For many brides, hosting a weekend wedding, especially on a Saturday, is all the norm, however there are certain factors that come into play when doing so, such as availability. What does a bride do if she is set on a date and the venue is already taken? Or, What if the bride wants to bend the boundaries and make the wedding as unique as she is? She moves it to a weekday.

A weekday wedding is quite unique and is generally only an issue for the guests attending. If a guest cannot take time off to share in your special day, then they may not consider you as special and you consider them. An issue many brides may need to contemplate when drawing up the guest list.

Here are some of the top reasons why you should consider a weekday wedding as supplied by the Granny Mouse Country House & Spa Operations Manager, Ane’ du Preez.

1. ALREADY TAKEN – so the venue you love is booked up every weekend for a year and you can’t get in; here is where a weekday seems like the best option. Having a weekday wedding is likely to allow you to have the entire venue and property to yourself and your guests, as it is not a popular time to get away. It also opens up the opportunity for more availability on accommodation, should your wedding be at a destination or location that is miles from home.
2. IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS – luckily with a weekday wedding you can narrow down your guest list as many RSVP’s are sure to come in declining attendance. This, not unique to this situation, is likely due to guests having to take a day off from work or having to travel too far and not wanting to spend extra money. However, on the bright side, having less numbers allows for a more intimate ceremony and reception and allows the bride to thank everyone for coming, face-to-face, as opposed to doing a general “thank you” during speeches. It may also prove more affordable as many venues only offer catering on a pay per head basis and reducing numbers will allow you to save some cash.

3. OPTIONS, OPTIONS, OPTIONS– having an event during the week also opens up more opportunity for suppliers to be available – especially is they are well sought after. Suppliers also tend to charge more for weekend work, so asking them to help you out on a weekday may also reduce your budget – even just slightly.

4. BREAKING AWAY – hosting a weekday wedding also allows the bride and groom to extend their honeymoon and make use of the forthcoming weekend. (So, less leave days need to be taken from work). What’s even better, if the wedding is strategically set a day before a public holiday – this also works out well for wedding guests travelling and staying over at the venue.

There are many more reasons to consider a weekday wedding, but the choice is ultimately up to the bride and groom. Why consider the norm? Go with the unique and let it carry through to your marriage, to keep it exciting and fresh!

With a busy working life, demanding deadlines, stretching oneself to the limit, the human body is likely to undergo some sort of stress and at times, extending for long periods of time – effecting the physical state, mental state and emotional state and that of your relationship with your spouse or those close to you.

Stress is defined – in a medical or biological context – as a physical, mental, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension. (Medicinenet.com)

Although it is only the second month of the year, many are feeling the stress of a busy lifestyle creeping up on them and it may be time to take the load off with a trip to the spa.

For regular visitors to the spa, you will know that a spa treatment can do wonders for the body and mind.

In our brains we have hormone-like chemicals that control our moods and emotions. “Oxytocin is the “love hormone”…released when massage is not vigorous, but rather gentle; the type you get in a spa, getting pampered. Massage [also] promotes the release of serotonin, which explains the positive mood effect, ” (thedoctorweighsin.com/).

So this Valentine’s Day do your body some good by booking a massage or spa treatment.

Granny Mouse Spa has some sensational spa packages for couples to indulge in as well as options for singles who want to treat themselves.

Choose from the  Lover’s Retreat – a 60 minute Full Body Massage, 30 minute Express Manicure, 30 minute Express Pedicure, and glass of bubbly on arrival. (R1600 per couple).

Prep Me Solo – 30 minute Back, Neck & Shoulder Massage, 30 Minute Back Scrub, 30 minute CSpa Basic Facial (R800 per person)

Walk in, Float Out – 60 minute Full Body massage and 30 minute Hydro Therapy. (R700 per person).

Specials are valid until 28 February 2017 and bookings are essential. Contact 033 234 4071 or email spa@grannymouse.co.za

Click here to view Granny_Mouse_Specials_For_February_2017