What Day of the Week Should Your Wedding Be On?
One of the first choices you make when planning your wedding is choosing the date. You might know what season you want, or maybe the month, or perhaps an exact date. But have you thought about the day of the week?
What is the best day of the week to get married? Does your wedding have to be on a Saturday? Should you have a Friday wedding? Can you have a Sunday wedding?
The day of the week might not seem like a big deal, but there are some considerations that might affect which day is best for your wedding. When choosing a wedding date, use this guide to help you weigh the pros and cons of different days!
Emily Paulson Photography
Do guests expect your wedding to be on a Saturday?
Traditionally, they might! While Saturdays are definitely the most popular day for weddings, you can host your wedding on any day of the week. As with any wedding decisions you make, it’s YOUR day so make the choice that feels right for you. HappiLily Events has planned weddings with our couples on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, a few Sundays, and even a Wednesday!
Here’s how to decide if a non-Saturday wedding is right for you:
Thinking of a Friday wedding?
Friday celebrations are becoming increasingly popular, and we have to say they are actually our favorite choice for a wedding day!
Pros of a Friday wedding:
Can be more affordable: Depending on your venue, Friday weddings may be less expensive than Saturday weddings. Certain venues have lower rental rates because Fridays tend to be less popular than Saturdays. If they provide in-house catering (such as at hotels and golf courses), your food & beverage minimum may also be lower.
Note that for other vendors (like photographers, planners, florists, etc), rates usually do not change based on the day of the week because you are paying for their time and experience rather than just a space.
More venue availability: Because Fridays are a less popular day, venues may have more available dates to choose from. This provides the opportunity to book a more popular venue that has no Saturdays left.
More relaxed atmosphere: For some, Friday weddings can feel more relaxed than Saturday weddings. Everyone can let loose after work and start their weekend with a great party!
And, of course, a longer weekend: A Friday wedding gives you the whole weekend to continue celebrating with your guests (perhaps a day-after gift opening or brunch, or a Saturday afternoon/evening day trip, river cruise, or sporting event). Or, you might prefer to spend Saturday and Sunday relaxing from your wild Friday night and enjoying being newlyweds!
Cons of a Friday wedding:
Inevitably, a Friday wedding may be less convenient for some guests: Friday weddings can sometimes be less convenient for those who have to take off work or those who have to travel. That said, a lot of people look forward to weddings as a mini vacation and will happily take off work.
Less time to celebrate on the day of: Friday weddings typically begin later in the day, with ceremonies often scheduled for 5:00 PM. This allows guests more time to travel, even though it may mean a later start to dinner and less time for dancing.
Emily Paulson Photography
If you are planning a Friday wedding (or planning your wedding on any weekday!), follow these 2 tips so your guests have the best experience:
Send out save-the-dates early (at least 8-10 months in advance, rather than the traditional 6-8 months). This will give your guests plenty of time to make travel arrangements and request time off work if needed.
Plan some activities for guests to do on Saturday! This could be a hosted brunch, a casual “hop in and say hello” gathering at a brewery, or provide a list of go-to spots in town for guests to explore on their own.
What about a Sunday wedding?
Sundays are also becoming a more common choice of wedding day. This may be due to venue availability – with venues booking out so far in advance, if you have your heart set on a certain venue or season, you may have to choose a Sunday. Nothing wrong with that!
Pros of a Sunday wedding:
Can be more affordable: Just like Fridays, Sunday weddings are less popular than the favored Saturday celebration, which often means a slightly lower venue rental cost.
More prep time: If you or your immediate family have a demanding job that would make it difficult to take time off of work before your wedding (say you have to work a full Friday), having an extra day before the wedding gives you additional time to prepare and to relax before the festivities!
More available vendors: As Sunday weddings are less popular than Fridays and Saturdays, there are often more vendors still available. This can give you more options when it comes to finding your photographer, caterer, florist, and other vendors.
Cons of a Sunday wedding:
Sundays can also be less convenient for guests: For any out-of-towners, they may be forced to take work off the following Monday to travel back home. You might also notice during your Sunday wedding that some guests may leave the celebration early if they have to go to work the next day.
Shortened reception time: Depending on your venue, many have shorter rental times on Sundays (typically not allowing your celebration to go as late), or they may have to adhere to a city noise ordinance requiring an early end to music and dancing.
Can you have your wedding on a different day of the week? Absolutely!
Weekdays are the least expensive for venue rentals, and they are often a choice for couples who want to get married on a specific date. Of course, fewer guests may be able to attend or you’ll notice they depart earlier in the night, but if the date is special to you, do it! Darcy and Isaiah, a 2021 HappiLily couple, chose their wedding date to be on their 10th dating anniversary and nearly all 150 guests came to party and stayed the whole night!
So what day of the week is best for a wedding?
There’s really no “right” answer — what day you choose depends on your preference, venue availability, and sometimes pricing.
Whether you want to host your wedding on a Friday, a Sunday, or a Tuesday, choosing the day and date that make YOU happy will ensure your wedding is everything you’ve dreamed of. Ultimately, no matter which day of the week your wedding falls on, your closest friends and family will make accommodations to attend your wedding and celebrate with you.
Emily Paulson Photography
Ready to plan your wedding?
From finding your dream venue and vendor team to creating the perfect timeline and wrapping up all the little details, HappiLily Events will make your planning process as fun as it is easy.
The Wednesday Wedding Crew at the Hutton House // Emily Paulson Photography
