The popularity of multi day weddings is on the rise and I am all for it, working more and more with couples who want to extend their celebrations. We’ll get into all the reasons you might want to turn your wedding day into a weekend, and I’ll share some practical advice you can follow when deciding if it’s right for you. From ‘welcome’ to ‘farewell’, I’ve got you covered every step of the way.
Things To Love About Multi Day Weddings
I see so much value in longer celebration weekends that allow you to really settle into the wedding atmosphere, go at a more relaxed pace and spend real quality time with your loved ones. A classic wedding weekend begins with a Friday night welcome dinner or party, followed by the wedding day on the Saturday and a farewell brunch, pool party or other informal gathering on the Sunday. That’s not to say you have to follow this format, and I highly encourage getting creative and crafting a weekend that has you glowing with happiness from start to finish.
However they look, these are my favourite things about multi day weddings…
You’ll probably be more relaxed. Drawing out the celebrations over a long, languorous weekend naturally invites an easier atmosphere overall, and can remove some of the pressure couples sometimes feel when the focus is all on one day. Arriving on the Friday, for example, gives you chance to feel at home at your venue or accommodation and spend time with your nearest and dearest before seeing them on the big day. Your wedding day is not the first time you see everybody and so some of the nerves can dissipate. It’s also nice for your wedding guests to enjoy their surroundings and your company before the busy wedding day arrives.
Multi day weddings are particularly lovely if you have friends and family you don’t see very often attending, giving you the chance to extend the celebrations and really make the most of that time with them. You are able to create pockets of time that you may not otherwise get on a wedding day, whether it’s a late night chat with your bestie, a morning cuppa with your mum or a catch up with a distant relative. This time and space you create around your wedding day will probably offer some of your favourite moments.
There is also something really beautiful about seeing your loved ones’ reactions as each day’s event unfolds before them at a multi day wedding. Many people will never have attended a wedding weekend before, so delighting them with thoughtfully curated celebrations over each day can be a real treat for them. They’ll be talking about your wedding for months (maybe even years!) to come.
Consider These Things When Planning Multi Day Weddings
You probably love the idea of planning a wonderful wedding weekend (me too!), so here are some practical things to think about in order to make sure it runs smoothly and fabulously.
- When choosing your venue, consider the spaces available to you for each of the events you are planning. Can you host them all in different areas of one venue, or will you choose a nearby restaurant or other location for one or more parts of your wedding weekend? Think about the logistics of getting people between events, and make sure you communicate the plan to everyone clearly
- On that note, try to give people as much notice as possible of the various events they’ll be invited to. Offer information about start times, dress code if applicable, and style and formality of the event. There’s nothing worse than being invited to a poolside brunch, only to find you’re the only one in swimwear!
- Stay flexible with attendance. Whilst it’s completely expected and acceptable to ask people to RSVP definitively to your wedding day, welcome and farewell events often require a greater degree of flexibility. People’s plans can change for various reasons, and enforcing attendance at all events can make things tricky for your guests. Figure out ahead of time whether you need firm numbers for your events (you often do for formal welcome dinners that are being catered by guest number), or whether you can work with an expected range of people
- While it’s not necessary to ‘theme’ your wedding weekend as such, it is important to consider curating each event so they feel connected and part of one greater whole. Multi-day weddings should feel like just that, one celebration over a few days, rather than a series of separate parties. Hiring the help of a wedding planner is one way to take this worry off your plate – it’s my job to help you design a beautifully cohesive event!
If you’re feeling inspired and want to dive into some venues that are perfect for multi day wedding celebrations, take a look at my spotlight on a very special Cheshire venue and a selection of Lake District wedding venues just crying out to host wedding weekends! Ready to start curating the extended celebration dreams are made of?
Image Credits: Anna Beth Photography // Floral Designer: Campbells Floristry // Linen & Glassware: Table Alchemy // Placemats: Wren Ark // Embroided Napkins & Ribbons: The Embroided Napkin Co // Venue: Capesthorne Hall
