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AMERICAN WEDDINGS BLOG

Stay up to date with the latest wedding ceremony trends, script writing inspiration, tips and advice for first-time officiants, and news that matters to couples and wedding ministers.

How does the rise in weekday weddings impact wedding officiants?

Published Monday, Dec. 28th, 2020


Illustrations by Jessica Levey

The weekday wedding was already gaining popularity at the start of 2020, and this trend shows no sign of stopping, or even slowing down. In fact, an increasing number of engaged couples are now planning Monday and mid-week ceremonies well into 2021 (and even 2022). 

 

Why? A flurry of postponed and rescheduled weddings resulting from the pandemic have flooded the 2021 calendar, leaving fewer weekend scheduling options for couples that are just starting the planning process. Additionally, weekday dates are generally more affordable options for couples hoping to book at popular venues. 

 

And even more telling of the times: Livestream and hybrid weddings of all kinds have become a popular and safer alternative to large gatherings at traditional venues. Coordinating flights and hotels isn’t a necessity for these virtual celebrations  … which means guests have far more more flexibility on when they can attend, too. 

 

So, the weekday wedding is here to stay. This is good news! 

 

We suspect more weddings, conducted safely, can’t be a bad thing! This goes for part-time and full-time officiants. 

 

 

illustration of weekday wedding calendar for 2021, pandemic wedding venue booking, marriage officiant

Have you noticed a big shift toward weekday weddings?

 

Many officiants who are just starting out professionally and haven’t made the leap to full time are used to leading ceremonies on the weekends, while juggling a stressful dayjob, too. An increase in weekday weddings might give these officiants the opportunity to take on additional ceremonies, without having to book their weekends to the max. This might help them take the leap to full time wedding work, if that’s something they are hoping for. 

 

A move to unconventional ceremonies… whether it’s DIY decor or a Tuesday afternoon elopement in the park… allow couples more chances to create the wedding of their dreams, free from the expectations of families and tradition. This emphasis on authentic ceremonies and individuality is what AMM is all about, and it gives our officiants an opportunity to really shine and thrive, too. 

 

(Read ELOPE: An Illustrated Guide… )

 

The pandemic has caused tremendous hardship and loss. It’s also given many of us, including soon-to-be-wed couples, the need to pause and reflect on what’s most important to us. It’s a big part of why some industry experts are already calling 2021 The Year of the Wedding and The Year of Intentionality.

 

And we agree. As our most recent officiant survey shows, couples are still getting married, often in smaller, more intimate ways. Although it’s hard to predict exactly where the changes of 2021 will lead us, we'll continue to reach out to our officiants to follow these important trends.

 

(Safer wedding ceremonies are more important than ever. Talk to couples about ceremony safely early, and read How to talk about COVID-19 wedding ceremony safety without making it weird, for wedding officiants and couples.)

 


 

We want to hear from you! Have you noticed a big shift toward weekday weddings? How have they impacted you? Let us know


Jessica Levey
Jessica Levey

Lead Staff Writer & Illustrator

Jessica loves exploring the history and magic of ritual, the connections between people and places, and sharing true stories about love and commitment. She's an advocate for marriage equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and individuality, and is an ordained Minister with AMM. When she’s not writing or illustrating for AMM, she enjoys city hikes, fantasy novels, comics, and traveling.

Natasha Anakotta
Natasha Anakotta

Guest Contributor

Natasha is passionate about promoting marriage equality, and encouraging couples to celebrate in a way that’s authentic and unique. Aside from weddings, she enjoys Star Wars, true crime podcasts, and eating macarons by the dozen.

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