Friday Weddings

shoegal715

What's your true opinion on them? Would it piss you off if you got an invite to a Friday wedding and you had to take a day or half-day off work? My ceremony is at 4:30. 

I would love going to a Friday wedding. Good excuse to take a half day, and give yourself an extended week-end, but maybe I'm in the minority. 

laurenclaire1386

Not at 4:30 in the afternoon. I like the idea of a Friday night wedding, but Friday afternoon, like before 7, would annoy me.

[Deleted User]

I wouldn't want to have to leave early from work to attend. Can you push it back a bit?

bethsmiles

It would be fine with a friday night wedding, but not as early as 4:30. I wouldn't want to have to take of work.

salt78

Yeah good excuse for a half day, but if you don't have any time saved up to cover the missed hours, it sucks. 

I like Friday evening weddings as long as they are after like 6pm. 

jennyp08

I'd prefer evening just for convenience, but I honestly don't go to that many weddings.  So if Friday is when my friend can have her big day, I really won't care.  

nyrek

I'd skip your ceremony and just go to the reception if you had it that early.  Unless your my best friend in the world or a very close relative, I'd probably not waste 1/2 a day vacation for someones wedding. Friday evening I'd have no problems with.

nhelene

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_friday-weddings?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:472f5df6-fa3d-4beb-98a2-40ed3c924873Post:ff3df105-b273-4831-bf67-093455b9f718">Re: Friday Weddings</a>:
[QUOTE]Yeah good excuse for a half day, but if you don't have any time saved up to cover the missed hours, it sucks.  I like Friday evening weddings as long as they are after like 6pm. 
Posted by salt78[/QUOTE]

A lot of my and my FI's extended family members aren't that well off or don't work for the greatest employers, so I'd hate for them to have to take their precious PTO or lose a day of pay to come to my wedding.

Of course, as I type this, I realize that anyone flying to my Saturday wedding is probably going to have to take off that Friday anyway...  But at least they won't have to take off Thursday.

At any rate I agree with the posters who have suggested a Friday evening over a Friday afternoon.

Tisha.

It's 100% up to you, but it might be more convenient for your guests, if you push it back a few hours.

We're getting married on a Friday (10.15.10) and plan to do it at 7pm.  If we were having an extremly small wedding (ONLY immediate family) then I think an afternoon would be ok, but if you're having any sort of guest list, I think it would be best to do it a bit later.

amagwire

Depends on how close I was with bride/groom.  I wouldn't be pissed per se, but it's certainly not the ideal situation for every guest.  For me, wouldn't be an issue to get time off, but you may have some guests rsvp no due to the time.

megandjay

Friday is better than Sunday!

Lenore2010

Friday is fine as long as it is 7:00 or after, I think. For destination weddings and/or very small groups where you know everyone's work status, I think nearly anything that works for you and your guests goes.

However, you will definitely hear the opinion that if you want to have your wedding at 3:00 AM on Sunday morning, and any guest has any issue with it, the ungrateful a-hole can just piss off and not come.

sassyredd2010

i could be a little bias lol but i am having my wedding on a friday. i am having the ceremony start at 6pm. i had a really  hard time deciding on this and knew that alot of OOT ppl wouldnt be able to make it, but i accepted that. not to mention i'm on a budget and the reception hall was 2,000 cheaper! i was able to get a weekday rate instead of the weekend rate

kmuthig

I'm having a DW and decided to have the wedding on a friday evening.  I figure since most people are flying in either thursday night or friday morning it would be best to do the wedding that night.  That way they have all day Saturday to do what they want before they head home.  I'm glad they're choosing to come help me celebrate but they also get a little get away as well!

CaraDonna

I don't see a problem with a Friday wedding, especially if most of your guests are local or would be within driving distance to only take one day off.  Weddings are inconvenient - mine is Saturday and OOT for both sides of the family so they will have to take Friday off anyhow.  It's not a destination wedding where they have to take multiple days off and pay for a flight/multiple nights stay so I think you're fine 

desi2002

My wedding is on a  Friday at 6. It works for me because I have a lot of family that go to church on Sunday, so if I had a Saturday wedding, they would either not go, or leave early. So Friday works great for me. I think that it depends on everyone's situation. 

