Interestingly, there are also places where booking is more difficult on weekdays. “The older private members’ clubs in London don’t like to book a weekday wedding, they prefer the weekend and the big hotels wait for conferences during the week which will make them more money.”
Niemierko says that while big on-site savings can often be made by choosing a weekday, most other wedding suppliers, from caterers to flowers to photographers, will charge similar amounts no matter what day you get married. “But you’ll have more choice because the best bands and florists are often booked out years in advance on weekends,” he says. “You can get great deals even in the off-season; for example, no one gets married in January.’
And the on-site savings can be staggering. Elmore Court, a stately home in Gloucester and one of the UK’s most Instagrammed wedding venues in 2023, costs £15,000 to hire for a summer Saturday, dropping to just £6,500 for a Thursday in February, March or November. If you’re looking to save cash, Niemierko says the times to avoid are December (“You’re competing with corporate bookings”) and bank holiday weekends (“You’re competing with tourism”).
Zoe Burke, wedding expert and editor at hitched.co.uk, says it’s not uncommon for couples to save £10,000 on their wedding venue simply by opting for off-peak midweek dates. “A lot of places are half price if you book them Monday through Thursday,” he says. “I don’t know a single person who doesn’t want to save at the moment, so I would urge ‘newlyweds’ to consider off-peak options if their wedding budgets are tight.”
Chloe Nelson, wedding and sales co-ordinator at Wellington Barn in Wiltshire, says that while most couples initially ask about the “ideal Saturday wedding”, they change their minds when they realize the savings and availability on offer. For many places, Thursday has become the new Saturday. “There has been significant demand for Thursday dates, so much so that we have no Thursdays available from April to October 2024 and have completed 27 Thursday weddings in 2023,” he says.
But while a mid-week wedding may be cheaper and less stressful for the couple, it can be an added burden for the guests. “I had a wedding in Wales on Thursday and it took a lot of the fun out of it,” says Jess, 34, a marketing manager from Surrey. “Scrambling out there after work on a Wednesday and then traveling home with a hangover and trying to work remotely on Friday was tough. I totally appreciate that some people are on a budget, but this was a pretty extravagant wedding, so it left a bad taste in my mouth. Yes, I could take three days off, but annual leave is so expensive. I feel like getting married in the middle of the week is a big challenge and actually quite selfish. I’d much rather go to a low-key wedding at the weekend.’
Meanwhile, Samantha Earl, 46, a writer from London, says she loves getting married in the middle of the week. “I was at one a few months ago and it really sort the wheat from the chaff because you know everyone really wants to be there so the atmosphere is great,” she says. “Everybody normally has a wedding on a Saturday, so I find it almost rebellious and naughty to be out partying in the middle of the week. But my husband is a teacher so he hates them because he can never take a day off.’
So what is the etiquette for attending a midweek wedding? Can you just decline because of the day of the week? Is it frowned upon to check your email during a boring moment between speeches? Can you leave in the middle to pick up the kids from school and bring them to the party?
“Couples planning a midweek wedding need to keep in mind that there will be many guests who will find it difficult, if not impossible, to attend,” says Liz Wyse, wedding etiquette expert at Debrett’s. “They should prepare for a certain percentage of their guests to decline. I would encourage these couples to think about who is vital for them to have there and maybe even check with these people to see how viable the day is for them before booking. It is also very important to give as much notice as possible.’
As for guests, Wyse says that while taking out a laptop at a weekend wedding would be an absolute no-no, you can get away with it at a midweek wedding if you do so discreetly and clear it with the host first. “Good etiquette is all about communication,” she says. “So I think it’s fine if the guest RSVPs and writes a little note explaining that you have an important meeting to do at 3pm or if you need to arrive late or leave early to make it work . for you. And I think it behooves the hosts to meet those demands.”
Niemierko, meanwhile, thinks it’s best not to ask the bride and groom if you need to sneak away for 20 minutes to answer emails at the Monday wedding. “But I think when you find yourself working at a friend’s wedding, then you really have to question your life choices,” she adds.
Sian says she has attended several midweek weddings since her own wedding on Wednesday. “I think they’re great, and since I’m self-employed, I juggle my workload to make it work,” she says. She even has her sister’s wedding coming up on Tuesday. “Maybe she was inspired by me, but to be honest, I think it was more about the price,” he says.