HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT WEDDING DATE

At some point during the early days and weeks of your engagement, you will wonder if it might be easier to wear a shirt that says "Thanks! My Wedding Date is ___" as this will be the most popular question after announcing the great news. Before you head to the printer, you need to choose that elusive/magical/ date. How do you choose your wedding date? Very carefully! Your wedding date will be with you forever, so keep these thoughts in mind as you make your decision.


First, think of the fairytale wedding you have been dreaming about since you were little. Is there a certain location, time of year, flower, or dress included in your dream wedding? If so, take all of these into consideration as you choose your date.

Keep your budget in mind as you look to secure your wedding date. May, June, July and September are typically the most popular wedding months of the year, so prices during these busy times will, most likely, be higher than they would be during a slower time of year, not to mention the competition for preferred wedding vendors increases exponentially. The day of the week should also play a part if you are looking to save a few dollars. A Saturday wedding will be much more costly than a Friday or Sunday wedding. Just think, a Friday wedding could be the beginning of a great weekend with family and friends!

Holiday weekends are often a popular choice for many couples as this allows guests who may need to travel the opportunity to join you on your wedding day without having to take time off from work. Keep in mind, though, that holiday weekends are also a time when many families take vacations of their own - which means airline and hotel room availability and/or price concerns. If you decide on a holiday weekend, be sure to inform your guests of the date as soon as possible so they have time to plan and make travel arrangements. Send out those Save-the-Dates early!

Most importantly, before making a final decision, run it by close family members and friends, especially ones you hope to have in your bridal party. You will absolutely want to include these people in your day!

After the couple has shared the good news of the engagement with friends and family and discussed the budget, the next step is to choose the date of the wedding. Selecting the wedding date is one of the important decisions that couples have to make early in the wedding planning process. A couple can’t book vendors or select a wedding venue if they have not picked out a wedding date. Most vendors will not be able to confirm that they can be available if they do not know the specific date. Consider the following when choosing a wedding date.

Wedding Day Priorities
The couple should have already had a discussion about their top three priorities for the day. This is the time to revisit that list. What is the top priority? Is it getting married in the church that the bride grew up attending? Is it the reception location with the amazing view of the mountains?

The top priority will be the first thing to influence the wedding date. If the top priority is the wedding venue, the couple should contact the venue and ask for available weekends within a month or two. Remember, that if the couple wants to get married during June, the most popular month for weddings, they will be competing with many other couples for their vendors.


If the couple is able to get a few days to choose from, they should apply the same strategy with their second priority. If the officiant is the next priority, contact him to see what date he is available out the days that were given by the first priority.

Holiday Weddings
Couples considering having their wedding on a holiday should reflect on the factors that may conflict with their wedding. Some guests may feel upset that they have to forgo their holiday plans to attend the couple’s wedding, and some guests may not attend due to scheduling conflicts.

Valentine’s Day is the most popular holiday for weddings. A couple wanting to plan a Valentine’s Day wedding should really think about this decision. Are they ready to pay more for almost everything, because prices soar on Valentine’s Day? Vendors usually charge more to work on this holiday and many florists charge double or triple their prices around this time. If the couple is ready for this challenge and is willing to pay more, then go ahead.

Day of the Week
The most popular day of the week to get married is Saturday. However, couples can usually reduce costs if they decide to get married on any other day of the week. A Sunday brunch will almost always cost less than a Saturday night bash. Guests will drink and eat less and many vendors will give the couple a price reduction. If a couple has their heart set on a venue and it’s already booked, they could ask about other days of the week.

When a couple is picking their wedding date they should consider their top priorities, holiday weekends, major local events, and the day of the week.

The first step in planning a wedding is to set the wedding date. This can be one of the most frustrating aspects of the wedding planning process because there are so many things to consider.

Consider Your Dream Locations
The first thing you need to think about is your dream locations.

If you have your heart set on having your wedding at your church, temple or synagogue, the availability will probably play a large part in the date you select. Contact the wedding coordinator to inquire about available dates.

This is also true for your wedding reception location. If you have always dreamed of having an outdoor reception in a local botanical garden, you had better give them a call. Venues like this are generally best at certain times of the year and they tend to book quickly.

Once you know the available dates for your ceremony and reception locations, you can find the dates that both are available and go from there. But before you select one of those dates just because the venues are available, there are other issues to consider before making the final decision.

Consider Work and School Schedules
Assuming at least one of you works or is in school, you must consider your work and/or school schedules. For example you must be able to take time off from work or school for the honeymoon. Schools generally will not be flexible for you but your boss probably will be. You should check with both of your employers' vacation policies before you select a date.

Consider Holidays and Seasons
Having your wedding on or near a holiday or special occasion can also cause problems for guests. They may find it difficult to attend because of prior family and social obligations. Travel may be more difficult if the wedding is near a big travel holiday such as Thanksgiving or Christmas. In addition, it may be difficult to find an officiant to perform the service if you are not having your ceremony in a church. Finally, rental and other service's prices are often higher on holidays because the staff would not typically be working.

On the other hand, three-day weekends such as Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend could be ideal for out-of-town guests.

Which Day of the Week?
Saturday is the most popular day of the week for weddings because it is convenient for out-of-own guests and it gives everyone in the wedding more time to prepare. The problem is that many churches and reception locations are usually booked well in advance so you must plan ahead for a Saturday wedding.

In addition, Saturday weddings generally cost more - so you may want to choose to have your wedding on Friday night or Sunday afternoon to save money. Many churches, reception halls, caterers and photographers will agree to charge less for these less popular days.

What Time of Day?
You must also choose the time of day for your wedding. You must look at your budget when choosing your time of day. Serving lunch or dinner for your guests can get quite expensive. At certain times of the day or evening you can serve hor d'oeuvres and save some money on catering

1. Planning an outdoor wedding in New England? Chances are good that you'll want to choose a date between late spring and early autumn so that they weather will cooperate with you.

2. Looking for a desintation wedding? If so, consider flight costs and high travel seasons when you choose the date.

3. Thinking about a specific location for your wedding that's fairly popular? You may have to choose a wedding date based on when that location is available.

4. If others will need to travel long distances to attend your wedding, consider choosing a wedding date that will not inconvenience your guests.

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