Blueyed228

Thats early, but I work weekend nights so I always have to take work off for wedding, lol.

My cousin had a friday wedding at 6pm 2 hours away from where 80% of the 90 guests lived(and they had to go up 95 and sit in traffic!).  Some people were upset, some were not.  You cant please everyone, and those who cant take the day off will just go to the reception or not at all.  No biggie.

orexismmii

well, we are actually having a MONDAY wedding, lol.  It was his idea because it is the anniversary of the day we met.  It IS in the evening, but my family knows that I would never EXPECT someone to show up at the wedding, whether it was a Saturday or not.  The ones who can show up will and the ones who can't, I know that their love is with us.  As long as you are okay with the fact that due to work schedule, etc, many people may decide not to go.

KatieRN25

I think it doesn't matter what time the ceremony begins. As long as you, the groom and the person marrying you shows up that's all that matters right? The only close call I ran into while attending a Friday wedding was almost missing the bride walk down the isle because we got stuck behind a school bus dropping kids off!! Her ceremony was at 4pm, right around when kids were getting home from school. It was something we never even considered when leaving to go so we didn't allow for extra time.

I'm getting married on a Friday at 530pm. It works for me and I just figured whoever can make it, will make it.

Soon to be Mrs. Krebs

I too am getting married on a Friday - at 4pm. All of FI family is coming from OOT. When deciding on the day, no one on FI side had a problem with it being on a Friday. Some people find things like this a big deal - some don't. The people who are important will be there. Like PP have said, you can't please everyone so do what works for you.

krdrbm1015

I'm getting married at 4:30 on a friday (10/15/10).  My mother gave me a really hard time about it when i first suggested the friday wedding but it got me the ceremony/reception site that i love at a more affordable price.  also since i's getting married in RI sunset is at 5pm and one of the most beautiful aspects of our site is the view of the bay, so if i held the ceremony/reception any later no one would get to enjoy the view! like many of the other brides have said, whoever comes comes.  I have no expectations.  What matters most to me is that I'm marrying the love of my life, whoever else is there to celebrate with us is just gravy

jennylove810

I just got invited to a Friday at 4:30pm wedding.  I'm considering declining.  I don't get much vacation time, and I have my own wedding this year - I need to prioritize when I'm taking time off.  If it were later, I'd probably make it.  I'm not so sure I'm going to make it to my friend's wedding.  I'm sad about it, and posters can disagree with me on this, but I find it highly inconsiderate to have a wedding at this time.

mwhitson14

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_friday-weddings?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:472f5df6-fa3d-4beb-98a2-40ed3c924873Post:851e39ad-3434-4605-9167-2353734efa69">Re: Friday Weddings</a>:
[QUOTE]And I can't change the time. There is another bride who booked her ceremony before I did. She is getting married at 6:30. So I either go at 4:30 (or earlier), or 8:30pm
Posted by shoegal715[/QUOTE]

Then I would honestly choose the 8:30 time. More time for you to relax and get ready, take pictures, that sort of thing. More time for your guests to go home after work, change clothes, and then come to the wedding feeling a little more rested.

We had a Friday wedding at 6, 130 of 168 showed up, so it was great attendance. But 4:30, like you said, means guests having to take a day off or a half day off, and could mean a higher decline rate.

krdrbm1015

I'm just wondering, but why do you find it highly inconsiderate for someone to have their wedding on a friday afternoon/night? its their wedding, its about what they want and whats best for them and has nothing to do with anyone else.  they are inviting you because they would like you to be part of their celebration, but there is no requirement for you to come.  I understand your disappointment at not being able to attend your friend's wedding, but that is your choice not to go.  Everyone's wedding is inconvenient in some way for someone they're inviting.  It's just how it is.  I fully admit that I'm biased though, because I am getting married on a friday.  I realize that my wedding time is not the most convenient time, but as I said before, whoever comes, comes and that's great.  If they can't then they can't.  I'm not going to take it personally and I hope they don't hold it against me.  My wedding day is just about two people, me and my FI.  We want all of our guests we're inviting to be there to join the celebration, but they are not the reason for the wedding.  

