What's the honest impact on guest attendance when asking people to take time off work?
We are weighing up a Thursday wedding to secure our dream venue.
Question Asked: 18/05/2026
Wedding Date: 9/08/2018
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Answered by: 2 Experts
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I find that if you give people plenty of notice, and the wedding isn’t too much of a destination, most guests should still be able to attend — especially for a Thursday rather than a Monday–Wednesday wedding. If they truly love you and are important in your life, they’ll usually do their best to make it work! Overall, I wouldn’t stress too much about it ??
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Hey!
Honestly, if the venue is the one, book it. The people closest to you will take the day off without a second thought. The guests you might lose are usually the outer edges of your list anyway - and a Thursday has a way of naturally trimming the people who were borderline invites to begin with.
The only group worth a personal conversation before you commit is anyone travelling from interstate or overseas, since a Thursday asks more of them logistically than a weekend would. A quick message to those guests before you sign gives you an honest read on the numbers.
Get your save the dates out early - six months minimum, nine if you can. Most people can sort leave well in advance if they're given enough notice, and it stops being a talking point pretty quickly.
One thing worth being realistic about: it won't be a rager. People have work the next day and most guests will have an early exit in the back of their mind, so don't expect the dance floor to be going at midnight. If a big night is important to you, that's worth factoring in. But if you're after a beautiful day that wraps up at a reasonable hour with people who genuinely wanted to be there, a Thursday actually works in your favour.
The honest truth is that a Thursday wedding tends to feel more relaxed and intimate than a Saturday. If the venue is non-negotiable, don't let the day of the week talk you out of it.
Cali & Co.