Yay or Nay: Weddings on Holiday Weekends?
Thursday October 16, 2008
After much deliberation, newly-engaged friends of mine decided to have their wedding at the bucolic country setting of the bride's mother's house. But like many other wedding decisions, this one only raised more questions. Since it would be a destination wedding for almost all of their guests, should they schedule the wedding for Labor Day weekend?
They couldn't decide if guests would be pleased to have the extra time in the country, or annoyed to have to give up their holiday weekend. They polled friends, who seemed wishy-washy; "We'd love to come to your wedding whenever!" So they turned to me, and fortunately, I have an emphatic opinion on Holiday Weekend weddings:
Don't do it. Here's why:
They couldn't decide if guests would be pleased to have the extra time in the country, or annoyed to have to give up their holiday weekend. They polled friends, who seemed wishy-washy; "We'd love to come to your wedding whenever!" So they turned to me, and fortunately, I have an emphatic opinion on Holiday Weekend weddings:
Don't do it. Here's why:
- More Money Travel is way more expensive on a holiday weekend. Those same wishy-washy guests may have a different opinion when they realize that your wedding is going to cost them a hundred dollars (or more) than they'd planned.
- More Crazy If your wedding is taking place in or near a vacation destination, your guests will spend a lot of their weekend away fighting traffic and crowds.
- Less Relaxing Haven't you all agreed to a three-day weekend trip, only to discover you'd really rather be relaxing at home than taking such a short getaway? That feeling is magnified when going to a location that you didn't choose.
- No Cost Savings Most of the other major wedding sites advocate holiday weekend weddings for the cost savings you'll see from your vendors. But when helping with a Labor Day wedding this year, I saw a couple frustrated that there weren't better deals out there for them. Perhaps too many other couples have read this same advice, or perhaps the vendors would really rather have a weekend away themselves.
- No Added Ease of Travel Those same major wedding websites say that guests will appreciate the day to travel, rather than taking a day off of work. If most three day weekends meant a day off of work on Friday, you might be able to convince me that this is true. But unless you're having a Sunday evening wedding, that Monday day off doesn't mean anything. Your guests will most likely be home by then. And since for most couples, at least half of their guests live nearby, that extra day for travel doesn't mean anything at all.
Comments
I think its better to say nay. People like their holiday weekends and many times have annual things that they like to do on them.
Chuck
TheWeddingLens.com
I think it depends. I was planning on having a memorial day weekend wedding, and didn’t really think twice about it. I am having a mainly family event, and I would have been spending that Saturday with them anyway.
I would suggest that people definitely avoid a holiday weekend for a bunch of reasons.
Can’t name them all but the ones that come to mind:
a) There is a higher likelihood that there will be scheduling conflicts
b) Traveling can be horrible on the holidays
c) People will resent it (but won’t say so to your face)
Especially avoid valentine’s Day at all costs unless you plan on not having flowers
We just had our wedding on Labour Day long weekend, and our friends thanked us for having it at a time that allowed them to have extra travel time. Just an idea. If people are driving, 2 days isn’t as accessible.
My fiance and I are thinking of having our wedding on Labour day weekend, but the Friday. It saves SO much money for us. People have tons of time to plan, invites go out 3 months before right? You asre never going to make everyone happy. Do it when you want especially if that day has special meaning to you as a couple as our day does.
definately agree on the nay. i would definately rather attend a wedding on a regular weekend instead of shorten what otherwise would have been a relaxing long weekend!