wedding budget

Getting Married on a Weekday

Planning your wedding can be both exhilarating and stressful at times. One of the first things you need to do, is to choose your wedding date and this will often be dictated by availability and budget. Many a couple have viewed a venue and completely fallen in love with it, only to be told it’s either not available on their preferred date, or it’s out of their budget. It can be upsetting, especially when you have your heart set on it. But there is still hope. One big thing you can do is to consider saying ‘I Do’ on a weekday instead of the traditional choice of a Saturday.

Indeed today, more and more couples are opting for weekday nuptials for a whole variety of reasons and while it can mean big savings and securing the venue of your dreams, bear in mind it will also have other consequences for your wedding day.

As an award-winning wedding planner, I’ve organised many weekday and weekend weddings for my happy couples over the years and ultimately the decision of which you go for has to come down to what you both want as a couple and what’s going to feel right for your closest family and friends; as these are the people you want with you on this most special day.

If you’d like to chat through your wedding ideas or want to find out how I can help bring your wedding dreams to life, then please don’t hesitate to contact me.

 

The Pros of Getting Married on a Weekday

  • There really are terrific savings to be had on wedding venues and packages if you decide to get married on a weekday and even more so if it’s ‘out of season.’ So if you are on a budget, then it’s well worth considering, as you can get much more bang for your buck and a more luxurious venue.
  • Many wedding venues can book out on Saturdays up to a year in advance and if your preferred wedding venue is booked out on Saturdays, then it’s worth checking about weekday availability.
  • If going for a weekday wedding is not your preferred choice, but your dream venue is only available on a weekday, try and see if they have a Friday available as it can be a good compromise for your guests, as opposed to say a Wednesday when they have to get back to work on the Thursday or Friday.
  • As well as savings on the venue itself, you’re likely to find a whole variety of wedding vendors may give better rates or throw in extras for weekday bookings.
  • A weekday wedding is ideal for a more intimate affair and feels less generic. In fact getting married on a weekday can feel unique and special.

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The Cons of Getting Married on a Weekday

  • The biggest issue with getting married on a weekday is the impact it is going to have on your guests getting the time off work and/or taking the kids out of school.
  • Depending on which weekday you go for, bear in mind it will in all likelihood mean guests taking two days off work, depending on where the wedding is and this can ask a lot of those who are outside your family and very close friends.
  • If you are getting married on a weekday, then you’ll need to send out a save the date card well in advance to give your guests the maximum notice so they can secure the time off.
  • Your final wedding numbers may end up being significantly smaller than you anticipated which can have an effect on your wedding package rates.
  • Take into account rush hour and lunch time traffic, as well as school collection traffic all of which will be at its peak on a weekday and can impact you or your guests getting to the wedding on time.

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Advantages of a Small Wedding

A large wedding is not something every couple wants for their special day. While some weddings can run in excess of 300 people, the average wedding size tends to be in and around the 100/150 mark. But many couples opt to keep things much more intimate with smaller numbers attending, choosing to only include their very close family and best friends.

While a small wedding might not be the ‘norm’, it is certainly full of fantastic possibilities to make it truly unique and special. From access to a wider range of incredible venues, to budgetary impacts, to the food, décor and much more, small weddings have so much going for them.

If you’d like to chat about how I can lend my award-winning wedding planning services to your intimate wedding day celebrations, then don’t hesitate to get in touch.

 

Budget
There’s two ways of looking at how a small wedding can impact on your budget. First, if you’re looking to keep things more economical, then a smaller wedding will of course yield plenty of savings across the board, then you would have with a larger party.

However, smaller weddings also mean you get essentially more bang for your buck and if budgetary reasons aren’t the main driver behind why you’re having a more intimate affair, then you can really splash out on more incredible food, décor and venue options.

 

 

Small Gathering
For many couples, the whole idea behind having a smaller wedding is that they want their closest family and friends around them on their big day. It can make for a much more relaxed atmosphere, akin to a family dinner or occasion, rather than something that can feel too big and overwhelming. Also smaller weddings mean you can spend more time with each of your guests and your new husband or wife, rather than spending the entire day and night trying to have a few quick words with everyone.

 

 

Venue
Often times, couples will automatically look for a hotel with an appropriate sized room for their wedding venue. However, if you’re having a more intimate celebration, then this opens up a whole host of new venues to you. Consider your favourite restaurants, or museums and galleries. Also don’t forget that a smaller group means that it is easier to have your wedding abroad.

 

Food
Food can be somewhat formulaic at larger weddings, especially when your each the 300 or more mark. When you’ve got a smaller party, you can really have fun with the food. From splurging on Michelin starred food, to family style platters or nibbles, the sky is the limit.

 

 

More Creativity
Finally, smaller weddings will allow you to channel your creativity in different ways. You’ll be thinking of ways to include favours or activities that the entire, smaller group can get involved in, rather than something that has more mass appeal. More intimate venues can also take a different sort of décor and music options, as you don’t have to go for the usual larger band set ups.