Wedding season is upon us again.
The weather will still be warm, the celebratory mood in the air-along with pollen, may require medication to tolerate.
Once you have decided on a wedding date, you can begin your planning for this very special day.
But let’s face it…a lot goes into planning a good wedding. Being organized and knowing what works best for you and your partner will really help to make this occasion as memorable as possible.
If there was ever a reason to splurge or save on something big (besides rent and health insurance), this would be it!
You’ll need to first consider:
1.) What is your date of availability?
Believe it or not, most of us have a day of the week that works best for our schedule. It may not be the weekend.
2.) What time of day is going to work best for your family and friends?
You need to make sure whether lunch reception or dinner reception is more suitable for you and your guests.
3.) How many guests will you have?
If you are looking at an intimate ceremony, you’ll want to make sure that the location has enough room for those who would like to attend.
These things can really help narrow down your wedding date options!
4.) Now let’s talk about money- how much can you afford to spend on your wedding?
Determine this first so that it helps guide your choices moving forward.
Here are a few helpful tips:
A general rule of thumb is that the earlier in the week, the cheaper the cost.
Friday and Saturday may be your best choice if you have a large number of friends and family who can come to the celebration.
This is where you’ll need to do some research; some venues are higher priced on Fridays and Saturdays because more people want to celebrate on these days of the week.
It might not be more convenient for guests, but it’s more affordable!
Sunday may seem like an odd choice -but surprisingly, many couples decide on wedding dates that fall on weekdays (Monday through Thursday) in order to save money.
Many families decline- understandably , they would love nothing more than to share this special occasion with you.
If you do decide to go with this option keep in mind that many venues are closed on Sundays, which means you may need to find another location.
If your budget is tight and time is not an issue, why not consider having a destination wedding?
You can save thousands of dollars by having it at a beach resort or even Las Vegas!
There’s so much more savings for the little things like flowers, invitations and photography since they won’t be as pricey.
However- this kind of wedding does require attention to detail, transportation for out of town guests and accommodations for those who decide to come along.
You will probably spend just as much money if not more than you would if hosting the ceremony locally.
Once you have determined all of these things, you can begin to find the wedding date that works for you.
Don’t feel obligated to go with a certain wedding season just because it’s what everyone does or you have always heard it is the best time of year to get married. You might be pleasantly surprised!
Summer weddings are typically considered ideal due to the beautiful weather, but if your family and friends live in other parts of the country this may not be as convenient for them.
Winter weddings are usually less expensive since there are fewer events taking place during this time- an added bonus if money is tight .
Fall brings gorgeous leaves and the convenience of planning after summer ends. Those who want a lavish affair should schedule their big day in spring- when nature flourishes -and everything feels fresh and new! If you still can’t decide, pick a month.
There are pros and cons to every season so do your own research to figure out what’s ideal for you and your future spouse!
5.) How are you getting there?
If you are planning to fly, then being flexible with your date is key to saving money on airfare (flight prices tend to fluctuate more often than hotel or travel packages).
6.) Weather Forecast
This may seem like an irrelevant factor but it can either make or break your wedding plans! For example, if your wedding date happens to fall on the same day as an important holiday in the location where you’re hosting (like Thanksgiving), invitations may get lost in all of the hubbub.
And if that’s not bad enough, traveling guests will also be forced to share accommodations and rates with out-of-state relatives.
7.) Religious and cultural backgrounds
To avoid conflict or the disappointment of exclusion, make sure that your date is not already reserved by a family member’s (or your) particular denomination or background (this may include: Jewish, Muslim, Hindu).
8.) Your guests’ availability
The worst thing you can do is overbook your wedding with guests on several different dates and times.
If some or most of them can’t attend due to financial limitations, this will put stress on the entire group and could possibly bring down the morale of those who were able to go.
9.) Seasons
The off season for travel is during summer months as well as January through March.
If you plan to have an outdoor ceremony, consider these months. You may save on travel expenses if you are open to November – December wedding dates.
10.) Consider timing-Are you hoping for a morning, afternoon, evening or night ceremony?
A lot goes into this decision including: availability of vendors, weather forecast and even what time guests have to leave for work the next morning.
If all else fails and you can’t seem to find a date or time of year that works for everyone, think of the most unique day/time/place possible.
There is no way it cannot be memorable if you make it so!
The number one priority for your wedding is to show your spouse and guests the love and appreciation that they deserve.
But always keep in mind what you can afford. Keeping track of how much money it will take to plan the wedding of your dreams (within reason) will help you avoid overspending or stressing yourself on a financial level.
Thank you for reading my post. I hope it was helpful. If you have any questions or would like more information about my services, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would be happy to help make your wedding day perfect.
