No holiday brings family together like Thanksgiving. True, much of it has to do with the overabundance of delicious food, but we think a lot of it has to do with the overwhelming gratefulness we feel for all we've been blessed with over the past year and in life in general.
Besides Thanksgiving, what other celebration has the power to bring families together to give thanks for love that’s been found? You guessed it: a wedding. A time when two families become one because of the powerful love shared between two individuals.
The concept of a Thanksgiving-weekend wedding, however unconventional it may seem, is not actually as uncommon as you might think. It’s a two-for-one special the way many see it, and two fantastic reasons for families to join together. If you plan on holding a Thanksgiving wedding next weekend, next year, or in years to come, here are some things you should be aware of beforehand to avoid disappointments and help make your Thanksgiving wedding a success!
Guests:
When it comes to guests who aren't of any relation to the bride or groom, or those with large extended families, be aware that attending your wedding may be a difficult commitment to make. As Thanksgiving is held on a Thursday, you will most likely receive the most positive response if you choose to hold your wedding on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.
Invitations:
Be mindful that this is a special holiday that people typically share with close family; most already have annual traditions in place. If you plan on asking friends and family to stray from the norm to help celebrate your wedding day, give them as much time as possible to plan in advance as you possibly can. As soon as you have a date in mind and book your hall, send out the save the date cards. This could mean you’re asking people to plan a year in advance, but that is going to give you the greatest probability of receiving the most ‘yes’ responses.
It’s also recommended to keep tabs on relatives and let everyone else know who plans to spend their Thanksgiving with you. This way, it is publicly understood that this is a family-oriented event and the holiday is still going to be celebrated; there’s just a little extra love in the air! You can let everyone keep in touch a few ways, I recommend utilizing social media by creating a group where members can fill in the rest of the group members on their plans, travel arrangements, etc. Setting up a group email is also a great way to keep in touch, but has the potential to get slightly more annoying as the responses pile up in inbox's.
Advantages:
For one, you have your theme all picked out! Fall weddings are already some of the most beautiful and fun-to-plan weddings of the year and now you have a theme for the cuisine, as well! Thanksgiving feasts are elaborate and enjoyable, so make a large focus of your wedding the food; everyone will definitely appreciate your consideration for the holiday.
In addition, if you have a lot of friends and family who may be traveling from out of state to celebrate with you, most employers give long weekends for Thanksgiving, so asking off from work is a non-issue, making traveling much easier.
No matter what way you look at it, combining a celebration as fun and full of love as a wedding with a wonderful family holiday just seems like a good idea after all. From all of us at The Springs Events, happy wedding planning, happy Thanksgiving and bon appétit!
