Friday evening ceremony & reception

Jdunk2008

What are your thoughts of a Friday evening ceremony and reception?
Right now I'm just contemplating this and the current venue I like would be $1,000 cheaper if we did it on Friday.
Thanks!

nda8414

I think it's fine. I've been to Friday night, Saturday day, Saturday night and Sunday night weddings, all of which can be lovely. At the end of the night, you'll be happy that you have the extra $1000 in your pocket

nda8414

I think it's fine. I've been to Friday night, Saturday day, Saturday night and Sunday night weddings, all of which can be lovely. At the end of the night, you'll be happy that you have the extra $1000 in your pocket

AddieCake

Ditto Lia. One of my cousins got married on a Friday evening, way too early, and it was a pain trying to get there in time. 

Jdunk2008

It is going to be a small wedding anyways. And at this time immediate family is only invited to the ceremony. So for the others that would be coming for the meal they would have a bit more time.


In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_friday-evening-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:77741daf-22dc-4fdd-be00-c2f4172cf8f4Post:7e83df86-39f3-4a81-8bf9-d3f279956e5b">Friday evening ceremony & reception</a>:
[QUOTE]What are your thoughts of a Friday evening ceremony and reception? Right now I'm just contemplating this and the current venue I like would be $1,000 cheaper if we did it on Friday. Thanks!
Posted by Jdunk2008[/QUOTE]

NOLAbridealmost

I just went to a Friday wedding last week. It was awesome. I had the whole weekend ahead of me when I woke up on Saturday!

McRogol

We're having a Friday evening wedding...The ceremony starts at 630pm, so hopefully it's kate enough to not be a problem for too many people.  But we did check with family and close friends to make sure they were all okay with our decision and able to attend.

winelover123

Our venue is also muuuch cheaper on a Friday so I checked with my aunts from OOT and parents, they were cool with it so we're also having a Friday evening wedding. I think our ceremony starts at either 6:30 or 7 so that should be enough time for people to get home from work and get to the venue without too much rushing. I'd suggest you talk to anyone you'd really like to attend and at least give them a heads up. One of my aunts wanted to know right away if we went with a Friday evening wedding so she could take off work and actually get the day off.

nicoleandersonmd

Make sure you set it late enough so that people can make it on time. Also, expect that many people coming from further away may be unable to take a day off work to make it.

zantster

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_friday-evening-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:77741daf-22dc-4fdd-be00-c2f4172cf8f4Post:500acbf6-4ebb-47e3-86d4-b186088d3408">Re:Friday evening ceremony amp; reception</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't usually attend Friday night weddings unless it's a super close friend or immediate family. Even then, we usually leave after dinner. I don't judge people who have them, but asking H and me to get off work, rush home and change, then go to a formal or semi formal event and stay until 10 or 11 o'clock is a LOT with our jobs. We just don't have a ton of energy come Friday evening.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

Exactly this.  The nature of the work week is what it is.  So folks who are close to you might not tell you if it's an issue.  But it could show with whether they stay a while or just pop in to make an appearance and be able to say they came.  It's up to you whether that's enough for you or if you want it to go on for a while into the evening. 

MsYeck

Traffic in Iowa and Nebraka is not bad. I would have a 6pm wedding with reception Immediatly afterward. That will I've people plenty of I've to get there. I work in NE (West O) but live in IA (in the bluffs) and even on Friday I can make it in 30-35 minutes.

MsYeck

Also the Friday weddings in this part of the country have a tendency to go later and involve more booze than Saturdays since a really high proportion of the population goes to church Sunday morning so doesn't stay out "too late" on Saturdays. That and "family" weddings in the Midwest have a high percentage of retired elly as attendees so Friday or saturday is all the same.

zantster

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_friday-evening-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:77741daf-22dc-4fdd-be00-c2f4172cf8f4Post:4a46ff11-2342-46d4-9e6d-d0b07f398617">Re: Friday evening ceremony & reception</a>:
[QUOTE]Traffic in Iowa and Nebraka is not bad. I would have a 6pm wedding with reception Immediatly afterward. That will I've people plenty of I've to get there. I work in NE (West O) but live in IA (in the bluffs) and even on Friday I can make it in 30-35 minutes.
Posted by MsYeck[/QUOTE]
I think some of us are considering more than the traffic issue.  If someone has been up since 6 or 7am to shower, dress, have breakfast, get kids ready and get to work by 8 or 9am, then worked til 5 then have to be at a wedding at 6 they simply may be too sapped of energy to fully enjoy themselves. So it just depends on guests' work schedules and desire to really party after work more than the usual drink at the pub with coworkers.  Only OP would know that I assume.  Traffic is more of a secondary issue. 

