Junior Rasmussen
Friday weddings are becoming an increasingly popular choice for couples looking to tie the knot. While Saturday weddings are the most common, hosting your wedding on a Friday can save you money and give you more flexibility with your dream venue. However, this means that you need to carefully consider the timing of your ceremony and reception to ensure your guests can make it after a day of work. So, what is the best time to host your Friday wedding?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost | Friday weddings are cheaper than Saturday weddings |
| Guest attendance | Guests may need to take time off work or leave early |
| Start time | 6:00 pm or 6:30 pm is a common start time |
| End time | 10:00 pm-12:00 am |
| Guest count | A reduced fee may be offered depending on the guest count |
| Guest experience | Friday weddings may allow guests to explore the wedding location |
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What You'll Learn
Friday weddings can save you money
While it's true that some vendors charge the same price regardless of the day of the week, it's still worth reaching out to your desired vendors to see if a Friday booking would save you money. One couple reported saving nearly $4,000 by having a Friday wedding, although they did note that this was mostly due to the venue cost.
Another way a Friday wedding can save you money is by reducing the minimum spend. For example, if a venue usually has a $20,000 minimum spend for a Saturday wedding, you might be able to secure a lower minimum spend for a Friday wedding. This can be a great selling point and save you money, as long as your guest count doesn't drastically exceed the minimum.
When planning a Friday wedding, it's important to consider your guest list and their travel plans. Most guests will already be taking time off work to attend your wedding, so travelling on Friday morning for a Friday evening wedding may not be as disruptive as you think. However, it's a good idea to start the festivities later in the day to give guests time to arrive. Many couples opt for a ceremony start time of 6 pm or 6:30 pm, with the reception starting an hour later. This gives guests time to travel after work and still arrive early enough.
If you're worried about attendance, it's a good idea to reach out to your most important guests to see if they would be able to make a Friday wedding. It's also essential to send out "save the dates" well in advance so your guests can request time off work. Friday weddings can be a great way to save money and offer a unique experience for you and your guests.
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Guests may need to take time off work
Friday weddings are becoming more common, but it's understandable that you may be concerned about your guests needing to take time off work to attend. While some guests may need to take a full day off, others may only need to leave work a few hours early, depending on the time you choose to hold your ceremony.
If you're worried about your guests having to take too much time off, consider sending out early "save the date" cards as early as possible. This will give your guests plenty of notice and time to plan. You could also consider a Friday evening wedding, which may allow guests to travel to the venue after work without taking any time off.
To minimise the impact on your guests' work schedules, you could opt for a later start time. Many sources suggest that a start time of 6:00 pm or 6:30 pm is ideal for a Friday wedding. This way, guests can finish work for the day and travel to the venue without having to take a full or half day off. However, it's worth noting that some guests may still need to take some time off, especially if they have a long commute or if your wedding is in a different city.
If you're set on an earlier start time, it's a good idea to consider your guests' travel plans and potential traffic conditions. You don't want your guests to be rushed or stressed trying to get to your wedding on time. You could also suggest that guests take the day off and use the time before your wedding to explore the location, especially if it's a place they don't often visit.
While it's thoughtful to consider your guests' work schedules, it's also important to remember that they are choosing to attend your wedding. As one source notes, "if people want to be there, they will be there." Your guests may be more understanding than you think, especially if you give them plenty of notice.
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Friday weddings can be disruptive
While Friday weddings are becoming more common, they can be disruptive to your guests' schedules. Most people work during the week, so a Friday wedding will require them to take time off work, leave early, or arrive late. This may impact their ability to attend your wedding at all, or their enjoyment of the day if they feel rushed.
If your guests are travelling far for your wedding, a Friday start may be especially disruptive. They will either need to take two days off work (Thursday to travel, and Friday for the wedding), or travel on the day and arrive late, or not at all, due to Friday rush-hour traffic.
