A new day is claiming its spot on the wedding calendar, and it's not Saturday. Thursdays are showing up on save-the-dates more than ever, and couples aren't stumbling into the idea, but seeking it out. As more people prioritize an intentional day over one that just follows tradition, Thursday has become the pick for those who want their wedding to stand apart from the pack.

A weeknight wedding carries a certain magic that a Saturday can't replicate. Vendors show up with undivided attention instead of racing between three other events, and the entire affair takes on a spontaneous, we-made-our-own-rules kind of feeling. Thursday weddings are becoming a popular choice, so if they’re on your radar, here's what to think through first.

Meet the Experts

Liney Castle, planner at Twickenham House and Hall

Mary Angelini, wedding videographer of Key Moment Films

Patrícia Esteves, wedding planner of Peach Perfect Weddings

McKenna Shano, owner and lead designer of McKenna Katherine Weddings

Julian Ribinik, creative director at Julian Ribinik Studios

Lacey Henderson, director of sales at The Treasury on the Plaza

Nicole Back, photographer and videographer at Nicole&Photo

Renee Armour, owner and lead planner at Armour Events

McKenzi Taylor, founder and owner of Cactus Collective Weddings

Are Thursday Weddings Actually Cheaper?

It's tempting to assume a Thursday wedding automatically means a smaller bill, but that's not always the case. Some vendors don't offer weekday discounts, so before booking anything, ask directly instead of assuming the savings are built in.

Liney Castle, Planner at Twickenham House and Hall, notes, “Depending on the venue requirements, Thursday weddings might be a cheaper venue fee, but vendors might charge a higher rate for a weekday wedding or be less inclined to take one on, leading to the couple needing to book a higher-cost vendor. However, many weekday weddings by nature have a smaller guest count, and that is a huge cost saver for the couple!”

Of course, savings from a smaller guest list don't apply evenly across your budget. Some vendors price based on hours and expertise rather than headcount, so avoid assuming every line item will shrink along with your guest list.

Mary Angelini, Wedding Videographer at Key Moment Films, adds, “Don't expect a significant price change for your photographer and videographer. Coming from a filmmaker, creative work typically isn't discounted. The work is the same whether the wedding is on a peak Saturday or a sleepy Thursday.”

A Thursday wedding can be budget-friendly, but it helps to know where those savings show up. An honest conversation with your vendors about pricing ensures you can create a realistic budget that leaves room for the things you care about most.

Plan Around a Holiday Weekend for Easier Guest Travel

If you love the idea of a Thursday wedding but want to make it easier for guests to justify the trip, look at the calendar for holiday weekends. A Thursday that leads into a long weekend gives guests a reason to take the extra day off, turning your wedding into part of a mini getaway.

“I’ve noticed that more weddings on a Thursday tend to happen during school holidays,” confirms Patrícia Esteves, Wedding Planner at Peach Perfect Weddings. “People, especially those with children, are generally more open to attending during these periods, as it can be easier for them to manage the logistics of attending a weekday wedding.”

Venues and vendors might also open up extra room on their calendars around a holiday weekend, anticipating demand, which can work out nicely for couples eyeing a Thursday that isn't ordinary. It's a small tweak to your date search, and one that could tip more of your favorite people from maybe to yes.

When to Send Save-the-Dates for a Thursday Wedding

A Thursday wedding asks a bit more of your guests than a Saturday one, and the best way to respect that is to give them plenty of notice. Sending save-the-dates early lets people sort out their schedule well before the date sneaks up on them.

McKenna Shano, Owner & Lead Designer at McKenna Katherine Weddings, emphasizes, “Communication and consideration are everything. Send save-the-dates as early as possible so guests have plenty of time to request PTO, arrange childcare, and make travel plans.”

Think of the extra lead time as a gift to your guest list. The more advance notice someone has, the easier it is for them to say yes without scrambling.

Ask Your Venue About Concurrent Events or Setup Schedules

You might think you’ll have the place to yourselves on a Thursday, but that's not always guaranteed. Plenty of venues host other events during the week, like corporate functions or private parties, so ask what else might be happening at your venue that day.

