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Water's Edge offers the most spectacular views of the Manhattan skylines anywhere on the East River. |
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Waterfront views, decks, great living spaces, spa bathrooms, this home has it all! |
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A Tradition of Luxury and Grandeur
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Simply put, we want your experience at Silverfox to be a memorable one. |
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We use makeup that is subtle and long lasting. You will look naturally radiant! |
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Dated Tradition
Ahhh … Saturdays. Who doesn’t love a Saturday? Sleeping late, leisurely breakfasts, spending time with friends and family, afternoon naps and barbecues on the deck make most of us long for the last day of the week.
Not surprisingly, Saturday also is the most popular day to get married.
But more and more couples are choosing off-days for their weddings, particularly those without a lot of time for planning. A sudden job transfer, pregnancy, military orders – any number of things can require quick changes in wedding plans.
At many ceremony and reception sites, Saturdays are “spoken for” a year or more down the road. If a couple has their heart set on one of these venues, an off-day wedding can be an event-saving alternative.
Religious considerations also can come into play. For example, many Jewish weddings take place on Sunday in deference to the Jewish Sabbath, which lasts from sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturday.
For some couples, having their wedding on a specific date is more important than having it on Saturday. Valentine’s Day, your parents’ or grandparents’ anniversary, your fiance’s birthday or the anniversary of your first date could all make for especially memorable celebrations on off-days.
Saturday is still the first choice for weddings, but alternative days are much more acceptable than they used to be. Off-day weddings seem especially acceptable to brides and grooms who have been married before.
This acceptability could be due to a change in couples’ mental approach to weddings. This new attitude toward weddings includes more extended gatherings. With many guests traveling great distances to attend, more couples plan celebrations that last several days or longer. Events may begin with the Friday wedding and continue with Saturday or Sunday activities and outings. Another option is Friday and Saturday group activities with a Sunday ceremony as the finale.
A number of couples who plan off-peak weddings select holiday weekends so their guests will have a longer stay. Memorial Day and Labor Day are popular for Sunday weddings because guests have Monday to return home. In these cases, couples tend to have a more localized guest list as guests won’t have to travel as far.
Couples need to remember, however, that some venues and vendors are in great demand for certain holidays. For example, florists are swamped on Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, and many florists limit the number of holiday orders they accept to ensure quality service. Many couples also get married right after spring graduation and on New Year’s Eve.
As an added bonus, off-day weddings can save you money because some facilities discount services and rental charges. Bill Fisher, president and CEO of the American Hotel & Motel Association, said a facility’s location is all-important. A hotel that hosts conventions or caters to business people probably won’t offer lower rates during the week. But those that typically cater to weekend warriors often do.
“If you go with a property that’s off-cycle, they’re more likely to give you a good rate,” Fisher said.
Moreover, you’re likely to get better service because you’ll have management’s undivided attention. You won’t have to compete with other weddings or special events.
“Any caterer would love to do a wedding on a Friday or Sunday,” said Jerry Edwards, president of the National Association of Catering Executives. “I can’t say that the price should be any different – certainly the cost to produce such events are the same. However, space rentals, equipment rentals and time choices are definitely in the client’s favor.”
Steve Sheanin, president of Wedding & Portrait Photographers International, said that vendors might not reduce their fees for mid-week events, but they are more likely to be available.
Sheanin is even seeing more weddings on Thursdays. He said people’s work schedules seem to be more flexible than they used to be.
Off-day events offer yet another benefit: You may be able to book a hotel or restaurant with fewer guests than the establishment normally requires. For example, if a catering hall mandates a minimum of 125 for Saturday events, they might be flexible and allow only 100 for Friday or Sunday receptions.
At some hotels, you can reserve a block of rooms for Friday night with a lower number of guests, because business travelers have gone home by then.
Better still, you might gain even greater bargaining power if you marry in “off months” like August, November or March. You’ll miss the late spring or early summer wedding rush, while still bypassing any holiday parties.
Friday evening and Sunday morning affairs are commonplace. Yet they can retain the glamour and tradition of Saturday weddings. Whether ultra formal or very casual, it all boils down to what you want for your celebration.
In many cases, Sunday weddings tend to begin between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., followed by a reception that wraps up around 5 p.m. Many Sunday receptions take the form of a champagne brunch. These parties aren’t necessarily subdued – often they include a DJ, band or other performers.
If you decide to marry on a Friday or Sunday, you’ll probably need to hold your rehearsal dinner on a Thursday night or earlier in the week. Again, the same off-day advantages apply.
Whether your event will be large or small, you have to devise a plan when setting your wedding date. You and your families should determine which desires are most important and create a wedding budget. In addition to the time of year and time of week, you should carefully consider the time of day. And don’t forget to take your guests’ needs into account.
By keeping your wedding’s true meaning uppermost in your minds, you’ll discover options as numerous as the stars in your eyes. Scheduling an off-day wedding is one way to make it extraordinary. You can get the site you really want, make the most of the reunion with family and friends, and get more bang for your buck.
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Photo by AJ Cass Photography
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