How to Plan a Friday or Sunday Wedding

While getting married on a Saturday may be the norm, it isn't the only day of the week you can tie the knot. Friday and Sunday weddings are also common for couples to say "I do." Whether your dream venue is booked every Saturday from now until next year, a different night better fits your schedule, or you can get a better rate booking a Friday wedding, there are all sorts of reasons to host your ceremony on a different day of the weekend. However, this little twist in scheduling does mean you'll need to plan accordingly.

Hosting a Friday wedding or Sunday celebration is more accepted than you might think. "To all couples wondering if you have to host your event on a Saturday, the short answer is no," emphasizes Sunna Yassin, owner of Bash Please. She notes that many guests will already be factoring in extra time for your wedding and can make a different weekend day work. "In modern times, most couples getting married are rarely from the same hometown or college, therefore their friends and family tend to be traveling somewhere for the big day. This is what we technically label a destination wedding. Most often, guests will need to take a day or two off of work, so you can rest easy making plans with that in mind."

If you think you might want to host a wedding on a Friday or Sunday, there are a few key factors to consider. Ahead, our wedding planning experts give insight why you might want to be flexible with your wedding date.

Availability

One reason why you might choose a Friday wedding is due to your venue's availability. Fridays and Sundays are usually less popular and can sneak you your dream spot sooner. "If you're looking at a date in prime wedding season, you might find your favorite venues are booked over a year out for Saturday nights," Book says. "Shifting your focus to a Friday or Sunday can really open up your options." With such high demand for prime nights, venues have the luxury of charging a premium for Saturday nights in the high season, while less popular Fridays and Sundays can often come with a shorter wait.

Price

If you want to cut down on your wedding budget, choosing a less in-demand day of the week may help. "With some venues or hotels, you will also find more competitive rates being offered for a non-Saturday wedding," shares Yassin. However, Book advises, "Friday or Sunday weddings can save you some money, but it's important to go through all the numbers," Book advises. "Your venue may offer a reduced fee, including a lower minimum for things like food and beverages. This is a selling point only if it's in your favor."

Book explains that a reduced minimum helps only if your guest count helps you meet—but not drastically exceed—the minimum. "For example, if the normal minimum is $20,000 and the per-person price is $150, 200 guests would cost $30,000—way over the venue's minimum, whether or not they lower it for an off day. However, if you have 100 guests (a count that wouldn't meet the full-price minimum) and the venue will reduce the minimum to $15,000 for a Friday or a Sunday with the same per-person price, you're meeting the minimum exactly and you've just saved $5,000."

Key Vendors

While your venue may be willing to negotiate in order to make a profit on multiple events on the same weekend, be warned that your wedding vendor selection may be more limited. Certain vendors, like planners and photographers, may not take a second client on a weekend they're already booked. "I personally take only 12 to 15 weddings per year and devote the entire weekend to my clients, regardless of which day the actual wedding happens," Book says. A florist or baker may be open to doing multiple events on the same weekend, depending on the scale, but the date of delivery does not usually impact prices as much as the design and size of your event.

Guests

It's easy to assume your guests will be inconvenienced by a Friday or Sunday wedding, but if you're not asking them to travel too far, you'd be surprised by how non-disruptive it actually is. "Most guests are already planning to take a day off of work to travel for your wedding, so traveling Friday morning for a Friday night wedding doesn't make much of a difference as long as the festivities start late enough that everyone can arrive in time," Book says. The same goes for a Sunday wedding: Guests can travel on Saturday, celebrate with you on Sunday, and take Monday off to travel home.

"We often advise our clients to look at observed bank holidays versed big summer weekend holidays," says Yassin. "Most companies honor those days, allowing an extra Monday off of work. This makes hosting a wedding that starts on a Sunday perfect. If you opt for a Friday wedding, this also allows your guests both Saturday and Sunday to explore in the location they may be visiting. I think people often underestimate downtime for guests and how nice it is to allow people time to relax and unwind or recover from the night before!"

Unique Options

By choosing a non-traditional day for your wedding, you get the opportunity to break out of the "ceremony, dinner, dancing, and after-party" mold. "Treat that as a win for creativity," Book says. "I love the idea of having a Sunday brunch wedding with Bloody Marys, mimosas, and spiked coffee alongside an indulgent brunch spread or an early-afternoon ceremony, followed by a dinner-party-style reception." For Friday weddings, you can embrace your location. She suggests, "Start the weekend off with a ceremony and cocktail party on Friday night, then fill the weekend with activities like baseball games, a cookout, sailing, or however else you like to enjoy those days off."