“Weekday venues, particularly hotels and restaurants, often run other business alongside a wedding, and you want to know that in advance rather than meeting a conference badge in your ceremony photographs,” outlines Julian Ribinik, Creative Director at Julian Ribinik Studios.

Ask for specifics from your venue coordinator: when vendors can start setting up, whether another group might share the space, and how much of the property is yours come evening. Get those answers locked in early, and you can stop wondering whether a stray office happy hour will crash your first dance.

Prepare for a Smaller Guest List and Lower RSVP Rates

One of the most common side effects of a Thursday wedding is a smaller guest count, which isn’t a bad thing. Not everyone can take a day off work or travel mid-week, so your guest list could shrink to the people most committed to being there.

Lacey Henderson, Director of Sales at The Treasury on the Plaza, shares, “In our experience, Thursday weddings do tend to be a little smaller, although that isn’t always the case. Some couples intentionally choose a weekday, knowing it might help keep their guest count more manageable.”

Rather than viewing this as a drawback, many couples find it's one of the best parts of a Thursday wedding. A smaller crowd often means a more relaxed atmosphere and one-on-one time with guests.

Nicole Back, Photographer & Videographer at Nicole&Photo, echoes, “Thursday weddings are most popular during summer and fall, but I've seen a majority of Thursday weddings happening with intimate guest counts, 30 or under. Keeping things intimate allows for guests to be more present and make an exception for a weekday wedding.”

Whether by design or circumstance, a smaller guest list can come with a Thursday wedding, and plenty of couples wouldn't have it any other way. When your day is filled with the people who made the effort to be there, the room size matters less than the connection in it.

How to Make Travel and Attendance Easy for Weekday Guests

Since a Thursday wedding does ask more of your guests, it's nice to put in some extra effort to make attending as seamless as possible. Start with the basics, like a clear day-of timeline, parking details, and dress code expectations.

“A solid wedding website can help guests who need logistical information and booking options quickly,” highlights Renee Armour, Owner & Lead Planner at Armour Events. “We like to partner with a travel agent to secure a variety of accommodation options because we know not everyone can make this a week-long vacation— some guests need the nearest airport, transfer information, and a hotel for one night.”

Some guests might turn your wedding into a getaway, staying the entire weekend to make the most of it, while others will simply fly in, celebrate, and head home the next morning. Giving guests options that fit their plans is what makes a weeknight wedding effortless, no matter how each person chooses to experience it.

Focusing On Your Guests Who Matter Most for Your Wedding Day

A Thursday date won't stand in the way of the guests who matter most. They'll rearrange a schedule or hop on a flight without a second thought, because celebrating with you is the priority.

McKenzi Taylor, Founder & Owner at Cactus Collective Weddings, explains, “If they’re truly one of your closest friends or family members, they’ll get it, and they’ll be happy to make it happen. Who doesn’t love a mid-week break from the grind with their bestie!?”

That's the heart of why so many couples are embracing Thursday weddings. It filters your guest list down to the people invested in celebrating you, and there's something special about looking around the room and knowing everyone chose to be there, even on a weeknight.

Weddings have always been about one thing: celebrating the two of you, surrounded by those you love. The day on the calendar is just a detail, and if that detail happens to be a Thursday, all the better. Your favorite people will show up, and you might just start a trend of your own!

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS
All photos by Dragonfly Photography

Editor's Note: Some above product links may be partner-connected and purchasing through these links means we get a small commission from those brands that helps support this website. You can find our full affiliate disclosure policy here on Tidewater and Tulle.

A special celebration deserves a cake that feels personal, but adding your own touch doesn't have to mean taking on a complicated baking or decorating project! For a small celebration like an engagement party, we love that a simple store-bought cake can become a beautiful centerpiece with a little creativity and a Cricut machine.

Inspired by the popular tiramisu cake trend and the wedding world's love affair with lace, this DIY project uses a Cricut to cut an intricate acetate cake stencil that can transform a plain frosted cake with nothing more than a dusting of cocoa powder. The result is an elegant, personalized engagement cake that looks custom-made without requiring advanced cake decorating skills.

