Why You Should Consider a Friday Wedding: Benefits and Tips
When planning a wedding, most couples instinctively look at Saturday dates but what if a Friday wedding could offer even more benefits? From cost savings to vendor availability, choosing a Friday wedding date might just be the perfect option for you. Let’s break down the advantages of getting married on a Friday and how to make it work seamlessly for your guests.
The Benefits of a Friday Wedding
1. More Venue & Vendor Availability
Popular wedding venues and top-tier vendors book up quickly for Saturdays, sometimes years in advance. By choosing a Friday wedding, you increase your chances of securing your dream venue, photographer, florist, and other essential vendors without the long wait.
2. Potential Cost Savings
Many venues and vendors offer lower rates for Friday weddings since Saturdays are in high demand. This can help you allocate more of your budget to other priorities—like decor, catering, or an upgraded honeymoon.
3. A Built-in Long Weekend
Your wedding can turn into a full weekend experience! Guests traveling for your wedding can take advantage of an extended stay, and you get more time to celebrate with friends and family.
4. More Intimate Guest List
Since Friday weddings often have a slightly smaller attendance than Saturday weddings, this could be a great option for couples wanting a more intimate celebration with their closest loved ones.
5. Unique Timing for a Fresh Experience
A Friday wedding allows for more flexibility in planning unique events throughout the weekend:
Host a welcome party or rehearsal dinner on Thursday night.
Celebrate your wedding on Friday.
Plan a relaxed brunch or adventure outing on Saturday with guests who stayed.
Enjoy a stress-free Sunday before heading off on your honeymoon.
Tips for Planning a Friday Wedding
1. Give Guests Plenty of Notice
Since Friday weddings require some guests to take a day off work, send Save the Dates early (at least 6-9 months in advance) so they can plan accordingly.
2. Consider a Later Ceremony Start Time
If you’re worried about guests needing time to arrive, consider an evening ceremony (e.g., 5:00 or 6:00 PM) so out-of-town guests can travel in that morning if needed.
3. Be Mindful of Traffic & Timing
Since Friday is a workday for most, plan your timeline to avoid heavy traffic hours, especially in busy city areas or venues with limited parking.
4. Make the Reception Feel Special
If you’re saving money on a Friday wedding, consider adding fun extras like:
A cocktail-style reception for a more social vibe
An extended after-party to keep the night going
A unique guest experience (live music, food trucks, or late-night snacks)
5. Plan a Full Wedding Weekend
Take advantage of the extra time and organize Saturday activities like a casual get-together, brunch, or local adventure. This makes your wedding feel more like a full experience rather than just a single day.
Is a Friday Wedding Right for You?
If you’re looking for a more affordable, flexible, and unique wedding experience, a Friday wedding could be the perfect fit. With smart planning and guest-friendly timing, you can create a memorable celebration that extends beyond just one day.
Thinking about a Friday wedding? Let’s chat about your plans and how I can capture every moment of your day!
Read what my past couples have to say about having a Friday Wedding
Jessica says:
Pros - A weekend to recuperate. Friday’s are cheaper. Like Saturday had a guest minimum of 200 so you had to pay for that many even if you weren’t inviting that many. But Friday’s minimum was 150. More people have the next day off.
Cons - Many people have to take the day off to attend the wedding. Hard for out of town guests.”
Kristin says:
Pros: Cheaper, more venues were available, people didn’t have to work the next day.
Cons: Some people had to work and missed the ceremony.”
Raven says:
Pros - Significantly cheaper for the venue and maybe other vendors and have the whole weekend to celebrate with friends and family before you leave Monday for a honeymoon! I’m very happy I chose a Friday wedding! Overall, great experience!!
Cons - Some people may have to take a half-day at work or leave early to make ceremony although, with enough notice, the majority of guests still made it (start time was 6:30pm)”
Jessica says:
Pros - It was cheaper than having it on Saturday (cheaper minimums for food and drink, venue) You have a whole weekend to recover after you and your guests’ party hard on Friday! Haha Our venue gave us some incentives i.e. late-night snack was comped and so was the ceremony space. The Saturday we wanted was booked so we just moved it up a day, no big deal! It definitely helps to have the ceremony and reception at the same place, makes it easier on guests to just arrive at one place if they are coming from work. All of our vendors were open and very accommodating for our Friday wedding
Cons - In my personal opinion NONE! The only con I can really see is it may be harder for people to get to the ceremony if they are working (if the ceremony is earlier in the day) so they may just show up to the reception”
Have any other tips/advice/thoughts? Drop them in the comments below
Catchfly Photography is a traditional wedding and adventurous elopement photographer based in Highland, MI. Julie Believes in the little details and in between moments. Nature completely inspires Julie and she incorporates nature into almost every photo she takes. Julie travels to photograph traditional weddings and intimate elopements in Michigan’s Upper + Lower Peninsula and Colorado.
