Choosing a Wedding Date

When choosing a wedding date there are many things to take into consideration. You need to think about price, the season, and who you really want to be there to name a few. Here are some things to consider when choosing a perfect wedding date:

Timing

This delicate decision is different for each couple, but a year-long engagement is often about right. It gives you time to get your dream wedding dress (which can take at least six months) and your dream wedding reception venue (which may already be booked 6 months in advance) yet doesn't drag out the engagement. Consider the following to pick a day that is both practical and personal. Look around at your venues, choose which one will be perfect for you both and set your date around their schedule. After all, when the BIG day comes, you will have no control over the venue which is the most important for your wedding mood.

Season

Weather not only affects your wedding's style and location, but may set a completely different mood. If it's snowing outside, or it's 90 degrees, people will behave differently. Consider your wedding personality, then choose your season accordingly. Free-spirited fun, sun-dappled settings, wild and sweaty dancing: Stick with a summer wedding. Opulence, snowfall, holiday sparkle: Try a winter wedding. Rich colors, nostalgia, mulled apple cider: A fall wedding is for you. Freshness, pastels, a daffodil bouquet: A spring wedding is your thing.

Price

Budget may affect your choice. June, August, and September are the most popular times to marry, so, prices are inevitably higher. But if, for example, you're planning a wedding in January, March, or December, it may cost less because 50 other couples aren't lined up behind you offering to pay top dollar. Days of the week also matter: Saturday nights carry a hefty price tag, but marry during the week and the world is your oyster (venues may even bid against each other to get your business)!

Holiday

If you've always wanted a Nutcracker wedding, or you're hot for a heart-covered wedding cake, sounds like you're a holiday wedding couple. If you're Irish, opt for March, when everyone is already in the St. Patty's Day spirit. Try a wedding party in pastels and an Easter egg hunt in March or April. Have a Fourth of July celebration with flags, barbecue, and fireworks. A plus: Some holidays fall on long weekends, which might make it easier for out-of-town guests to attend. On the flip side, some guests may not want their holiday weekends upended by a wedding, so take that into consideration as well.

VIP Preferences

Speaking of guests, but only of the top-tier, wouldn't-get-married-without-them variety: If you have limited preferences, you may want to ask your nearest and dearest about date conflicts and plan accordingly. Be forewarned that this is a slippery slope if you ask anyone outside your essential circle of parents, siblings, and honor attendants. Keep it simple and don't budge once the date's set.

Good Luck in Picking your Wedding Date!

~Mrs. M