The Tamesis
We’ve officially entered the wedding weekend era. While it’s not required, many couples choose to turn their wedding into a series of events to allow more time to celebrate with loved ones. Since many friends and family will be traveling long distances to attend your wedding, planning a full weekend of parties and activities can be a great way to thank them for joining you for this important moment in their lives. However, planning a wedding weekend is not for the faint of heart. It requires investing more money in your celebration and more time and thought in planning these other events.
Ahead, we asked top wedding planners to provide guidance on whether a weekend wedding is right for you, and provide tips to help you plan the perfect wedding itinerary.
Is a wedding weekend right for you?
One of the best reasons to plan a full wedding weekend? You can spend more time traveling with those closest to you to celebrate with you. “Couples can experience a sense of community with friends and family that they can’t experience at a one-night event,” shares wedding planner Marcy Blum. Not only will you have more time to connect with your guests as the weekend wears on, it will also give your friends and family a chance to get to know each other and build rapport. “People often complain that the wedding itself goes by too quickly after spending so much time and money, and a wedding weekend can alleviate that.”
Another benefit of an elaborate multi-day wedding celebration is that you are able to plan a series of unique, personalized events. While you can host traditional rehearsal dinners, future brunches, and welcome parties, you can also host fun events that fit your destination, such as a beach party or vineyard wine tasting.
“One of the biggest advantages of hosting a full wedding weekend is that you have the freedom to design a schedule that truly reflects who you are as a couple, emphasizing your priorities, your interests and the best guest experience,” notes event planner Augusta Cole. “When you take ownership of the entire weekend, you’re no longer tied to the traditional wedding process, and that flexibility can have an incredible impact.” One of her clients appears in Fashion It was decided that the ceremony and alfresco dinner would be held on Friday night, followed by a full-blown dance on Saturday. “They know this process will allow them to fully participate and enjoy every part of the celebration without feeling rushed or tied down by the upcoming ceremony,” Cole said. “Think about your personality, your family and friends, what you love most about your chosen wedding location, and plan a weekend based on how you really want to celebrate.”
While there are many benefits to hosting a weekend wedding, it obviously also comes with some setbacks. “The most important consideration is that a full wedding weekend is a major undertaking. It’s a multi-day commitment from the guests and a multi-event financial commitment on behalf of the host,” explains Cole. “You may find that hosting an epic celebration day or evening allows you to check off more priorities rather than diluting your resources over multiple days.”
Photo: Abigail Lewis Photography
Consider destination and location
If you’re dreaming of a weekend wedding, be sure to consider the travel and accommodation logistics around the venue before locking in a venue and making an itinerary. Cole recommends thinking of your destination as your “home base” for your celebration. “A home base can be a complete hotel property buyout offering a variety of on-site venues, but it can also be a great town offering a range of hotels close to each other,” she explains. “The goal here is to bring your guests together so that transportation from one event to another is easy and efficient. It’s important to remember that the event experience begins with the journey to the destination and ends with the trip home, so pay special attention to this when planning your guests’ weekend itinerary. Transporting hundreds of guests will also take longer than traveling from point to point on a couple’s vacation.”
Cole recommends not hosting any events more than 20 minutes from the main hotel. She adds: “If an event location is spectacular but 30 minutes or more from where you’re staying, try keeping most of the event at or very close to your base to save travel time and get an incredibly memorable and rewarding experience!” While buying out a property can be expensive, planners do say it has some benefits. “Buyouts often allow parties to be held in venues not available to regular hotel guests. For example, how wonderful is it when a late-night party ends at a buyout hotel?” Cole said. “No matter how late the party goes, guests can safely return to their rooms without any transportation issues.”
When it comes to transportation, think about how easy it is for your family and friends to get to your destination. “Passengers generally prefer destinations with one-way flights over those with stopovers,” shares Bloom. Don’t forget that budget will also be a major factor for wedding attendees. “One thing that gets overlooked (assuming you’re not paying for all the hotel rooms) is the affordability of the destination or resort,” she adds. Choosing a location like the Hamptons during peak season can mean some guests will pay top dollar to attend the full wedding weekend and may end up opting out of the festivities.
