Perks of Hosting a Friday Wedding
Long ago we learned the best secret of a Friday wedding, and surprise - it’s because they are just as awesome as any Saturday wedding you may have originally set your sights on! Let’s break down why a Friday wedding might be the one thing you haven’t considered, but absolutely should.
Pro #1 - Venue Pricing
Here at Rustic Manor 1848, we’ll be honest - we are happy to plan a wedding at a moment’s notice (ask us about our Quick Hitched or Intimate Ceremony options!) and we are happy to be your first big planning decision: the venue! Picking a Friday date, for many couples, often means the rental price is a bit less. For us, our Friday venue rental is $300 less than Saturdays in peak season, and $200 less than Saturdays in off season. That’s a lot of extra desserts for your dessert bar!
Pro #2 - Vendor Options, and Lots of Them!
The truth is, Saturday weddings do come at a premium. This is true in how quickly they book and even truer in how far out they get reserved. If you have your heart set on a certain venue or vendor that’s booked up for Saturdays, ask about their Friday availability while doing your research. Many venues and vendors are absolutely able to more than one wedding in a weekend, making them available again for your Friday inquiry. Similar to venues, overall pricing for other vendors may be less on a Friday too! The perks and the savings are adding up!
Pro #3 - A Magical Wedding Night
The timeline of your wedding day is key to keeping things running smoothly! Consider starting the ceremony after “work hours” (think 5PM or later) - cue the sun slowly setting as you say ‘I do!’. This allows for local guests to comfortably make it to your ceremony, even if they were stuck working earlier that day. Additionally, any out of town guests can have plenty of time to get settled or sight-see before the festivities begin. Talk with your photography team about all the pictures that can be done before the ceremony. Take your time getting hair and makeup done. Schedule in plenty of time for a first look. Even better, you can sleep in (well maybe depending on your excitement level) on the morning of your wedding day! You also have more control in the pace of your timeline meaning, if your ceremony and reception are at the same location, do not leave large gaps of time between the evening’s events. No one likes a drawn out wedding timeline and the more drawn out, the more guests drink and trust us when we say, that’s not always the best option. Cocktail “hour” is that for a reason so a later ceremony means you keep your timeline flowing at a healthy pace without a ton of down time.
Pro #4 - Hello, Three Day Weekend
Personally, a three day weekend is music to my ears, and I’m sure your guests would be willing to say the same! A fun perk to your three day weekend: you can tailor a list of events or activities to do on Saturday and Sunday. Gift opening and an afternoon cookout on Saturday, maybe? A mimosa bar and brunch on Sunday? Sounds fun! Heck, take Saturday for just you and your new spouse to let the fact that you’re finally married really sink in before meeting up with friends and family again. This gives a great opportunity to catch up with out of town family and guests at a relaxing pace after your special day. Lastly, if you’re open to having your ceremony start a bit later on a Friday night, that gives you and your wedding party ALL day to relax and prepare for the special night ahead.
Pro #5 - Rehearsal & Set Up
At Rustic Manor 1848, we offer rehearsal time to be booked at your One Month Meeting - happening four weeks prior to your big day. With Friday typically being the first wedding of our weekends, you’ve got dibs to book rehearsal time on a Thursday night. Rehearsals are great to incorporate into your wedding weekend as it allows your wedding party to know where to stand, in what order and to practice any special talking points throughout the ceremony. A great bonus to booking a rehearsal is you can use part of that time to get a jump on bringing in decorations and actual set up. If you need a rehearsal dinner suggestion, let us know - we love to share our favorites! Rehearsals can be secured for $150 an hour based on how much time you need.
We hope you consider us for your wedding here at Rustic Manor 1848. Our Availability Calendar is always up to date for you to take a peek at our current available Fridays! TGIF is about to be even more exciting with your wedding to look forward to!