Post # 1
Member
3 posts
Wannabee
Hey everyone!
So my mom suggested a Friday night wedding and I love this idea. I was reading the post here and since the last was posted over a year ago, I want to know, do you still feel this is a good idea, those that had a Friday night wedding did it go well? Would you do it again? What were some problems (if any) you ran into?
Also what about on a holiday weekend? What are your yays or nays to that idea?
Thank You for all your responses in advance!!!
Post # 3
Member
1019 posts
Bumble bee
@smueller8746: For holiday weekends, I think it depends on the holiday and your guests, and how far the wedding is. Actually, ditto that for Friday weddings, if the majority of your guests had to take the day off to go, I’d say bummer… but again, it depends. We went to a wedding last year that was on a friday (which was ALSO remembrance day).. the turn out was only soso…so I guess it depends on your guests?
Post # 4
Member
3968 posts
Honey bee
It depends. Are people traveling more than an hour to get to your wedding? What time would it start? If your ceremony is before 6 PM on a Friday, I’d be worried guests would be late.
Post # 5
Member
13251 posts
Honey Beekeeper
Local Friday weddings, maybe, if it was a good friend or family. Friday weddings that involve travel, I’d probably decline. It’s too much of a hassle to take time off, go home, change, battle traffic (which is a nightmare in my area), and be at the wedding reasonably on time for me. Holiday weekends…eh, depends on the holiday. I tend to travel on these weekends and have standing plans every year.
Post # 6
Member
2425 posts
Buzzing bee
I had a Friday night wedding and it went really well! I chose Friday to save money, and also I was HOPING it would help trim the guest list a bit because some out of town people might not be able to come. Suprisingly, we have a very high RSVP rate, most of our out of town guests were able to make it. No complaints that I heard about it either, other than my retired grandfather but I don’t count that since it’s not like he had work he had to get out of!
We chose Friday to still have a party atmosphere too, and it definitely was that! I would definitely do it over again. And the way I see it, the people who really want to be there for you will be there regardless of the day of the week, so if by choosing Friday meant some people said no, that is fine with me.
ETA: I had a 5pm ceremony, and it was packed, so it’s not like people missed it. I had a mixture of very far out of town (as in 4-6+ hours minimum) with local guests.
Post # 7
Member
289 posts
Helper bee
It saves you money, but not the guests if you’re having a mid afternoon wedding ceremony and we have to book the day off
Post # 8
Member
107 posts
Blushing bee
I had a friday wedding and loved it. Anyone who wants to be there will be there… if they don’t come because its a friday they probably aren’t that important anyway…
Post # 9
Member
107 posts
Blushing bee
We sent save the dates a year in advance and had it in the evening so people had time to get there. I’m sorry I just don’t see the big deal. We also had our wedding slightly destination for everyone (cape cod) and most guests enjoyed the rest of the weekend on the beach.
Post # 10
Member
197 posts
Blushing bee
Our wedding is on a Friday and I’m actually hoping that it helps cut down on some of the guests since we really can’t elimate anymore people from our list! The date that we chose has special meaning so changing it to make it easier on other people was really not an option!
Post # 11
Member
6394 posts
Bee Keeper
If you’re doing it to save money, be sure to check with your potential vendors. Our venue didn’t really knock that much off the price for Friday weddings.
As a guest, I would try to be there, but it would be difficult and probably make Darling Husband and I miss work, which I find a bit…inconvenient.
Post # 12
Member
632 posts
Busy bee
If anything, I’d have a Sunday wedding before a Friday night wedding. If you have a decent amount of Out of Town guests, they may not take the day off to make it to the ceremony. A friend just got married this past Sunday and turnout was good!
I’m getting married 4th of July weekend, not sure how (or if) the holiday will interfere with my turnout. I’m thinking not, but a good portion of my guests are withing an hour radius.
Another way to cut costs is to get married in the off season – for most that is winter time. A friend got married in Jan. and she said she saved a ton of money (vendors would rather book something for 1/2 the price, than not be booked at all.) Mind you, this is Iowa – where the weather makes for less common winter weddings. If you are planning getting married in Texas, winter may not be so off limits. But I see you’re from NE, so that could be worth looking into
Post # 13
Member
11418 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
I had a Friday evening wedding, 1.5 hours away from where I and my local guests reside(d), on a holiday weekend, and it was very well attended.
ETA: I should note that a very large percentage of our guests traveled at least three or four hours to attend, and several groups of other guests either flew in or drove from many states away.
Post # 14
Member
3 posts
Wannabee
Wow! Thanks for the awsome responses. We also are considering this to try and cut down on the guests.
I was thinking Memorial Day weekend. And yes most of my family is going to have to travel a bit. I figure if we send out our Save the Dates by next month that would give everyone a heads up and they could plan ahead. And if they can make it great! If not thats ok to.
I figured it might be a way to keep our wedding small, which is hard to do since I come from a big family.
Post # 15
Member
467 posts
Helper bee
My wedding’s on a Friday. It starts at 6:30. I agree with what a lot of PPs said: the people who want to be there will be (and if it weeds out a few less important people because of convenience, that was really fine with me.)
At this point, I’ve traveled all over the country for many, many weddings, which often required me taking days off from work, staying in hotels, paying for airfare, etc. I was happy to do it because the couples were important to me. So I didn’t really feel bad asking my guests to do the same.
In our case, there was a $17K difference between having our wedding on a Friday or a Saturday so…yeah. I’m totally comfortable with our decision. 🙂
Post # 16
Member
3718 posts
Sugar bee
For a Friday wedding I will need to leave work early or take the day off. Chances are, I’ll be late and tired. As a guest, I think they are very couple centered and not guest/family/friend centered.
Oh, and please leave my holiday weekends alone. It hurts when your guests choose the beach over your day. It also sucks for guests who do come– traffic is horrible and they can’t enjoy their long weekend.
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