Andama08

My wedding and reception is on a Friday for that very reason. The minimum for our venue was over a $3,000 difference. The ceremony is set to start at 3pm and the reception at 6pm. We've been announcing the date since we first decided in August and sent out save the dates almost 8 months in advance. I see it like this, if they really want to be there they'll adjust their schedules or take off from work if need be, and if not they'll get to see pictures after. That's just too large of a difference between a Friday & Saturday, and our venue offers an additional  5% food/beverage discount on Fridays & Sundays, an even better win!

zantster

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_friday-evening-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:77741daf-22dc-4fdd-be00-c2f4172cf8f4Post:bae65cf3-aded-46b6-b214-44ebd33e49cc">Re:Friday evening ceremony</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:Friday evening ceremony : So if you get off work at 5, and it takes you 35 minutes to get home, it will then take you 20 minutes to shower, change, freshen up make up, and drive to a wedding? Because otherwise, your 6pm advice makes no sense.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

Precisely my thinking Stage.  And that's not even taking into account some people like a few of my colleagues who have to race off after work to pick up kids from daycare and after school activities before going home and making dinner making the likelihood of them getting to the cermony on time even more remote.  They may not want to rearrange their kids' schedules for it.  On Saturday parents can either get a sitter or take the kids with them if it's not adults only.  But again only OP knows how many of their invited guests may have to deal with these types of things.  A really small, intimate wedding with immediate family e.g.parents and retired grandparents and siblings might be less complicated.

jennyd412

I would probably take the day out of work if I really wanted to make it to a Friday ceremony. My job is unpredictable and traffic on Fridays in Rhode Island is extra bad. If its a place with no traffic, that takes away one variable, but people will be rushing to leave work, get ready, etc. I would just expect people to miss the ceremony and maybe even be a little late/or leave the reception a little early.

loca4pook

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_friday-evening-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:77741daf-22dc-4fdd-be00-c2f4172cf8f4Post:7e83df86-39f3-4a81-8bf9-d3f279956e5b">Friday evening ceremony & reception</a>:
[QUOTE]What are your thoughts of a Friday evening ceremony and reception? Right now I'm just contemplating this and the current venue I like would be $1,000 cheaper if we did it on Friday. Thanks!
Posted by Jdunk2008[/QUOTE]

I think it's fine. It saves you alot of money from pretty much every vendor you use, as well. at least, it did for us.

Viczaesar

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_friday-evening-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:77741daf-22dc-4fdd-be00-c2f4172cf8f4Post:4a46ff11-2342-46d4-9e6d-d0b07f398617">Re: Friday evening ceremony & reception</a>:
[QUOTE]Traffic in Iowa and Nebraka is not bad. I would have a 6pm wedding with reception Immediatly afterward. That will I've people plenty of I've to get there. I work in NE (West O) but live in IA (in the bluffs) and even on Friday I can make it in 30-35 minutes.
Posted by MsYeck[/QUOTE]
If I got off work at 5 there's no way I could go home, change for a wedding, and get to a wedding by 6 pm.  I don't think Friday ceremonies should start before 7 pm.

Viczaesar

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_friday-evening-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:77741daf-22dc-4fdd-be00-c2f4172cf8f4Post:89af939a-3f57-4cb2-9dac-eafec7125ae8">Re: Friday evening ceremony & reception</a>:
[QUOTE]My wedding and reception is on a Friday for that very reason. The minimum for our venue was over a $3,000 difference. The ceremony is set to start at 3pm and the reception at 6pm. We've been announcing the date since we first decided in August and sent out save the dates almost 8 months in advance. I see it like this, if they really want to be there they'll adjust their schedules or take off from work if need be, and if not they'll get to see pictures after. That's just too large of a difference between a Friday & Saturday, and our venue offers an additional  5% food/beverage discount on Fridays & Sundays, an even better win!
Posted by Andama08[/QUOTE]
I wouldn't take off work for a wedding unless it were immediate family, no matter how early you announced the date, and I'd be seriously pissed if a friend judged how much I "want to be there" by whether or not I'm willing to take time off work to go to their wedding when THEY chose an inconvenient time and day.  Why would you have your ceremony at 3 pm if you're going to have it on a Friday?  And why does your reception not start until 6 pm?  Gaps are rude. 

