The end of the one-day wedding: why time is the new wedding luxury

Worried about feeling rushed on your wedding day? 

If there is one complaint a wedding venue hears often, it’s that a traditional single-day wedding can feel like it passes far too quickly to truly experience all the beautiful moments. This is exactly where multi-day weddings come in. Instead of everything happening within a few short hours, your celebration unfolds over several days – giving you plenty of opportunities to connect, to pause, and to enjoy being surrounded by the people you love for longer.

In today’s blog, we explore why so many couples are moving away from the traditional one-day wedding format, and share the real benefits of multi-day weddings in the UK.

A traditional wedding day is jam-packed full of beautiful moments. But unfortunately, couples often end up feeling tight on time. From getting ready in the morning through to the evening party, it can feel like you’re constantly moving from one moment to the next, without any opportunities to pause and take it all in.  

In reality, that means you don’t always get the time you imagined. You might only feel able to squeeze in a quick conversation with selected guests, and you could miss out on photo opportunities like taking a quick trip to the White Cliffs of Dover or to Dover Castle (see our blog post for more inspiration). Many couples often reflect on this afterwards; they loved their day, but wished they had more time to be present and to properly enjoy it. Enter multi-day weddings…

A multi-day wedding isn’t just about adding more time; it’s about creating more space so you can enjoy the moments that matter most. Instead of everything happening within one tightly packed day, each part of celebration has the opportunity to unfold naturally. 

Multi-day weddings in the UK can take place over a weekend (Friday-Sunday) or mid-week (for example Tuesday-Thursday), depending on your plans and preferences. Most follow a simple and relaxed structure, with time to arrive, celebrate, and gently wind down. Here’s what a typical multi-day wedding itinerary looks like:

Day one: arrival evening

• 4-5pm – guests arrive and settle into their rooms
• 6-9pm – informal drinks and dining (that could even be a rehearsal dinner where everyone gets to know each other) 
• 9pm onwards – enjoy an evening walk around the grounds or a soak in the hot tub followed by card or board games

Day two: the wedding day

• 8am – relaxed grazing breakfast 
• 8am-1:30pm – getting ready for the day ahead
• 2pm – wedding ceremony
• 2:45-3:45pm – drinks reception and photographs
• 4pm – wedding breakfast followed by speeches
• 7pm – evening reception

Day three: the morning after

• 8:30-9:30am – breakfasts
• 10am – check out and head home

Another option is to arrive on the day of your wedding and then enjoy the whole day after your wedding with your guests that have stayed in the Manor House and Dovecote with you. Your second day could include a more relaxed breakfast with a private chef, a picnic in the gardens or on the beach, and a BBQ in the early evening in the grounds of Solton Manor.

More time to enjoy your wedding

Instead of rushing from one part of the day to the next, multi-day weddings give you more time to slow down and take it all in. You can have more in-depth conversations, sit down and eat more of your meal, and be present for the moments that matter, rather than feeling like the day is slipping away from you.

Spend quality time with your guests

With a multi-day wedding, your guests aren’t just arriving for a few hours and then leaving again. They get to stay overnight and enjoy the build-up and wind-down from your wedding day, with plenty of time to catch up, relax, and properly connect with one another.

Midweek multi-day wedding options 

Not many wedding venues offer midweek multi-day weddings in Kent as they don’t have extensive onsite accommodation. At Solton Manor, we offer a dedicated multi-day wedding weekend package from Tuesdays-Thursdays throughout the year, allowing you to enjoy all the magic of an extended celebration during the week.

FAQs

What is a multi-day wedding?

A multi-day wedding extends your celebrations across two or more days, often featuring an arrival evening with a rehearsal dinner, the wedding day, and a relaxed gathering the following morning.

Are multi-day weddings more expensive?

Multi-day weddings can be more expensive than single-day options, but you can save money by opting for a midweek multi-day wedding.

What is the benefit of an exclusive use wedding venue weekend?

Exclusive use means that the wedding venue is entirely yours for the duration of the celebration, with no need to worry about sharing spaces with other guests and no need to rush.