Weekday and off-season weddings near Louisville: how much you really save
By the Venue Answers team · · 2 min read
The two venues in our coverage area that publish weekday pricing charge about half their peak Saturday rate on weekdays. On a typical venue, that is a $2,000 to $3,000 savings before you change anything else.
What the published numbers show
| Venue | Peak Saturday | Weekday | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Refinery, Jeffersonville, IN | $4,750 | $2,750 | $2,000 |
| Highland Oaks, Palmyra, IN * | $5,995 | $2,900 | $3,095 |
* Highland Oaks is owned by the people who run this site. It is shown with the same fields as every venue. Our disclosure.
The other venues we track do not publish a weekday rate. That does not mean they do not have one. Ask every venue on your list for its Friday, Sunday and Monday to Thursday pricing.
Where the savings stop
The venue rental is the part that drops. Food and bar cost about the same on any day of the week, and for 125 guests they usually add up to more than the rental. So a weekday date cuts the total wedding bill by something like 10 to 15 percent, not by half. That is still real money.
Some vendors also discount weekdays, especially photographers, DJs and bands who would otherwise be idle. Ask.
What a weekday costs your guests
- Time off. A Thursday wedding asks most guests to take a day off. A Friday evening asks for a half day.
- Travel. Out-of-town guests may need an extra hotel night.
- Fewer guests. Some people will not come. For couples trying to keep the list small, that is a feature.
Friday evenings and Sundays of holiday weekends are the usual middle ground: most of the savings, most of the guests.
Off-season dates
November through March are the slow months for most venues around Louisville, and sunset comes before 5:30 pm in the darkest weeks. If an indoor wedding suits you, these months are the best place to ask for a deal. Weather and sunset by month.
Try it on your numbers
On our venue search, open "More filters" and check "Open to Monday to Thursday." Venues that publish a weekday rate will use it in the all-in estimate. Then run your full budget through the cost estimator.