While Saturday is the most traditional day to tie the knot, planning a Friday or Sunday wedding instead is an increasingly popular option. However, it’s best to know the pros and cons before you book. This budget-friendly option appeals to some couples, but others may find it more logistically troublesome than expected. As a wedding stationery designer, we’ve seen it all, and we’ve got all the details you need to know before making your choice!

Pros of a Friday or Sunday Wedding

More Affordable

Finances are typically the primary reason couples plan a Friday or Sunday wedding instead of a Saturday affair. Most venues charge less to book one of these days, even in peak season. So, you can reallocate funds you would have spent on your venue elsewhere—think showstopping flowers or an ultraluxe honeymoon! Or, you can pocket that cash and save it for a future investment.

More Vendor Options

If you’ve already begun wedding planning, you know the best vendors’ Saturdays go fast. But if you plan a Friday or Sunday wedding, you may not have to settle for vendors whose work isn’t your favorite. Many will likely have most Fridays and Sundays available. So, you can build your vendor dream team, all for a lower price!

Celebrate All Weekend

Who says the wedding festivities should have to end after just one day? If you plan a Friday wedding, you can make the most of your special weekend (and your VIP’s presence in town!) by hosting a post-wedding brunch or after-party on Saturday. Alternatively, you can jet off to your honeymoon to continue celebrating together in a more private and romantic setting. 

Gift Your Guests a Mini-Vacay

Hosting a Friday or Sunday wedding gives your guests the option to take a day off of work and enjoy an extended weekend. Many of your VIPs will appreciate the option to do this, especially if you’re getting married in a destination! That way, they can make the most of their travel instead of driving or flying to attend an event on Saturday and turning right around to return to work on Monday.

A Relaxed Vibe 

Friday or Sunday weddings naturally have a more relaxed vibe, especially Sunday affairs. I love it when couples choose to buck tradition and host a mid-morning ceremony followed by brunch instead of an evening event. For many, the more laidback nature of an event at that time of day helps diffuse the pre-wedding nerves. In addition, starting and wrapping up the festivities earlier is a courtesy to out-of-town guests.

Cons of a Friday or Sunday Wedding

Difficult to Attend

The flip side of needing to take off work to attend a Friday or Sunday wedding is that it can make it difficult for some guests to attend. Not everyone can afford to take that extra vacation day. So, you may find more of your VIPs send their regrets than you originally anticipated. This can be a letdown for both them and you!

Difficult to Find a Venue

While not true of all, some venues opt out of Friday and Sunday weddings entirely and only host Saturday events. Accordingly, you may deal with a narrowed search field or be unable to book your top choice. Likewise, some wedding vendors only offer their Saturdays. Depending on the policies of vendors in your area, you may also find your options limited there.

More Planning

Planning a Friday or Sunday wedding often requires going the extra mile to ensure a pleasant experience for your guests (more on that in a bit!). Those additional steps may not bother a couple who intend to work with a professional planner. However, if you’re taking the DIY approach, you may find it burdensome to work through the logistics of planning a wedding on a shoulder day.

More Traffic

Since Friday is a work day, your guests may encounter more traffic. You may want to weigh this factor heavily if you know that most of your guests will drive themselves or Uber to your event (i.e., you and your partner don’t plan to provide professional transportation). 

Limited Set-Up and Teardown Time

Even venues that offer Friday and Sunday bookings will likely give you less time to set up and tear down your decor. This is particularly true of Friday weddings since the venue needs to prepare for the event the day after yours. Accordingly, you may need to scale back your decor vision, which can be a dealbreaker for some couples.

Difficult to Have a Religious Ceremony

You and your partner may have difficulty planning a Sunday wedding if you want to hold your ceremony in a church. If the building has Sunday morning services, your event cannot start until after they’ve concluded. This factor will also limit your set-up time. 

STATIONERY DESIGNER’S TIP: If the pros of planning a Friday or Sunday wedding outweigh the cons, keep this tip in mind! As a stationery designer, I work with my couples to ensure their invitations reach their guests on time. For those hosting their wedding on a Friday or Sunday, sending invitations slightly early (8-10 weeks in advance) is best since guests may need to call off more days at work. 

Tips for Increasing Attendance at Your Friday or Sunday Wedding

Going the extra mile to be considerate to your guests can increase attendance at your Friday or Sunday wedding. Here are my top tips!

Schedule an Early Ceremony

If planning a Sunday wedding, consider scheduling your ceremony in the morning so the festivities wrap up by mid-late afternoon. That way, your guests can leave earlier if need be and avoid taking an extra day off of work. 

Provide Transportation

Reduce stress for your out-of-town guests by providing professional transportation to and from your event. In addition, if some (or most) of your guests will fly, consider providing transportation from the airport to the hotel. Doing this won’t only provide a less stressful experience for your guests. It will also cut down on their travel costs by eliminating the need to book an Uber or rent a vehicle. 

Host a Brunch or Lunch Reception

This tip goes hand-in-hand with tip #1! If your ceremony will occur earlier in the day, hosting a brunch or lunch reception is preferable to waiting until the evening to continue celebrating. I love this option because it allows you to have a lot of fun selecting the menu! Consider serving elevated brunch favorites or a selection of gourmet soups, salads, and sandwiches. 

There’s no doubt that planning a Friday or Sunday wedding is a great option for couples on a budget! I advise tying the knot on one of these days if finances are a top consideration. However, given the potential for traffic and shortened set-up and teardown times on those days, a Saturday wedding is still the sanity-saving choice for those who can afford it.

Head to our blog for more tips to see you through your planning journey, from our guide to guest dress codes to tips for designing a meaningful wedding ceremony!

Vendors:

Stationery: Turnage + Watts

Venue: Pleasant Hill House

Design and Flowers: Arrow Bella Weddings

Hair: Jordan with Arrow Bella Beauty

Makeup: Taylor with Arrow Bella Beauty

Dress Rental: Raw + Golden Rentals

Decor Rentals: Arrow Bella Weddings

Models: Hayden + Casey

Linens: BBJ La Tavola

Photographers: Isabel Bracho Photography; Camley Images; C.Cole Photography; Anna Romani Photography