shoegal715

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_friday-weddings?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:472f5df6-fa3d-4beb-98a2-40ed3c924873Post:b1044c44-62fc-47b3-b955-55817867cca8">Re: Friday Weddings</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Friday Weddings : Then I would honestly choose the 8:30 time. More time for you to relax and get ready, take pictures, that sort of thing. More time for your guests to go home after work, change clothes, and then come to the wedding feeling a little more rested. We had a Friday wedding at 6, 130 of 168 showed up, so it was great attendance. But 4:30, like you said, means guests having to take a day off or a half day off, and could mean a higher decline rate.
Posted by mwhitson14[/QUOTE]

<div>The 8:30 was never even a consideration or option for us. For one, it will be pitch black outside, and we are having a sit-down dinner, which would mean dinner at 10pm.</div>

cuddleberry

My wedding is on a Friday at 630p. I'm not worried about the people who complain about the day, because if it were another day they still would have found something to complain about. Those who come will have a nice time, those who don't will miss out! Their fault.

jfabs

ok here is the deal...i am wrestling with the idea of a friday night wedding as well and really what you have to remember is that it is YOUR DAY!!! you can not even try to please everyone and in the end it is only about you and him! as long as you guys are happy and that day and time worsk for the two of you...that's all that matters!!!! the people that love you will make it there come hell or high water and those that don't...that's there loss!!!!

i hope you have a FABULOUS day!!!!!  (at 4:30 on a friday!!!!!)

KD+BC

I am having a Friday 4:30 wedding. My family is super excited to take a half day, sneak out an hour or so early, or just attend (many of my family members are teachers and can all leave by 3:30). His family all work in retail or are nurses and will have an easier time getting Friday off (no half days where most of his family works) than Saturday.

Ditto pp, it all depends on your situation. I have 4 OOT guests. One is a BM and is planning on coming up Wed anyway, one is FI's aunt who is coming for a whole week, one is my aunt who is also coming for a whole week. The last is a friend and if he can't make it, we'll be sad but he has said he thinks he'll be able to come.

mwhitson14

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_friday-weddings?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:472f5df6-fa3d-4beb-98a2-40ed3c924873Post:3a084429-2347-47c3-a733-d6f4bfeffe79">Re: Friday Weddings</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Friday Weddings : The 8:30 was never even a consideration or option for us. For one, it will be pitch black outside, and we are having a sit-down dinner, which would mean dinner at 10pm.
Posted by shoegal715[/QUOTE]

Starting that late doesn't necessarily mean you have to serve dinner, but instead could do a really fun cocktail type reception with awesome hors d' ouevres and let the alcohol flow.

But you seem to have your mind made up, so good luck! I'm sure your family is being honest with you about their feelings, so I'm sure it will be fine.

dandelion17

it doesn't matter what day you get married the ones that care will be there! I am getting married on a friday and have been in and gone to several friday weddings. wedding are an all day fun event and if it is too inconvenient for me to buy a guest dinner, alcohol and invite them to a fun night, then i guess it's there loss now isn't it lol! 

riverjib

I'm sorry to be a naysayer, but I really dislike Friday weddings. They're still better than Sunday weddings, though...while they're hugely disruptive to even your closest friends, at least they're an excuse for a long weekend.

Personally, we opted for Saturday night in June. We're not rich--we're both basically grad students with no financial support. We just picked a cheaper location. Our feeling is that it's easier to ask people to drive an extra 30-45 minutes than to ask them to take a day off of work. My aunt LOVES day time weddings, and all of my cousins were married and had receptions that ended by 5 pm. If money was an issue, I'd totally understand, but for most people, traveling for a party that ends at 5pm is anti-climactic, and leaves guests wondering how to spend their night. Honestly, I always felt "all dressed up with no place to go."

My wedding is next June, and I've already spoken to local hotels to figure out which one will be most tolerant of an "after-party." I've offered extra money (which they said they'll accept if we book fewer than 15 rooms) to make sure my guests can have fun. I've always enjoyed weddings that turn into an all-weekend affair, especially when I have to travel. It's important to me for my guests to have a really great time, and it's worth an extra $1000 or $2000 to me to make sure they will.