This entry is from our Expert Guest series where wedding and honeymoon professionals share their best tips on creating memories that last a lifetime….

So you’ve just said “Yes” to the love of your life and now your ready to start planning your wedding. One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is setting the date for your wedding. You may naturally start looking though your calendar at all of the Saturdays and Sundays around the time you’d like to get married, but have you ever thought of having a midweek wedding?

You might be thinking, “Who would attend a mid-week wedding?”, but the truth is that weekday weddings are becoming more and more popular. If you are planning on having a wedding during the week, here are a couple of things to consider:

When Planning a Midweek Wedding, Be Sure To…

1. Give your guests plenty of notice

One of the biggest things to consider when planning a midweek wedding is giving your guests plenty of notice. Having your wedding on a weekday means that your guests will need to get time off work, so send out your save the dates and invitations as early as possible to ensure that guests can arrange time off work and have plenty of time to plan ahead for your wedding.

2. Be prepared for fewer affirmative RSVP’s

Some of your guests won’t be able to come because of work or other commitments. By giving your guests lots of time to prepare you can help increase your number of RSVP’s, but be ready and understanding if not everyone can come. Weekdays are busy for most people, so be prepared for some of your guests to not be able to attend your wedding because of work or other commitments.

3. Be flexible on the time your wedding starts

If you’re worried about guests not being able to make it to your wedding on a work day you could consider a twilight ceremony. Starting your wedding later in the afternoon will give your guests enough time to do what they need to during the day oreven come into town so they can attend your wedding at night.

4. Show your guests some extra love

Your guests are likely to have sacrificed something to come to your wedding so remember to show them some love and let them know how grateful you are that they took the time out of their usual routine to attend your wedding.

The Many Advantages of A Midweek Wedding

If you’re starting to think that a mid-week wedding might be too hard, check out these benefits of a mid-week wedding. You might change your mind.

1. Weekday weddings can save you money

More often than not, weekday weddings are cheaper than weekend weddings. Some of your biggest expenses such as your venue hire and catering can be significantly cheaper if you book a weekday wedding. Who doesn’t want to save a bit of money!? You could use the money you save to make your guests feel extra special, splurge on your honeymoon. or add some extra details to your wedding decor.

2. Your choice of venues just got bigger

If your dream venue doesn’t have a weekend available for another two years, it might have a weekday available. Choosing to get married on a Monday or Thursday is likely to open up more options for wedding venues. So take your pick!

3. Lock in your dream vendors

Some of the best vendors such as photographers, furniture hire companies and florists often book out on weekends. Getting married on a weekday will give you more options of the vendors to use at your wedding.

4. Your guests get a day off work

5. Save money on your honeymoon

Flights and accommodation are often cheaper on weekdays. If you’re honeymoon was starting to look a little too expensive, a weekday wedding might help bring down the costs.

Your wedding is one of the most special days of your life and your guests will want to be a part of it no matter what day of the week you decide to get married. At the end of the day if you choose a day that works best for you and your partner, your closest friends and family wouldn’t miss it for anything.

Help finance your wedding with a Honeyfund honeymoon registry.

Bio: This was a guest post by Bronte Dwyer, a stylist and wedding planner at Foreva Events based in Brisbane. To see more wedding wisdom by Foreva Events click here.

Credits:

The High Cost Of Weddings Extend to Guests

It’s not only the Bride and Groom who incur the financial expense of a wedding. When guests are invited to a wedding, they not only spend money on a gift but on clothing, lodging, meals, and travel expenses in most cases. Brides.com reported that “a non-wedding party guest pays an average of $628 for a close family member or friend’s wedding. To celebrate with distant relatives and acquaintances, the number drops down to $372.” The Knot assessed the costs as being even higher ($888) when considering the cost of a gift, travel expenses, related wedding festivities, and wedding-appropriate outfits. Those in the wedding might spend more than $1,154. For destination weddings, the cost rises for everyone.

My daughter’s wedding was near her home in San Diego, CA. But only a handful of the 125 guests actually lived in San Diego. San Diego in the summer is prime time for the hotel industry. It also was on a Friday which meant at least one day of loss of pay or vacation time for many.

Elopement – An Alternative To Traditional Weddings

There always be a place for traditional wedding that includes ballrooms, a fine meal, DJs, and dancing. But an elopement is an alternative that is an intimate expression of the love and commitment to each other. How special it is to make the focus to be on each other and not an old roommate or crazy Aunt Mary. It’s also is cost effective. I believe that even though an elopement is a private occasion, I think your loved ones can be included too.

You might send an announcement of the wedding taking place rather than invitation to a wedding. Or invite them to a digital wedding. Take pictures and post them on the website created with Wedding Wire or the Knot. Let them follow your travels with pictures and videos while you are away. How about live streaming the wedding and the guests are attending from the comfort of the room and living room?

Dream Your Dream With A Destination Wedding

Maybe you live in the desert and always dreamed of having a wedding in the mountains? Or maybe you live in the mountains and dream of having a wedding on the beach? Maybe you’d like to get married on the edge of the Grand Canyon or on a glacier. Doing without a large crowd makes fulfilling your dream more feasible.

When you return, a handwritten thank you note with a small trinket from your trip would be a nice way to include your virtual guests connected to your exotic wedding. With the money you save on a nontraditional wedding you now will use to start your future. Family and friends are sure to be happy to be included in that celebration.

Use wedding gifts to buy your first home

What About Wedding Gifts?

When you use this creative way for your loved ones to celebrate with you, there will still be people who want to honor your union with a gift. You might still use a traditional wedding registry, but cash gits allow you to buy what you need for your wedding and honeymoon, your lifestyle, and your future home purchase. By using a Honeyfund honeymoon registry, you can maximize the perfect opportunity to keep even the simplest wedding on budget and even more exciting and fun.

Bio: With Beachside Memories you can have an intimate and romantic day to fit your personality without all the work. You can trust that every detail of your beach wedding ceremony will be taken care of with our personalized attention. We provide decor packages and beach wedding planning with personalized attention. A unique mobile venue, where you choose the location and we’ll make your wedding ceremony a hassle-free memory you’ll never forget!

What To Consider When Planning A Midweek Wedding

When Planning a Midweek Wedding, Be Sure To…

1. Give your guests plenty of notice

2. Be prepared for fewer affirmative RSVP’s

3. Be flexible on the time your wedding starts

4. Show your guests some extra love

The Many Advantages of A Midweek Wedding

1. Weekday weddings can save you money

2. Your choice of venues just got bigger

3. Lock in your dream vendors

5. Save money on your honeymoon

Wedding Gifts Without The Guests

The High Cost Of Weddings Extend to Guests

Elopement – An Alternative To Traditional Weddings

Dream Your Dream With A Destination Wedding

What About Wedding Gifts?