Choosing the Perfect Wedding Date is Hard
There are a dozen things to plan your wedding date around – the location, the season, dates with special meaning – and yet you and your fiancé can’t decide on when to get married. Choosing your wedding date can be tough! Here are some strategies to help you decide when the time is right for you:
5 factors that affect wedding dates:
- Availability of a specific venue
- Your wedding budget
- Availability of your guests
- How much time you need for planning
- Where and when you plan to honeymoon
Photo Credit: Two Adventurous Souls – Maine Wedding Photographer and Videographer
Are there any dates that are special to the two of you?
Sometimes the perfect wedding date relates to another special day, such as the day you met, the date of your first date, or the anniversary of your engagement. With special dates, you will need to begin to plan early and book your venue and certain vendors you want to hire as early as possible as their calendars book up far in advance.
Do you want to be outdoors for all or part of your wedding celebrations?
Of course, the weather can play a huge role in choosing a wedding date, depending on your plans and where you live. If any or all of your wedding festivities will be held outside, your date needs to be selected based on the best time of year for weather in your area.
Are there any dates that are special to the two of you?
Sometimes the perfect wedding date relates to another special day, such as the day you met, the date of your first date, or the anniversary of your engagement. With special dates, you will need to begin to plan early and book your venue and certain vendors you want to hire as early as possible as their calendars book up far in advance.
Do you want to be outdoors for all or part of your wedding celebrations?
Of course, the weather can play a huge role in choosing a wedding date, depending on your plans and where you live. If any or all of your wedding festivities will be held outside, your date needs to be selected based on the best time of year for weather in your area.
Photo Credit: Two Adventurous Souls – Maine Wedding Photographer and Videographer
Do you want to honeymoon right after the wedding?
If you plan to take your honeymoon right after your wedding, then you will want to consider the best time to visit your honeymoon destination. If your honeymoon location has a rainy season, for example, you’ll want to keep your wedding date away from this time of year. You might want to check on reservations (or make them!) at the location and accommodations in your honeymoon destination to be sure you can have the experience you envision.
Is there a time of year you love?
If you are not set on a certain date, and your honeymoon is not a factor, then perhaps your favorite time of year would make the perfect wedding memories. The season can have a big impact on venues and menus, colors and themes, and flowers and outdoor access, so it’s important to decide on this early on. There are roughly three months to each season, so consider when the best weather is for your particular season. Also, are there any holidays to stay away from (or piggyback on).
Photo Credit: Erica Ferrone Photography – Massachusetts Wedding Photographer
Photo Credit: Samantha Kensell Photography – Maine Wedding Photographer
Do you need to get creative to save on your budget?
It’s usually more expensive to get married in the summer and fall – think June, August and September. These are the most popular wedding months, so some venues, especially tourist destinations, will be busier and charging their top prices. Also, travel, accommodations, and other rental needs may be harder to reserve. This doesn’t mean you need to get married during winter blizzards, but you could consider pushing your date forward or back a few weeks for a big budget impact. Otherwise, simply start earlier and plan your wedding savings accordingly.
Saturday is the most popular day of the week to get married, so it is also often the most expensive date to select. Many venues charge a premium for Saturday events, so choosing what is considered an “off-day” such as Friday, Sunday or even a weekday, can save you a lot of money. Especially if your wedding will be small or guests are not traveling, an off-day wedding might be just right for you.
Do you need to get creative to save on your budget?
It’s usually more expensive to get married in the summer and fall – think June, August and September. These are the most popular wedding months, so some venues, especially tourist destinations, will be busier and charging their top prices. Also, travel, accommodations, and other rental needs may be harder to reserve. This doesn’t mean you need to get married during winter blizzards, but you could consider pushing your date forward or back a few weeks for a big budget impact. Otherwise, simply start earlier and plan your wedding savings accordingly.
Saturday is the most popular day of the week to get married, so it is also often the most expensive date to select. Many venues charge a premium for Saturday events, so choosing what is considered an “off-day” such as Friday, Sunday or even a weekday, can save you a lot of money. Especially if your wedding will be small or guests are not traveling, an off-day wedding might be just right for you.
Photo Credit: Samantha Kensell Photography – Maine Wedding Photographer
How much time do you need to plan properly?
Some people like a short engagement, others want plenty of time to plan. There are pros and cons to both. A short engagement means you won’t have as much time to make decisions, and you may have to settle on certain features based on availabilities. If you tend to obsess on decisions and details, it might be easier for you to get it all done faster with less time to worry. A long engagement will ensure you have more options for venues and vendors, but the excitement over your engagement will be long gone. Pick a wedding timeline that works for you, and allows you to achieve at least the majority of your priorities.
Featured Image Credits: Val Bozzi – Val Bozzi Photography: valbozziphotography.com
Photo Credit: Erica Ferrone Photography – Massachusetts Wedding Photographer
