Should I Get Married on a Weekday or Weekend? The Honest Pros and Cons

The day of the week you choose to get married has a larger impact on your wedding than most couples expect. It affects your venue availability, costs across the board, how many guests can realistically attend, and what your evening reception looks like. Here's an honest, practical breakdown of both options.

Weekday vs Weekend: The Key Differences at a Glance

Weekend Weddings: The Case For

• Guests don't need to take annual leave — attendance is almost always higher
• The traditional choice — guests understand the format and what to expect
• Easier for guests travelling long distances to stay overnight and make a weekend of it
• Evening receptions typically run later — more flexibility on entertainment
• More choice of suppliers, though popular dates fill quickly

Weekend Weddings: The Case Against

• Saturday weddings command a significant premium — often 30–50% more for venues vs the same space midweek
• Popular venues, photographers and DJs can be booked 12–18 months in advance for peak spring and summer Saturdays
• Less room to negotiate — suppliers know their weekends are in demand
• If a venue has one main event space, you're competing with dozens of other couples for the same date

Weekday Weddings: The Case For

• Significant cost savings — venues often charge 20–40% less for Monday to Thursday bookings
• Your preferred venue, DJ, photographer, and caterer are far more likely to be available
• More time to negotiate extras and package upgrades that would be off the table on a peak Saturday
• A naturally more intimate atmosphere — guests who attend on a weekday genuinely want to be there
• Friday weddings offer a useful middle ground: slightly cheaper than Saturday, easier for guests than a Tuesday

Weekday Weddings: The Case Against

• Some guests simply cannot attend — especially those with inflexible work schedules, childcare commitments, or long travel times
• Evening receptions may need to end earlier on a work night
• Some guests feel slightly short-changed by a midweek wedding, even if they'd never say it directly
• Slightly fewer supplier options, though most professionals cover all days

What This Means for Your Entertainment

Weekday weddings often have slightly shorter evening receptions — but that's not necessarily a problem. A four-hour DJ set with 80 guests who all want to dance can be more memorable than a six-hour set where the dance floor is half-empty by 10pm. A professional wedding DJ adapts to whatever time you have and structures the energy of the evening accordingly.

Practically speaking, the entertainment decision is the same regardless of the day: book your DJ, photo booth, and any dance floor hire as early as possible. For peak Saturday weddings this means 12–18 months ahead; for midweek dates, 6–9 months is usually comfortable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do DJs charge more for weekends?

Some DJs charge a premium for Saturday bookings — it's worth asking when you enquire. At Motion Entertainment, our pricing is the same for weekday and weekend bookings.

Is Friday a good compromise?

For many couples, yes. Friday gives you a meaningful cost saving over Saturday, better guest attendance than a midweek date, and usually no compromise on how late the evening can run. It's increasingly popular with couples who want the savings but not the midweek complications.

How much can a weekday wedding actually save?

On venue hire alone, it's common to save £2,000–£5,000 on a midweek booking versus a peak Saturday. Multiplied across photography, catering, and other suppliers who offer midweek rates, the total saving can push towards £5,000–£8,000 on a mid-size wedding.