One of the first decisions couples will face when planning their wedding is choosing their wedding date. While Saturday weddings have long been the traditional choice, alternative weekend options, such as Fridays, are beginning to become more popular for several compelling reasons.
Availability of Dates
First and foremost, committing to a Friday wedding opens up an array of options for couples when it comes to choosing your preferred date.
As venues often book as far as a year to two years in advance, Saturdays trickle down in availability as bookings increase. However, Fridays tend to remain open longer, making them an excellent choice for shorter engagement or planning timelines. This allows couples to secure their dream venue and vendors without sacrificing their desired weekend or month.
For couples set on a wedding date or specific venue during peak wedding season, a Friday celebration is a great solution if you are running into reduced availability!
Feelstory Creative
Cost Savings
Another significant advantage of Friday weddings is they are simply more affordable. In fact, with our all-inclusive wedding packages, the required event minimums for a Friday date versus a Saturday are substantially reduced, saving our Friday couples thousands of dollars. Even more so, with our all-inclusive packages, your catering, bar, DJ services, and table centerpieces are included within reaching the minimum spend- freeing up some savings without compromising on quality or what you want as a couple.
Additionally, other vendors, such as photographers, videographers, and hair and makeup artists, tend to charge lower prices on Fridays as they work to fill their calendars.
With these incredible savings, couples can plan their dream wedding with less stress about the cost. The funds saved can be redirected toward other aspects of the wedding, like upgrades and additions, hosting a larger guest count, or even the honeymoon!
Feelstory Creative
Wedding Weekend Schedule
An often-overlooked reason for a Friday wedding is the opportunity it presents to host a memorable wedding weekend. Kick off the celebrations with a Friday evening ceremony and reception, leaving Saturday open for a relaxing brunch or more festivities. The extra time on Saturday and Sunday gives you and your guests time to relax and unwind after the celebrations, as well as allowing for ample travel time, extending the weekend, and making it a fully rounded event.
Some additional inspiration for wedding weekend ideas include:
- Welcome bags for your guests
- Friday post-wedding after-party
- Saturday morning coffee bar and brunch
- Sunday or Saturday spa day
With the whole weekend ahead of you, the opportunities for more time with your guests and family are endless!
Feelstory Creative Photography
Considering Your Guests
Because Friday is a workday and the start of the weekend, external factors might affect your guests’ ability to attend the wedding. However, there are some things you can do as a couple to help ensure your guests’ presence on your special day.
Send out “Save the Dates” far in advance.
Due to your guests needing to arrange travel plans and encountering possible traffic to attend a weekday wedding, it is helpful if they have the event details as far in advance as possible.
For your Friday wedding, consider sending out “Save the Dates” with the ceremony start time included at least 6-8 months out so that guests can begin thinking about the logistics behind attending.
Later start time.
Another way to make your Friday wedding more accommodating for your guests is to have a later start time than typical. If your ceremony is the first part of the timeline for your wedding, we recommend a 6:30pm or 7:00pm start time to give your guests a bit more time in their day to get to the wedding venue on time. With Saturday to recover, pushing the party a little later into the evening works well.
As you plan your big day as a couple, consider the specific advantages unique to your Friday wedding. Whether you envision a lavish affair or an intimate gathering, it allows you to plan your dream day with less stress and more excitement about you can make the whole weekend memorable.
Ready to explore your Friday wedding options? Contact us today to plan the perfect Friday wedding tailored to your vision.
