My Tucson Wedding

Saturday is by far the most desired day for weddings, but Fridays and Sundays are becoming much more popular, and even Thursday evening weddings. Some of the reasons are cost savings but there are also many other reasons you may want to consider having your wedding on a Friday, or Sunday.  Let’s consider the advantages of having your wedding on a Friday:

1. Shorter Booking Time

With the most popular venues booking over a year and a half in advance, especially for Fall and Spring Saturdays in Tucson, it makes it difficult to find an open Saturday especially if you are looking for a date 9 to 12 months out. To make matters worse, it’s even harder if there’s one particular site you’ve set your heart on.

2. Cost Savings

Cost savings are one advantage, not only for the bridal party but also for your guest. Lower airfares are often available for your out-of-town guests. Hotels and restaurants may require a lower minimum number of guests for off-day weddings. If your budget is tight, these advantages can make a difference.

3. More Time With Family

Another reason for the growing popularity of Friday weddings is the opportunity to spend more time with your family and friends. With most guests leaving or flying out on Sunday, a Friday event provides all day Saturday to spend time together with loved ones. Some plan special activities, Golf, sight seeing, etc. or even a U of A football game to entice your out-of town guests. Holiday weekends make for great choices too as this allows your guests to have a longer stay.

Deborah McCoy, wedding specialist, has this to say, “Clients might balk, saying that it’s difficult for out-of-town family and friends to make it, however, it’s been my experience that people have no problem taking an extra day off from work. Besides, the people who are important to the bride and groom-family and close friends-will make it.”

4. Easier to Move your Wedding Day

If you have to postpone your wedding or switch dates, it is much easier to find a Friday open close to the date that you are looking for. This is especially true for if you don’t have a lot of time for wedding planning and preparation, or if a sudden job move or other unexpected event makes you advance your plans.

5. A Special Anniversary Date

The anniversary factor can also have you setting up an off-day wedding. When a particular date (like the one-year anniversary of his proposal) is more important than a Saturday time frame, you should not let tradition stand in the way of significance. Many people take dates like 9/9/09 or 10/10/10 over a year in advance because of this reason, even if it falls on a day other than Saturday.

Off-day weddings also appeal because bridal professionals are more likely to be available when there are fewer demands on their time and attention. Florist, photographers, bakers, etc.

6. Rehearsal is Easy

Restaurants are usually thrilled to have rehearsal dinners booked on Thursdays or other evenings during the week, since those are typically their slower business days. You will find a more relaxed atmosphere and the staff will be more attentive to your party’s needs.

7. More Time to Decorate

Friday weddings usually allow for more time to decorate the day before as there are much fewer Thursday weddings. This can allow your family and friends after a Thursday evening rehearsal to decorate to their hearts content.

8. More of a Reunion

Guests many times like Friday weddings because they don’t have to face a workday to soon after a night of celebration. The wedding becomes more like a reunion than a quick ceremony. People aren’t in a major rush to go directly from a wedding to a honeymoon. It gives your wedding guest an excuse to take a day off also.

9. Churches Easier to Book

If you are getting married at a Catholic Church it is easier to find a church open or a priest available on a Friday for your ceremony.

“Catholic clients, who are being married in the church, will be pleased to know that many churches perform late afternoon and early evening weddings in church on Fridays (unlike Saturdays, where weddings are held earlier in the day).”   Deborah McCoy

Many people take advantage of having their ceremony outside at Saguaro Buttes but you may want to have a priest perform your ceremony and they are only allowed to do so in the church.

Friday Weddings are catching on, and becoming more popular, and it may be something to consider as you plan for that important day.

Trackback this Post | Feed on comments to this Post