Should you select a holiday weekend for your wedding?

 

2014 Fourth of July Wedding

 

When I first started in the Wedding Industry a Holiday Weekend Wedding as very rare, we didn’t have things like destination weddings, which require guests to take a long weekend.  Perhaps the most we would see them would be with certain cultures/religions as they do have specific dates they seek for wedding dates, I have worked several Jewish Weddings where three day weekends work as they need to marry on a Sunday night and thus allowing their friends to not work the next day.  However times are changing and so are trends.

When people used to consider a holiday weekend wedding it used to be strictly taboo, you were taking people away from Family and their private celebrations, but today with people having extended families with their friends people are much more forgiving, but it is important to realize the Holiday has both positive and negative effects on your special day:  

Possible Negatives:

If you are planning a wedding on the holiday this may affect your overall pricing with your vendors- some charge a Holiday Rate or Holiday Tax that will increase your bottom line.

Your guests may have to pay higher rates in their airfare, hotel rates, and car rentals in order to join you on this special day. Most hotels do not offer room block special rates on holiday weekends, this affects you and your family too if you are staying overnight!

Guests may already have family plans and not attend the event, this means lower guest count which could impact your food and beverage requirements.

Possible Positives:

For families that live far apart it allows more time to celebrate together before and after the “I-DO’s”

Holiday weekends make it much more acceptable to hold the wedding on a Sunday versus a Saturday, which could cut costs significantly. (Maybe!)

Most businesses are closed on major holidays such as Memorial Day, Labor Day and Independence Day. This means most guests will not have to take an extra day off and may enjoy the time away from home.

What You Should Consider:

Will you be upset if people do not attend based on the holiday?

Get your save the date and your invitation out early! This will help friends and family to make plans with plenty of time to book flights, hotels and possible rental cars.

You do not have to allow the holiday to dictate your theme, for example Fourth of July does not mean you have to have a red white and blue wedding.

Does this affect your budget in a positive or negative way?

What You Can Do For Your Guest:

Host a Welcome Dinner the night before for all your guests, or even a Social Hour to Welcome them to town, this will cut back on their expenses and allows them to see how great it is they came out on this holiday weekend.

Create a welcome bag for the hotel complete with local holiday attractions they may wish to check out.

Host a farewell brunch, again this cuts back on their expenses.

In the end all couples need to be happy with the date they choose regardless of when that will be, there are always going to be positive and negatives to any potential date, but if you are happy that is the beginning to a beautiful day for you as a couple and your family and friends!