New Year's Eve wedding

mano79

What do people think of a wedding on 31st December. We are strongly considering it for our wedding date and would love to hear some opinions. I think it would be an extra special occasion and the hotel would be lovely and Christmassy.

Firstly have any of u ever being to a wedding on New Year's Eve? What would you think if you received an invite for this date bearing in mind it's going to fall on a week day in 2014? I'm also wondering would the band etc be more expensive because of the date? Any opinions would be great. Tks :-)

2rkehij30qtza5

Been to 2 NYE weddings and yes, they are a great idea in my opinion. I've heard you will have to pay top dollar for services (bands, photographers etc) on that date though.

Toots

I've been to one NYE wedding and was invited to another but declined basically because it was so expensive. It's expensive all around, like Galwaygirlee said you'll be paying top rate for the band/photographer/florist etc. It'll also be more expensive for the guests, the rooms will be dearer in the hotel, so anyone travelling that has to stay over will have to fork out more money, also being just after Xmas a lot of people will be low on funds anyway.

Don't get me wrong, it was a lot of fun and a great way to spend NYE. We all really enjoyed ourselves, but honestly it worked out so expensive it would put me off going to another. Also the other thing you need to consider is if you have guests that have kids, it'll be more difficult/expensive for them to get childcare on NYE.

frankspencer

For someone who works as a wedding DJ NYE weddings are very popular and always fun to work.My bookings are down for next year yet I had this NYE and next year booked very early so this is a trend that is growing.

angeldelight

Had my cousin not got married on 30th December the year before us I definitely would have considered it. What a lovely way to ring in the new year, and I'd be really happy to go to a New Years wedding as a guest, it would be a nice change. Just don't forget the weather considerations, and th ceremony would need to be early to allow enough time for photos before it starts to get dark

ABajaninCork

No, I wouldn't consider a NYE wedding. Like others have mentioned, you'll be paying top whack for everything!

It'll also be very expensive for guests, whether they stay over or not. Taxis will be charging double and a lot of hotels will be charging a premium for staying NYE.

Funnily enough NYD isn't too bad, cost wise.

lazygal

As a guest I wouldn't be keen on a NYE wedding if I had to travel and stay overnight. As a couple planning a wedding, I'd be resenting having to pay inflated prices for the night that's in it.

Straylight

Personally I think any weddings around Christmas/New Year are incredibly unfair on the guests. Sure, the couple may be getting their fairy tale wedding, but it's an expensive enough time for people without having the expense of a wedding thrown in. And while the happy couple may think it's great having all their family and friends around at Christmas, those people may actually want to spend whatever time they have off with their own immediate families or friends. Instead their whole Christmas is being dictated by a wedding, rather than them being able to decide what they want to do with their time.

CarrickMcJoe

Was at a wedding yesterday and while the boat was pushed out, it was a great day but before midnight you could see the crowd leaving as some had parties to go to.

ABajaninCork

CarrickMcJoe wrote: »

Was at a wedding yesterday and while the boat was pushed out, it was a great day but before midnight you could see the crowd leaving as some had parties to go to.

That to me would be another reason why a NYE wedding's a terrible idea. Guests don't like to commit in case they get another (cheaper!) invitation. And those that do come are likely to leave early; e.g relieving babysitters, travel back and so on.

tatli_lokma

I know a few people who got married around Christmas time. One was during the mega snow we had a few years back. Half the guests couldn't make it, and those that did struggled to get home! So bearing in mind how unpredictable our weather has been the last few winters, you need to consider this.

Another had a wedding between Christmas and New Year on a weekday. We couldn't go as we couldn't get the time off work, and had already used up our holidays anyway. so if you are having a December wedding, I think you need to give people as much notice as possible, send save the date cards etc to ensure that if they need to take a day off they can (remembering that NYE is not a bank holiday).

Personally, I am not a big fan of NYE. I don't enjoy the whole 'enforced' fun thing. It has always been my least favourite night of the year for going out. We have our own tradition we like to follow and TBH I would be reluctant to give that up to attend a wedding unless it was of a really close friend or family member. You have to allow for people's own family traditions and that they might not like to replace them with your wedding.

Finally, by NYE this year I was stoney broke! The early pay date in December coupled with the fact that I don't get paid again until next week means that this week is a slim one! And attending a wedding isn't cheap at the best of times, let alone Christmas or New Years!

