The Pros and Cons of Sunday Weddings

In most places, Saturday is the most common day of the week for weddings. Alternate days of the week have become increasingly popular for weddings in recent years, leading to the rise of the Sunday wedding. This is a look at the pros and cons of Sunday weddings.

For a lot of couples, the biggest incentive to get married on a Sunday is the lower cost. Venues and vendors typically offer discounts for non-Saturday events, especially if they would have otherwise gone unbooked. (This may not hold true in communities where there are a lot of Jewish weddings, as they traditionally do take place on Sunday.) Considering that the average American wedding costs something like $27,000, saving even 5% would come out to over $1000. It is no wonder that Sundays are becoming more popular!

Another pro to having a Sunday wedding is better availability for top locations, photographers, caterers, musicians, and so on. The best venues in some locations can be filled up on Saturdays for two years. If you do not want to wait that long to be married, exploring a Sunday date might just get you in the door far sooner. The better availability of venues and vendors on Sundays can be particularly helpful for couples who are trying to plan a wedding within a relatively short time frame. Added to the idea of getting a non-Saturday discount, the appeal of the Sunday wedding can be considerable.

Of course, there are some potential disadvantages to Sunday weddings as well. After all, there is a reason why Saturdays are more popular. One thing to consider is the time of day you hope to have your wedding. If you want to have a formal evening wedding, with your attendants in long dresses and crystal bridesmaid jewelry sets, it would make more sense to have it on a Saturday. People are typically in a more festive mood on a Saturday night. They usually don’t want to stay out late on a Sunday, since most guests will need to be at work bright and early Monday morning. An afternoon ceremony and reception will be the better option in this situation, and you will need to adjust your vision for the attire, bridal and bridesmaid jewelry sets, decorations, and music accordingly.

Another drawback to a non-Saturday date is that you may have fewer people who are able to attend. Out of town guests generally find it pretty convenient to travel to the wedding location on a Friday and then head out after brunch on Sunday afternoon. When the wedding is on a Sunday, it will mean taking off work on Monday to travel. Not everyone is willing or able to do that, so some of your friends and family who live far away may end up having to send their regrets.

Ultimately, there are a lot of good reasons to think about having a Sunday wedding, but also a couple of fairly serious potential drawbacks. Each couple needs to weigh the pros and cons to determine which day of the week will work the best for their individual circumstances. If you are considering Sunday nuptials, do feel confident that it is becoming a more common and acceptable thing to do.