Saturday has basically been crowned the official wedding day.

You get engaged.

You start looking at venues.

And without even really thinking about it, you start asking:

"What Saturdays do you have available?"

But...

Why?

Who decided weddings HAVE to happen on Saturdays?

Because the more you start comparing Friday and Saturday weddings, the more you realize that Friday might actually have some pretty big advantages.

More venue options.

More vendor availability.

Potential savings.

An entire weekend AFTER your wedding.

And you still get that big traditional wedding experience if that's what you want.

So if you've been offered a Friday date and you're thinking:

"Ehhh...I really wanted Saturday..."

Hear me out first. 😂

Here are10 reasons a Friday wedding might actually be BETTER than a Saturday wedding.

1. You May Have WAY More Venue Options

This is probably the first big advantage couples discover.

Popular Minnesota wedding venues can book their Saturdays far in advance, especially during peak wedding season.

You find the venue.

You love the ceremony space.

You can already picture your reception there.

And then you ask about availability...

"We have one Saturday left next year."

😭

But then you ask:

"What about Fridays?"

And suddenly you've got choices.

Maybe you can get the month you wanted.

Maybe you can get the season you wanted.

Maybe you can even get a date that's meaningful to you.

If your dream venue matters more than having the word "Saturday" printed on your invitations, Friday can open up a LOT of possibilities.

2. A Friday Wedding May Cost Less

Okay, let's get to the question everyone has.

Is a Friday wedding cheaper than Saturday?

It can be!

Not every venue or vendor offers weekday pricing, so I would never tell you that choosing Friday automatically makes your entire wedding cheaper.

But some venues offer different pricing for Friday weddings.

You may find:

• Lower venue rental rates

• Reduced food and beverage minimums

• Different Friday packages

• Complimentary upgrades

• More flexible package options

• Special weekday rates

And some wedding vendors offer weekday discounts too.

Including us. 👋

AtT Hughes Weddings, we offer special discounts forSunday–Friday wedding dates.

Our wedding photography and videography packages currentlystart at $3,000 before applicable discounts.

So yes...

With us, having a Friday wedding can actually save you money.

And if other vendors you're considering offer something similar, those savings can start adding up.

3. You May Have More Photographers and Videographers to Choose From

This one is HUGE.

Especially if photography and videography are important to you.

Peak-season Saturdays can disappear quickly for wedding photographers.

You might find someone whose photographs you LOVE.

You read their reviews.

You love their editing.

You stalk their Instagram for an hour.

You decide:

THIS IS THE ONE.

And then...

They're already booked.

😭

Friday gives you another chance.

A photographer or videographer who's completely booked on Saturdays may still have Friday availability.

That means you can choose your wedding team based on whose work you actually LOVE—not simply whoever still has your Saturday open.

And considering your wedding photographs and video are some of the only things you'll still have decades after the wedding?

That's a pretty big deal.

4. You'll Have More Vendor Options in General

It's not only your photographer.

Friday may give you more options for:

DJs.

Florists.

Videographers.

Hair and makeup artists.

Wedding planners.

Officiants.

Photo booths.

Transportation.

Rental companies.

Caterers.

Bakers.

Popular wedding vendors can only be in so many places at once.

And during peak wedding season, everyone is fighting over the same Saturdays.

Move your wedding ONE DAY earlier?

Suddenly your options may look completely different.

5. You Get the ENTIRE Weekend After Your Wedding

Okay.

This might actually be my favorite reason. 😂

Think about a Saturday wedding.

You spend months—or YEARS—planning it.

Saturday morning arrives.

You get ready.

You get married.

You party.

You go to sleep.

And then...

It's Sunday.

The weekend is basically over.

Now imagine a Friday wedding.

You wake up Saturday morning as newlyweds and realize:

YOU HAVE AN ENTIRE WEEKEND LEFT.

No rushing.

No immediate return to normal life.

No feeling like the wedding weekend ended five seconds after the reception.

You can actually enjoy it.

6. You Can Turn Your Wedding Into a Whole Weekend

This is where Friday weddings get REALLY fun.

Your schedule could look something like:

Thursday

Rehearsal dinner or welcome drinks.

Friday

WEDDING DAY!🎉

Saturday Morning

Brunch with family and friends.

Saturday Afternoon

Relax.

Explore.

Go to a brewery.

Have a lake day.

Hang out at the hotel.

Do absolutely nothing. 😂

Sunday

Everyone heads home.

Now your wedding isn't just one day.

It's an entire weekend with the people you love.