Even if your guests are local, they may still need to take a half-day off work to arrive at your wedding on time. This can be a big ask, and you may feel uncomfortable expecting your guests to take leave for your wedding.
A Friday wedding may also disrupt your guests' plans for the weekend. They may have other commitments, or simply want to relax after a long week.
However, there are ways to minimise disruption. You could start your wedding in the evening, allowing guests to travel after work. You could also embrace the extended weekend, and plan activities for Saturday and Sunday, giving guests time to relax and recover.
If you're set on a Friday wedding, it's important to give your guests plenty of notice so they can make arrangements. You could also suggest they take the following Monday off work to extend their weekend and reduce the disruption.
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Start times: 5 pm or 6:30 pm?
Deciding on a start time for your Friday wedding can be tricky, as you want to ensure that your guests have enough time to arrive without causing too much disruption to their workday. While some sources suggest that 5 pm is too early for a Friday wedding, others disagree, stating that guests will arrive early regardless of the start time, so a later start time of 6 or 6:30 pm may be preferable.
A 5 pm start time could be ideal if you're hoping to have a full Catholic mass as your ceremony, as this can take up to an hour. This would then allow for a cocktail hour at 6:30 pm, with the reception and dinner beginning at 7:30 pm. However, if your ceremony is shorter, a 5 pm start may result in a long gap between the ceremony and reception, which could impact your guests' enjoyment.
On the other hand, a start time of 6 or 6:30 pm would likely mean that fewer guests need to take the day off or leave work early. This later start time also allows for beautiful sunset photos, which could be a significant consideration if your wedding is in the summer. A 6:30 pm ceremony could be followed by cocktails at 7:30 pm and dinner and toasts at 8 pm, with the reception ending at midnight, giving your guests plenty of time to celebrate.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to start your Friday wedding at 5 pm or 6:30 pm depends on various factors, including the length of your ceremony, the importance of sunset photos, and the potential impact on your guests' work schedules. It's also worth considering the time of year, as daylight savings may affect the timing of your ceremony and the amount of natural light available.
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Friday weddings allow for creative formats
Friday weddings are becoming an increasingly popular choice for couples. They can save you money, and they also allow for creative formats.
Firstly, Friday weddings are often cheaper than Saturday weddings. This is because Saturday is the most popular day for weddings, so venues and hotels can charge a premium for that day. Friday weddings, therefore, often benefit from reduced rates.
However, it's important to consider all the numbers. For example, while your venue may offer a lower minimum for food and beverages, this is only a selling point if your guest count helps you meet, but not drastically exceed, the minimum.
Friday weddings also allow for creative formats. For example, you could start the weekend off with a ceremony and cocktail party on the Friday night, then fill the weekend with activities like games, cookouts, or sailing. This gives your guests the whole weekend to explore the location they are visiting.
If you are having a Friday wedding, it's best to start in the evening, to allow guests to travel to the venue after work. A typical start time for a Friday wedding is 6:30 pm, with the reception beginning at 7 pm. This allows guests to arrive from 6 pm onwards. However, some couples opt for a later start time of 7 pm, with the reception starting immediately after the ceremony.
If you are worried about guests having to take time off work, you could consider a daytime wedding, perhaps with a ceremony at 11 am or in the afternoon at 3 pm.
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Frequently asked questions
Opinions vary on the best time to start a Friday wedding. Some people think that 5 pm is too early, while others think that 6:30 pm or 7 pm is a good time to start. It's important to consider the comfort and convenience of your guests, especially if they are travelling or coming from work.
Friday weddings are becoming more common, as they can be more affordable than Saturday weddings and can give you more flexibility with your dream venue. They can also allow your guests to have more time to explore the wedding location over the weekend.
Planning a Friday wedding may require a little more consideration than a Saturday wedding, especially when it comes to your guests' schedules. You may want to give your guests plenty of notice so they can request time off work if needed. You can also embrace the non-traditional aspect of a Friday wedding and get creative with your schedule and activities.
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