Should You Have a Weekend or a Weekday Wedding? Let's Compare...

Traditionally, hosting a wedding on a weekend has always been a much more popular option than a weekday wedding due to our 9-5 Monday to Friday work week. But in recent years life has changed dramatically with more people now working from home or having more flexible working hours. There are both pros and cons when it comes to opting for weekday weddings AND weekend weddings, ranging from the type of wedding venues you are looking at to if you have a special date in mind, or maybe it simply boils down to the wedding budget. So, depending on which day of the week you're considering, here’s our take on the differences between the two. If you’re undecided and looking for some clarity over whether to go for a weekend wedding or a weekday wedding, you’re in the right place...

Weekend wedding

Weekend weddings, Saturday in particular, have always been the most popular day to get married. Traditionally this is when most people appear to be available and weekends have always been considered as the best time for families to get together. A weekend wedding will be perfect for the majority of guests who likely work Monday to Friday because they don't need to book annual leave so if this is something you’re concerned about, a weekend wedding might still be best for you. Another thing to consider is if you have a lot of guests with children. It makes sense that a weekend wedding date is likely to work best for your wedding party because it means that the children don't have to take time out of school and can join in the fun too! This means even more of your loved ones can attend your wedding day, especially if it's at short notice or a destination wedding, making it more enjoyable for everyone! Saturday weddings can naturally feel quite relaxing as it is most people's day off from work. Also having the following day, a Sunday to relax, travel home and nurse a (potential) hangover will also be welcome to the majority of your guests. During the weekend you don't have to contend with midweek rush hour traffic, meaning less stress for everyone. If you are city folks who are celebrating their big day in a city or town, it would be so much more relaxing for guests to travel to and from the celebrations without too much traffic ruining the party vibe.

Weekday wedding

Having a weekday wedding can present some major benefits which explains why more couples than ever are opting to host their wedding during the week. They've realised that by making that one simple change you can reduce your costs and wedding budget in a pretty substantial way. The price difference between a midweek date or a Saturday or Sunday wedding, and everything that goes along with that is probably the most significant factor for couples when choosing their wedding day. Often venue hire and vendors' rates will be cheaper during the week as they are still slightly less in demand. Meaning you can stick to your wedding budget, save some money along the way and even put it towards the honeymoon fund instead! You are much more likely to bag your dream venue and your favourite wedding vendor by booking a midweek wedding as they will likely have better availability during the week. Venue rentals, in-demand photographers and catering vendors can get booked up quicker than you might think on a Saturday, meaning you can expect much more flexibility when you choose a weekday wedding date. Most venues also have the option for you to extend the venue hire, which means you could even host your wedding over an extra couple of days! Maybe you could arrange a laidback pre-wedding cocktail party or a post-wedding BBQ brunch? Whatever you fancy, it will be much more likely to happen if you opt for a weekday wedding celebration. Travel and guest accommodation may have considerably cheaper price points during the week which will be welcome if you have guests that are planning on staying over the night. Weekdays can give you (and your guests) the opportunity to have a few days to celebrate, enjoying midweek deals and discounted room rates in hotels and B&Bs which is surely better for everyone involved. You could even turn it into a bit of a holiday! One of the biggest concerns wedding couples have when considering a weekday wedding is that their favourite people from the guest list won't be able to join in the celebration. It's not like you're giving them a week's notice! Whatever day of the week you decide to hold your big day on, whether that's with a weekday wedding, or whether it's on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, your guests should have enough advance notice to make the dates work. Your favourite people should be there no matter what! If you are worried, it’s always worth getting in touch with your a-list before booking a date to ask their opinion and check their availability. There’s nothing worse than booking your venue and putting down a deposit, to find out some key faces can’t make it. Hypothetically, let's say there are less guests coming to your happy event than you initially invited. This result may end up being a bit of a bonus for some couples! Having a celebration with a relaxed atmosphere, surrounded by a select few of your friends and family will mean you'll be able to spend some real, dedicated time with each and every one of them, therefore creating some wonderful memories to cherish forever. Whether you are planning your special day to be on a weekend or a weekday, you can see that there are both pros and cons for either option. You may have your heart set on a significant date to get married, or maybe you're on the look out for a better deal, it is always important to do your research and choose the date that’s right for you. Hopefully your guests will be able to make your wedding day regardless of what date / day you hold it on, and as long as those save the dates and wedding invitations are sent promptly via your wedding website or by post in plenty of time, your guests should be well informed in enough time to make any necessary arrangements.