Wedding Wednesdays: Pros and Cons of a Sunday or Friday Wedding Date

It’s no secret that Saturdays take the cake for the most popular day of the week to get married. According to The Knot, 7 in 10 weddings take place on a Saturday. Saturday weddings remain popular for obvious reasons: They give out-of-town guests enough buffer time to travel to and from the wedding location, and provide everyone a chance to recuperate on Sunday. But being a highly sought after day of the week does have its downsides. The easiest way to guarantee higher wedding vendor rates is to choose a Saturday during peak wedding season (typically between May and October, during which nearly 80 percent of couples say "I do"). Here are a few of The Knot's pros and cons of getting married on Friday, Sunday or really any non-Saturday wedding date.

Pro: There Are More Options
At many wedding ceremony and reception sites, Saturdays are booked a year or more in advance. If you have your heart set on one of these popular venues, an off-day wedding could be the right alternative for you, especially if you’re planning within a tight timeline.

Con: More Guests Than Expected Might Have to RSVP "No"
There's no getting around the fact that weeknights and Sundays are hard to plan for. Whether it's work, school, religious obligations or travel logistics, any number of factors could prevent your nearest and dearest from being able to make the trek for your nuptials. With a Friday or Sunday event, be prepared to receive a few more "regrets" than you would for a Saturday wedding.

Pro: You’ll Save Money on Vendors
The more popular the wedding day, the more expensive pros and services will be. So in an effort to book their space that would otherwise remain empty, some reception venues may offer the same sit-down dinner on Sunday for a lot less money than it does on a Saturday. It's a simple case of supply and demand: You'll have better luck negotiating lower rates with vendors if there aren't five other couples lined up behind you, ready to take your spot.

Con: You'll Have Some Late Arrivals and/or Early Departures
All of that said, a few guests might not be able to make the ceremony—either on time or at all. On the other end, some may have to skip out right after the meal and toasts to head home (unless you consider a Sunday brunch wedding). You'll just need to be a little more flexible, which is totally doable.

Pro: You Can Start Early or Party Late
Going off the beaten path lets you get creative with your wedding events. In an effort to be considerate of your traveling guests, you’ll want to start a Friday wedding later in the evening to give everyone a chance to get there. On the flip side, you should make a Sunday wedding earlier so your guests can get home with time to spare. Serve an elegant champagne brunch reception on Sunday that wraps up no later than 5 p.m. Or you’re free to party later into the night on Friday with two whole days to recover (yes, please). And your morning-after brunch on Saturday won’t feel quite so rushed without the Sunday scaries to dampen the mood.

Consider these pros and cons when selecting your wedding date and devour the details of planning your big day while maintaining your budget!