it's nice to have the extra day to travel. I am in Chicago area too.

It ALL depends on your guest list. Do the majority of the people use to go away on holiday weekend? Are they ALL local or out-of-town? Will the venue be charging you extra for that date? (yes, some do). Most of my successful events were either before or after a Holiday weekend.

I hope if helps. If you need any asistance with your upcoming wedding, please feel free to contact us directly. Have a fabulous day Andrea and AK Bridal Events staff.

Speaking as a wedding vendor, the first days to fill up are usually Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. That's a weekend you know you're going to be working at least 2 days. Because of that, many vendors, and especially venues will price themselves higher for holiday weekends, so your wedding costs go up.

One very positive aspect of a labor day weekend wedding, is that you'd be able to travel for a short trip every year on your anniversary!

People who mean the most to you will attend no matter when it is. Do you really want to spend money on a guest who is just attending your wedding on a non-holiday weekend for something to do? Having a holiday weekend wedding is one way to shorten the guest list (because some people won't let tradition or other plans go for the sake of a wedding). You get the people who really and truly want to be there. IMO, that's a pro.

My dad got married Labor Day Weekend he had 375 people show up... I mean if they want to be there they will be there, pick the day you want you feel it will be better for you then 8/31. should be your choice, go with your gut!

We Chose October 12, because it is Columbus Day Weekend and everyone traveling will have an extra day to unwind and unpack and travel.