Whether you're celebrating an engagement, hosting a bridal shower, or planning a pre-wedding dinner, this beginner-friendly reusable Cricut cake stencil tutorial walks you through acetate basics, cutting acetate on your Cricut, and applying cocoa powder for a crisp lace-inspired finish. It's a simple little detail that makes a ready-made cake feel uniquely yours. Let's get making!

How to Hack a Store-Bought Cake for Your Engagement Party

You don't need specialty cake decorating skills to create a beautiful engagement party cake! With a simple DIY Cricut cake stencil made from acetate, you can transform an affordable grocery store cake into a personalized centerpiece using just a dusting of cocoa powder, powdered sugar, or edible luster dust. (We're using cocoa powder for this tutorial!)

For the best results, start with a simply frosted cake from your local supermarket bakery or neighborhood baker. Look for a cake with smooth white buttercream and a flat top, which gives your Cricut acetate stencil a clean, flush surface. A 6-inch round cake is usually the ideal size for a small engagement celebration with under 15 guests, but you can easily scale your stencil in Cricut Design Space to fit any round cake size!

Need a gluten-free or dietary-friendly option? Cocoa powder is vegan and gluten-free, so you can use this technique on a suitable cake as well! Look for a local bakery or supermarket offering cakes that meet your dietary requirements. If you're catering for someone with a food allergy or intolerance, always be mindful of "may contains" on the label and cross-contamination during preparation and decorating.

How to Make an Acetate Cake Stencil with Your Cricut

Skill Level: Beginner

Supplies Needed for This Engagement Party Cake Stencil

• Cricut cutting machine
• Fine-point blade
• Acetate sheets (we used 12x12 sheets and cut them to fit on our cutting mat)
• LightGrip cutting mat
• Weeding tool
• Scraper tool
• Plain frosted store-bought cake (we used a 6" round decorate-your-own vanilla cake from M&S)
• Unsweetened cocoa powder
• Fine mesh tea strainer
• Dish soap + water (to wash acetate sheet before use)
• Paper towels
• Parchment or wax paper (optional)
• Our Just Engaged Cake Stencil Cricut Design Space project (bookmark or make it right now!)

DESIGN NOTES: For our project template, we used a Design Space-sourced lace doily image and a free Cricut stencil font which means you will need a Cricut Access subscription or purchase the doily image as à la carte to make as is. You can also swap out, redesign, or use your own images and fonts as you wish.

Base Material Setting for Cutting Cricut Acetate

For our Cricut brand acetate sheet, we found the best results with Acetate.

Compatible Cricut Machines

• Joy Xtra
• Explore family
• Maker family

EDITOR'S NOTE: Our cake stencil is 6" (15.2cm) at its widest. You could make this with an original Joy or Joy 2, but you would need to resize to 4.5" (11.4cm) or smaller and then redesign with a more simple lace pattern and a thicker font for best cutting results.

Step-by-Step Instructions: Acetate Cake Stencil

1Prep your project. Set out all of your materials and prep your computer, laptop, or mobile phone with Cricut Design Space. If using our pre-made Design Space project, all you need to do is click Customize or Make to keep everything as is!

2Edit and/or resize as needed. Adjust the cake stencil size if desired. Our finished stencil measures 6 inches (15.2 cm) which was designed to go on a 6" round cake. Click Make when ready.

3Cut your stencil. Acetate comes with protective films on both sides. Remove only the backside for now. Place the acetate sheet on your LightGrip mat (with the removed film side down on the mat), and select your Base Material so your machine knows how deep the blade needs to cut – ours cut best on Acetate.

MATERIAL ALTERNATIVE: Don't have acetate sheets available to you or want to go plastic-free? While not reusable, you can also cut this with cardstock! If you've never dusted a cake with cocoa powder before though, you'll want to cut at least two stencils so you can practice dusting. It's key to getting a confident, crisp pattern on your cake!

