Friday weddings used to feel inconvenient and selfish. Now, my family swears by them.

When my sister-in-law announced she was getting married on a Friday, I was confused. I hadn’t yet attended a wedding that wasn’t on a Saturday.

Still, our family took off that Thursday so we could travel from our small town in Virginia to the celebration in Charleston, South Carolina, (and attend the rehearsal dinner).

We also took off Friday for the wedding, which was just as fun and dance-filled as any weekend reception I’ve attended. Then, as my sister-in-law envisioned, we had a relaxed, low-pressure Saturday with friends and family.

Our group spent the morning strolling through downtown and later watched a few games together at a local sports bar before having to fly home the next day.

The wedding weekend felt like a true vacation — one where we could actually relax and connect, without immediately waking up to a long drive or stint at airport security.

I loved having the chance to fully enjoy the nuptials, spend an extra day with the people we love, and head home on Sunday feeling refreshed.

It made such an impression that when my husband and I started planning our own wedding a year later, we didn’t hesitate to book a Friday.

It’s nice to celebrate for a whole weekend, not just one night

For our Friday wedding in Charlottesville, many of our friends and family arrived early and booked longer hotel stays instead of flying in for a single night.

They treated the event like a mini vacation, and I think that mindset shift made a difference. Instead of rushing through goodbyes or packing bags the morning after the reception, guests can wake up with nowhere to be in (for some) a new place.

After all, one of the most unexpected joys of a Friday wedding is what comes after. That Saturday becomes a built-in buffer — no stress, no formal plans, just time to relax and enjoy being with the people who matter.

The day after our wedding was filled with casual conversations, shared meals, and lively moments we would have missed in a typical one-day timeline.

Since many guests stayed in town longer, we had more chances to connect with them at coffee shops, on morning walks, and over impromptu dinners.

Instead of cramming our wedding celebration into a few hours, it was extended in a way that felt natural and unrushed.

After, we received positive feedback from several friends who had an incredible weekend casually exploring a new destination on top of attending our wedding.

Friday weddings aren’t for everyone — but I suggest you embrace them if you can

Our wedding went so well that my husband’s brother planned a Friday wedding a few years later, too.

They have unofficially become a family tradition — and I think more couples (and guests) should consider the underrated beauty of them, especially if there’s travel involved.

I’ve now celebrated three Friday weddings in three different destinations: Charleston, Charlottesville, and Key West. Each one felt like the perfect kickoff to an unforgettable weekend.

We’ve had beach days, brewery crawls, downtown dinners, and slow mornings that wouldn’t have happened with a Saturday wedding timeline.

I understand the perspective of those who feel it’s unfair to ask guests to take more time off work or spend money to attend a destination wedding, especially one on a Friday.

However, a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you’re close to the couple getting married, it’s worth trying to embrace the moment with them if you’re able.

For our part, we made sure to give our guests plenty of notice (about a year in advance), so they could start planning, saving, and setting aside PTO if they wanted to attend our wedding.

That said, we understood that not everyone would be able to make it and didn’t get upset about it. In the end, we chose what felt right for us and were so grateful to share it with those who could be there.

Lastly, if you’re invited to a Friday wedding, lean into it. Take a few extra days off (if you can), slow down, and enjoy the magic that happens when there’s time to actually be present.

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