And here's the best part:

You don't have to host everything.

You don't need to pay for a giant Saturday brunch and another party.

You can simply tell everyone:

"We're going to brunch here Saturday morning if anyone wants to join us!"

Keep it casual.

7. Out-of-Town Guests Can Turn It Into a Mini Vacation

Friday weddings can actually work REALLY well when guests are traveling.

They can arrive Thursday.

Attend your wedding Friday.

Have all day Saturday to relax or explore.

Then head home Sunday.

If you're getting married somewhere like northern Minnesota or another destination-style location, this can be especially fun.

Instead of guests driving several hours...

Attending your wedding...

Sleeping...

And immediately driving home...

They actually get time to enjoy where they traveled.

Your wedding becomes part of a mini vacation.

8. Your Honeymoon Timing Can Be SO Much Better

Picture this:

You have your Saturday wedding.

You party until midnight.

Get back to your hotel.

Finally fall asleep around 2 AM.

And your alarm goes off at...

4:30 AM.

Because your honeymoon flight leaves at 7.

Absolutely not. 😂

With a Friday wedding, you have OPTIONS.

You could:

Wedding Friday → Relax Saturday → Fly Sunday

or

Wedding Friday → Relax all weekend → Fly Monday

You actually have time to:

Sleep.

Eat.

Pack anything you forgot.

Say goodbye to family.

Recover.

And THEN start your honeymoon.

Personally?

That sounds approximately 4,000 times better than dragging two wedding-exhausted newlyweds through airport security six hours after their reception.

9. Friday Still Feels Like a Weekend Wedding

This is one of the reasons I think Friday is the sweet spot for couples considering a weekday wedding.

Thursday weddings can be amazing.

But Thursday may require guests to take Thursday AND Friday off work.

Friday?

Most guests are already mentally halfway into the weekend anyway. 😂

Some local guests may only need to take part of Friday off.

Others may take one PTO day and turn it into a three-day weekend.

And after your reception?

Nobody has to wake up for work Saturday morning.

That's important if you want people staying late, dancing and actually enjoying the reception.

Friday gives you many of the advantages of a weekday wedding...

without feeling very "weekday."

10. You Can Put Potential Savings Toward Something You Actually Care About

Let's say choosing Friday instead of Saturday saves money between your venue and a few vendors.

First:

YOU ARE ALLOWED TO KEEP THE MONEY.😂

Wedding planning has this weird way of convincing couples that every dollar they save needs to immediately be spent somewhere else.

You saved $1,000 on the venue?

Great!

You don't automatically need a $1,000 flower wall now.

Keep the money.

Put it toward your honeymoon.

Put it toward your house.

Put it into savings.

OR...

If you want to use your wedding savings to upgrade something, put it toward something you'll genuinely care about.

Maybe that means:

Adding videography.

Hiring the photographer you really wanted.

Adding additional photography coverage.

Getting a wedding album.

Upgrading your food.

Adding a photo booth.

Booking the honeymoon you've dreamed about.

Or getting the dress you REALLY love.

Spend your wedding budget based on your priorities—not simply because Saturday is the traditional wedding day.

BONUS: Friday Weddings Can Be AMAZING for Winter Weddings

Okay, I technically said 10.

But after writing five entire winter wedding blogs, you KNOW I couldn't leave this out. 😂

Friday + winter can be an amazing combination.

Why?

Because some venues and vendors offer special winter pricing.

Some offer special weekday pricing.

And winter Fridays may have even more availability than peak-season Saturdays.

Imagine:

❄️ Snowy portraits

🤍 Candlelight

❄️ Faux-fur wraps

🤍 A cozy reception

❄️ Your dream venue

🤍 More vendor choices

AND potentially some money left in your budget?

I'm just saying...

Don't automatically cross January and February Fridays off your list.

AtT Hughes Weddings, we offer special discounts forwinter weddings AND Sunday–Friday wedding dates, so this is absolutely something worth asking us about.

But What About Guests Having to Take Friday Off?

This is the biggest argument against Friday weddings.

And it's a valid one.

Some guests will need to take PTO.

Teachers.

Healthcare workers.

Retail employees.

People with limited vacation time.

Parents may need to consider school schedules.

Out-of-town guests may need Thursday off too.

So yes:

Friday weddings require a little more planning from your guests.

But there are ways to make things easier.

Consider a Later Friday Ceremony

If most of your guests are local, consider a later ceremony.

Instead of 2 PM...

Maybe it's:

4:30 PM

or

5:00 PM.

