Traditionally weddings are booked for weekends, Saturdays being popular choices to give guests a chance to relax or recover on Sunday. Bank holiday weekends are also at a premium giving additional time for travel, or the chance for guests to enjoy a mini-break after they’ve attended the wedding.
More and more couples are considering weekday weddings. Sometimes this is because of price, as many venues charge more for a weekend event, but other reasons are that venues are already booked up, or you want to get married in peak season, when weekend traffic can be a mare.
So, what are the things to consider before you book a weekday wedding?
Top of the list, your guests.
If you’re having a small, intimate wedding this won’t be an issue. With a handful of guests, you can coordinate diaries to pinpoint a suitable, practical date for everyone. Similarly, if your guests are mainly local they will only need to take a day off.
But if you’re inviting hundreds of people from all over the country and even abroad, you may find that quite a few will turn down your invitation – especially if they have children and your wedding is in the school term.
Travelling
One bonus is avoiding peak time travel, when half the world is making a dash for Devon, or so it may seem. Travelling to a midday wedding on a weekday means your guests can avoid motorway mayhem. For jet set guests, weekday flights are often cheaper than at weekends.
Bear in mind your evening guests who might not be able to start travelling until after they’ve finished work.
Late night celebrations
If you’re getting married on a Wednesday, will your guests want to party late? Some of them may be working the next day so you may find your evening party dwindles out a bit too early. A Friday might be a better option, as guests can recuperate on Saturday, and potentially enjoy a weekend break near your wedding venue.
Entertainment
You may find that entertainers who get booked ahead for weekend weddings have better availability for your bash. So you can book the magician/musician/harpist/juggler of your choice!
Buck the trend
At the end of the day, this is your wedding and you can do exactly what you want! Buck the trend and marry on a Monday – if you give everyone enough warning and your guests are the type who will go with the flow and enjoy taking a couple of days off work to be with you for your special day then why not!
Devon wedding venue Escot welcomes weekday weddings so if you would like to have a tour of the house and grounds please contact us.
