more questions--brunch, friday evening weddings

hjw002

In addition to the fact that I am a little limited by my budget, I am also limited to our wedding date and unfortunately, I seem to be behind the game.  Do you think it is appropriate to invite all out-of-town guests (families both from Iowa, friends from around US) to a brunch or a Friday night dinner.  I just feel like it seems incomplete.  Does anyone have any experience planning this type of wedding?  Also, how do you realistically get everything ready for a brunch ceremony/reception with pics, etc...  Thanks, Heather  (and I will eventually work on my web page)

CheerKate

We are doing a Friday evening wedding and most of our guests are out of town as well.  So far we have had no complaints about the date.  In the end, if they want to be at your wedding, they will make it work!

wittyschaffy

I had a friday night wedding but we had a private ceremony earlier in the afternoon and then had a rockin' party for all starting with cocktails at 6:30 and dinner shortly after.  We knew that there would be some folks who couldn't come because of the Friday thing and that was OK with us.  It gave them the whole weekend in town if they did travel which was nice.  If you do go the Friday route, try to plan things as late as you can so that people who are in town and are working that day have time to go home and clean up. 


I've been to an out of town brunch wedding and I wasn't a huge fan.  I personally think the reception is the best part and once the brunch was over, there was nothing left but to go home.  Sorta anti-climactic after driving 3 hours there and back. 

Steph0871

We're doing a Sunday afternoon wedding (PEC was booked on Saturdays in November.)  Ours is going to be pretty similar timeline, just pushed forward. Both FI and I dislike dances at weddings- they're usually nothing but awkward and forced.  

We knew we couldn't have a Saturday wedding, so we decided on Sunday afternoon.  We figure, that way, people won't have to take any time off of work.  The whole thing should be over should be over by about 4 or 5, so people can still get home that day.  I didn't think it would be fair to have it on Sunday night, and make people take off work on Monday.

We are, however, having outstanding food and drinks to make it worth the drive.

chou_chou

We had a Friday evening wedding this past May and it worked out really well!  Our ceremony start time was 7pm to allow for travel/driving/guests' work schedules.  We served hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and cake only (heavy appetizers though so they basically composed a meal).  We had no complaints about the day or time -- I've heard from my mom that she's been to several Fri eve. weddings that started at 5:30 or 6 pm and they were a nightmare to get to on time.  I say just plan for a regular wedding timeline, just one that starts a bit later! 

maybe984

I'm not a big fan of brunch receptions, especially when I come from out-of-town. They always seem like a huge let-down. Fridays, I'm fine with, though.

My budget is somewhat limited, so to cut expenses I went with a Sunday wedding. Instead of doing it super early, or cutting out the entertainment, we're just moving it a few hours earlier than you standard Saturday wedding. Ceremony at 2pm and dinner around 5 pm... that way if people need to leave by 9 or 10 in order to work the next day, they don't feel like they were denied a good time.

bemidji21

I say go for it. I have been to tons of Friday weddings and even if guests are coming from out of town, its still an evening so you're not asking much more of them. I think Friday weddings are great and if you are on a budget that is one of the best ways to cut costs. Do what works for you, and your guests will follow. They are your friends and family. That is what family is for. Best of luck planning.

schmood

I too am having a Friday night wedding.  As one someone else mentioned in PP - those people who want to be there will find a way to get there.   It is a huge cost saver and then you have the rest of the weekend to relax....or have time to spend with the OOT guests.   My sister and bro-in-law had a Friday wedding as well.  Some of the BIL's fam was in from out of town, so on Saturday night, they rented out a small bowling alley in St. Paul to give people something to do.  The bowling alley allows you to bring in your own food and drink, so it really wasn't all that expensive.   A cousin also ended up having a picnic the nnext day after her wedding and again, it was a more casual/fun way to get to spend time with the out of towners.

MN_Jen

I went to a Friday wedding last summer and had a great time.  I had to miss the ceremony because I had to work (and I wasn't close enough with the bride and groom to warrant taking the day off), but had a blast at the reception.

Steph0871

I should mention that all of our OOT guests are WAY out of town (all will be flying), so I wasn't comfortable with a Friday wedding for that reason either.

We're still planning some optional things to do, since most of the family is coming in Thursday night.  We are planning on taking everyone to the Gopher hockey game that Saturday night

KittE7

ditto everything wittyschaffy said - except my wedding & rockin party haven't happened yet!

we're having a small ceremony in the late afternoon, and dinner assembly at 7.  If some of the guests don't want to take off work (i'm guessing some of the aunts/uncles), then we'll just see them at the reception.

we preferred this to a brunch or Sunday b/c we felt our guests would rather take a 1/2-or full-day on a Friday than taking Monday off.  I hoped that we would all hang out more while they're in town, but seems like everyone's leaving right away.