TAPA2012

A NYE wedding is a lovely idea. I think you should plan the wedding you want because in hindsight you might regret it. All your family and friends will know your wedding date well in advance. So spread the word and give them lots of notice. Those that surround you on the day are the ones who have been looking forward to your big day and sharing it with you. The only hinder factor is the weather! So pick close venues to church and reception... have the day of your dreams!

tatli_lokma

For most people, the day of their dreams includes as many close family and friends as possible. But having a wedding on a date that is inconvenient for people just might limit the number of people who are able to attend. In my case for example, its not just a matter that I would prefer not to go. I have an elderly relative who needs to be taken care of and over christmas they always come to stay with us and as it is family time I would not want to give up my time with them for anything. It is just not possible for us to give up our time with them to attend a wedding. And many people will also have child care issues that they can't forgoe just to attend a wedding. Others travel home to parents and grandparents at Christmas, and to attend a wedding elsewhere in the country won't be possible unless they give up valuable family time.

I do hear what you are saying, and its not that I disagree with you entirely. But if the wedding of your dreams is at the expense of guests then it no longer is your dream, is it? It may well look great in photos, but if many of the guests have difficulty in attending then the great photos won't be much of a comfort.

Toto Wolfcastle

TAPA2012 wrote: »

Those that surround you on the day are the ones who have been looking forward to your big day and sharing it with you.

That's all very lovely and idealistic but in reality that's not the case. There will be plenty of people who would love to be at the wedding who just can't because of the cost or babysitters or because of other plans that they might have. I think it should be looked at the other way around. Presumably people are invited to a wedding because the bride and groom want them there. If that is the case then the bride and groom should be choosing a date that will ensure the maximum amount of people they want at their wedding can attend.

TAPA2012

Wouldnt all your family be at the wedding though? It be a great time to have everyone together to celebrate a family wedding and ringing in the new year! So I can see nothing but positives....A double celebration!

tatli_lokma

Not everyone invites children to weddings, so no, it is not automatic that all your family will be at a wedding. Also bear in mind a family is more than just immediate parents and siblings. For many people cousins and friends are also people they want there. Take into account that your family also have families of their own, and in-laws and responsibilities means that invariably there will always be family members who can't come. That can't be avoided unfortunately. However, picking a date so close to christmas would, IMO increase the number of people declining your invitation, despite the fact that they would love to be there.

this may surprise some people, but your wedding is not half as important to other people as it is to you!

Senna

I know a lot of couples that want NYE or between NYE and Christmas because so many friends and family are now in Oz, USA, Canada etc and it means that they will be home for Christmas anyway and wont have to come home twice in the one year. Its an important consideration for a lot of couples and its getting much more popular.

That time of year wouldn't interest me, I think there is enough expense at Christmas without a wedding too.

Monife

I attended a wedding on New Years Eve in 2011. I usually hate going out on New Years Eve because everywhere is packed and my friends can never decide on where to go but I actually really enjoyed myself. It wasn't even a friends wedding, but I had a great time.

There are 2 major reasons why you shouldn't have it on NYE. A very large chunk of your guests may leave at around 10/11, which I witnessed at the wedding I attended. The other reason is, even if guests don't have to stay over, it is a huge expense right after Christmas.

TAPA2012

I agree its an added expense on those invited to a wedding around christmas and NY but this couple that are planning it are giving ppl 2 years notice. Everyone in a family knows when a wedding is coming up and regardless of what time of year it is you put money aside to attend months in advance!

Weddings around this time of year are highly sought after now so that all the family and friends that are dotted all over the world who might be coming home for christmas can actually make it! these ppl might not be able to pay a airline flights to come home twice in one year - so this would suit alot of guests!

They arent getting married until 2014! So thats alot of time to make arrangements to have children looked after or other relatives. If you really want to go. Its only one day out of immediate family time to spend with the extended family!

In my opinion if you really want to go you would prepare well in advance like every other wedding!

clint_silver

TAPA2012 wrote: »

I agree its an added expense on those invited to a wedding around christmas and NY but this couple that are planning it are giving ppl 2 years notice. Everyone in a family knows when a wedding is coming up and regardless of what time of year it is you put money aside to attend months in advance!

Weddings around this time of year are highly sought after now so that all the family and friends that are dotted all over the world who might be coming home for christmas can actually make it! these ppl might not be able to pay a airline flights to come home twice in one year - so this would suit alot of guests!

They arent getting married until 2014! So thats alot of time to make arrangements to have children looked after or other relatives. If you really want to go. Its only one day out of immediate family time to spend with the extended family!

In my opinion if you really want to go you would prepare well in advance like every other wedding!

Id be agreed with this.

Theres always some people who will complain or will have trouble gettin sitters or work problems no matter what time of year but give enough notice and they can make arrangements.
Had 4 weddings in over the holidays and all were brilliant. no guests leaving early, all singing and dancing at 2am. another 4 in next year from the 26th to the 31st. certainly not diminishing in popularity.