Some guests may be able to work most of Friday and leave a little early.

But talk to your photographer BEFORE finalizing that ceremony time.

Why?

SUNSET.

A 5 PM ceremony in June is completely different from a 5 PM ceremony in November.

If you want outdoor portraits with natural light and sunset is at 4:45...

We've got a problem. 😂

That doesn't mean you can't have the 5 PM ceremony.

It just means we'll probably want to complete portraits beforehand.

Which brings us to...

A First Look Can Make Friday Weddings Even Easier

If you're scheduling your ceremony later to accommodate guests coming from work, consider doing a first look.

Before the ceremony, we can potentially photograph:

Your first look.

Couple portraits.

Wedding party.

Immediate family.

Details.

Getting ready.

Then your guests arrive.

You get married.

And afterward?

You're not disappearing for two hours.

You can actually enjoy your cocktail hour and reception.

For later weekday ceremonies—especially during Minnesota fall and winter—this can make the photography timeline MUCH easier.

Give Guests Plenty of Notice

This matters more for Friday weddings than Saturday weddings.

Send save-the-dates EARLY.

And please...

Put the day of the week on them.

BIG.

😂

Don't just write:

October 16, 2027

Write:

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2027

Make it impossible to miss.

That gives guests plenty of time to:

Request PTO.

Book hotels.

Arrange childcare.

Make travel plans.

Figure out school schedules.

The earlier they know, the easier it is.

Is Friday Better Than Saturday for EVERY Wedding?

No.

There are definitely situations where Saturday makes more sense.

Saturday may be better if:

Most of your guests are traveling long distances.

Many guests have inflexible work schedules.

You have lots of school-aged children attending.

Having the largest possible guest attendance is extremely important to you.

Your venue charges exactly the same Friday and Saturday.

Your dream vendors are already available Saturday.

And that's completely fine.

This isn't about proving that Saturday weddings are bad.

They're not.

We photograph them all the time. 😂

It's simply about realizing:

Saturday isn't your ONLY good option.

Friday vs. Saturday: Quick Comparison

Friday WeddingSaturday WeddingVenue availabilityOften betterHighest demandVendor availabilityOften betterCan book quicklyPotential discountsMore likelyLess likelyGuest convenienceGoodBestWeekend afterward⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Long-weekend potentialExcellentGoodLate-night receptionGreatGreatHoneymoon flexibilityExcellentGoodTraditional feelStill very traditionalMost traditional

And here's the important part:

Neither one is automatically better.

The best one is the date that works for YOUR priorities.

Ask Yourself These 5 Questions Before Choosing

If you're stuck between Friday and Saturday, ask yourselves:

1. Which date gets us the venue we actually want?

2. Are our must-have guests able to attend Friday?

3. Are there meaningful price differences between the two dates?

4. Which date gives us access to the vendors we really want?

5. Do we care more about tradition—or the overall wedding experience?

Once you answer those questions, the decision may become a LOT easier.

So...Would I Actually Consider a Friday Wedding?

100%.

Especially if Friday gives you:

The venue you love.

The photographer you love.

The videographer you love.

A wedding date sooner than you expected.

Potential savings.

AND an entire weekend afterward.

That's a pretty good trade for changing one word on your invitation from Saturday to Friday. 😂

Don't book Saturday simply because that's what you're "supposed" to do.

At least ask what Friday looks like.

You may discover that the date you originally considered your second choice...

is actually the better wedding day.

Planning a Friday Wedding in Minnesota?

If you're considering a Friday wedding, we'd LOVE to hear what you're planning.

T Hughes Weddings offers wedding photography and videography throughout Minnesota and the Midwest, with wedding packages starting at $3,000.

And because we're actively looking to add more weekday weddings to our calendar, we offerspecial discounts for Sunday–Friday wedding dates.

We also offerspecial discounts for winter wedding dates, so if you're considering a Friday winter wedding, definitely ask about the options available for your date.

We'll help you create a photography-friendly timeline, plan around sunset, decide whether a first look makes sense and make sure you get gorgeous photographswithout feeling like your entire wedding was one giant photoshoot.

Because 20 years from now, you're not going to open your wedding album and think:

"I'm so glad this happened on a Saturday."

You're going to remember the way your partner looked at you.

Your family crying during the ceremony.

Your best friend's ridiculous dance moves.

The speeches.

The hugs.

The people.

That's your wedding.

Friday is just the date on the calendar. 🤍

Thinking about a Friday wedding? Contact T Hughes Weddings to check availability and ask about our weekday wedding discount.