August 2012 Weddings

Friday Weddings anyone?

Hi Everybody! I just got engaged on Christmas Eve! We are looking to do a Friday wedding on 8/24/12.  Does anyone have any ideas about ceremony times? I'm worried about people having to take off work to arrive at the wedding and also getting caught in rush hour traffic?  I was thinking of doing a 6pm Ceremony that put the Reception at 8, It will be dark for outside pictures by then does anyone have any suggestions?
Posted by christenwinkfield

Re: Friday Weddings anyone?

  • we are having a friday wedding but a bit earlier in August (08-10-12). We chose to have the ceremony at 4p with the reception to follow at 6p.

    We really didn't take into consideration whether or not people would have to take time off of work. If we were important to them, (as they were important to us to be invited) then they will make it if they can.

    We also thought that if needed they can at least show up for the reception if need be.
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  • We are having our wedding on August 24th.  It will be a catholic ceremony so we are having mass at 3:30. Our reception place is about 20 minutes away and it will start at 6:30 :)
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  • We are doing a Friday wedding thinking maybe 3:30 then 6 or 6:30 for reception since its a bit of a drive too reception we want to do first looks need to talk to our photographer to nail down the time. We are figuring if it's important they will take time out of work like my date twin said 8-10-12.
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  • I had the same worry you did about people making it so we picked a venue that was easily accessible to the majority of our guests and set the ceremony time for 6:00 which will put dinner at 7:30 but we're having a cocktail hour between so people won't be starving.

    In August it stay light out much later than this time of the year so depending on when your ceremony is it may not be a problem. If you want a later ceremony you could always do pictures outside before people get there.

    Congratulations on the engagements & happy planning :)
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  • 8/24/12 is my wedding date too!!  We're doing church at 4, Cocktail hour at 7 then reception at 8.  I know theres alot of time inbetween the church and cocktail hour but alot of our guests are from out of town so I wanted to give them time to get to the hotel then they can jump on the shuttle and go over to the reception. 
  • If you are doing this to cut costs, would you consider Saturday daytime?  I didn't think it was a good thing but now I'm thankful I did it.
  • Our ceremony and reception are at the same place.

    Ceremony: 4:30
    Cocktail Hour: 5:00-6:00
    Reception: 7:00-10:00

    Venue wants us out by 11, so they can reset for the next day.

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  • I am doing Friday August 31. Ceremony and reception are at the same location and is schedule to start at 6pm.  Giving people enough notice that your wedding is on a Friday shouldnt be an issue.  We are sending our STD next weekend and it cleary states FRIDAY.  I also called a lot of my family once we selected our date and advised them as well.  I was concerned about people being stuck in traffic as well but I had to do what I can afford. 
  • We are getting married 8/10/12. Our ceremony starts at 6, followed by cockatil hour and then the reception starting at 8. Half are coming from out of town, so they obviously wouldn't be working, and the ones who are in town are either in the wedding party, or family. (We are having a smaller wedding, about 50). Oh, and we saved a TON of money by having it on a Friday!  
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  • We are doing Friday 8/3... our ceremony & reception will be at the same venue. Ceremony at 6:30, cocktail hour from 7-8, dinner at 8ish, and then dancing until 12:30 or 1.
  • Thanks for all the feed back! Thats a great idea alot of my guest are from out of town as well and I wondered how they can have time to utilize the shuttle at the hotel to avoid the parking fee at the reception. I have been considering first look photos but call me crazy I love the idea of walking down the aisle and seeing his face for the first time.  Friday weddings are great for budget but sometimes they can cause such a time crunch. I agree that if we are important people will just take off of work. A good friend once told me to realize that its my wedding and If I want to start ceremony at 4 then that is what I should do. I may comprise and go for 5:30 instead of 6. We shall see!

    And Congrats to all August Wedding and Friday Night brides :)
  • edited January 2012
    We are about to book our venue for 8/24/2012.  We most likely will book the ceremony (at the venue) at 4 pm, then have cocktail hour and reception at 6.  Our venue is about an hour away which poses a concern for people to get stuck in traffic, leave work early, etc.  However, after over looking the guest list and really think about the people who I know will definitly come to my wedding, a lof of them are retired, some are traveling from a different state, and a couple are teachers and students are out of school so I know they will be able to attend.  Plus, some people get out of work early on a Friday (say 1:00 or 1:30 pm) and will be able to attend.  Besides, since our venue is part of a resort, we get a discount if we book 10 rooms and guests will have the choice to stay over the hotel on Friday night and not rush home.  Then they get the whole weekend to do whatever they want.  We are not sure of a couple of friends, but since its a small amount of people, its ok if they are late and only come for the reception.  We thought we only wanted a Saturday wedding but we realized Friday nights are getting more and more popular.  :) Yay for Friday weddings!
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