Friday vs. Sunday weddings?

MustangSally67

Hi Ladies, I'm already starting to freak out a little, we're aiming for a July or August 2010 wedding at a Livermore winery, and a few of the places I have checked with are already booked most Saturdays through these months! So, we're thinking about a Friday or Sunday wedding. My worries: Friday might feel really rushed, would have to start everything a bit later, people might be late getting off work or tired from the week, the whole thing would be over so quickly! Sunday everything would have to start earlier, end earlier, people might leave early since they have to work the next day. Also possibley less convenient for OOT guests. Thoughts? Are you having a Fri/Sun wedding? Have you been to one? Think guests would have a preference?

Aimee8314

I went a Friday evening wedding recently that was OOT for everyone involved.  I think it really depends on your crowd.  If you have lots of older family or people that you don't think will spend a lot of time dancing/drinking - I think a Sunday afternoon wedding would work out well.  If you have more friends or younger relatives that will want to dance the night away - a Friday might be better. Either way, I think you're okay.  Just make sure that you give everyone plenty of notice - that way they can plan to take time off from work to be able to make it.

Lindze75

We are doing a Sunday wedding but it is on Memorial Day weekend so that guests will most likely have the Monday off.  Our event is still going to be on the early side because the only time the church marries on Sunday is 1pm so our receptio will be from 3pm-8pm.  We are doing it in a downtown area though so guests can go out after if they'd like. I think that for a Friday night wedding some guests may miss the ceremony depending on what time it starts and how far of a drive it is for them.  Otherwise they'd need to get off work early if possible.  Sunday people will leave earlier but like PP said it depends on your crowd. GL!

anglyn

Friday for us would be rushed. We'd have to request more time off work.Sundays people might leave early unless you have it earlier in the day. For us Sundays are more plausible for us to attend.

jackelbride

Over Labor Day weekend I went to a Sunday wedding and it was a hit. People stayed until the end because they didn't have to work the next day and some of the younger crowd including the bride and groom went to a dance club afterwards.We also had to choose a Friday or Sunday wedding to save money... we chose a Friday wedding because we have a lot of out of town guests and a lot of unemployed or retired guests... and a few nurses or people with weird schedules anyway.A bunch of our local, employed 9-5 friends will just have to take a half day to make it or rush from after work... but those ones are mostly the partying type so I don't think it'll be an issue.

jackelbride

Oh yeah... and not to be mean but I figured that anyone that really wants to be there would make time for it... and it cuts out those that thing it's a nuisance. I don't like convenient friends.

chance_encounters

We are having our wedding on a Friday next month.  Most people are looking forward to it because it means a 3 day weekend for them.  Our wedding is at 4:00pm.  Our wedding is a destination wedding though (not local at all).  We were fairly suprised out of 100 people only 15 said no.  IF it is an intown wedding for you I say do it on Sunday.

nutmegmjk

I worked at a Friday wedding helping the coordinator and I'm in a Sunday wedding this weekend.  The Friday wedding had a good turnout.  It was a local wedding for almost all of their guests though.  If you have a lot of out of town guests, be prepared for a lower turnout.  However, this option would allow you to party into the night if that's the kind of reception you want.For the Sunday wedding, I already know that a lot of people are leaving early.  She has some out of town guests coming, but most are leaving early.  I know 3 of the bridesmaids have school the next day and school is 1-2 hours away for all of them.  Others have work.  I know that if the bridal party is likely to leave early, there are probably plenty of others that will leave early as well.  However, if she had planned a lunch reception or even just a dessert reception in the early afternoon then a lot more people would be there and could stay for the whole thing.  This option would allow you a bit more time to get ready.It's all about the kind of reception you want.  That will be a large determining factor in which day to choose. 

laabeja

My biggest fear for my wedding is people leaving early - so Sunday was out!  To me, Friday is best.  OOT guests can fly in the night before and stay throughout the weekend, giving us plenty of after-the-stressful-event-is-done hang out time.  Also, we are starting at 6:30pm in Livermore, with most guests coming from San Jose/San Francisco. 

cecinoakland

I think Friday is better because your guests can have a long weekend. Your friends and family will be willing to take the extra day off for you. On the other hand, if you don't mind having an earlier reception, Sunday would work well too. Are more of your guests from OOT (more likely to make a vacation out of it and take the extra day/days off) or local?we ended up on a thursday because we knew our venue was the right spot for us but it was already booked for the whole year and we didn't want to have such a long engagement. We also ended up saving about 2k in venue costs, and have been able to talk down the prices with almost all of our vendors because of the midweek time. it also meant that there would be less casual acquaintences (a.k.a friends of the parents) coming which was fine by me! but i digress.

StefandTodd

If you're already thinking July or August, what about the first weekend in September? A Sunday wedding on Labor Day weekend?? That's what we did, and everyone seemed totally fine/great with it. I originally didn't want a Holiday weekend wedding, but our venue had no Saturdays available...the coordinator said "I do have the Sunday before Labor Day though" and I realized that happened to be the anniversary of the day we got engaged, so it was great. Good luck, and if you choose this route, I recommend sending save the dates about 9 months before. As long as people have time to plan, I don't think they mind giving up a Holiday weekend, most of the time! GL!!

MustangSally67

thanks ladies! We will have mostly local guests, not too many OOTs. All great suggestions and good points, will keep these in mind!

Soon to be Mrs. Windham

I'm getting married this Sunday and I know most guests have requested Monday off work.  Who wants to go to work on a Monday anyways.  :O)  Ceremony starts at 5:30, reception from 6-11.

sm23

I'm late responding but... I'm getting married on a MONDAY. Talk about unconventional.We are surprised though to have way more people coming than we expected. Our local friends are - like Ruthie said - not friends of convenience, so they are taking Tuesday off and enjoying a short work week! Our out of towners are making a vacation out of it and staying several days! So it really worked out great for us. Those who aren't coming are mostly from out of the country and are not coming because of financial restrictions, not because the day was inconvenient... We did send out save-the-date's very early - at the 8 month mark or so - so I highly recommend that if you decide on a day other than Saturday or on a holiday weekend. And doing it on a Monday has saved us a TON of money.Good luck!