Should You Plan Your Wedding Around a Holiday Weekend?

This is my personal opinion, so take it for what it is. I am all for frugal, and maybe some wedding vendors are offering discounts for booking on a holiday. That can definitely be an advantage.

I do not mean to offend anyone whose wedding anniversary falls on a holiday (do people actually get married on Christmas Day?). And it's not the end of the world if people have to postpone their beach weekend at the Jersey Shore, not throw that Memorial Day BBQ, or forgo their cozy V-day dinner date for one season out of their lifetime, because you're getting married.

But still. Here are some reasons it's better to NOT get married on a holiday or holiday weekend.

It puts pressure on others. Maybe New Year's typically involves heading into NYC, or Thanksgiving is celebrated with family out of state. Millions of people slog away at their jobs all year long, awaiting those anticipated breaks where they can catch some rest, spend time with loved ones, maybe change scenery and just enjoy a little freedom from the grind. "Drop everything and watch us get married," is what a holiday wedding says to me.

Holidays bring TRAFFIC – especially if you live in NJ! Congestion on the roads is a major source of stress on your wedding day. The last thing you want to do is arrive late, get there on-time but frazzled, or God forbid find yourself in a car accident en route to getting hitched! Guests will be traveling from long distances away in many cases, and do not want to arrive late to your nuptials, either. 

Holidays bring a frenzy of activity, planning and prepwork – and with that, stress. And weddings, depending of course on how much detail you put into yours, require a great amount of even more of the same. Do you want your wedding day to be "just one more thing on the to-do list" during an already bustling holiday time? Or, wouldn't it be better to hold your special day at a time when people have a little give in their schedule?

Finally – you might get a little static from the people who will be working to serve you on your special day. Yes, it's their choice to work on a holiday. But many people in the customer service industry harbor resentment when they must perform their jobs on what are traditionally known "days off." Hopefully that won't happen, but my guess is that employee morale is at an all-time low on these days.

But what if you really want your wedding to be centered around a holiday theme? Say you're crazy about Halloween and all the costumes and goth decor? Or what if a snowy, Christmas-themed wedding is the be-all, end-all to you? I say go for it! But DO plan your wedding during the SEASON of your chosen holiday, not on the exact day when the holiday occurs.

You may have your own reasons for choosing a holiday wedding day, and that's okay. But if you're on the fence and have yet to make your decision, consider these points before moving forward with your plans!