It might seem like a simple decision, but there are countless things to consider before you send out those ‘Save The Dates’.
“Have you set a date yet?” It’s a question you’ll be asked a lot when people congratulate you on your engagement. And it’s not an easy one to answer straight away. Because your wedding date is not just an important day for you, but also for your family and friends, and your future wedding anniversaries to come. So how do you go about choosing your wedding date?
Read on to find out all the essential things you and your partner should carefully consider before setting such an important date.
Preparation Time
Once you’ve said “yes”, it can be tempting to rush down the aisle as soon as possible. But weddings can’t be planned overnight. And when deciding on a date, you need to factor that in. Allow yourselves enough time to organise the day you really want.
Venues, churches, bands, and photographers all get booked up months, if not years in advance. Plus, wedding dresses can take up to six months to be made and delivered. So, we recommend doing a bit of research into the wedding items that are significant to you before grabbing your diary.
Conversely, you can also have too much time when planning a wedding, and suddenly find yourself losing momentum with preparation. As a guide, most couples allow themselves between one and two years to plan their big day.
The Season
It might sound obvious, but the time of year you choose to have your wedding will dictate what sort of celebration you have. If you want to get married in a marquee, stick to the warmer, summer months, especially if it’s in the UK. If your dream wedding involves a snowy backdrop, December is a good option, or you might prefer the freshness of a springtime affair and opt for March or April.
The Destination, if You’re Marrying Abroad
If you’re tying the knot abroad, be sure to double-check what the weather will be like at the destination during your wedding. Wedding brochures may show endless sunny days and sandy beaches, but it won’t be like that all year round, so do some research.
Furthermore, keep in mind not only your wedding budget, but also your wedding guests. Booking your wedding in the season with the best weather will typically produce the highest prices too.
The Day of the Week
Traditionally, most marriages take place on a Saturday. But with the increase in competition for top wedding venues, many places are offering Sunday or weekday weddings. You can often book these at shorter notice, and they’ll usually cheaper than the highly prized Saturday slot, which makes them quite an attractive option.
Just keep in mind that if you do decide on a weekday or Sunday, many guests might find it harder to attend due to work, family, or religious commitments. But your bar bill will certainly be lower, it being a school night!
The School Holidays
Expecting lots of little guests on your big day? It might be worth making a note of the school holiday dates, especially if there’s travelling involved. If you do decide on a date in term time, avoid exam periods (January, May, and June) so younger guests can really relax and enjoy the big day.
A Special Day
It’s a nice thought to pick a date that has a special meaning for the pair of you. It could be the date you first met, the date of the proposal, or some other date that has a significance to you both.
Venue Availability
If you’ve got your heart set on a particular venue, church or supplier, check their availability before committing to a date. There are potentially 365 days of the year that you could tie the knot on, but you might have to be flexible if you have strong feelings about venues and entertainment.
Other People’s Wedding Dates
If you have friends who are engaged, it’s worth sounding them out about their wedding plans to avoid date clashes. The last thing you want is to divide friendship groups. It’s also a good idea to run potential dates past key family members too, and check their availability.
The Flowers
Your choice of flowers may help you decide which date to opt for. Lilac and lilies are in season in Spring, while if you want meadow flowers or roses in your bouquet, opt for a Summer wedding.
The Honeymoon Location
Where you want to go on honeymoon might affect your wedding date. Popular honeymoon destinations like the Maldives and the Caribbean are best visited in the winter months, from November to April. While deferring your honeymoon for a few months has become a popular practice, there are some couples that like to be whisked away straight after their big day.
Bank Holidays
Public holidays are a popular time for weddings as they offer people more time to enjoy themselves or to travel. Just be aware that the summer bank holidays and New Year’s Day are popular times for weddings, so venues will be more expensive and will need to be booked much further in advance.
Guests may also have made pre-existing plans, so if you choose a bank holiday day for your wedding, be sure to give everyone plenty of notice.
As we mentioned above, your wedding dress can take longer than you would think to be made and delivered, so allow be sure to allow plenty of time. Book your appointment with us now and relax, safe in the knowledge that your wedding dress is one less thing to worry about while planning your wedding!