4Remove all the cut bits. After it's been cut, carefully remove your stencil from the mat by flipping over your mat and bending/peeling the mat away from your stencil. If you have any lingering acetate stuck in the intricate pattern, use your weeding tool to poke through all of the pieces that don't belong on your stencil. Clear your cutting mat with a scraper tool.

5Wash your stencil. Now remove the remaining protective film on the front side of your stencil. Since our acetate is not food safe certified, we washed our stencil with dish soap and warm water and then dried with a paper towel.

6Chill your cake & practice cocoa dusting. For best stenciling results, a pro cake decorating tip is to chill your cake for at least 20-30 minutes as this will help harden your frosting for a better surface for your cocoa powder.

While your cake is chilling, place your stencil on a paper towel. Using your fine mesh strainer, scoop a spoonful of cocoa powder into it and sift over your stencil by gently tapping the side of your strainer with your finger.

Once fully covered, lift the stencil with both hands, straight-up in one gentle movement. Look over your practice stencil work. Is it clean enough for you? If not, wash and dry your stencil to try again. Once you're happy, time to do the real cake!

7Dust your cake. When it's near time to serve your cake, place some parchment or wax paper around the edges of your cake to protect the plate it's on from rogue cocoa powder. Place your stencil on your chilled cake. Using your fine mesh strainer, scoop a spoonful of cocoa powder into it (if needed) and lightly sift over your stencil as you did before. Once covered to your satisfaction, remove the stencil and bask in your personalized engagement cake!

PRO TIMING TIP: Cocoa powder isn't a fan of moisture so this you shouldn't dust your cake too far in advance. A general rule of thumb is ideally just before serving, but no more than a couple of hours if you want that perfect engagement picture look. With that said, from this tutorial experience, we had our cake leftovers in the fridge overnight, and it still looked pretty good next day! Your cocoa powder design may survive quite well depending on your type of cake frosting.

Frequently Asked Questions: DIY Cricut Cake Stencils

Is Cricut acetate safe for cakes?

Craft-store (or Cricut brand) acetate sheets and Cricut machines are not certified food-safe, but you can safely use acetate as a temporary cake stencil with proper preparation. Always wash your cut stencil with warm, soapy water before use, and use it only as a brief shield while dusting cocoa powder or edible luster dust. It's not recommended to leave non-food-safe acetate resting on the cake for long periods.

How do you stop cocoa powder from bleeding under a cake stencil?

To keep cocoa powder from smudging under a stencil, chill your cake in the fridge for 20-30 minutes until the frosting is firm to the touch. Hold a fine-mesh tea strainer or sifter about 4 inches above the cake, dust lightly with your finger by tapping the side of the strainer. Once all covered in cocoa, carefully lift the acetate stencil with two hands straight up in one smooth movement. And whatever you do, don't accidentally blow on it like we did as you can see in the final photos! Oops.

Which Cricut machine is best for cutting acetate stencils?

All current Cricut models (including the Cricut Joy, Cricut Joy Xtra, Cricut Explore, and Cricut Maker machines) can cut thin acetate cake stencils using a fine-point blade. For thick acetate or rigid stencil material, you may need a deep-point blade which is only available for the Explore and Maker machines at the time of writing.

Make This Cake Stencil Yours

There's something especially satisfying about taking a simple store-bought cake and giving it a detail that feels completely your own. With a Cricut and a homemade acetate stencil, even a small engagement party cake can become a personalized part of the celebration.

And that's the beauty of this DIY: you don't need to reinvent the cake! Choose a stencil that reflects your style, add a dusting of cocoa powder, and let that one thoughtful detail do the decorating for you.

Whether your celebration is inspired by lace, the latest tiramisu trend, or simply a design you love, this easy Cricut cake stencil technique is one more way to make the little moments leading up to your wedding feel like yours.

Ready to tackle more Cricut wedding DIY projects? Head over to our Wedding DIY Hub for all the education and inspo you need to get started.

TUTORIAL CREDITS
Photography and Video: Chelsea Barton

Editor's Note: Some above product links may be partner-connected and purchasing through these links means we get a small commission from those brands that helps support this website. You can find our full affiliate disclosure policy here on Tidewater and Tulle.