Wondering what day of the week to get hitched? There are pros and cons of both weekend and midweek weddings, so let’s take a look at each in turn so that you can make an informed choice.
Weekend weddings
Weekend weddings are undeniably the more popular option, and Saturday in particular, primarily because your guests don’t have to take time off work. That means your friends and family are more likely to be able to come, and that they’ll be in relaxed weekend mode rather than thinking about work next day! There’s no rush hour traffic to get stuck in en route to your wedding, either.
However, weekend weddings do have their downsides. They’re quite a bit more expensive, as venues and suppliers typically have higher rates for weekend days when demand is higher. And, because weekend weddings are more popular, there’s not as much choice, so there’s less chance that you’ll get your first choice of date and time when it comes to venue and registrar availability. Popular weekend dates get booked up a long time in advance, so you’ll need to book further ahead – not ideal if you’re hoping to avoid a long engagement.
Weekday weddings
By contrast, weekday weddings offer much more choice. While popular weekend dates can get booked up years in advance, weekdays are less competitive, so you’ll have more venues and suppliers to choose from and you’re more likely to get your first choice of date – even in the height of summer. That’s great if you want to get married sooner, too, and if you’re keen on a special date for sentimental reasons (maybe you want to tie the knot on the anniversary of the day you met, for example?) but it falls midweek.
Another major advantage is that weekday weddings typically cost significantly less than weekend weddings, both for the venue and the suppliers, so it’s a great way to save money. If your guests are staying over, they’ll enjoy lower hotel rates, and if you’re jetting off on your honeymoon midweek, flights will typically be less than if you head off on a weekend.
When it comes to your guest list, although midweek weddings mean less chance of a diary clash with other commitments, the downside to a midweek wedding is that guests will need to take time off work, which may be difficult for some people to do (especially those in professions such as teaching). While some may relish the excuse for a day off, others may not want to eat into their limited annual holiday allowance. For this reason, you may worry about what your friends and family think about your midweek wedding plans.
On the plus side, a Monday or Friday wedding gives everyone a great opportunity for a long weekend and the chance to extend the celebrations. Midweek weddings are also perfect if you’re after a small, intimate wedding with just you and your closest friends and family, without the stress of a big weekend wedding.
So which is better?
The answer is both! The decision on whether to marry midweek or wait for a weekend wedding is ultimately a personal one, dependent on a number of factors including your budget and the availability of your most important guests. If in doubt, have a chat with your nearest and dearest and see whether they’re happy to take the day off – you all stand to save money by going for midweek!
