A lot of times people hold wedding receptions on Friday or Sunday to keep the per head cost lower as the cost of a Saturday night event is sometimes almost double.
What do you guys think of this? My mom is pushing for a Friday night reception but I want a Saturday reception knowing that I will be paying more.
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
If you do Sunday, consider doing a lunch reception.
I don't think there's anything wrong with doing something Fri/Sunday. It leaves less room for hanging out. Expect your guests to come late on Friday and leave early on Sunday. And plan accordingly.
The other thing is that with desi weddings you're dealing with multiple events. At least one will probably end up on one of these days.
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
Are you paying or are your parents paying for the reception?
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
I like the Friday and Sunday combo so much.
Friday was mehndi and I got home around 3am...so sleeping in on Saturday was awesome. I had a break in the middle of the festivities so it wasn't just about the cost. It actually worked really well practically.
One of the weddings in my family was a lunch wedding and it also worked out well.
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
lunch weddings are also cheaper than dinner weddings.
a sunday lunch wedding is really the ideal combination for keeping costs low, and daytime pictures/photoshoots always come out so pretty.
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
A lot of times people hold wedding receptions on Friday or Sunday to keep the per head cost lower as the cost of a Saturday night event is sometimes almost double.
What do you guys think of this? My mom is pushing for a Friday night reception but I want a Saturday reception knowing that I will be paying more.
We all know that Friday and Sunday nights at hotels is cheaper than a Saturday night. With that being said....it doesn't matter what we think of this since none of us will be spending our money on YOUR wedding.
You need to focus on what the most wise decision with the money available to you. If its truly YOUR money that's paying for the wedding (ie. money you have earned yourself)...then do it Saturday night if that matters to you. However, if it's your dad and mom's money that's paying for the wedding...and they'd prefer to spend their hard-earned money on a Friday or Sunday night....then you need to respect their decision.
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
^I wanted a break too!!! :) My events are Friday and Sunday. My mehndi is the weekend prior. I think it's too much for the bride (ofcourse this depends on you) to take in three days back to back. Even two are too much -
My fiance saved close to 600 dollars on the sunday reception just by asking the venue which is a kimpton hotel (ie: not exactly cheap) to stay in budget.
On top of that I saved another 1500 dollars on my venue by having it on a Friday night.
It also depends on the month you are holding your wedding - if you're in the states and you are having your wedding during "peak" seasons (May-October) Saturday will cost you a lot more. If it's not in those months, you can always ask them to lower costs more.
The one thing I learned from wedding planning is that it never, never hurts to ask to stay in budget!
Hope that helps.
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
^also, most of these hotels will negotiate down to $10-20 less than they originally advertise! AND GET THEM TO WAIVE THE 23% service charge! It is craziness! And they will often waive it! Or tell them to tell you the lowest cost INCLUSIVE of that charge, so you have a clearer sense of the total.
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
How common is it to get the service charge reduced or waived? What do you tell them to bring them to waive it for you?
^also, most of these hotels will negotiate down to $10-20 less than they originally advertise! AND GET THEM TO WAIVE THE 23% service charge! It is craziness! And they will often waive it! Or tell them to tell you the lowest cost INCLUSIVE of that charge, so you have a clearer sense of the total.
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
Here in London I found it cheaper to go for a Sat instead of a Sun! Sunday's are so expensive here!
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
How common is it to get the service charge reduced or waived? What do you tell them to bring them to waive it for you?
I'm very direct.
"We are hoping to stay at $$/head, inclusive of all charges. Is this possible?"
They sometimes match it, or they come closer, or they say no.
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
Only thing bad about Sundays is your guests will probably leave earlier than if it was a Saturday due to work/school commitments on Monday.
Here in London I found it cheaper to go for a Sat instead of a Sun! Sunday's are so expensive here!
Really? We went for a Sunday for my brother's walima cos it was cheaper than having it on Saturday.
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
my cousin in the Uk is doing Fri and Sunday also.... :D and we have saturday for a rest day and sleep in....well not really at her bro's wedding we ended up in the marquee in her garden till abt 3am! haha
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
also, don't forget long weekends! our mehendi and wedding were friday and sunday too, but on a long weekend, so everyone was off on monday and was able to stay late.
the only thing with long weekends is to make sure you send out save the date's at least 4 months before the wedding so people know its coming up and don't make plans to be out of town that day.
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
I would go for what your parents are suggesting, simply because you will be able to have some rest. I guess you would look more refreshed on Sunday than you would if the events were back-to-back.
If it's any consolation, my events are Saturday and Sunday, but I'm dreading it because I never look good when I'm exhausted.
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
were having mehndi on thursday, then nikaah on saturday around 11-5. then valima is in the evening on the sunday
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
also, don't forget long weekends! our mehendi and wedding were friday and sunday too, but on a long weekend, so everyone was off on monday and was able to stay late. the only thing with long weekends is to make sure you send out save the date's at least 4 months before the wedding so people know its coming up and don't make plans to be out of town that day.
I heard that venues charge "Saturday prices" for events on Sunday that are followed by a holiday Monday?
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
i didn't find that true- we saved a lot of on our venue by having the wedding on a sunday. in the end though, i guess venues can charge what they want, but most of them do not do this.
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
How common is it to get the service charge reduced or waived? What do you tell them to bring them to waive it for you?
tell them you're trying to stay in budget and ask them how close can they stay to the 2K range (example)
Re: Fri and Sunday Wedding Receptions
I had a Friday mehndi and a Sunday baraat, that worked really well. Mehndi started a little later to allow people to get home from work etc. and get dolled up, and the baraat started a little later, so that people that needed to leave early could, having enjoyed most of the event.