Photo by Meredith Coe Photography

Choosing a wedding date will probably be one of the most significant decisions you and your soon to be spouse will make during the planning process. This one decision will impact every other decision you will make.  You may already know the venue of your dreams, the perfect flowers to match your vision, and the yummiest flavor combo for your cake…but without a date you cannot commit to anything.  No pressure! 

While no one can tell you when to get married, we can certainly give you some things to consider while discussing it with your partner.  And just remember, any date that you chose will be special…because it is  your wedding day. Read on for some things to ponder, we promise it will make this decision a little easier. 

Can you Weather the WEATHER?

Snow, blazing sun and heat, surprise spring showers…it is no wonder June, September and October are the most popular months to be wed.  The weather during these months are mild and rarely surprising; a perfect backdrop for your perfect day.  But depending on how far out you are planning, these are the first months to go, so it becomes a bit of a “rat race” to score your dream venue…but where there is a will, there is a way. 

The first thing you should do is to consider your wedding personality; are you inspired by tropical drinks and the sounds of waves crashing or do you envision a wedding surrounded by snowfall and holiday sparkle.  Start by narrowing down your season.  Can you take the heat? Do you hibernate when it snows? Does rain make you mad?  It may seem silly, but weather will not only affect your wedding style and location but it can also be a catalyst for your mood! Peel back the layers of each season, until you find the one that will work best for you and go from there. 

Consider the Factors of An Off-Season Wedding 

A good starting place is to consider how much time you will need to plan your wedding, the average planning journey is typically about 15 months, but obviously varies based on the couple and their vision. Sometimes an off season wedding sounds like a great way to have a short engagement and to save a few dollars.  While we are all for a budget, let’s just consider what happens when you wed in the off season.  The best news of all is it is less expensive, substantially less expensive to get married from January to March, but with that we also have to consider what sacrifices may have to be made in other areas.  Flowers, for example, are very expensive and hard to find when they are off season.  So do your research beforehand.  Sure poinsettias and evergreen are pretty, but do you want to carry them down the aisle?   If you are hooked on the idea of off season (more power to you) we do suggest budgeting in some guest comforts such as throws, outdoor heaters or a hot chocolate station. 

Inspired by the Holidays 

Do you love the idea of a free fireworks show in your honor?  Do you want to start the new year off right with a marriage and all of your family and friends together?  If a holiday is inspiring your wedding vision then you may just be a  holiday wedding couple. Check the calendar to make sure the specific holiday falls on or near a weekend.  Just remember that some of your guests may not want to upend their own holiday plans to attend your wedding. If you can’t imagine a better way to spend Valentine’s Day than by saying “I do”, then we say go for it! 

Dates that are Symbolic 

There is nothing more romantic than getting married on the day you met, or on the day that your grandparents got married. Perhaps you are choosing your wedding date based on a method that is deeply rooted in your heritage. We love a date with symbolism and suggest that if this is the route you are going, make it known. Your guests will love knowing why this date means so much to you. Spread the romance, there is no better time to do it. 

Lucky Days and Superstitions

Are you a little bit superstitious or maybe you love the idea of  honoring something from a religious or cultural background. Again if this is the road you are following, then we cannot urge you enough to share this with your guests.  These little facts are what will make your wedding so special to the people attending, their hearts will be full.  If this is something you are considering but don’t know too much about it, here are some fun traditions…

• In the Jewish faith, Tuesday’s are actually very lucky, the Torah states that the third day of the week is filled with luck…and love. 
• Irish couples gravitate toward having a wedding on New Year’s Eve because it is a very lucky day for the Irish, plus as we stated earlier, can you think of a better way to start the new year than with your new spouse by your side. 
• Chinese culture believes that the numbers 8 and 9 are lucky. Eight symbolizes wealth and nime rhymes with the Chinese word for “long lasting”. 
• Here’s a fun one for the history buffs in the audience, getting married in June is special because the month is named after Juno, the goddess of marriage. 

Some Other Things to Consider 

We’ve covered a lot, but here are some other things you can consider if you haven’t quite figured out the perfect date…

• Pick a “forget me not”.  This is an easy number sequence to remember  such as 5/5 or 11/12. 
• If you have already fallen in love with a venue, perhaps use that as the driving force for your wedding date.  If you are not tied to any symbolism or can take on any season, let the venue’s availability help make your decision. 
• Is there a perfect month or season for your honeymoon hotspot? If you plan on hopping on a plane right away to jet set to your destination, choose your wedding date based off of that. Bon Voyage! 
• While we believe that the decision should rest solely with you and your partner, it is never a bad idea to consider family availability. If you have other weddings and perhaps impending pregnancies, it may be a good idea to plan around these major events. 
• How’s that piggy bank looking? Sometimes couples have to wait until they have enough saved up for their dream wedding. If that is the case, do some forecasting based on what you are saving each month to help determine the perfect date. 
• Sometimes work schedules and commitments should also be considered. Teachers generally focus on summer weddings. If you have someone starting a new career or finishing up a program, best not add to the stress, putting off a wedding until after is perfectly okay! 

For every couple the process is completely unique and that’s part of what makes your wedding date so special. Not every date will begin with symbolism, but we promise you that every wedding date will end with it! So break open that calendar and start choosing!