Picking a date to get married can feel impossible. You want enough time to plan, but you don’t want to have to wait too long. You want a day and time of year that allows all of your friends and family members to make it, but not one that will be too popular with other brides, or else you’ll be paying higher prices for your venue.
Here are some important things to consider when choosing your date:
Consider the Year
First, think about the length of engagement you’ll want. If you need time to save up some money to pay for the wedding, or if you both still aren’t sure of when you’ll be able to live and work in the same area, think about scheduling your wedding for next year or the year after that. If you’re ready to marry now and you don’t need a lot of planning time, consider looking at dates between three months and a year from now. That will give you some breathing room without making you feel like the wedding is a million years away.
Consider Your Schedule and the Schedules of Close Family/Friends
Before you decide what type of wedding you want to have, think about what you have coming up on your calendar. Will you be starting a new job in six months? Will you be graduating from school or starting a new course of education in another year? Are you planning to be your cousin’s maid of honor at her wedding in February? Think about your commitments and try not o schedule your wedding right before or after a major event; you’ll need time to finish up last-minute details before the wedding, and time to relax after.
Also, ask the people closest to you what they have going on. If you’re set on having your best friend be a bridesmaid and you know she’s got a trip to Europe planned in July, don’t schedule your wedding that month. This way, you’ll avoid tears and arguments that could ensue if the people you love have to be elsewhere during your wedding.
Consider the Season
Now, think about what style wedding you’d like. A ceremony on the beach? A dinner in a reception hall? A destination wedding in Norway?
Once you’ve decided that, you can pick what season you’d like for your wedding. Make sure to take into account your guests’ comfort levels (don’t make them stand knee-deep in snow outside, or in the beating sun for a two-hour-long ceremony) and popular wedding seasons (June, July, August, and September are the most popular months for weddings, so be aware that if you choose one of these months, you’ll be competing with other brides for venues, caterers, and guests).
Consider the Day of the Week
Lastly, consider what day of the week you’d like. Many brides who have the popular sit-down dinner and drinks reception choose a Saturday, because many people will be off of work and guests will have Sunday to recover from the festivities before work on Monday. However, because Saturdays are popular, it might be harder to book vendors on that day. Consider Friday for a black-tie evening affair, or Sunday for a brunch reception (although if you want a Christian church wedding, Sundays are often off-limits because regular services are taking place).
Other things to consider are holidays (most people will prefer to be home with family rather than out at a wedding) and daylight savings time (you don’t want people to be late!)
And once you’ve picked a date, don’t stress yourself out: remember, until the invitations go out, you can change your date whenever you want!
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