Photo by BlinkPhoto.
Friday Night Weddings are Chic
BY LAUREL SASS, GENERAL MANAGER, WATERMARK 920
More brides and grooms are opting for Friday night weddings, with good reason.
Face it, there are only 52 Saturdays in a year. The best wedding venues typically book over a year in advance. Engaged couples discover many venues -- and the professional vendors they prefer -- are booked through the wedding season.
This leaves a couple the choice of planning a wedding years in advance, or looking into a new trend: a Friday wedding.
Before you balk at the idea, consider the advantages and see if this option is right for you. First and foremost is that there are more places available, so you can generally book the venue you want on the date you want.
The idea is so new, you have a greater chance of receiving discounts from photographers, DJs, bakeries, florists -- those vendors who are typically not working weddings on Fridays. Ask them about discounts for non-Saturday weddings.
Your guests won't have to travel between church and reception if you plan the ceremony at the reception site. Photos by blinkPHOTO.
Having a rehearsal dinner? Restaurants are easier to schedule on Thursday night than Friday night. They may even offer a discount for an off-night like Thursday.
You don't have to leap out of bed and rush around to get your hair and nails done for a Friday evening wedding. If your ceremony begins at 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. you have all day to get ready for the event with your bridesmaids.
Your guests won't have to travel between church and reception if you plan the ceremony at the reception site. This eliminates that empty time between wedding and reception. You can keep dinner at a reasonable time, keep your guests entertained while you're wrapping up photos, and keep Aunt Petunia from getting lost.
Many couples look forward to having the Saturday after the wedding to relax. Some spend time with their families before they begin their honeymoon. Couples eliminate the Sunday morning rush to the airport after a late night reception. Plus, family can be there to help with after-the-wedding chores, like returning rented tuxedos.
Saturday brunch is a great way to say thank you to guests before they head home. It also allows couples to spend more time with distant relative they may not see often. Also, just because you leave for your honeymoon doesn't mean relatives can't spend additional time together Saturday. Friday weddings simply leave more weekend to enjoy.
Most of the time, hotels have more rooms available on Friday night than Saturday night, especially if there is an major event in town competing for rooms. If you hold your wedding on a three-day weekend, though, you won't see the savings.
Since more vendors and venues are available on Friday, you can plan your wedding sooner. Couples need to decide what is best for them.
We can help! At Watermark 920, our planning system with preferred caterers, photographers and designers, along with our on-site event coordinator, is designed to eliminate the pitfalls and accentuate the celebration. It's your day. You should be breathless because the day was so beautiful, not because the planning was so exhausting.
Photo by blinkPHOTO.
Our modern space is ideal for your special day, allowing you a blank slate to create. Included in your rental fee are beautiful, black Chiavari Chairs, round tables that seat up to 12 at each table, eight foot banquet tables and a limited number of pub tables. Also available are linens, black leather furniture and decor items from vases to votives.
Call me now at (231) 578-0469 for options and pricing! Or email me at laurelsass@watermarkcenter.com. Because, like other wedding venues and vendors, we book far in advance!
Watermark 920 is located at the corner of Washington and Division in Downtown Muskegon. This progressive urban address integrates productivity with creativity and is redefining event planning on the lakeshore. For corporate events, weddings and other celebrations, or the NEW off-premise beverage service, consider Watermark 920. Learn more at WatermarkCenter.com, phone or email General Manager Laurel Sass at (231) 578-0469 and laurelsass@watermarkcenter.com.
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