RissAnn1970

I don't know anyone who gets out of work at 5 anymore. I'm probably the earliest I know at 5:30. By the time I get home, it's 6:15 the earliest. Then I have to feed the pets walk the dog. Not even taking into account my husband, who gets home after 7 from his business on Long Island, I probably couldn't get anywhere before 7:30, and by then I'd be famished because my lunch time slot at work is at noon. My stomach would be growling through the whole ceremony. And I wouldn't say a word to you, but you can bet my husband and I would be talking up a storm about it from the minute we got the invitation.

aurianna

Do you have many out of town guests? Once my then-FI wanted to go to his cousin's wedding in MN and it was on a Friday... and I went because I was still new and wanted his family to like me... but man... taking one of my very few vacation days to drive from Cedar Rapids, IA to Minneapolis in time for a Friday evening wedding... Sad.
Not a repeat unless it's immediate family or super close friends... almost all of which are already married, so yay.

But if the majority of your guests and their significant others are in town (and if those who aren't have flexible schedules), then it works.
ETA: Though, as some have mentioned, you might want to think about 7 instead of 6. I normally don't get off work until 6. A lot of people probably have the same issue.

wittykitty14

I went to 2, 4pm Friday weddings last summer.  Both were great.  However, I was fortunate that my schedule allowed me to be there.  At one of them, a lot of people didn't go, which was kind of sad.

We're doing a Friday late afternoon/evening wedding.  There were several factors that went into choosing the date, and it just ended up being the best fit for us.  We have been doing everything we can to notify our guests, both OOT and local.  We know for some people it will be a big inconvenience, and we've accepted that some people just won't be able to make it.  We know that if they can't make it, it's not a reflection of how badly they want to come.

Having said all that, I think it's perfectly acceptable to have a Friday wedding.  Just make sure you send STDs, have a website, talk to people in person, etc.  Even local guests will  have to take off some time from work, and people need plenty of time to arrange that, if it's an option. Be prepared for people to not go, even people you're close with.  It will happen.  Don't take it personally, I'm sure everyone you invite will want to be there. Best of luck!

OwningAHome1981

People are more important than money so prepare yourself that if you have a friday night wedding, some people you want to attend might not attend.

OwningAHome1981

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_friday-evening-ceremony-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:77741daf-22dc-4fdd-be00-c2f4172cf8f4Post:184d4280-7752-4551-954c-a0973074d626">Re: Friday evening ceremony & reception</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Friday evening ceremony & reception : <strong>I wouldn't take off work for a wedding unless it were immediate family, no matter how early you announced the date, and I'd be seriously pissed if a friend judged how much I "want to be there" by whether or not I'm willing to take time off work to go to their wedding when THEY chose an inconvenient time and day</strong>.  Why would you have your ceremony at 3 pm if you're going to have it on a Friday?  And why does your reception not start until 6 pm?  Gaps are rude. 
Posted by Viczaesar[/QUOTE]

This.

I generally don't attend friday night weddings. Too hard with work, as I don't get home til 7:30.

heathertims

We are doing a friday wedding, as friday was the only day still available at the venu of our dreams, and the only reason it remotely fit out budget. 

We are doing an outdoor ceremony (at the reception site) and because of the time of year, we will be doing it in the late afternoon. Around 4-4:30, so there is still light outside. This way guests who want to be at the ceremony will not need to take an entire day off.

That being said, I realize not everyone will want to take any time off. We have not recieved any comments yet, but I won't be offended if it happens. 

If people can't make it ( mostly my FI's large and not so close out of town family that was invite just to be polite) I will just have to understand and deal with  the fact that our date and time isnt exactly convinent. I know all my close friend's and family have no issue with this, but it might rule out some "obligatory" invites that don't mean as much to us, but more to other people. 

If one of my close friends was getting married on a friday, I would just make my request at work asap. If i couldn't go to the ceremony, I would try to make the reception. If it was very important for me to be there, i know that i would go out of my way for someone I care about. Then again, I don't go to a lot of weddings, so this isnt a regular occurrence.