The Weekday Wedding

You want your wedding date to be meaningful. Maybe you want to commemorate the anniversary of the day you met or the day the question was popped. Maybe you want to get married on a special date like 12-12-12. Meaningful days don't always fall neatly on weekends, so if you're contemplating a weekday wedding, here are some tips to make it a success.

Cater to Family and Friends

Are your families grumbling about reserving mid-week time for your celebration? To be fair, it can be hard for guests to take time off of work and school to attend your soiree. Make an extra effort to be gracious and let your guests know how much you appreciate them taking time out of their busy schedule. If important guests absolutely can't attend, you'll need to make a tough decision between securing your preferred date and enjoying their presence. The sooner you send your save-the-date cards, the more planning time your guests will have, so if you suspect your wedding date might pose difficulties for some guests, let them know as soon as possible. Destination weddings are the exception to this rule, as travel to and from faraway destinations usually takes more than a weekend.  

With enough advance notice, your guests should be able to plan around your wedding regardless of the date it falls on. However, if some guests are still giving you a hard time, don't fret. Calmly inform them of your reasons; most people will understand the importance of celebrating on a meaningful date, or the necessary constraints of a budget. Let your guests know how much their presence means to you, and offer to help them by arranging for airport rides, babysitters, or other conveniences. If someone important absolutely can't attend, you can schedule a time after the honeymoon to get together and catch up over the wedding photo album.

Save (on) The Date!

One great piece of news is that weekday weddings are cheaper. You've probably already compared price lists with your venue and vendors and been pleasantly surprised. While weekends, especially wedding-season weekends and holiday weekends, are always in high demand, mid-week dates take much longer to fill up. You'll get to skip the jostling with other eager brides and grooms for popular dates, and not only get your first pick for your location, but you won't have to share the limelight with other weddings on your big day. Don't be too timid to try bargaining, either; many businesses are only too happy to accommodate weddings at less crowded times. Expect to save up to fifty percent over weekend weddings. (With your extra cash, you can offer to buy a plane ticket for any still-reluctant relatives.)

Weeknight Celebrations

Because rates are lower across the board, weeknight weddings can offer a much more lavish celebration. Your guests won't think twice about what day of the week it is once they step into your elegantly-decorated wedding and are handed a glass of top-notch champagne.

The trick to keeping your guests happy is giving them plenty of advance notice so they can plan their week around attending your wedding, and holding your reception early enough in the evening (four or five in the afternoon is good) so guests can stay for hours and still get a good night's sleep. The later in the week your celebration is, the easier it usually is for guests to attend. Keep this in mind if you're still undecided on a Monday or a Friday celebration.

Your Own Private Space

Do you ever wish you could afford your own private beach, or buy out an entire club for your event? If you plan around peak hours, you can party like you own the place. Public parks and beaches are much less crowded on weekdays, especially during work hours, and club venues still have breathing room earlier in the week. Make a few calls to the location's management and ask when the least crowded times are. Use the same approach for your engagement photo shoot, and you won't be stuck Photoshopping tourists out of the background of your perfect sunset kiss.

Weekend Honeymoons

If you and your honey don't have a lot of vacation time, a weekday wedding can kick off a fantastic weekend honeymoon. Start your festivities with a ceremony and reception Wednesday or Thursday, and you'll have everything taken care of and ready to go for a long weekend somewhere special.

Lately, weekday weddings have risen in popularity, so you'll be in good company if you choose the weekday route. No matter what day of the week your celebration falls on, you and your guests are sure to have a good time if you plan with care and enthusiasm. Congratulations!