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Opinions about Labor Day Weekend Weddings
I am newly engaged, and my fiance and I are planning a very untraditional, and unique wedding. That being said, we are also trying to save our pennies for a house, so we are looking to cut costs at the wedding in numerous ways. How do people feel about a Sunday evening wedding on the weekend on Labor Day? Most people have off on Labor Day Monday, so we are thinking it would be a perfect opportunity to still have an evening reception, and still give people a break. Thoughts?
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Re: Opinions about Labor Day Weekend Weddings
One of my best friends did this this year and it was perfect. No problem for me at all. But it may annoy some guests that typically go away for the long weekend each year.
I just booked my wedding for the Sunday of Labor Day weekend 2011. If you really want to do it, start looking at places now because I wanted Sunday night of Memorial Day weekend 2011 and it was booked at many venues.
We are doing it because my entire family is coming from out of state and we didn't want anyone to miss work to come to our wedding. The local people would have preferred the Saturday of a regular weekend but it was a compromise to allow more out of town guests to attend. Plus everyone loves a holiday weekend near NYC!
Beware, Sunday of Holiday weekends are only about $10 less per person because they are in such high demand. Unless you go with an afternoon wedding on a Sunday then you can save more.
If your entire family is in town, then stick with the traditional Saturday unless you want to save the extra $1 to $2K then go with a Sunday night of a holiday weekend. But most local people want the Saturday.
Look and see what works best for you and for your guests, then go from there.
i'm just not generally a fan of sunday weddings, but it's obviously much better when you know most guests will have the following monday off
You might want to verify that you'll get a discount having it on a holiday weekend. When I was looking at places, I asked if the prices were less expensive, I was told "no" at various places - they said a Sunday night of a holiday weekend was equivalent to a Saturday night of a normal weekend so there is no discount. If you're looking to save money, you might want to look into daytime weddings as the prices were less money at the places I looked.
So if this is something you really want, go for it and don't worry what others think, it is *your* wedding. Those that are important will come.
If you wanted to have the wedding on that Monday, yes that would be bad. We have friends who are planning their wedding for Monday, July 5th 2010 b/c "everyone is off that day". Yes, but not the next day, idiots!
And Brad, it's an invitation, not a subpoena. If you don't like the date the couple chose, don't go! DH and I are considering not going to the 7/5/10 wedding and don't feel bad about it one bit.
ETA: I do have to agree with Brad on one thing: the prices aren't going to be THAT much lower for a Holiday Weekend Sunday b/c it almost = Saturday. Your best bet for the lowest prices are off-season (November-March, but the absolute lowest prices are in January IME) and/or Friday/Sunday/Saturday daytime (12-5PM) of a non-holiday weekend.
And Brad, besides myself, I don't know ANYONE who got a (new) wedding dress below $500... and mine was $499.99 :P so you really need to shut your mouth on a subject you a) know nothing about and b) does not pertain to you.
Maybe I'm going to sound like an ungrateful b1tch bride, but if they aren't that close to you and have those recurring plans, they shouldn't expect you know what their schedules are like. I just don't feel it should be the bride's concern, lol. Send out very early STDs (like, 9 months!) and let them make a decision about what do do that weekend.
Brad, you gave some great money saving tips, but what was your reason for disliking holiday weekend weddings? Do you have recurring plans with your family or just hate traffic? Not asking to be a nudge, just wondering what other objections there would be
That being said, I wouldn't complain if it were a close friend. But in general, I find them to be annoying and more costly (for hotel, travel arrangements, etc).
The people who want to be there will! I sent out STDs a year in advance and I had a couple of people say they couldn't make it because they planned weekend trips skiing. Hmm... easy way to figure out who your true friends are quickly!
[QUOTE]It really wouldn't bother me at all. I prefer this over a Sunday or Friday night wedding. Like other people said, just stay away from the shore.
Posted by kewltif[/QUOTE]
<div>This. I don't see how it is any less convenient, particularly for out of town guests, than a Friday or Sunday night wedding. Weddings are inconvenient.</div>
http://www.camillelavie.com/c-prodsub.cfm?gid=9&cid=2
[QUOTE]yup no dresses on here less than $500, oh wait, half of them are, and look as nice or better than any Kleinfeld dress <a href="http://www.camillelavie.com/c-prodsub.cfm?gid=9&cid=2" rel="nofollow">http://www.camillelavie.com/c-prodsub.cfm?gid=9&cid=2</a>
Posted by brad1431[/QUOTE]
Brad, how many times have you tried on dresses at Kleinfeld's? How many times have you seen those Camille La Vie dresses in person? And how many times have you looked at those dresses next to, say, a Carolina Herrera dress? I agree that not going for a super expensive dress is a great way to cut your budget, but I think it is silly to think that in person the fabric and stiching and beading and such of a Group USA dress will necessarily look as nice as that of a designer dress.
Also, some people want more than $500 worth of flowers etc. to get the look they want for their reception. If it was as easy as you suggest to cut your budget without making sacrifices, I would imagine a lot more girls on this board would get married on Saturday nights instead of Sundays or Fridays.
[QUOTE]and for the person who asked, FI and only get 2 weeks vacation and we go away with family EVERY single labor day, 4th of july and memorial day weekends. It is our only time to get away without using vacation, so thanks for taking that away from us
Posted by brad1431[/QUOTE]
Last time I checked a wedding is an invitation, not a requirement. You don't have to go if you don't want to or can't. Most people having a holiday weekend wedding understand that they may have a few less guests because of the weekend they chose.
[QUOTE]I would much rather not have ridiculously tall floral CP that no one wants to take home or those stupid branch ones, than inconvenience my guests and ruin their holiday weekend, but that is just me.
Posted by brad1431[/QUOTE]
And if I have to go to a Sunday wedding, I would much prefer for it to be on a holiday weekend because (a) we avoid holiday weekend travel like the plague usually (I'd be happy to have a wedding as an excuse to stay in town without feeling lame); and (b) the day at work after a Sunday wedding is vicious. I'm sorry, but if going to someone's wedding would "ruin" your holiday weekend, maybe the people getting married aren't really important to you?
Weddings are inconvenient no matter how you slice it. You have to travel, or leave work early or take the day off, be tired at work the next day, deal with a long gap between the ceremony and the reception, etc. etc. I don't think I've ever gone to a wedding that wasn't inconvenient in some way. I also don't think I've been to a wedding -- even a very inconvenient one -- that ruined my anything.
I would be interested to hear how not one of your guests is being inconvenienced in any way, Brad.