We are all very familiar with the fact that weddings in the United States take place largely on Saturdays, with Fridays and Sundays being popular alternates. And for good reason: Saturday weddings allow your out of town guests to use Sunday for traveling home, local guests with 9-5 work schedules can attend without needing to make any special work requests, and ultimately it just seems like the most convenient and expected option. But I am here to tell you:
Weekday weddings are AWESOME!
Choosing to have your wedding on a weekday makes it no less special and meaningful than opting for a Saturday, and there’s actually quite a few reasons why a weekday wedding could be an extra awesome option for you and your partner. Read on for five of the top reasons why (I think) weekday weddings are amazing!
Your favorite vendors are more likely to be available - especially if you are planning for a “peak season” date.
Many couples book their venue first and often times elect for a day that is well over a year out. Popular venues can commonly be booked on peak weekend dates 2+ years in advance. Following the venue, photographers and videographers are often the next vendors to be booked - though every couple has different priorities, so opting to select other vendors first is no problem, of course! This means that booking vendors 12-15 months in advance is very common, so your favorite vendors may already have popular Saturday options booked by other couples before you can reach them first - especially if you are planning on a shorter time frame and your wedding is coming up within a year. Opting for a weekday wedding will greatly help improve the likelihood that your preferred photographer, caterer, florist, DJ, etc. is still available to be at your wedding.
Some venues offer less expensive rates on weekdays.
Weddings are expensive! I don’t have to tell you that, but did you know that some venues offer less expensive rates for weekday weddings compared to weekends? If you have a dream venue that initially seems a little out of reach or if you’d rather prioritize some of your budget towards other wedding decisions, definitely consider a weekday booking! One great example I found is at Sodo Park in Seattle - one of the coolest venues I’ve shot at. As of this writing (April 2020) the listed rental rate for a Saturday booking is $7500 but Monday through Thursday rentals drop all the way to $2000! The swing in weekday versus weekend rental rates could free you up to invite more guests since you have more room for a food budget, could allow you to shop for a more expensive dress, OR allow you and your partner to devote more money towards your honeymoon! While you’re researching venues definitely keep this in mind since it could be incredibly helpful to your budget and for bringing your dream wedding vision to life!
Flights and AirBNB rentals may be cheaper for weekday travelers, which could save your guests money and allow them to more easily commit to attending your wedding.
I have used AirBNB a dozen times over the past couple years and, from personal experience, have consistently found that weekend rental rates, especially during peak season, are typically higher than on weekdays. Combining that with the fact that weekday airline travel can be cheaper will add up to a big savings for out of town guests that are coming in to celebrate with you. The travel expenses associated with a weekday wedding may make your wedding easier to attend, fiscally, for some of your guests.
Traveling guests can make a vacation out of the experience.
I’ve photographed more than 100 weddings over the past several years and always find little moments of time throughout the day to chat with family, ask where they’re from and how they’re liking Seattle. However, I often find out that a lot of those wonderful family members have plans to fly back home the morning after the wedding, leaving no extra time to explore this gorgeous corner of the world. My advice is to encourage your guests to make a full vacation out of their trip to Seattle! A weekday wedding may encourage your out-of-town guests to make arrangements for a few extra days to sight-see and be a tourist in your home town! When you send out your save-the-dates, set up a wedding website that has a list of your favorite places and things to do in town so that your guests can plan a multi-day adventure - perhaps even checking out a few of your top recommendations with you! TripAdvisor has a huge list of Seattle attractions to help you get started!
Don’t let the fact that your favorite date is on a weekday stop you.
If you’re in love with a particular date who cares if it falls on a weekday or a weekend! For example, next year we’re getting 1-21-21 on a Thursday. It’s your wedding and if a specific date has special meaning to you, perhaps it’s the anniversary of your first date or a cool series of numbers, don’t let the day of the week that it falls on deter you.
Your wedding will be no less amazing just because it’s on a weekday. Ultimately, the day of the week your wedding falls on doesn’t matter. What matters is that you have the wedding you envision and if choosing a date on a weekday helps make that happen then go for it!
Fun fact: these photos are from Mike & Mary’s wedding in Leavenworth in 2019 and their wedding day was on a… MONDAY :-)
Bonus fun fact: these two are beekeepers, so they incorporated yellow and bee-themed details to every element of their wedding. Aren’t they the cutest!?
I hope that this blog post gives you some reassurance that choosing a weekday for your wedding makes it no less special and has lots of positive benefits. What’s important is that you and your partner talk about your priorities and if choosing a weekday allows you to fulfill more of your priorities as compared to a weekend date then dive in and make it happen. I’ve photographed a bunch of weekday weddings and have loved them all. Use the contact link below if you want to ask me any questions, advice, or even to just say hi. Happy planning, friends!
