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Wedding Etiquette Forum
Knottie1438022901
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Pro's & con's of Labor Day weekend?
We're looking for some input from others on our final choice of date. We plan to have a Sunday brunch outdoor ceremony & reception in September 2016. Our venue is available all of those dates, so that doesn't impact our choice. We've narrowed our dates to either Sun 11/4 which is Labor Day weekend or Sun 11/18. We're leaning toward 11/4 but would like some other viewpoints before a final decision.
On our "pro" list: Everyone would have a long weekend (those working). People traveling from out of town would have more time for the trip. Travelers could use less vacation time if staying more than the weekend. We'd have an extra day on Monday to relax & spend time with guests that we wouldn't on a regular weekend.
On our "con" list: People might not want to take their final holiday of the Summer for our wedding. It might impose on people who have some kind of tradition of things they do for the holiday weekend.
The only school-aged child who'll be at the wedding is local & nobody is a teacher, so back-to-school after Labor Day shouldn't be a factor for us.
What are your thoughts? Thanks!
On our "pro" list: Everyone would have a long weekend (those working). People traveling from out of town would have more time for the trip. Travelers could use less vacation time if staying more than the weekend. We'd have an extra day on Monday to relax & spend time with guests that we wouldn't on a regular weekend.
On our "con" list: People might not want to take their final holiday of the Summer for our wedding. It might impose on people who have some kind of tradition of things they do for the holiday weekend.
The only school-aged child who'll be at the wedding is local & nobody is a teacher, so back-to-school after Labor Day shouldn't be a factor for us.
What are your thoughts? Thanks!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Pro's & con's of Labor Day weekend?
1. Not everyone has Labor Day off. Government and bank employees do, but those in the service industry, retail jobs, healthcare, etc. generally don't (or aren't guaranteed it off - my family members in the healthcare industry have to rotate and work every other holiday).
2. There may be only one school age child attending, but will there be only one family attending (that family) that has school age children? Because even if the children aren't invited, the parents are likely doing last minute school shopping and prep and if their kids are in sports those sports have likely already started practice before school even officially starts.
But, it's a know your crowd thing. I usually don't do anything for this holiday, but my cousin who has six kids is crazy busy, and my best friend goes to his cabin and has a family reunion every Labor Day. So in most circumstances, I wouldn't have an issue with a Labor Day weekend wedding, though only if it were local. If your wedding involved driving an hour or more, I may skip it because this is huge cabin country and what is normally a one hour drive is guaranteed to be two and half between traffic and construction.
Basically, it's a know your crowd thing and check with your VIPs. As long as you're aware of the potential higher decline rate from everyone else and okay with that, there's nothing inherently wrong with a Labor Day wedding.
If you're set on a Sunday, you will still probably have a better response when more people automatically have the next day off. Sunday parties are not my fave.
That said, my cousin is getting married this coming 9/4, and I think my friend already has 2 competing weddings for that weekend, so it's a common thing!
I'd rather have a wedding scheduled Memorial Day Weekend... or Fourth of July weekend... Or Teacher's Vacation weekend... New Year's...
As others have said, not everyone gets Labor Day off. Police/Fire/EMS/Service Industry/Healthcare.. For some it's a bigger ordeal to get that weekend off because the entire weekend is treated like a holiday... And, it's not just your family - you're also asking vendors to work a Holiday weekend. While some vendors work Sundays, others don't. You're asking each and every worker at your wedding (Florist, Baker, Caterer, Bartender, etc.) to give up their holiday weekend as well.
Obviously, if your heart is set on that date, nothing anyone posts is going to change that. Also, just because you're planning for a sunny Sunday outdoors for brunch doesn't mean you aren't going to have Severe Thunderstorms and 115 degrees in the shade, and let's not forget bugs, lots and lots of little annoying gnats - in the frosting. You need a backup plan! We've had too many brides over the years post that the 7-day shows rain all day and they didn't plan for it. Think about those details before you formally book your venue!
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And major eye roll at the idea that you're forcing your vendors to give up their holiday. They will either be glad for the work and take the job, charge a premium, or turn down the wedding. Labor Day weekend is a really busy wedding weekend and I think most vendors are going to be fine with it.
I am having a wedding in less than two weeks where we picked Columbus day, because some VIP's (my brother who will be walking me, and his sister's husband a GM) will be able to travel and still have Monday off. but Me and my FI don't have Columbus day off normally so I know many guests won't.
We are also contending with kids sports Football, Soccer, Band.. people are busy all year, families and students. If a Sunday brunch fits your style and your guests style go for it. there are lots of reasons people won't make it no matter when it is planned for, just give plenty of notice so that the people that do make plans that weekend can decide to not take the trip if they want to make your wedding.
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You may like long weekend weddings, but many people prefer to make their own plans for long weekends, and finding out that they're invited to a wedding with potential hurt feelings if they go through with their normal plans instead makes them feel hurt and resentful that someone else seems to be calling the shots regarding scheduling.
Also, if they were looking forward to a getaway or a staycation over a 3 day weekend to relax and de-stress, now they can't do that if they feel that they have to attend a wedding, especially if one or both principals are close friends or family members, because it will damage relationships if they don't.
Yes, they technically have the right not to go, but if not going is likely to damage relationships, exercising that right might be more trouble than they feel it's worth.
Huh? No, that's not my point at all. I think most vendors are happy for the work they get! And if they don't want to for whatever personal reason they just say not.